We were talking a little bit about the elder board. Pete Briscoe was Senior Pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, TX for nearly 30 years. It is a collection of people. So, thanks for taking the time and you know, anybody whos willing to take a few minutes out of their vacation for a podcast, I just really appreciate it. That is not a matter of policy. If anything has a whiff of impropriety, we would jump on it immediately. If you go back through Willow Creeks archives, you can see all the, you know, the authors of books who came in and were platformed at Willow Creek. Also I want to let you know that Judson University is planning to resume in person classes this fall for traditional transfer and adult students and its still not too late to apply. Youve youve created a fiction when you organize church, what is a church organization but a legal fiction, right? And I still havent been able to get her to visit with me. The thing that is so terrifying is that someone who has been a senior pastor in an organization like that is not beyond it. And I remember you saying. Maybe some of your listeners are familiar with that you can go on YouTube and and see what thats all about. God is doing a new work both in the lives of the Briscoe's and in the life of Bent Tree. And Hybels said, essentially, Yeah, well, well do it that way. And Clinton showed up and then didnt comply with anything that the board had said. This is simply a place where I share the message of Gods unadulterated grace through my preaching sermons and bible teaching. These are people that may be in the cubicle next to you at work, who have an acuity for blending in to normal life. I Boy, and if more churches did that, how much pain and heartache among the sheep would have been spared? With that purpose in mind, they launched theTelling the Truth ministry. Their board operated by unanimity as well. I think one of the ways that Willow tried to reckon with the situation was to permit Bill Hybels to retire from his role at the church. And I realized that as we were discussing this, that there might be some people who have heard about what happened at Willow Creek, but somewhat superficially, through the headlines and dont really know beneath the surface. And so I do think its a healthy thing when youre afraid of doing wrong, because it will be brought up and you will be held accountable. When you have a woman who says I was molested by a staff member, or you have a staff member who says, Bill Hybels just threw a punch at me, or dog cuts me up and down the hallway, those arent matters of policy, Julie. Pete reminds us that our goal is not to win arguments, but to win people. Well Mitch, one of the things Ive never discussed is that we used to attend Willow Creek. I cant do this authentically anymore. And as hard as the last year and a half has been, I applaud him for that. And I have other thoughts about that and how that all worked out. Can you imagine what that does for book sales to be on stage at the Global Leadership Summit among people all over the world and touted as an expert in something? Continue Reading The Upper Room: John 15 Posted by Nate Murray Pete grew up in a home with intelligent and committed parents: both By the way, the best thing that was said in the recording is that if character isnt there, none of the regulations will matter, and if character is there, one doesnt need the regulations. One of those women is Vonda Dyer. Pete is the son of Jill and Stuart Briscoe. People can do the job of preaching and leading a church for, you know, 40 plus weeks in the pulpit at a church of this size. Well, Mitch, this has been read. I think its incredibly dangerous. And I can only imagine what the economic forces are behind the scenes for that, but it really disappoints me, that that hasnt happened. Pete Briscoe @petebriscoe 12 Dec 2021. He is with us today to talk about growing communication skills to improve preaching as well as how we can find deeper fulfillment in our work and lives. This is a calling. Heres my belief, Julie, I think the church at large, the big leaders in evangelicalism, we can name names if we want to, and Im sure that people have names on their mind when theyre hearing this, Why were they silent? He now coaches Pete Briscoe | Brookfield WI. Yeah. And yet youre still in a megachurch, multi-site church. So I was quite taken aback when this scandal came out. WebPete Briscoe answers that question by pointing us to Paul as the perfect example of one who speaks with tender boldness. Today, Telling the Truthis heard anytime and anywhere, thanks to international radio programming, the internet, and our mobile app. Literally thousands of people have come to know Jesus under Bill Hybels teaching and yet, he was morally bankrupt at the same time. Pete Briscoe, Stuart and Jills youngest son, was a key contributor to the ministrysteaching team from 2003 to 2021. God uses the weak things of this world to confound the strong, right? And I really was hopeful that there was going to be a public apology, and yet, None. And he committed sex acts with her. I This is simply a place where I share the message of Gods unadulterated grace through my preaching sermons and bible teaching. Let the Briscoes help you experience Life in all its fullness! Id like to share a few things as we navigate this loss together. Today were talking with Pete Briscoe, who served as the senior pastor for nearly three decades at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, and now consults with and coaches pastors. I encourage you to start praying again and trust God to open doors for you in godly and meaningful fellowship. And gratitude is where we must go in this time, as Kurt Baxter reminded us on Sunday. Pete grew up in a home with intelligent and committed parents: both Because it was lawyers advice, you know, and its like, where does the word of God play into our decision making? What makes you stick with that model and believe it can still be used despite how badly that model has been abused? Petes teaching and emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ leaves an indelible mark on so many of our souls. Briscoe says that he wants Bent Tree to be a place where people can agree to disagree over this issue. And not elevated above it. Let me give you some examples. They know there would be swift and sure discipline, if not firing, even with one mistakedepending on the severity of the misbehavior. Also, make sure you subscribe to The Roys Report on Apple podcasts or Google podcasts. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. It is what manifests. Is that right? What eventually broke the culture of secrecy and protection? This was something that was very deeply ingrained in their culture. Its about serving God. Im good friends with Vonda Dyer, who worked at Willow and was one of the women who bravely came forward with her story about her interactions with Bill Hybels. that keeps the honest person honest. In context, I think my meaning becomes clear as I say soon after, agreeing with Mitchs assessment that unanimity is bad: Absolutely horrible. All the times something didnt seem right. I mean, it was a great time. I appreciate you so much and look forward to visiting with you again soon. And theres a lot of people asking, Is that just too great a burden to ever put on one person? How do you respond to that? Jill and Stuart came to the States from England. Right? And if you dont have a character to lead, no manual is going to help you. Pete served as the senior pastor at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas for nearly 30 years, and he now ministers to pastors and organizational executives through personalized, professional coaching. And so, you know, as a lawyer on the board, youre not absolved from the obligation of complying with the mandates of Scripture. Heres my belief, Julie, I think the church at large, the big leaders in evangelicalism, we can name names if we want to, and Im sure that people have names on their mind when theyre hearing this, Why were they silent? I think, as believers, we should be standing for truth, we should not look the other way. And I think Christian leaders need to start stepping up. Understanding & Overcoming Spiritual Abuse, Part II, Understanding & Overcoming Spiritual Abuse, Escaping & Healing from Abusive Churches, Part 2, https://world.wng.org/sites/default/files/issues/pdf/world_sep012018.pdf, https://www.billionbibles.com/voice-of-the-martyrs.html. Its all a Business and Power tool and stage for Virtue Signaling. And if youd like to find me online, just go to JulieRoys.com. Mike is a dear friend and Im sad this day has come. That was my upbringing. Posted by Jonathan Deatherage on Apr 02, 2019. And the thing about predators, Bill Hybels included, okay, is they start to do more things in public to condition you to behavior that is inappropriate, and they test their boundaries, to see what they can get away with. Theres, theres an advocacy piece to lawyering that needs to be there a little bit, but it doesnt need to be pervasive. Yes, I would view it far differently today. Thats what he was. WebPete Briscoe, Stuart and Jills youngest son, was a key contributor to the ministrys teaching team from 2003 to 2021. I think that he lost that. We needed to go to the hills and fight as guerillas, you know, what is guerrilla warfare? I dont know the answer but rampant clergy abuse just took my discontentment to a whole new level. He now coaches Pete Briscoe | Brookfield WI. etc. Its really pride. And I remember you saying once that you had gotten a manual, I think it was from the ECFA, and boy, we could talk about them. WebHi friend, I'm Pete Briscoe. But heres what happened when Scot criticized them publicly. You know, when you have somebody like Bryan Loritts, who when hes talking about why when he was at a former church, he didnt disclose to the church that they had a sexual predator among them for six months. He said, Pete, you should have one lawyer on your board but not more than one. And I believe that there is some really sound wisdom in that. But it just has not really looked like true repentance in so many ways. Do you understand what Im saying? Was there any evidence found that he actually had an affair? And these men are good actors. Briscoe The Journal Sentinel reported: Elmbrook resignations are the latest to rock evangelical Christian churches. So, and youre the chairman of your board. Although theres been some. So a young person in our high school ministry. And when I came into the representation, that was a new term to me, Id never heard anything like it. And so I hope your listeners understand what I mean, when I say this, thats how good God is that he can use people who are even morally bankrupt, to bring people to himself. And the thing that is astonishing to me, you used the issue of emotional vulnerability is that, you know, a lot of times our strengths are our weaknesses. He even cites a conversation with Darrell Bock, a member who disagrees with the elders but who also says it is not an issue worth dividing over. And basically, my understanding is his cavalier attitude was, Well, Ill just pick up and Ill open a new church down the street [if] you dont you dont like me the way I am.. https://www.billionbibles.com/voice-of-the-martyrs.html. And Im good friends with her husband Scott Dyer as well. I know the owners Dan and Kurt Marquart personally, and I can say without reservation that they truly run their business with honesty, integrity and transparency. And where does whats legally expedient for our organization? So whos supposed to hold whos supposed to hold the leaders accountable in that structure? Think about the psychology of someone who could be doing what was alleged by Pat Baranowski to have been done to her. And they were no friends of ours during the Harvest investigation either. The other woman that Mitch represented will remain confidential but both these cases enabled Mitch to peek behind the curtain at Willow Creek and view upclose some of the dysfunctions that led to that scandal. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. But theres a sense that the Church of Jesus Christ Universal is represented all throughout not just the United States but the world. So since youve seen a lot of this kind of up close and personal through talking to witnesses and elders and staff people, how bad was the abuse at Willow Creek? What is it that causes so many people who know better, to look the other way and allow evil to prosper? And so when these things happen, they cant just stay silent. And another womans situation, theyre in an elder board meeting, and Bill Hybels, you know, has his hand on a womans leg, and no one else can see. Hes like, I wasnt trying to protect the man, who by chance was his brother in law. Well, one thing I did want to cover, and our time is getting to an end, but I know that you have dealt with having a sexual predator within your church. They made a lot of friends a lot of money over the years selling books, promoting programs, platforming them at conferences, platforming them at the Global Leadership Summit. Judson is located just 36 miles outside Chicago on a beautiful 90 acre campus. What Ive told people is, If you are not ready to blow yourself or the organization up in five seconds flat, you need to find a different hobby.. Okay, how it didnt bring accountability. In the early 2000s, as Stuart and Jill transitioned into minister-at-large roles and spent more time traveling to serve the global church, an additional voice was added in order to bless the supporters ofTelling the Truth. We bought the routine and its shocking. You know, people like Dee Parsons, Julie Anne Smith, Julia Dahl, and people who I knew would not stop talking about it and would not stop talking about it for months. I think he lost it. But essentially, it was the board being asked to deal with matters of policy and then all matters of implementation really get left to the vocational staff in the church. What eventually broke the culture of secrecy and protection? That to me, is a corruption of the role. It is also the church in which Pete Briscoe, my former wonderful pastor, grew up in. They made a lot of friends. Very few. I did live it. When I came onto our board, the terms that Pete Briscoe used were, guide, govern and guard. And I think policy governance has the governing part. Amen. But they spoke. Pete Briscoe @petebriscoe 12 Dec 2021. Thank God I have Jesus. Bill Hybels and Bill Clinton, you know, developed a friendship over the years that at least what Ive discovered in my research, there was an invitation for Clinton to come and speak at the Global Leadership Summit, and a confrontation with the elder board about that because Clinton was on the heels of an adultery scandal. I would love to see Chicago experience revival. They didnt have the ability to respond to new issues as they arose. So appreciate. The cover up of his behavior manifested at the elder board level. I know from hearing from men, that that Bill abused men emotionally, spiritually while they were working there. To us, he was Stu, Dad and Poppa and we already miss him achingly." So I want you to think about this while you know Bill Hybels is being accused of doing awful things by a dozen women. But you had said you had gotten this manual and it was about, you know, basically how to be an elder and how to lead. Pete grew up in a home with intelligent and committed parents: both The church is nondenominational and has woman pastors and elders. which Hybels assented to including you know, repenting for his behavior and not talking about politics and some other things as well. Like so many of you, I love Pete. Its not okay. To me, Bill did not come across as a predator, flirty or suggestive with women. On this episode of The Roys Report, Julie explores these important questions with Mitch Little, whos not just an attorney for victims. Right. Im wary of the theatrical, evangelical stars that are so prevalent now. But at 22, I completely bought it. And to do that, we must avoid falling into the trap of our Christian beliefs being pitted against culture in the public sphere of debate. Today were talking with Pete Briscoe, who served as the senior pastor for nearly three decades at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, and now consults with and coaches pastors. You have to have unity among your vocational staff at the church about, you know, key issues like how do we treat other people? It is also the church in which Pete Briscoe, my former wonderful pastor, grew up in. Hes also the chairman of the elder board at a multisite megachurch in Dallas, Texas. And then everyone could say, Oh, how sad that that one person did that one thing. Hmm. WebLearn More About Pete Today - Pete Briscoe God loves you to distraction, There is nothing you can do to make Him love them more or less, And, that Life with this Lover God is rich beyond description, regardless of your performance. May you and your family be richly bleSSed!!! And thats what, thats what you end up protecting right? Lets say you have you have six or eight members who are saying, Guys, we need to fire this person. Yes, I have be disillusioned many times by churches and some leaders. And I think theres a kind of an old guard of megachurch pastors and leaders that think that theyre above accountability and theyre beginning to realize theyre not. If they have the character to lead the accountability will help keep them you know, keep them honest, so to speak, you know, its kind of like when you put a bike lock on your bike that. Guest Bios Show Transcript Many times, those who have experienced spiritual abuse are retraumatized when they try to speak about whats happened. So when you have someone who is trusted, whos supposed to be an expert, you know, like a pastor, like a longtime senior pastor whos supposed to be a theological expert, and someone whos in authority like a senior pastor, people are willing to do things to satisfy that person that they would not otherwise do, even if those things seem harmful to another person. And Willow lost the battle of PR on social media. And you made the statement that if you have the character to lead, you dont need a manual. And someone Im extremely glad is serving in church leadership. But this certainly raises red flags. Growing up in a ministry family, Pete watched and learned from his parents and witnessed the reach and power of Telling the Truth 's media outreach. Now, I coach pastors and business leaders in communications and self-care. There are therapy notes to support her story. Not so much at Willow till after, because I was so wrapped up in the Harvest stuff at that time and the Moody stuff that I didnt really have the capability or the bandwidth to do much reporting about Willow. That goes to the guarding role that Attorney Mitch shared. As a lawyer whos represented some of Bill Hybels victims Mitch Little has seen a side of Willow Creek that few others have. But as you say its Gods grace that despite all that hes used these men to bless many, despite everything. And to do that, we must avoid falling into the trap of our Christian beliefs being pitted against culture in the public sphere of debate. Now, I coach pastors and business leaders in communications and self-care. And theyre born knowing how to do that. But theres something wrong in the whole business of Church. Stuart Briscoe died on August 3 "of natural causes unexpectedly" according to a tweet from his son, Pete Briscoe. Then, I did what all good Christian college students did at that time I acquired a boot-leg copy of the drama and listened to it several times on my own. Like they didnt read a book, figuring out how to do it, but there are warning signs that people need to be aware of. "For many of you, he was preacher, pastor, mentor or friend. When you say the IT department, its my understanding you came into some information about emails getting destroyed. And thats not what this is about. He has been married to Jill for more than 59 years and has three children and 13 grandchildren. And now lets put that in the past. Willow did not want to reckon with the deformed culture that had manifested underneath Bills leadership. I think it took courage. At one point, the elder board at Willow became what people call a policy governance board. And theres an element to which a church like Willow Creek was a global church, right? At that age, I had never had someone in spiritual authority lie or manipulate me. And something else that you mentioned about the board, which I found fascinating was that the Willow Creek board had an awful lot of lawyers on it. Likewise. And this is one of the I think exciting things. It started as a simple tape duplication ministry in a home basement, using a reel-to-reel tape recorder linked to a dozen smaller recorders to duplicate the Briscoes' teaching. Well, and I hope there are Christian leaders listening to this who take note because is the time of just being silent and thinking that because youre silent, nothing will come back on you, thats past. Yeah, were all saints who sometimes sin. I mean, its an accurate criticism of people within the church. Yeah, they eventually did. Hes also a strong believer and advocate for abuse victims. And it turns out there were a lot more women who had been affected by Bill Hybels. 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