Mohler on Mahaney Mess: Urges Quick Return to Power

Jerome · Jul 16, 2011

Mohler Backs Mahaney, Dismisses Claims of Abusive Leadership

Seminary president Albert Mohler is forcefully defending C.J. Mahaney, a Maryland pastor and popular author who has taken a leave of absence over allegations of spiritually abusive and dictatorial practices in church network he leads.

C.J. Mahaney, longtime president of the Sovereign Grace Ministries, has acknowledged the accuracy of some of the charges against him, including failing to be held to accountable by others in his church network and using coercive tactics in a dispute with an estranged colleague with whom he has since reconciled.

"I always have had only the highest estimation of C.J. Mahaney as a man and a minister," Mohler said in an interview — his first public comments on the situation involving Mahaney, one of his fellow leaders in the Reformed, neo-Calvinist movement. "That continues absolutely unchanged. There is nothing in this current situation which would leave me to have even the slightest pause of confidence in him."
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Sovereign Grace itself is taking a more cautious approach. A statement from its board called the allegations "serious."

"These charges are not related to any immorality or financial impropriety, but this doesn’t minimize their serious nature, which include various expressions of pride, unentreatability (inability to accept correction), deceit, sinful judgment, and hypocrisy," the board said.
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In his own statements, Mahaney said that "God is disciplining me for my sin and leadership failures and I am very grateful for this discipline."

"I was difficult to entreat," he told the Covenant Life congregation Sunday night. "I sinfully judged their motives. I was arrogantly confident in my perception."
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Mohler said he saw no reason for Mahaney to take a leave from other leadership positions.

Mohler, Mahaney and two other ministers share leadership of the group Together for the Gospel, which has brought thousands of mostly young pastors and other attendees to conferences such as one held last year at the Kentucky International Convention Center. They are also on the board of a similar group, the Gospel Coalition, according to the group’s Web site.

"I assume he would retain every position in leadership," Mohler said. "I expect he should be very quickly returned to leadership of Sovereign Grace."
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Bob Alkire · Jul 16, 2011

Only know a little about this from reading some magazines. From what I've read, there has been a lot of pride and hypocrisy viewed by many about C.J. Mahaney. It is what happens when one does not take criticism well, you know my way or the highway. Christianity Today had article on it.
I hope for C.J. Mahaney and SGM that Mohler is correct.

Bob Alkire · Jul 16, 2011

Double post.

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