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Christianity Today, March, 2007 |

Day of Reckoning

Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel face an uncertain future.

Rob Moll | posted 2/16/2007 09:08AM

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The problem, Ritchie says, is a problem with the American church at large. "More and more large, independent churches are starting up with no relationship or accountability to anybody. They have nobody at any juncture to call them into question." At the same time, most insiders agree that the network's loose association and pastor-centered structure is subject to abuse.

"We're a fast-moving movement," says Mark Foreman, pastor of North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, California. "There is little decision-making red tape." That's what makes Calvary Chapel so dynamic, he says. And, he adds, "That's our Achilles' heel."

Foreman has resisted the strong senior pastor model. Since being hired as senior pastor, Foreman has tried to share power with his board and other pastors. He jokes that he has less authority now than when he started.

He also says he's been impressed with Chuck Smith's leadership. Smith could have put himself at the head of a national organization. Instead, he gave his mentees freedom to innovate and minister as they saw fit. "Chuck Smith wielded power well," he says.

Still, he says, the typical Calvary Chapel model may be "an old wineskin that is cracking." What made Calvary Chapel dynamic was its ability to reach the unchurched in culturally relevant ways. It's still Calvary Chapel's strength, he says.

But the association is now at a crossroads, Foreman says. "Will Calvary Chapel go on to the next generation, or will we defeat ourselves?" Its current problems are a test of the network's ability to institutionalize in a way that corrects problems yet still maintains the dynamism it had during the Jesus movement.

Rob Moll is an associate editor of CT.

Related Elsewhere:

Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa's website has a short bio of Chuck Smith and a basic history of Calvary Chapel.

Former Calvary Chapel pastor Michael Newnham runs Phoenix Preacher, a blog that is "seeking the restoration of integrity in ministry."

Get Religion discussed a 2005 L.A. Times article about the Calvary Satellite Network.

The Rick Ross Institute has a collection of news stories and visitor comments on Calvary Chapel.

Rob Moll has also written two other Christianity Today articles on Calvary Chapel:

Calvary Reunion | New Mexico megachurch pastor returns after leadership conflict. (September 28, 2006)

Unaccountable at Calvary Chapel | Former pastor still pulled strings years after his departure, Calvary of Albuquerque members claim. (May 8, 2006)

Other Christianity Today articles on Calvary Chapel include:

Weblog: The Sin of Talking to a Reporter | Church fires pastor for being sick, elder for being quoted. (April 13, 2006)

Admissions: Rejected | Christian school sues University of California over requirements. (November 2005)

The Peoples are Here | Record immigration pushes Christians out of their comfort zone (February 1, 2003)

Churches Accused of Electioneering (February 8, 1999)

Leadership Journal published Getting Back to Nurture by Chuck Smith Sr. in 1988.

Leadership reviewed Reinventing American Protestantism, which focuses on Hope Chapel, Calvary Chapel, and the Vineyard

Christian History & Biography discussed Calvary Chapel's role in the Jesus Movement.

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March 2007, Vol. 51, No. 3

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len sterling

Posted: March 02, 2007 1:05 AM

I can see the importance of truthful disclosures when it comes to faith based organizations. I however think that this article was reaching to make points which seemed to have little substance. I have news for anyone who has overlooked the obvious here...we are imperfect and fallen human beings (aka sinners!). There will never be a perfect church here on earth until Jesus sets up His 1,000 year reign! A real manifestation of the Lord is how He uses us (very imperfect implements) to produce perfect results! How about getting out there in the streets and among everyday people and living true to the Word of God! CC has been a vehicle God has utilized to bring countless smelly hippy, pot smoking, speed dropping freaks (you know...the ones most 'believers' pretended not to see as we looked down our noses at them in public) to Jesus. How much better off they were than many pew warmers of their time! Let’s not forget the purpose for which He created us…to bring glory to Him!

Henry

Posted: March 01, 2007 9:44 PM

left, You are right. Phoenix Preacher is a pointless read now. It's pretty worthless and doesn't serve purpose anymore because the CC pastors all befriended and bewitched Newnham. They force strong views to be marginalized and do the typical "we're the authorities on God" routine to the same people that escaped the CC cult. I'm sure this post will be considered for posting over there, and it will be derided thoroughly.

left	Posted: March 01, 2007 9:22 PM

I was there too years ago when Chuck spoke of Richard Nixon as God's man. It used to bother me too that he promoted his political agenda during his preaching. One thing important to say is that the person responsible for "reaching the hippies" during the Jesus Movement was really Lonnie Frisbee, the hippie preacher. That's been swept under the carpet, since he later died of aids. Calvary would not have "exploded" like it did without Lonnie, and I can't believe it when he is not given credit as the person the Holy Spirit used to reach the young people back then. Even Greg Laurie came to know Jesus through Lonnie's ministry. Thousands came in , but thousands left. It was definitely like a "cult" for me, not as extreme as alot of them are, but like a cult never the less. I lost touch with myself. And those of you who don't like Phoenix Preacher - hey you may now because it's become occupied with Calvary Chapel pastors ( and their agenda) who have befriended Michail N. there.

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