Deepening problems at John Piper’s former church, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, have resulted in high-profile resignations – and the postponement of its 150th anniversary event.
There are, according to a church leaders, complex issues at play relating to, for instance, racial justice, abuse and trauma and believing what women say. There have also been allegations of abusive leadership and deception against elders.
There are around 40 elders at the church, which Piper pastored for 33 years until 2012.
His successor, Jason Meyer, resigned this summer along with a number of other leaders and church members. Accusations (none formal) levied at Meyer by fellow elders included ‘subordinating the gospel’ and embracing critical race theory.
In his July resignation email, Meyer said no single issue influencing his decision to resign was ‘determinative’, but added: ‘If I just resign and pretend that I think everything at Bethlehem is fine, I would be dishonest. Rather, I believe our leadership culture has taken a turn in an unhealthy direction as we try to navigate conflict and division.’
He went on to describe how his decision was influenced by three factors, having read an article from mereorthdoxy.com which ‘highlights six different groups of people that impact the evangelical landscape and play a part in the fracturing that we are witnessing in so many churches’.
Notably, he said: ‘Despite the charge that Bethlehem is drifting toward liberalism, I actually think we have lost some of our elasticity as the wind blows more in the direction of neo-fundamentalism.’
He also expressed his fear that the church was ‘in danger of veering too much towards a “unity” culture’ – a type of culture which puts a lot of focus on institutional protection.
In their response to Meyer, the elders said: ‘We believe that earnest work needs to be done to continue to articulate how to Biblically and faithfully address the various contentious issues at work in our culture and in our church.’
The elders also committed to communicate ‘better and more often’ – between elders; and elders to the congregation. ‘We as elders must continue to strive to be approachable to our people, to listen carefully to concerns.’
