REVOICE 2019 REVEALS MORE INVOLVEMENT BY THE GOSPEL COALITION AND COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Rev. Thomas Littleton                                                                                                   3/21/2019

Revoice Conference 2019 details are slowly coming out on the Revoice website.

https://revoice.us/about/our-mission-and-vision/

The 2019 effort looks to have a much more defined mission and vision statement and appearance of a developed theological packaging. It would appear the intentions are to recover a more orthodox image and to restore hopes that the movement behind it can achieve mainstream success among conservative evangelical churches. However this looks to be little more than a repackaging effort given the continued diverse involvement in Revoice leadership theologically.

THE GOSPEL COALITION AND COVENANT SEMINARY LOOM LARGE IN REVOICE LEADERSHIP

As reported earlier, the big news for the speaker lineup so far is Mark Yarhouse the Regent University psychologist who wrote the gold standard on LGBT+ for D. A. Carson and TGC in 2010.

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/03/01/revoice-2019-speakers/

Few who have followed the radical LGBT+ Flourishing movements infiltration in conservative seminaries are surprised by Yarhouse’s move to the forefront at Revoice. During the 2018 controversy Yarhouse was tweeting his promotion and support then eventually defending the embattled event. Yarhouse , unlike Tim Keller, Mark Dalbey,  Albert Mohler and others appears to be willing to own his role in the movement .

Yarhouse’s approach affirms the assertion that sexual orientation is real and does not change . His instruction for settling the conflicted identities of those who self-identify as both LGBT+ and of some faith, (including Christianity ) which is non -affirming of their sexual identity -is to MERGE the two. In the case of the person who is same sex attracted and in conservative Christian circles ,for example – the answer to the conflict is to negotiate the merging of their gay identity and “Christian” identity. In short Yarhouse teaches acceptance of Gay Christian or LGBT+ Christian Identity .

It should not be overlooked that the original white paper of Yarhouse for TGC was also part of the development for the TEDS “Christ on Campus Initiative” and that the indications are that the greatest area of infiltration and saturation of the LGBT+ queering or  “revoicing” of conservative Christianity movement has been on our college/ university and seminary campuses. TGC henchmen have sown the tares in the night and now we see them springing up in our own fields. Matt 13:24-30.

ANOTHER EVANGELICAL HEAVY HITTER FOR REVOICE?

Another major announcement provided by the Revoice website is popular TGC writer and conference speaker and former Christianity Today editor Andy Crouch addition to the Revoice Advisory Council.

https://revoice.us/our-leadership/

Andy is a favorite influencer from the TGC stables

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/andy-crouch/

THE AUTHOR

“Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. Crouch served for more than ten years as an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including serving as executive editor from 2012 to 2016. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time.”

MORE TGC AND COVENANT SEMINARY TIES TO REVOICE LEADERSHIP

As the efforts to discover the powers behind the Revoice’s promotion of “LGBT+ Thriving in historic Christian tradition”, a constant echo was that researchers  were making very broad “ guilt by association”claims. This was even true in some defending Yarhouse or the Sam Allberry/ Living Out ministry promotion of Revoice in 2018. By years end and certainly at this point in the exposure of this movement -such claims of “guilt by association” provide little cover for the undeniable ties that bind Revoice to mainstream leaders and their institutions and organizations.

COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND REVOICE

Earlier in March 2019 CTS President Mark Dalbey made two (one Revoice related-the other a similar LGBT+ controversy with Revoice connections )  videos which accused anyone sharing concerns over the many ties to CTS of “lying, slandering and attempting to ruin the good name of CTS” and of “breaking the 9^th commandment “. These videos received praise from TGC writers. The Mark Dalbey / CTS videos and problematic realities left unaddressed are discussed here :

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/03/17/covenant-theological-seminary-president-dalby-shows-his-angry-side-yet-fails-to-disclose-deeper-cts-ties-to-revoice/

It remains clear to any honest observer that Covenant Theological Seminary has been deeply infiltrated by the same ideologies that have produced the Revoice movement. President Dalbey made no clear and strong denouncement of Revoice and promised only that in 2019 “no CTS professors would be involved in Revoice 2019….as CTS professor Jay Skylar had been in 2018”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=tVvghdAgE9s

SCOTT SAULS CTS AND REVOICE

CTS Nashville extension program includes Scott Sauls – the Tim Keller protégé’ who helped mentor Nate Collins of Revoice and traveled to St Louis with Collins to plan the 2018 event . Sauls helped launch and promoted and hosted the CTS Nashville extension in his Christ Presbyterian church in Nashville since 2015. A phone call to both CPC and CTS confirmed Sauls church still host CTS classes when enough interest in the classes is present. The Spring quarter did not have enough students signed up. Sauls’ teaches and speaks at CTS and is a graduate of the St Louis based Seminary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUSUDBjIQu4

https://player.vimeo.com/video/185074846?dnt=1&app_id=122963

MIKE HIGGINS SOUTH CITY CHURCH AND REVOICE

Mark Dalbey insists that CTS faculty ties are severed with not only Revoice but also in a separate video from early March ,he is distancing CTS and professor Mike Higgins from the previously CTS co-sponsored event  “Reclaim MLK” at which a transgendered person spoke. Multiple factually incomplete issues remain outstanding from Dalbey’s video claims including two very close connections to Revoice which is the concern here. See more at these links if not informed of those Dabley /CTS claims.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II1K2Kvm_7Y

Higgins / South City Church story

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/01/15/are-pca-pastor-and-daughter-teaching-the-transgender-two-step/

According to Revoices’ newly update website -the South City Church (PCA ) pastored by  CTS professor Mike Higgins -Associate Pastor Sam Haist is on the 2019 Revoice advisory council

https://revoice.us/our-leadership/

Sam Haist Associate Pastor at South City Church, St. Louis,Revoice Advisory Board 

This problematic connection is only made worse by recent months revelations that CTS Mike Higgins of South City Church hosted the 2018 Revoice pre-conference with the Catholic activist of Spiritual Friendship and Matthew Lee Anderson. So CTS professor and PCA pastor Higgins is still very much showing his church and his staffers support of Revoice.

A REVOICE STAFFER REMAINS A STUDENT AT CTS.

Zach Meyer, Administrative Coordinator

“Zach is a graduate of Mercer University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management. His professional career has included working for Reformed University Fellowship as an intern, working in digital marketing at a software company, and marketing for a farm-to-table restaurant. He is currently pursuing degrees in Divinity and Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary.”

REVOICE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS IS A CTS GRADUATE

Stephen Moss, Co-Founder and Vice President of Operations

“Stephen was born and raised in Panama City, Florida, and graduated from Samford University with a BA in Journalism & Mass Communication. After college, he moved to Knoxville where he served on staff with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at the University of Tennessee. Stephen moved to St. Louis in 2013 to be begin studies at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2016. The following year, Stephen accepted a position with FirstLight Ministries as Sexual Minority Ministry Coordinator.”

Besides these current close ties to CTS -the 2018 event had over half a dozen recent CTS graduates among the speakers and was also hosted at Memorial PCA church whose pastor Greg Johnson is a CTS graduate and Revoice speaker/ supporter.

About Greg Johnson

“Greg Johnson has lived in the Central West End of St. Louis City since 1997. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.S.Arch 1994), Covenant Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1997) and St. Louis University (Ph.D. 2007). An ordained Presbyterian minister, he is the Lead Pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church on Skinker Blvd, having served as Associate Pastor since 2003. He lives with his two cats, Leela the Toyger and Sox.”

THE GOSPEL COALITION AND REVOICE

A quick run down of TGC ties to Revoice leadership and speakers both in 2018 and in 2019 should cause anyone in a TGC affiliated church to raise the issues related to Revoice. Believers in churches with TGC affiliation should approach their pastors with these concerns and the church directly if the pastor does not have ears to hear them. Many pastors have involved their churches in TGC without the knowledge of the congregants and have misplaced their  loyalties to mentors  like Keller / Mohler / Dever/ Duncan – more than to the Word of God or the people who pay their salaries. TGC affiliated pastors do not have God given authority to “promote LGBT+ Flourishing ” in your church. There is no biblical call to “Revoice homosexuality ” in your church.

Scott Sauls –

Sauls is TGC favorite, PCA pastor, CTS grad and runs the Nashville CTS extension program. Sauls promoted Revoice 2018 on the website for the event as well as traveled from Nashville to St Louis ,according to social media post, with  founder Nate Collins for the planning of the 2018 event. Sauls is currently involved with multiple Revoice leaders in events like the April 2019 Nashville Q Ideas Conference . It is not yet known if Sauls will be in public support of -or participation in Revoice 2019. Sauls has never spoken against Revoice or denounced it after having endorsed Revoice 2018 openly.

John Stark

John Starke Lead Pastor at Apostles Uptown in New York City – Revoice Advisory Council

John is a TGC writer, NYC pastor of a TGC affiliated Church

http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/recovering-classic-evangelicalism

http://uptown.apostles.nyc/sermons/preacher/john-starke/

APOSTLES UPTOWN NYC -PARTNERS

• Sojourn Network
• The Gospel Coalition
• Hope for New York

Starks Church is also partners with Sojourn Network which has strong ties to Albert Mohler’s Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) – which is also the former academic home for Revoice founder Nate Collins who studied and taught at SBTS for almost 15 years.

SBTS AND SOJOURNER NETWORK COURSE

http://events.sbts.edu/conference-classes/files/Sojourn-Network-Conference-Syllabus.pdf

“The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 33860 CT: Church Multiplication Strategies (Sojourn Network Conference) . An advanced course in church planting focusing on the missiological (biblical, theological, and strategic) foundations of church multiplication.”

Wesley Hill

Wesley Hill is an Anglican and has long time associations with Spiritual Friendship whose leader Ron Belgau is on the Revoice Advisory Council with Hill. Wesley Hill has also partnered with providing Resources for Living Out ministry and cofounder Sam Allberry who is the TGC voice of choice on all things LGBT . Living Out and Allberry were among the first to promote Revoice 2018 on social media. Hill has provided leadership and is a speaker in the 2018 and 2019 Revoice events.

“Wesley Hill is the author of Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. He graduated from Wheaton College and has an MA in theology and religion from Durham University in the UK. He is currently working toward a PhD in New Testament at Durham.”

Matthew Lee Anderson

Matthew Lee Anderson provided his service as  master of ceremonies for the 2018 Revoice pre-conference and is on the current Advisory Council . Anderson has a long history with Spiritual Friendship . Anderson is a regular contributor providing articles for TGC.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/matthew-lee-anderson/

Matthew Lee Anderson, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, Revoice Advisory Council

Anderson was  also the former editing partner of TGC editor / Acton Institute employee and ERLC message coordinator Joe Carter at Carter’s former publication Evangelical Outpost

https://web.archive.org/web/20090718220749/http://evangelicaloutpost.com:80/contributors

Anderson remains close friends to TGC editor Joe Carter  and they continue to publish each others article in various outlets.

https://mereorthodoxy.com/tag/joe-carter/

“My good friend Joe Carter has gone public with a disagreement we’ve had for a few years now over whether the “liberal young evangelical” exists, or whether he is a media creation.”

TWO TGC EDITORS ARE TIED TO REVOICE

In addition to the writers and contributors listed above- it is noteworthy that two TGC editors are connected to Revocie . Sam Allberry and his ministry Living Out openly promoted Revoice “for our US audience “ as they hosted TGC’s Tim Keller in London for their own event in June 2018 .  And again -Joe Carter TGC editor is a long time professional associate of Revoice leader and advisor Anderson.

MORE TGC WRITERS AMONG REVOICE LINEUP

In 2018 Revoice the TGC contributors included :

Revoice founder Nate Collins

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/nate-collins/

“Nate Collins is the executive director of Aligned Grace Resources, a ministry he founded with his father to equip churches to minister the grace and truth of the gospel to people affected by same-sex attraction. Nate and his wife, Sara, live with their two sons in Louisville, KY, where he is pursuing a PhD in New Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. You can follow him on Twitter.”

Rachel Gilson

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/rachel-gilson/

“Rachel Gilson is director of theological development at Cru Northeast. She holds a BA in history from Yale College and is completing her MDiv at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She blogs at rachelgilson.com.”

Preston Sprinkle

Preston Sprinkle, PhDPresident at Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender Revoice Advisory Council

Preston Sprinkle is Revoice Advisory Board member and the founder of the Center For Faith Sexuality and Gender . His organization is endorsed by two middle-aged leaders of the TGC Francis Chan and Matt Chandler along with Revoice endorser, ERLC fellow TGC writer Karen Swallow Prior. Also TGC/ Keller third way partner Gabe Lyons endorses Sprinkles organization which plays a key role in the movements organization of events.

TGC/SPRINKLE AND DENNY BURK -THE COUNCIL FOR BIBLICAL MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD  TIES.

Another disturbing TGC connection to Sprinkle is his friendship with TGC and SBTS/ Boyce teacher Denny Burk and his forerunner Owen Strachan at The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

In this 2015 article about his recently published book “People To Be Loved” – Sprinkle has some interesting circles to thank.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologyintheraw/2015/12/why-homosexuality-is-not-just-an-issue/

“Since this book is the fruit of communal discussion, I have many people to thank. Several people read through all, or portions of, this book: Joey Dodson, Roy Ciampa, Sam Roberto, Mark Yarhouse, Jeff Cook, and I am especially thankful for the many gay and lesbian readers who have offered incisive feedback, especially on my language, tone, and ignorant assumptions: Matt Jones, Nathan Collins, Julie Rodgers, Bill Henson, Brian Gee, Wesley Hill, Bill Henson, and Nick Roen. Several others, who didn’t read the manuscript but whose stories had a significant impact on my thinking, include Lesli Hudson-Reynolds, Justin Lee, Eve Tushnet, and many others whose testimonies have forever shaped my life.”

Clearly Sprinkle was running deeply in these pre-Revoice circles in 2014/2015 . He goes on to thank both TGC leaders past and present of the CBM&W for their help in a 2015 presentation involving  their interaction/ mentorship and that of fellow Revoice leader Wesley Hill.

“ Thanks are also due to Denny Burk, Wesley Hill (again), and Owen Strachan for your stimulating interaction in our seminar on sexual orientation at the Evangelical Theological Society’s Annual Meeting in San Diego (November 2014).”

The Revoice Story broke in early May 2018 and the controversy was immediate and disturbing .One of the most unsettling events in the early press about Revoice was perhaps the product of these close friendships and past collaborations. Some significant potential – behind the scenes activity and discussion was possibly exposed by accident. In Denny Burke’s May 30^th article on Revoice- he was in possession of and published a newly reworded title to the most controversial of the Revoice 2018 workshops at least 24 hours in advance of it being changed on the Revoice website. How did this happen? How did Burk obtain the screenshot of the unpublished – edited -toned down -language of the workshop title ?

http://www.dennyburk.com/what-about-the-revoice-conference/

Burk certainly played soft ball with his review of his friend’s event.

“ 2. The conference hasn’t happened yet. I don’t know what this conference may or may not contribute to the ongoing debate among evangelicals about sexual orientation and gay identity. My hunch is that there probably won’t be anything new from this conference about that subject. But if there is, I’ll likely write about it then.”

“Postscript: Notice this break-out session (see below). It advertises a seminar about “redeeming queer culture.” It seems to presume that there will be some kind of “queer treasure” in heaven. Again, this kind of thing is pretty standard in Christian gay identity literature—the idea that there is something praiseworthy about “queerness” or gay identity that will make it into Heaven with us.”

Revised title of workshop below as it appeared in Burks article 24 hours prior to it being changed on the Revoice website.

This writer questioned Burk about this concern the following day on twitter as he promoted his Revoice article.

Thomas Littleton‏ @revcoltom May 31

More

Denny can you explain why the name of the “Workshop on Possibility Models in Queer Theory” at Revoice reads in the screen shot “Redeeming Queer Culture ” in your article ? Who changed that in your piece? @DennyBurk @revoiceus

Original Version of controversial Revoice workshop title was

“POSSIBILITY MODELS IN QUEER THEORY AND LITERATURE: AN ADVENTURE?”

Conclusion-It has not been easy for some to accept that trusted members of leadership in the SBC/PCA / TGC and respected theological men could be involved in any way whatsoever with an event and a movement like Revoice which is seeking to “promote LGBT+ flourishing” in our churches. The disturbing facts document that the young activists leading this movement were educated in our trusted leaders seminaries, write for their publications, carry their credentials with this narrative into the public square in events like Evangelical Theological Society  and in books and publications . These activists are using the theology they studied under these trusted leaders to validate and drive their activist goals into our churches and our faith.

THE NASHVILLE STATEMENT

How reliable and trustworthy is The Nashville Statement and, for that matter , the CBM&W as a standard bearer for evangelicals given  these frat house mentality and bonds of these younger academics? The background history shows them all collaborating behind the scenes and that they clearly knew years in advance of the “Gay Christianity ” in the message of Revoice was about to emerge in the mainstream of the church.

YEARS OF COLLABORATION

Mainstreaming a message as radical as “LGBT+ Christianity” has taken years of careful, orchestrated planning and crafted talking points. This did not happen spontaneously or overnight. Given the TGC/ SBTS/ CTS/ and other support and cooperation with Revoice in 2018 and now 2019, the participation of so many individuals from these organizations in the leadership of Revoice-it is hardly possible to dismiss the concerns that the emerging reality is The Gospel Coalition and mainstream leaders in it are the men behind the curtain with Revoice. The movement they fostered is NOT driven by the Gospel or historic theology but is instead  driving social change in the church regarding LGBT+. Flourishing is taking on an entirely new meaning as it expands to include this godless LGBT+ “Christian” agenda and is seeking  to advance it against the truth.

When those all around you are peddling error-follow Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.”

HOW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , SOCIAL JUSTICE , GAY CHRISTIANITY ARE CONVERGING  TO ORGANIZE THE “NEVER AGAIN ” TRUMPERS .

By Rev Thomas Littleton                                                                                     3/20/2019

Gabe Lyons of Q Ideas /Q Conference forum is no stranger to progressive politics . As reported last year Lyons, “Good Faith” co-author /Barna guy David Kinnaman, and Tim Keller were at the forefront  of evangelical third way compromise during the Obama administration.

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/02/19/collapsing-conservative-america/

The Q Ideas Nashville Conference is coming up April 24th-26 and has a revealing mix in its lineup of “Thought Leaders”.

http://conference.qideas.org/

“From the ideas and current issues shaping society, to the truth that transforms the world, you will be informed and gain confidence that God is at work in his mission to renew all things. Education by thought leaders and stories from change-makers will inspire a hopeful way forward. Join us to be equipped for the difficult conversations and extraordinary opportunities that lie ahead.”

Q  SPEAKERS AND Q POLITICS

Among the speakers is The Gospel Coalition and SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberties political favorite Senator Ben Sasse. Senator Sasse topic is “State of Our Union” which is a predictable topic for a US Senator to speak on. What is far less in keeping with the evangelical target audience is the radical edge of sexual /LGBT+ activist and Revoice supporters who are gathering with Sasse at Lyons event.

BEN SASSE JUST GOT KISSED

Make no mistake SASSE IS the “Never Trumpers” of TGC and the ERLC candidate of choice to lead the evangelical flock. As Billy Graham found himself “kissed by  William Randolph Hearst” media machine years ago in Los Angeles – Ben Sasse is the darling of the progressive evangelical third way. This is political posturing Q / Keller / Moore style. GOP candidates beware. There is more going on in this conversation and christianized “TED Talks” forum .

Q REVOICE

Revoice Speaker Laurie Krieg of Hole in My Heart Ministries is speaking on “My Mixed Orientation Marriage” .

Revoice advocate -speaker -co-organizer Preston Sprinkle is in the Q Ideas lineup speaking on the topic of Sex Gender and Faith. Sprinkle is head of the Center for Faith  Sexuality and Gender which is also a sponsor of the event  along side World Vision, Barna , Made To Flourish and the longtime evangelical progressive organization Leadership Network . Sprinkles organization which promotes LGBT+ Flourishing in the church is endorsed by fellow Q Speaker /TGC leader Matt Chandler .

Revoice organizer and advocate / PCA fringe dweller Scott Sauls is speaking at Q on Irresistible Grace . Perhaps this title reflects  an effort to perhaps appear more orthodox in his reformed circles. Sauls, like Lyons is a close associate of Tim Keller. Sauls spent 12 years on staff as a “preaching elder” at Keller’s Redeemer Church in NYC. Sauls continues to skirt the radical fringes of his conservative PCA denomination in the company of Tim Keller . Against the efforts of their own finely tuned TGC media machine -TGC brand is finally reaping some long overdue scrutiny from real conservative evangelicals. Sauls appears to be a primary Q leader in this Nashville event. Afterall it is his adopted hometown .

Also at Q on the Faith and Sexuality  front is artist and musician Matthew Liu speaking on ” Sex, Gender and Faith”. Liu is a presenter at other events held by Preston Sprinkle’s Digital Leaders Forum.

Conference Speaker Andy Crouch (former editor of Christianity Today ) is recently revealed to be a Revoice Advisory Council Member . Crouch topic at Q Conference is “A Theology of Cyborgs ”

Q TRANSGENDER CHRISTIANITY

In its ongoing effort be appear on the cutting edge -Gabe Lyons Q Ideas is presenting a self identifying “transgender Christian” speaker . Kat Laprairie is also speaking on “Sex Gender and Faith.  This person’s ( pronoun caution taken ) bio reads:

“Kat identifies as a Transgender Christian, who came to Christ once discovering the reckless, boundless love He has for Kat. Through Kat’s story of growing up in church culture amidst wrestling with gender identity, Kat is eager and passionate about sharing God’s good news with others.”

Q QUESTION ?

With the convergence of The Gospel Coalition ERLC and Revoice people at Q and many other events- how much REAL (safe) space exists between the TGC mainstream and the Revoice radical fringe?

Q ANSWER ?- TIME WILL TELL -SOON!

IS BEN SASSE WANTING TO BE KISSED BY REVOICE AND TRANSGENDER FAITH

The better question for Ben Sasse is does he really want his political career to be kissed by TGC / ERLC or his political future  to be determined by the success of Tim Keller and Russell Moores hatred of the Trump White House? Does Sasse realize Keller and Moore’s determination to redefine Evangelicalism altogether?

Careful Ben- these kisses come with even more baggage .

Q FAITH AND WORK

The Faith and Work organizations and  ideologies are well represented among the sponsors including the Tim Keller / Redeemer mentored “Nashville Institute for Faith and Work .  https://www.nifw.org/staff

Scott Sauls and  his Executive Pastor Bob Bradshaw at Christ Presbyterian Church  are on the board of this organization.

BOB BRADSHAW, ADVISOR

“Bob serves as Executive Director at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Before joining CPC’s pastoral team in August 2012, he served as Executive Director at Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL. Prior to entering full-time ministry, Bob worked as Chairman and CEO of Boston-based MSL Corp. as President and COO of SCI Corp. in Huntsville; as Eastern Region President for Solectron Corp. in Charlotte, and as Senior Executive-Site General Manager for IBM in Charlotte. Bob holds a bachelor’s in math from Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA) and is certified in Crown Financial Ministries. Bob co-founded a small creamery business in Charlotte with his wife, Rose. They are the parents of four daughters.”

SCOTT SAULS, ADVISORY PASTOR

“Scott is the Senior Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN (March 2012–present) and the author of Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides and Befriend: Create Belonging in an Age of Judgment, Isolation, and Fear. He is a graduate of Furman University and Covenant Seminary, a former Lead and Preaching Pastor at New York City’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and the founding pastor of churches in Kansas City and Saint Louis. Scott is married to Patti and has two daughters, Abby and Ellie.

In short this ideology heralds  the value of promoting the realization of purpose found in merging of faith and work for the common good and human flourishing . The ideology and favored terminology  is right out of the Keller associates and Frankfurt School inspired  UVA   “Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture” . The Princeton based center that bears the name of the Faith and Work branding provides centralized planning for spread of the ideology . Faith and Work is carefully promoting an idealized form of evangelical socialism and socialist economics wrapped in a hyper-thin layer of Hayek ,free-market lingo and Keller’s idiotic  “Theology of Vocation “. Its’ endgame is to harness  next generation Christians hearts minds into collectivist ideologies for harvesting their productivity for the global common good. Sound anything like New Testament Christianity ?”

Q SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Faith and Work and Cultural Engagement organizations on the campuses of most conservative Christian institutions are now the subject of considerable attention as well given their role in and funding for promoting Social Justice as  a”Gospel Issue”. TGC leadership is reeling from the public scrutiny that their MLK/50 conference / Revoice connections and then the anti social justice “Dallas Statement ” have brought. A deep and growing  divide appears to have formed among top tier leaders in TGC. Meanwhile Russell Moore’s rhetoric in the run up to 2020 may cost his position in the SBC if 2016 reactions are repeated. Conservatives can hope and pray for Moore to maintain his brazen posture.

Q BORDER POLICY

Speaker Gena Thomas works for the Covenant College based/ Q Ideas sponsor “The Chalmers Center”  Her topic is “”Children at The Border “. Q likely assumes that Evangelicals must surely be made to care about the Border “crisis”  and be turned against President Trump’s Border Wall . According to her bio  Thomas “served as a missionary in northern Mexico for over four years with her husband, Andrew. She has two children, works at The Chalmers Center, and writes as often as she can. She holds a masters in International Development.” Chalmers Center is schooling young conservative Christians in Christian Community Development ,which also explains the presence of  Russell Moore – friends and mentor -civil rights leader John Perkins in the Q Ideas line up.  Perkins is speaking on “Repairing the Breach “.

Q SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Tim Keller is an exuberant globalist – like his Leadership Network trained pal Rick Warren. However the book of  Revelation reveals a pretty bleak outcome and future for globalism. Still these evangelical leaders are undeterred in their love of  and promotion of globalism and all its anti-christ vision into the church. One speaker in the Q forum lineup  boldly merges the Global Sustainability Goals of the United Nations and other international partners into the church.

Jason Fileta – Q Bio

“Jason grew up in Wheaton, Illinois, the son of Egyptian immigrants. The plight of the persecuted church in Egypt compelled him to commit his life to fighting for a more just world. Since then he launched his career in advocacy focused on ending extreme poverty.”

Fileta’s group Tear Fund is an advocate for Global Warming and Global Sustainable Development Goals . https://www.tearfund.org/2017/05/climate_of_hope/.

It is also part of the Lausanne Movements -“Micah Challenge ” which supports and includes a prayer guide for the “Global Sustainability Goals”. Sound unthinkable ? Think again -it is happening.

https://www.scribd.com/document/174219018/PRAYER-STATIONS-GUIDE-ON-THE-MILLENNIUM-DEVELOPMENT-GOALS-MDGS-Pages-143-154

Click to access Prayer_Stations.pdf

Q CONFUSION OR Q TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE ?

Q Ideas is a forum that may confuse some listeners as it mixes these polar opposite ideologies of Christian faith  and progressive social causes together on its’ stage and in its’ events .But make no mistake – Q Ideas is not here to confuse you -but to engage you while it helps you  embrace its’ Third Way worldview and merges it with your faith .

LIPSTICK STAINED REPUBLICANS

Ben Sasse may or may not be aware of whose lipstick will linger on his own political (COLLAR) career  and may not be aware that he is being used.Still he may want to reconsider this path.

In the 2016 election cycle Tim Keller and Russell Moore failed in their big hairy audacious goal of detracting enough of the Evangelical vote from Trump to prevent his  Presidential victory (an elect Democrat Hillary Clinton by default). They continue to this day to shame and belittle evangelical voters for supporting Trump accusing them of everything from hurting the Gospel- alienating the culture -to racism and bigotry. Keller and Moore who serve as mentor figures in TGC and to many of the young idealists in these Q meetings are quickly becoming more Political Pariah than Prophet.

Unless GOP guys like Ben Sasse want their own political message “Revoiced ” by Social Justice, LGBT+ Thriving , Transgender Christianity, Global Sustainability Goals , Climate Change and the like- perhaps they had better choose their evangelical associations more wisely.

Conclusion – The Gospel Coalition and the neo-reformed movement it represents  in the PCA, the SBC, and other smaller denominations and independent churches is NOT a theological movement in the least . It is a progressive political movement wearing a thin veneer of theological orthodoxy . As its brazen left leaning and “Third Way” politics become more and more glaring- so will grow the Evangelical divide it had hoped to bridge. Take a deep breath believers – more shame and confusion efforts await in the rapidly approaching 2020 election cycle. Keep your heads. TGC and their ilk are just a floating object in the progressive floodtide of social change . Stick with your Bible and the Holy Spirit for your convictions .

Proverbs 23

WHILE ACCUSING CONCERNED CHRISTIANS OF LIES, SLANDER AND HURTING THE REPUTATION OF COVENANT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -MARK DALBEY IGNORES SCOTT SAULS AND MIKE HIGGINS ROLES IN REVOICE.

Rev Thomas Littleton                                                                                                     3/14/2019

Covenant Theological Seminary President Mark Dalbey is attempting some damage control after criticism lingers from CTS ties to and staff involvement in the controversial Revoice 2018 event in St Louis last year. Whether or not his current effort to respond resonates with critics may depend more on what he is not saying than what is being said.

A recent article by Owen Strachan attempts to promote the Dalbey response in the best possible light.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thoughtlife/2019/03/covenant-seminary-moves-away-from-revoice/

Strachan opens his article with this positive tone, “ In a major and heartening announcement, Covenant Theological Seminary President Mark Dalbey just announced that no faculty members would participate in the 2019 Revoice Conference. “

Dalby’s announcement can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=tVvghdAgE9s

In the video response Dalbey admits he is answering concerns about CTS commitment to Biblical sexual ethics which have resulted from Revoice 2018 involvement. Dalbey affirms traditional -one man one woman -biblical marriage and that sexuality is to be expressed only within this biblical model of marriage .

Regarding homosexuality, Dalbey affirms, “Homosexual desire is a result of the fall; it’s a sinful desire that is to be mortified and resisted and in no way dignified. … homosexual lust and homosexual intimate behavior is sin and condemned by God….Covenant Seminary does not teach that a person should identify as a “gay Christian.” Covenant Seminary will not have any of our faculty speaking at the 2019 Revoice Conference.”

DALBEY DISCLAIMER ON REVOICE CONFERENCE

Dr. Dalbey then asserts that CTS does not endorse or have a role in the Revoice Conference. “We do not agree with all the views of the Revoice Conference.” Dalbey does fail to condemn the Revoice movement which is now in its second year .

Dalbey then attempts to offer specific denials for CTS. “Covenant Seminary does not advocate for Queer Theology. CTS does not teach that a person should identify as a gay Christian. And CTS will not have any of our faculty teaching at the 2019 Revoice Conference.” At this point a couple of questions are appropriate and perhaps only Dr. Dalbey can answer them.

CTS NASHVILLE EXTENSION CLASSES LEADER SCOTT SAULS HELPED MENTOR REVOICE FOUNDING IN WINTER OF 2018 AND CTS PROFESSOR MIKE HIGGINS HOSTED THE PRE-CONFERENCE IN HIS SOUTH CITY CHURCH.

According to multiple  internet sources and PCA’s  By Faith Magazine (announced in 2015) the Nashville extension classes of CTS are held at Scott Sauls’ Christ Presbyterian (PCA) church in Nashville TN. https://byfaithonline.com/covenant-seminary-to-offer-classes-in-nashville/.  “Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville will host the initial classes, with St. Louis professors as primary teachers and Nashville adjuncts such as Dr. Scotty Smith also teaching classes.” In this By Faith report,”Mark Dalbey, Covenant Seminary president, said Nashville is home to a concentrated number of Covenant Seminary alumni who are serving their communities in vocational ministry or other capacities. For years these alumni have been asking Covenant to offer classes in Nashville.” Sauls points out the growth and cultural center Nashville has become. In a video released on Covenant Seminary’s Facebook page, Nashville pastor Scott Sauls said, “Nashville is undergoing a very significant transformation as a city. It’s becoming less and less Bible Belt and more and more Athens of the South.” https://www.covenantseminary.edu/nashville/

Why Nashville?

“Scott Sauls & Scotty Smith talk about why Nashville is an important city for the advance of the gospel.”

CTS / DALBY REVOICE REALITY CHECK

One of the more controversial endorsements on the Revoice 2018 website was that of Scott Sauls PCA pastor, CTS graduate and lecturer . According to social media of Revoice founder Nate Collins, who lived in Nashville at the time,- Scott Sauls helped mentor the founding of and traveled with Collins in the February of 2018 to St Louis for Revoice organizing and planning. CTS President Mark Dalbey fails to address Sauls dual roles in CTS and Revoice.

Nate Collins is with Scott Sauls and 6 others.

February 24, 2018 · 

Goodbye St. Louis! We had such a good time celebrating the ministry of FirstLight, planning for Revoice, and spending time with dear friends, new and old. Looking forward to the next time, hopefully soon!

• 

  Matthew Lee Anderson If you didn’t stop at Bogart’s the trip is a failure. #justsayin‘

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DALBYS OTHER UNADDRESSED REVOICE CTS CONNECTION

According to the Revoice review of the 2018 event a second PCA church was involved in hosting the 2018 Revoice events and its pastor is a CTS professor and Dean of Students.

http://www.southcitychurch.com/home/staff/

“Mike and Renee Higgins came to South City Church in 2012. Mike attended Covenant Seminary earned his MDiv in 1996 and served as a PCA pastor in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia before returning to Covenant Seminary as Dean of Students in 2011.”

Higgins South City Church became embroiled in a controversy of their own last Fall in its attempts to host a transgendered speaker in the 2018 Reclaim MLK event. https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/01/15/are-pca-pastor-and-daughter-teaching-the-transgender-two-step/.

Faith For Justice Co-founder is Michelle Higgins is pastor Mike Higgins daughter, South City Church Worship/ Children’s ministry leader, and a CTS graduate .

“Michelle Higgins, Director of Worship

“Michelle Higgins has been a choir director, event coordinator, youth ministry director, gospel-funk lyricist and lead singer. Michelle was born in St. Louis and has lived near Fairgrounds Park, Forest Park, Benton Park and Tower Grove Park. She currently serves the African American Leadership Development Conference of Saint Louis.”

“Michelle has deep roots in the African American pentecostal tradition, but her ambition is to encourage and participate in blended worship with all the nations. Michelle holds an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary.”

IS THE ANGRY DALBY IS ONLY COMING HALF CLEAN?

President Dalbey is not  revealing or speaking to concerns about the role CTS Nashville extension host pastor Scott Sauls has played in Revoice 2018 but only speaks to Professor Dr. Jay Skylar’s treatment of Leviticus 18 in  his lecture at Revoice. Dalbey has also never addressed Mike Higgins/South City Church role in hosting the Revoice Pre-Conference. Covenant Theological Seminary has far more significant involvement in and ties to Revoice than perhaps President Dalby is aware or at least is willing to admit.

WHY CAN’T THEY CONDEMN REVOICE -EVEN NOW?

Given the radical agenda, language, and workshops announced months BEFORE Revoice 2018 -why were CTS professor’s part of the 2018 event? Why is that now a problem if it was not a problem last year? Is it a problem now because the event became controversial enough for Dr. Dalbey to be forced to respond at the PCA General Assembly last June and the controversy lingers today? If CTS is not advocating for Queer Theology – what about Queer Theory, Gender Theory and Feminine Theory? Are they being taught at CTS? If not, where did 7 of the 2018 Revoice speakers with close ties to and /or recent graduates of CTS develop their use of such theories and the Revoice ideology?

MAKE IT ALL PUBLIC

Can Dr. Dalbey make these Revoice CTS graduates academic records public? If no, deeper connection to CTS exist-why was the event held in St Louis in a PCA church? The Revoice conference embodies and contains the controversial  LGBT+ narrative which is developed under such theories as mentioned above and DID have multiple CTS trained young people who DO identify as “Gay /LGBT Christian” speaking and providing leadership to the Revoice movement. Can rightly concerned PCA and biblically  conservative people see what is being taught to their children, grandchildren and future church ministry leaders at CTS?

DALBEY DENIES WHAT CTS/ HE HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF

No one expressing  concerns over Revoice have actually said that the conference was proclaiming “Queer Theology” . However the event and some of its workshops stopped just short of it. Still no case has been made that Revoice or CTS is promoting  “Queer Theology.” The controversial theories were fully engaged in the narrative and the movements behind Revoice process of social change. Addressing an accusation that was not made appears like a “straw man” argument.

DALBEY GOES ON THE ATTACK

“Much of what is being said about CTS is sinful, slanderous and a violation of the 9^th commandment.” Dalbey goes on to point fingers at CTS critics for, in his view, hurting the good name of CTS by these ”slanderous attacks”. According to Dalby CTS teaches its students how to act toward people who are homosexuals. Note this language reinforces sexual identity and is not in keeping with biblical /sin view.  Does Dr. Dalbey believe in Sexual Orientation which is the core problem at the root of the Revoice controversy He has not chosen his words very wisely here and adds to confusion later. Dr. Dalbey goes on to say CTS teaches their students to be committed to “Biblical Sexual Ethic” however – Revoice does not use the word Biblical but instead asserts they are “committed to Christian Sexual Ethic.”  Revoice founder Nate Collins clarifies this as an extra -biblical position “because the bible writers do not know about Sexual Orientation.”  Again where is Dr. Dalbey on the issue of orientation?

The view expressed by Revoice 2018 multiple (recent) CTS graduates concerning their adherence to the broader “Christian sexual ethic”  was lampooned at the opening session of the 2018 event as that terminology was made the object humor and mutual disdain. Comments on the Christian sexual ethic language included “that’s something we are not very good at” and “what are we talking about -the sexual ethic of King David?”  If the dance around terminology does not look good on CTS graduates- it looks far worse when the CTS President is waltzing with words and adding more confusion to an already disturbing set of concerns.

REVOICING EVANGELISM WAS NOT THE REVOICE GOAL

Dalbey spends a good deal of time covering the issue of evangelism related to CTS and what it teaches its students about relating to “those in the gay lifestyle” however – the Revoice concerns are not about how CTS students or graduates relate to those around them in evangelistic /outreach capacities.  Revoice Conference stated purpose is “to promote LGBT+ Flourishing in historic Christian tradition.”  That is,  to promote acceptance of LGBT+ people and identities -radical as they may choose to be- inside the church. Where is Dalbey going with this evangelistic narrative if not diverting from the real goal of Revoice? That goal is not evangelism but is to bring social change in the church.

Dalbey says “our churches are to be promoting this” kind of evangelism yet the Revoice Conference aim and target audience is not the needy lost world around the church -but the church itself.  Dalbey may have given himself away by the use of the modern mantra of compromise when urging that we should follow his and CTS evangelistic example and learn to “in winsome ways” reach out to homosexuals. This sounds as if CTS / Dalbey have become devoted Russell Moore followers.  Winsome – since 2014 – is the inclusion .

TEMPTATION NOT ORIENTATION

Dr. Dalbey hits one key point -that of temptation -very strongly and lands on the historic/ Biblical side of it when he describes the kind of outreach that CTS teaches their students toward other believers and LGBT.  Dalbey uses the biblical perspective on homosexual desires experienced by Christians as “temptation” which is totally counter to the views surrounding the case for sexual orientation.  But now he has confused anyone who is listening closely.  Is CTS teaching the sexual orientation views of Mark Yarhouse and other Christian counselors and psychologist?  Does CTS subscribe to the unbiblical / interfaith /APA view validating “sexual orientation” reflected in CTS recent graduates who appear as Revoice 2018 speakers?  Dr Dalbey and CTS cannot have it both ways. Which is it, temptation or orientation?

Next up in the video,the lines get very blurry.  Dalbey asserts the church should welcome those with same sex attraction “temptations” as full members and into positions of ministry and “service.”  Perhaps he is speaking of CTS graduates who his institution is training for ministry.  Is CTS teaching those strugglers that they face orientation  temptation?  If so, then it may be CTS that is the author of their confusion.  So again Dr. Dalbey which is it temptation or orientation?  His CTS graduates involved in Revoice have been taught the latter.  Where did they learn it?

CONFUSION TURNS TO ACCUSATION

Dr Dalbey then implies the need for a Biblical approach to correcting a brother or sister in error, but fails to address how this private Galatians 6 approach fits the Revoice events public efforts to change the church.  It is now quite common for Christian leaders who are caught in uncomfortable positions as Dalbey to inject such verses like Gal. 6 and Matthew 18 to correct those who express concerns, reversing the blame of who is in error.  This appears to work well no matter how scarce the Biblical application to the situation may actually be.  It is often intended to trigger a guilt response and shut down the opposition and contain public exposure over a public sin and concern like Revoice. Dr. Dalbey should know better than to make such misapplication of these verses. Hopefully, he can see the error of context and application upon closer examination of undisclosed facts.

Dalbey insist the lies “must stop “ and urges concerned believers (presumably parents of CTS students or alumni ) to call CTS and to Call him and have some nice conversations.

A BETTER PLAN OF ACTION

It is possible that the easier more believable way to make public all of the current CTS CURRICULUM and academic papers which determine policy on LGBT+ at Covenant. Release all of the materials and required reading list for students in the counseling and psychology departments at CTS.  Release, make public all of the academic papers, thesis and dissertations of Revoice speakers who are CTS graduates.

Speak to the 2017 Missouri Presbytery overhaul of its position on homosexuality, its embrace of Yarhouse/ Orientation which, in many ways , paved the way for Revoice. Speak to the roles CTS and it’s professors were involved in that 300 plus page document.

http://mopres.org/resources/papers/201710-reportOnHomosexuality.pdf?fbclid=IwAR28RrW0vnKhFMo4zB0flFtR3laIdvjJ10_Y2tWY3BP5SADxo_u947EDHyM

Dr. Dalbey can speak to First Light ministries ties to Revoice and to it’s PCA host church -the potential /looming / lacking objectivity -coverup of the “investigation” into Memorial Presbyterian Church and its pastor Revoice speaker Greg Johnson.  Please speak to T E Ron Lutjens  involvement with both First Light ministries and the Investigation into Revoice and to your wife Beth’s long time work with First Light where several key Revoice management also work.  https://www.theaquilareport.com/is-revoice-lgbt-thriving-through-cover-up-in-pca-missouri-presbytery/

Please speak more fully to the recent controversy regarding a radical Transgender activist MLK themed event and CTS ties to it -including it’s speakers claims that “Jesus was Trans-gendered.”

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2019/01/15/are-pca-pastor-and-daughter-teaching-the-transgender-two-step/

Speak to Scott Sauls Role with CTS/ Nashville which is housed from its inception in Sauls PCA church in Nashville.  Also, speak to his open mentorship role with Revoice founding and promotion of the 2018 event.  Is Sauls still involved with Covenant Nashville and with Revoice 2019?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUSUDBjIQu4

Before jumping into accusation that CTS has been lied about- slandered and in some way mistreated- first open the curriculum – open the records and a by all means address these unanswered concerns.

ABOVE ALL -CONSIDER THAT THE SACRED TRUST CTS IS GIVEN COMES WITH ACCOUNTABILITY

Dr. Dalbey  seems unaware that conservative Christian believers have given Covenant Theological Seminary and his staff and faculty a sacred trust- actually layers of sacred trust.  They send to you our most precious gifts from almighty God- our children and grandchildren.  They entrust their hearts and minds to CTS and all conservative institutions like CTS to be  godly shepherds and assume the task of helping disciple the next generation of church leaders- statesmen – pastors- missionaries – youth workers – and community leaders.  Responding in  in half- truths or calculated shielded comments which serve to confuse the issues is not helpful.  Don’t point a bony finger of accusation when people are alarmed at something as radical and disturbing as Revoice.  To then play the role of victim when admittedly your own people have already been involved in the controversy is unbecoming to say the least.  Thank you for drawing some line in the sand somewhere,even though it is almost a year late.  Stil , Dr. Dalbey, clarify -does this signal a correction of the larger problems and infiltration of CTS?  Stop accusing those concerned of “Sowing discord.”  Please give the kind of leadership to correcting this acknowledged error that you are attempting to persuade us that you have given.

Please Dr Dalbey faithfully keep these verses in true context and apply them only in light of the full set of facts.

There is never a need to calculate an honest response.

Galatians 6:1  “Brethren, if a man is ^[a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Matthew 18:15-17   “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Exodus 20:16  “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

REDEFINING FAMILY THE SBC “PROPHET” -MOORE MAY BE PROVING HIMSELF AN EVANGELICAL PARIAH.

Thomas Littleton                                                                                              3/4/2019

(Russell Moore from Wall Street Journal article in 2013  quote – “Culture war is over we lost-make Winsome” )

The most shocking revelation to come from the radical movements to change the language and redefine historic Christian faith to date has been the brazen Revoice movement. It’s close ties to the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission headed by Russell Moore made some waves which linger among other almost daily controversies surrounding Moore . This reality of controversy and ties to Revoice may now worsen in light of the shared vision of Revoice and Russell Moore to redefine family in the church.

REVOICE CONTROVERSY -ROUND TWO

As massive as the LGBT+ “Flourishing ” story exposing the event became in 2018 – the new line up of speakers provided undeniable integration of the message on “sexual orientation”  with the evangelical mainstream movements like The Gospel Coalition and the ERLC. Mark Yarhouse not only was commissioned to draft the 2010 documents for TGC and its affiliates spawning the embrace of sexual orientation- but Yarhouse is now a keynote speaker at the 2019 Revoice event as announced this past week . Revoice is the voice of the mainstream messaging on LGBT.  Room for doubt or plausible deniability no longer exist .

RUSSELL MOORE AND THE CORE CHANGE EFFORT

BY far the most disturbing thing to come out of Revoice was the echoed sentiment of feminist theology which labels the nuclear family an “IDOL”. Here are just a few reactions to Nate Collins Revoice lecture where this rhetoric was engaged last year.

https://www.theaquilareport.com/revoice-and-gods-design-for-the-family/

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2018/09/revoice-and-the-idolatry-of-th.php

Even the ever lagging Denny Burk made note of this problematic “Idol” language

http://www.dennyburk.com/revoice-is-over-now-what/

SOURCE OF “THE FAMILY AS IDOL” CONCEPT

Where did Nate Collins find this worn but popular language accusing the Biblical Institution of marriage of being an idol ? His Curriculum Vitae gives some clue.

http://independent.academia.edu/NateCollins3/CurriculumVitae

Collins studies have included a major focus on” Feminine”and “Gender Theory ”

Rosaria Butterfield’s current work with TGC/ERLC is focused on “Hospitality ” toward the LGBT community by the Church. Something firmly embedded in the Church as family  vision of Fishburn/ Drew/ Feminist Theology .

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/rosaria-butterfield-radically-ordinary-hospitality/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/april-web-only/rosaria-butterfield-gospel-comes-house-key.html

https://www.9marks.org/interview/episode-67-on-hospitality-and-the-gospel-with-kent-rosaria-butterfield/

““Radically ordinary hospitality does not simply flow from the day-to-day interests of the household. You must prepare spiritually. The Bible calls spiritual preparation warfare. Radically ordinary hospitality is indeed spiritual warfare.”
― Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

““Our post-Christian neighbors need to hear and see and taste and feel authentic Christianity, hospitality spreading from every Christian home that includes neighbors in prayer, food, friendship, childcare, dog walking, and all the daily matters upon which friendships are built.”
― Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

(Note that Butterfield’s ideal of hospitality echoes that of Allberry’s LGBT inclusion audit and the Fishburn ideals of church as family including homosexuals .)

““The key to contagious grace—the grace that allows the margins to move to the center, the grace that commands you to never fear the future, the grace that reveals that what humbles you cannot hurt you if Jesus is your Lord—that grace is ours when we do what Mary says to do in this scene. She says to the servants (and the Holy Spirit says to us): “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Simple, right? No. We cannot will ourselves into the deep obedience that God requires. We can’t obey until we ourselves have received this grace and picked up our cross. We can’t obey until we have laid down our life, with all our false and worldly identities and idols.” (Idols like family according to feminine theory) Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

““The Christian life makes no room for independent agents, onlookers, renters. We who are washed in the blood of Christ are stakeholders.”
― Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key

““Radically ordinary hospitality is this: using your Christian home in a daily way that seeks to make strangers neighbors, and neighbors family of God.”
― Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

And a final quote from Butterfield which could easily be taken as coming from the halls of Drew University Theological School.

““Are Christians victims of this post-Christian world? No. Sadly, Christians are co-conspirators. We embrace modernism’s perks when they serve our own lusts and selfish ambitions. We despise modernism when it crosses lines of our precious moralism. Our cold and hard hearts; our failure to love the stranger; our selfishness with our money, our time, and our home; and our privileged back turned against widows, orphans, prisoners, and refugees mean we are guilty in the face of God of withholding love and Christian witness. And even more serious is our failure to read our Bibles well enough to see that the creation ordinance and the moral law, found first in the Old Testament, is as binding to the Christian as any red letter. Our own conduct condemns our witness to this world.”
― Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World

POLITICAL AMBITIONS OF REDEFINING FAMILY

Janet Fishburn and feminine theology see the central concern of Christian Family as the incubator of Conservative Christianity and the “Christian Right” . So taking down the Christian Family as an idol and replacing it with with a secularized church community  impregnated  with liberal feminist theology would prove very useful in taking out the foundation of  Christian Conservatism and its presence as salt and light in America.

“During the 1960s change in sexual behavior and family roles led some social theorists to predict the end of the family… The churches of America are culture-conserving institutions. Even the most liberal denominations like the Unitarian Universalists function to conserve the cultural commitments of the middle-class status-quo. Despite the equality acquired by women and Afro-Americans during the 1960s, members of middle-class churches are still relatively unaware of the extent to which most congregations are still sexist and racist. .. ” (page 38)

“Evidence indicates that Protestant ways of thinking about the church, family, and sexuality have lost meaning and may actually interfere with the capacity of church members to respond to change in the family. The family as a social institution is not extinct. The Protestant ideal of family is inadequate when dealing with life in a changing culture and can mislead the thinking of pastors about Christian spirituality.
Even though the Bible is an ancient book, it offers ways of thinking about the world that can still be considered a guide to Christian faith. The general attitudes and ordering of values in Scripture contain timeless wisdom about God’s relationship to the people of God and the world. When viewed as a general guide to faith rather than as a collection of specific teachings, the Bible can provide a basis for theological reflection and dialogue about every aspect of life for contemporary Christians.” (page 129)

“The term nuclear family is used by sociologists to refer to the smallest family unit, typically that of two parents and their children. In this time of changing family structure, nuclear is an ironic choice to designate the smallest set of family relationships. The nuclear family is an isolated family. It is often a family wrenched out of extended family traditions and relationships. It is not unusual to find explosive relationships between members of families isolated from friendship with people like themselves. It is not unusual to find congregations where the emotional volatility of the family life of members is replicated in the life of the congregation.”
“As is the case with atomic power, the nuclear family has the potential to be a social force that is constructive or destructive. When a congregation has social networks in which intergenerational relationships are possible, parents are relieved of sole responsibility for the faith of their children. When this happens, it is easier to see that the American ideal of a self-sufficient family is not only impossible; it is undesirable.”

Again Fishburn is asserting here that the self sufficient Christian Family is not only Impossible but- UNDESIRABLE ! In addition the undesirable fruit of Christian family would include such traits as individualism, entrepreneurship, historic masculinity and femininity, the inspiration to seek a better life for your nuclear family in the dreaded “American Dream” . These are all part of the long list of undesirable traits bred in the nuclear family.

As difficult as it may be to admit to the massive collusion in deception by Evangelical leaders of the Flock of God – even over the God established institution of the family -it is far more difficult to ignore the brazen progressive political ambitions of TGC/ ERLC and their  operatives.

RUSSELL MOORE AND TIM KELLER’S RELENTLESS ATTACKS ON CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY .

Just in the last two years alone -the progressive political overtones -outrageous rhetoric -and public shaming of Christians for Biblical conservative views reflected in their voting has outed the TGC/ERLC ambitions to change the conservative culture of the evangelical church in America. The most effective way to bring about this social change has been to flood our educational institutions -then trickle down into the pulpits of our churches. Now comes the revelation that they are partnering with feminist theology and theory to take down the incubator of conservative Christianity- the Christian Nuclear Family and working to do so in the name of “Christ or Gospel centered family “.

Read as many examples as need to confirm to your own heart and mind that these men of TGC/ERLC want to change your conservative Christian values to reflect their own progressive views. This includes your views of family sexuality and even pro life ! (Though most of these stories are fronted with the “anti trump” mantra- it is the conservative voting patterns in general of many American Christians that are the target  of these evangelical leaders.)

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/russell-moore-donald-trump-southern-baptists/

https://www.npr.org/2016/12/20/506248119/anti-trump-evangelical-faces-backlash

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2017/march/erlc-defends-russell-moore-apology-sbc-trump-divide.html

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/World/Tim-Keller-says-being-a-US-evangelical-is-harder-under-Trump

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-evangelicalism-survive-donald-trump-and-roy-moore

https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/at-a-private-meeting-in-illinois-a-group-of-evangelicals-tried-to-save-their-movement-from-trumpism

https://thirtypiecesofsilver.org/2018/11/17/9marks-dever-and-fabian-socialist-trained-editor-how-to-ditch-your-pro-life-voting-habit/

https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/politico50/russell-moore/

https://www.russellmoore.com/2019/03/01/russell-moore-tim-keller-a-conversation/

The idea is that Evangelicals who voted for Trump have done so at the expense of the Gospel and have hurt the Church witness in the culture. However the anti-conservative political  talking points  of TGC/ERLC come into play on every progressive issue from immigration and refugees-to race- #MeToo movement – LGBT+ and every other politicized issue of our time.For those who want to bring about social change in America – they must do so by impacting the Church . To fundamentally alter the church -you must change the structure of the Christian Family. THAT is what we now see in play by our own in the church .

REVOICING THE FAITH FOR A FEW OR ATTACKING THE FAITH OF MILLIONS ?

The speaker line up for 2019 Revoice Conference has been made public.The new slogan for the event is “Fostering Peace. Honoring Dignity. Preserving Faith.” How is attacking historic Christian faith intended to accomplish any of the three?

Rev Thomas Littleton                                                                                 3/1/2019

As the controversial Revoice Conference announces it’s speaker line up for 2019 the reality of it’s mainstream connections become more undeniable. Mark Yarhouse who is a regular on conservative Christian university and seminary campuses across the country and is the go to partner on all things LGBT  for The Gospel Coalition of D A Carson and Tim Keller is now among the Revoice keynote speakers .

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/revoice19?epa=HASHTAG

(Photos from Revoice social media announcement)

Returning to the event will be Revoice Founder and Albert Mohler/ SBTS  long time student and teacher  Nate Collins  along with 2018 speaker and Spiritual Friendship advocate Wesley Hill.

New Speakers include

Mark Yarhouse

Dr. Yarhouse is the leading voice in “LGBT+ Christianity” advocacy . He was named Senior Fellow with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. The CCCU and the NAE were just in the news for their disturbing decision to move ahead of the goals of the Equality Act by adding LGBT+ language into the non discrimination policies of their Christian organizations  long before the dream legislation of the LGBT activist like the  Human Rights Campaign becomes legally binding.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/nae-and-cccu-boards-back-sogi-compromise-for-religious-freedom-exemptions.html

Yarhouse is best known for having been one of the early promoters of Revoice 2018 and for long time work with Revoice Founder Nate Collins with such groups as LOVEboldly and Exodus International since 2013 . However Yarhouse ties into the compromise by the mainstream of evangelicalism came in 2010 when TGC founder D A Carson commissioned Mark Yarhouse to develop the TGC Whitepaper providing the gold standard for TGC on human sexuality through Yarhouse- American Psychological Association /Interfaith -affirming LGBT work.

https://sexualidentityinstitute.org/sample-page/dr-mark-yarhouse/

” Dr. Yarhouse is currently the Chair of the task force on LGBT issues for Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association. He was recently invited to write the featured white paper on sexual identity for the Christ on Campus Initiative edited by Don A. Carson for The Gospel Coalition”

This means for 2019 the TGC ties to Revoice continue in evidence and are certainly more out  in the open. The voice of TGC on LGBT+ and the speaker for Revoice ,Yarhouse , are one in the same.

YARHOUSE MOVING TO WHEATON COLLEGE IN SUMMER 2019

https://www.wheaton.edu/news/recent-news/2018/november/dr-mark-yarhouse-appointment/

“Wheaton College announced today that psychologist and researcher Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D. will join the College’s School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy as the Dr. Arthur P. Rech and Mrs. Jean May Rech Chair in Psychology. Yarhouse will begin his appointment in July 2019.”

“Yarhouse currently serves as the Rosemarie S. Hughes Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he has been a core faculty member in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology since 1998. The appointment will be a homecoming for Yarhouse, who was in Wheaton College’s first graduating Psy.D. cohort in 1998.”

MORE SPEAKERS

Another speaker is Beka Mason of Chattanooga Tennessee

According to her biography in a Christianity Today

https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2017/june/finding-my-true-self-as-same-sex-attracted-woman-obergefell.html

” Bekah Mason, ThM, is an adoptive mom of two, Christian school administrator, and doctoral student”

Beka is a member of the Pelican Project

https://thepelicanproject.com/about/

Beka researches and writes “in the areas of history, theology, education, and sexuality,”

Also speaking is Tyler Chernesky

Chernesky is the Associate Pastor at the Downtown Campus of Christ Community Church in Kansas City who has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where The Gospel Coalition is headquartered .

Revoice 2019 speaker  Johanna Finegan of Princeton Johanna works and writes for Spiritual Friendship who promoted the Revoice 2018 Pre-conference event at PCA’s South City Church

She also worked for a now defunct website begun by PFLAG founder

http://www.comingout4christians.net/define-bridges-across-the-divide.html

Bridges Across the Divide

“WORKSHOPS TBA”

We do not yet see the Workshops / topics or speakers for them but -as in the case of the 2018 event – the most controversial topics and language may be held in reserve until closer to the event .

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE CONSIDERATION

The one thing that the presence and open participation  of Mark Yarhouse in the 2019 Revoic Conference proves is that the heart of the conservative Christian institutions  and organizations like our Christian colleges,universities and seminaries ,as well as organizations like The Gospel Coalition ALL share a central voice of influence in Mark Yarhouse and his interfaith work with the American Psychological Association .That influence is not reserved for endorsement of celibate or those who claim adherence to Christian sexual ethic but is equally given to  the full range of views on LGBT from – fully affirming to gay but celibate and “everything in between”

The one thing Revoice and Mark Yarhouse do not affirm is that people involved in LGBT lifestyle can Change which is the opposite message of the Gospel and of God’s Voice and of faithful believers who have experienced total transformation by the POWER of Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you would like to see/hear  THAT  message in living color go to God’s Voice Resources and hear testimonies to the Glory of God and that offer real hope of real change through the real Gospel .

https://www.godsvoice.us/

Telling the TRUTH at God’s Voice Conference!