Whitewashed Tombs

Jesus pronounced a “woe” of judgment over the religious leaders of his day for their hypocrisy and wickedness of heart.  They were like whitewashed tombs.  Beautiful on the outside but full of death on the inside.  Nevertheless, these two faced leaders deceived their followers by outward shows of righteousness.  People throughout Judaism revered these Bible teachers (i.e. teachers of the law) and “set apart” or “holy ones” (i.e., Pharisees) even though they were corrupt. 

The religious establishment was exceeding adept at promoting an image of which there was no substance.  They were cunning and intimidating.  Their outward show of holiness impressive.  By all appearances they were godly.  Only Jesus and a few others like John the Baptist saw through their repulsive deceit and had the courage to confront it. 

This was especially true of the Sanhedrin.  It was comprised of a chief priest (cf. the President), vice chief priest (cf. the Vice President) and 69 general members.  For the most part these 71 “Board Members” were cons artists and master manipulators with a few exceptions for men like Nicodemus, Gamaliel, and Joseph of Arimathea. 

The Sanhedrin could also be violent.  They’d do anything to preserve their positions of power and prestige.  They unrelentingly attacked the credibility of our Lord Jesus.  They discredited everything he said and did.  They entrapped him with devious questions.  They bribed false witnesses.  They lied about his motives and intentions.   They distorted his teaching.  They set up a Kangaroo Court to try him.  Ultimately, they killed him! 

Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which looks beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  [28] In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Ten verses later Jesus prophesies the desolation of Jerusalem.  They did not listen to a long line of prophets, the greatest of which was Jesus.  He wanted to care for them like a hen does her chicks.  Instead he pronounced a furious judgment because their hypocrisy, deceit and pride were so great.

Matthew 23:37-38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. [38] Look, your house is left to you desolate.”

The woe Jesus pronounced in A.D. 30 came to pass in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was viciously attacked by General Titus (a future Emperor) and his Roman legions.  The city was plundered and the Temple destroyed.  Everything these hypocrites (i.e., whitewashed tombs) tried to protect, Jesus obliterated!  It all came to an end.  Something analogous is happening with Sovereign Grace Ministries and for the same reasons. 

The outward show of righteousness by C.J., Dave, and the SGM Board in the three panel approach is nothing but a whitewashed tomb full of dead bones.  It is “full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”  They too are conning the masses like the Sanhedrin and the list of accomplices joining their grand cover up grows each day.  Please hear me out! 

Here is what C.J. promised Covenant Life Church.  His word means nothing.  He has broken promise after promise.  So has the SGM Board.

“I have welcomed the recommendation of the SGM board that we establish a panel of respected leaders outside SGM to study these [Brent’s] charges and give us their evaluation of me and the ministry as a whole.  I asked the board for a leave of absence from my position as President so I can have no position of influence in this process or its outcome, and so that every charge can be thoroughly evaluated.  The evaluation of the panel will be made public and communicated to you.” (C.J. Mahaney, July 2011)

Here is what Dave and the Board promised everyone in Sovereign Grace Ministries.  It has not happened and it will never happen.  Hell will freeze over before “the outstanding charges against C.J.” are evaluated by anyone let alone an independent panel.

“A second panel will commence work concurrent with the first.  It will consist of members of an independent conciliation ministry [AOR] with no ties to Sovereign Grace.  This panel will create a process for examination of the outstanding charges against Mahaney and create and lead a process for a fair hearing of those charges to determine if they are true or false.” (Dave Harvey, July 13, 2011)

Here is what Dave said on Wednesday of this week.

“As described in our October 28 blog post, we created three panels to review Brent’s allegations and report their findings to us, after which we would determine if C.J. was to continue in his role as President.” (Dave Harvey, “An announcement regarding C.J. Mahaney,” January 25, 2012)

This is the biggest con of all.  The King Kong of cons.  The three panels did not “review Brent’s allegations.”  They did nothing of the sort.  This is pure spin.  Dave is lying through his teeth.  But if he lies often enough, people will believe his lies and accept them as the truth.  In principal, it is no different than the insidious propaganda put out by homosexual activists and abortionists for the last 40 years.  Millions of people have believed their lies and see nothing wrong with homosexually in the name of “sexual orientation” or the murder of preborn children in the name of “women’s rights.”  It is insane.     

I’ve made hundreds of serious allegations in my documents and on my blog.  With one exception, none of them have been taken seriously by the panels.  The question related to the blackmail of Larry Tomczak comes the closest but Larry and Doris cannot be happy with the report.  It is inadequate and does not answer to all the evidence against C.J., Steve Shank and Larry Malament in particular.  There is no question the Tomczak’s were blackmailed but none of these men will admit it.  Furthermore, it was premeditated.  Something not noted in the report. 

Furthermore, the report fails to connect the dots.  The seriousness of C.J., Steve and Larry Malament’ s sin was unusual in degree but not atypical.  C.J. has reacted to long a list of leaders and people with self-righteous anger that is abusive and intimidating.  This pattern should have been highlighted in the report.  Oops, I forgot.  The question was designed so the panel only reported on his treatment of the Tomczaks.  Silly me.  We wouldn’t want people to know this is part of much bigger behavioral problem. 

The two other questions assigned to the panels had no teeth.  The one regarding “fellowship” was poorly worded and allowed for all kinds of loopholes.  The question assigned to my panel was irrelevant.  I never made a case that C.J. wrongly influenced the events surrounding my dismissal from ministry. 

Incredulously, Warren, Ron and Mark took a hearing about C.J. and turned it into a hearing against me.  You don’t need 18 witnesses to discover if C.J. “wrongly influenced the process of Brent Detwiler’s dismissal from his church in Mooresville, NC?”  These witnesses had no knowledge of C.J.’s role.  They should not have even been called for such a question.

This was about making a case against me behind my back.  SGM planted an improvised explosive device (IED) under my feet without any warning or defense – a lethal tactic taken from the SGM School of Terror Manual.  This has happened to me at least a dozen times over the last 7 years.  Wonder why I was hesitant to meet with C.J.?  Each time SGM agents blow me up into pieces with no forewarning (or opportunity for a fair fight or defense).  Their surprise attacks are carried out with stealth.  Their roadside bombs are concealed with great skill.       

Here’s the harsh reality people must accept!  The overwhelming vast majority of my charges have not been presented, heard or judged in a hearing by anyone.  Like the O.J. Simpson trial, C.J. is getting away with murder (a little hyperbole folks).  Here is what Dave promised two months ago. 

“How is Sovereign Grace’s board handling the allegations that Brent Detwiler has brought against C.J. Mahaney?  We know that you care about this a lot.  We also care about this a lot, and we are taking Brent’s allegations seriously.  We don’t want to ignore the many accusations that now sit in the public mind.  We want to get this right.  Brent’s documents require impartial examination and C.J. deserves a fair hearing.” (Dave Harvey, “What are we doing about the allegations against C.J.,” November 28, 2011) 

Dave is full of it.  The SGM Board has never taken my allegations seriously.  No siree!  They came up with the three panel approach so they could purposely ignore “the many accusations” I’ve documented in over 1,200 pages of evidence.  This wasn’t a “fair hearing” for C.J.  It was a rigged hearing.  Soft ball questions.  Biased jury.  Misdemeanor charges for a felon.  The suppression of evidence in the verdict.  No cross examination.  C.J. was not held accountable for his sins.  Very little was investigated and all the terms and conditions were favorable to C.J.  The three panel approach was an ostentatious show of righteousness - a pretense for justice.  It was all image and no substance.  People should be outraged.  

This statement from Dave on Wednesday is also terribly deceptive.    

“To further protect the integrity of the process, the interim Board sought the counsel and affirmation of an outside conciliation ministry, Ambassadors of Reconciliation (AOR).  With C.J. on leave and AOR involved, the review process took the following form:  We [the SGM Board and AOR] commissioned three outside ministers to review Brent’s documents in light of C.J.’s confessions and render their judgment on his fitness to serve in ministry.  In light of their evaluation, they found him to be completely fit to serve.  We [the SGM Board and AOR] then commissioned three panels—each consisting of three SGM pastors—to evaluate C.J.’s involvement in the three central events of Brent’s allegations.” (Dave Harvey, “An announcement regarding C.J. Mahaney,” January 25, 2012)

Dave says Ambassadors of Reconciliation “commissioned three panels-each consisting of three SGM pastors.”  This is a lie!  Three days ago, I talked to Ted Kober about this very subject in detail.  I asked him if AOR helped create the three panel approach.  He said no.  I asked if he commended the approach.  He said no.  I asked him if he supported the approach.  He said he never expressed support or a lack of support.  He remained neutral because he did not feel it was his place to take a position since the SGM Board devised the plan entirely on their own. 

Ted Kober did not help to create this plan and he did not in any way “commission” the three panel approach.  This fabrication by Dave is just like his lie that Bryce Thomas came up with the questions for the three panels.  SGM acted independent of AOR but the SGM Board wants you to believe otherwise.  I hope Ted exposes this example of SGM spin in the AOR report coming out in March.  Bryce also. 

Here’s the truth.

The SGM Board broke their promise to secure an outside evaluation of all charges against C.J. and SGM by me and others on August 25, 2011. 

The SGM Board shut down the adjudication hearing designed by AOR to examine all charges against C.J. and SGM by me and others using SGM pastors on October 24, 2011. 

The SGM Board devised a plan that vanquished all their previous commitments on November 28, 2011.  The hearing was limited to three supposed charges against C.J. from me.  Just three and none of my charges against Dave, Bob, Gene, Mickey, et al.  Furthermore, no charges of a similar nature from many others were heard against C.J. or SGM.

C.J., Dave and the SGM Board promised the world.  Instead they delivered a whitewashed tomb full of hypocrisy and wickedness in the form of lies, broken promises, cover up, manipulation and deceit. 

C.J. said, “I asked the board for a leave of absence from my position as President so I can have no position of influence in this process or its outcome, and so that every charge can be thoroughly evaluated.”  He has returned as President but he has not been thoroughly evaluated.  Far from it!  C.J. is not a man of his word and his followers have treated him with partiality and favoritism. 

Everyone in Sovereign Grace Ministries should take Jesus’ counsel seriously.  It is not a time to stay.  It is a time to leave and head for the hills. 

Luke 21:20-23 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. [21] Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. [22] For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.

Other Important Quotes

Here is what Ken Sande told me.

“CJ has indicated his willingness to respond to your memos in writing, to submit himself to the review and correction of an independent panel of conciliators who would examine all of the issues you have raised, and to make whatever confessions that panel recommends.” (Ken Sande, Oct 14, 2010)

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Here is what C.J. said

“I have asked Ken Sande for counsel on the best way to proceed…. I think Ken or someone else on his team (or even someone he could recommend) could help us agree to a process for moving forward, and find some independent mediators who could help us rigorously examine the concerns you raise.  I would be eager to invite the conciliators to dig as deeply as they want into my life in order to fully address your concerns.  I will take their counsel seriously, and I will confess my sins as widely as they recommend.” C.J. Mahaney, Oct 15, 2010)

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Here is what Dave told all the SGM pastors.

“In order to ensure the most thorough and objective process possible, the board has decided to take the additional step of engaging an independent panel of mediators (external to SGM and our relational network) who are trained to evaluate such difficult situations, taking into account all relevant information [i.e. all my documents and writings], considering all perspectives, and providing objective feedback…. We will initiate the independent review process to evaluate every piece of information relevant to this situation as referenced above.”  (Dave Harvey, June 11, 2011)

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Here is what the SGM Board said.

“We (the Sovereign Grace board) wanted to follow up on your last e-mail to let you know what direction we’re planning to take in seeking a full resolution on the issues you’ve raised.  Since you are at present still not willing to meet with an independent mediator, and because we nonetheless want to make sure that your concerns are thoroughly investigated, we are initiating a completely independent review of all the allegations you’ve raised concerning C.J. and the Sovereign Grace board’s response to those allegations.   Our goal in this is to ensure the most thorough and objective process possible, and so we will seek to engage an independent panel of mediators who are spiritually mature, trained professionals who have no connection to Sovereign Grace.  This panel will be able to review all of the written communications concerning this matter and interview any person, including yourself, whom they deem to have relevant information.  The goal will be for them to provide an objective and detailed critique of C.J.’s and Sovereign Grace’s actions, as well as any appropriate evaluation of others involved in these various events.  They will also provide specific recommendations for what remedial steps C.J. and Sovereign Grace should take in the future.  (Dave Harvey, Jeff Purswell, Joshua Harris, June 14, 2011)

“Although our desire remains that you and C.J. could meet together personally with a mediator, we hope this step will be encouraging to you that your allegations and perspectives will receive a fair and impartial hearing.”

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Here is a another statement from the SGM Board to all the pastors.

“As you know, the SGM board approved a leave of absence for C.J. Mahaney on June 30.  This was done so that the board of directors, aided by the review of an independent panel, could lead him through a process of examining and appropriately responding to accusations that have been brought against him by former members and leaders [not just Brent] from our churches… As a reminder, we wanted to work with an independent organization to fully investigate the merit and potential consequences of these accusations.… You may also be wondering about our progress in securing the help of an independent organization to evaluate the accusations against C.J. and SGM.  Please know those conversations are still ongoing and that we covet your prayers that we have success in this very soon.  Both the board and C.J. are eager to commence this process.” (Dave Harvey, Jeff Purswell, Joshua Harris, July 9, 2011)

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Dave sought to discredit me and disparage all my documents in his letter to the SGM pastors on June 11, 2011.  He concluded the letter by assuring the pastors he had presented “a faithful narrative of a sad tale.”  I became aware of this letter on July 5.  What Dave and the Board did was unethical and sinful but I’ve been prevented from making this or any other “complaint” to anyone.

“Dear Brent, 

“We’re sending along the attachments that you are requesting.   We know this has upset you and we can understand why.  We have struggled for months to know how to effectively communicate with you.  If you believe our sending this letter was unethical or sinful, please submit that issue to the evaluation panel along with the other complaints you have against us.  We welcome the opportunity to have objective eyes and minds examine all we’ve done so we can see our mistakes and make needed changes…. And the loudest statement of this was our decision to involve an independent panel.” (Dave Harvey, Jeff Purswell; Joshua Harris, July 05, 2011)

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Here is what Joshua Harris said to me while a SGM Board Member.

“To replace and remove [C.J.] without a godly process of evaluation would be to repeat the very mistakes now that we’re evaluating in the past.  It has to be done in plurality, openly and as the result of a comprehensive review.  That’s why I view this independent panel as such an important step for our movement.  We need a comprehensive evaluation.” (Joshua Harris, June 29, 2011)

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Here is another statement from the Board.

“Dear Brent,

“We are sorry but not surprised at how little trust you have in the SGM Board.  We have made many mistakes in how we have sought to respond to your complaints, and we can understand why you have no confidence in our ability to provide objective guidance in resolving the issues you’ve raised.  Your lack of trust in us, combined with our inexperience in handling a conflict of this complexity, heightens the necessity of seeking the assistance of godly and experienced men who can help us address these issues in a trustworthy manner…

“Wanting to move ahead with an independent panel as soon as possible, Tommy, Jeff, and John Loftiness had a telephone conference call with Ted Kober last week to explore the possibility of his organization serving us.  Being aware of your concerns about secrecy and transparency, we tape recorded the entire conversation.  We have informed Ted of all your concerns about secrecy, transparency, confidentiality, and accountability, and he is consulting with his colleagues on how they might handle your concerns.  We will do all we can within the limits of their policies and guidance to make the process open and trustworthy, not only to you but to anyone else who wants to participate consistent with their guidelines…

“We pray that you will find AOR to be a trustworthy ministry and that you will join us in getting them as much information as possible as they seek to evaluate and suggest remedies to issues you have raised.” (Dave Harvey, Joshua Harris, Jeff Purswell, July 4, 2011)

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One more from Dave.

“Because some of the charges move beyond C.J. to SGM, we also wanted to examine ourselves and our practices both past and current.  To that end, we are in the process of securing help from an outside organization that can conduct a thorough and objective review of the charges being brought against C.J. and SGM.  We are seeking to identify an organization that has no prior history with us and that has wide respect in Christian circles… However, given the numerous events, people, and perspectives involved, the work of an independent panel will be vital to fully examining these charges and arriving at an objective conclusion, especially on those charges with which the board does not agree…. Like C.J., we are committed to facilitate as thorough and objective a process as possible by an independent panel.” (Dave Harvey, “A note on C.J. Mahaney’s leave of absence,” July 7, 2011)

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Here is a note from C.J. to me.  He did none of the things promised. 

“I am very eager to meet with the independent panel and hear their perspective and receive their correction as they study your documents and interview all the people involved.  Since I haven’t any history with these folks I hope their objective evaluation will help them to perceive my sin more accurately and serve me as I hear their perspective and receive their correction…. As a result of these steps, my plan is to provide you with my response to your documents that specifically addresses your primary areas of concern…. I also plan to make a public confession to the Sovereign Grace pastors…. I anticipate that it will be beneficial for me to make a wider confession to the general public about God’s correction and refinement in my life.” (C.J. Mahaney, June 24, 2011)

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This one is from Tommy Hill, the chief financial officer for SGM.

“Dear Brent,

“We wanted to update to you on some developing items relating to our efforts to secure an independent mediation and evaluation process…. Our potential objectives in engaging AoR would include: 

• “To evaluate charges and allegations against CJ and SGM leadership by Brent (and possibly others) and to recommend steps to remedy the wrongs identified. 

• “To understand how the wrongs done have affected our family of churches and to identify processes to protect against future wrongs.      

“We also wanted you to know that in the next few days we’ll be making a public announcement that CJ is taking a leave of absence, that we are seeking a thorough evaluation from an independent panel.” (Tommy Hill, July 5, 2011)

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Here is a relevant excerpt from my blog appealing to the CLC pastors. (see "The Need for Crisis Intervention by the Covenant Life Pastors," August 29, 2011)

To the Pastors of Covenant Life Church,

The SGM Board promised to search for and find outside arbitrators that would evaluate charges against C.J. and Sovereign Grace Ministries.  This was “vital to fully examining these charges and arriving at an objective conclusion.”  What was “vital” is now trivial and a serious betrayal of trust.  Furthermore, the SGM Board has dropped all reference to the outside evaluation of the ministry [not just C.J.] they promised.  They do not disclose this fact or provide any explanation for this omission.  My charges, and those of others, are directed at other employees of Sovereign Grace Ministries in addition to C.J.  These too were supposed to be investigated by an outside arbitrator…    

If the SGM Board is genuinely interested in objectivity they will reverse course immediately.  This is a moral issue, not simply a procedural issue.  This is a major issue, not a minor one.  If Sovereign Grace Ministries cannot be trusted to secure an unbiased panel of evaluators in keeping with their word, they cannot be trusted in anything.  Please appeal to them to repent.

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Finally, I’ve included two strenuously appeals to the SGM Board asking them to keep their promises.

From: Brent Detwiler 
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 1:19 PM
To: Aron Osborne; Craig Cabaniss; John Loftness; Mark Prater; Mickey Connolly; Pete Greasley; Rick Gamache; Steve Shank; C. J. Mahaney; Dave Harvey; Jeff Purswell; Joshua Harris
Cc: Ted Kober; Edgar Keinath; Ken Sande; Adam Malcolm; Ben Wikner; Bob Schickler; Braden Greer; Corby Megorden; Dave Brewer; Don DeVries; Eric Sheffer; Eric Simmons; Grant Layman; Greg Somerville; Issac Hydoski; Jamie Leach; Joe Lee; Jon Smith; Kenneth Maresco; Mark Mitchell; Matt Maka; Robin Boisvert
Subject: Outside or Inside Evalution?

It has been over three weeks since I wrote you and I’ve heard nothing regarding how you intend to proceed regarding arbitration.

Are you willing to secure outside arbitrators as promised?  Are you willing to evaluate C.J. as promised?  Are you willing to evaluate others like Dave, Bob and Gene as promised?  Are you willing to evaluate Sovereign Grace Ministries as promised?   Are you willing to publish an open report on all these findings as promised? 

Or are you proceeding to use in-house evaluators including one Board Member, limit their evaluation of C.J. to whether he should be a Board Member, Chairman or President of SGM, forbid them from evaluating others in SGM, not have them evaluate SGM in general, and provide no open report to the members of SGM churches?

I’ve appealed for your repentance.  I’ve asked the CLC pastors to appeal for your repentance also.  What have you decided?

I have made no decision regarding my participation in arbitration.  That decision awaits answers from you to these questions.

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From: Brent Detwiler 
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 12:29 PM
To: Aron Osborne; Craig Cabaniss; John Loftness; Mark Prater; Mickey Connolly; Pete Greasley; Rick Gamache; Steve Shank; C. J. Mahaney; Dave Harvey; Jeff Purswell; Joshua Harris
Cc: Ted Kober; Edgar Keinath; Ken Sande; Adam Malcolm; Ben Wikner; Bob Schickler; Braden Greer; Corby Megorden; Dave Brewer; Don DeVries; Eric Sheffer; Eric Simmons; Grant Layman; Greg Somerville; Issac Hydoski; Jamie Leach; Joe Lee; Jon Smith; Kenneth Maresco; Mark Mitchell; Matt Maka; Robin Boisvert
Subject: Next Step

To the SGM Board of Directors,

I was promised the opportunity to make my case against C.J. and Sovereign Grace Ministries.  I would like to proceed immediately. 

As previously stated, I plan to call 25 people in witness again C.J. and SGM.  I ask that all their travel expenses be covered by SGM.

I first expressed an interest in arbitration/adjudication on July 14 with Ted Kober.  I’ve not heard from him since regarding this matter. 

Like everyone else, I read about the recommendations of Ambassadors of Reconciliation when their Consultation Report was posted on the SGM website on August 25.  I’ve not been part of any dialogue.  On that post, Dave Harvey said, “We plan on following their recommendations in full.”  I’ve also heard nothing from the SGM Board since the report was issued and accepted.  That is almost 6 weeks ago. 

This causes me to question your sincerity and wonder about your intentions.  Therefore I must ask.  Do you plan to follow through on all your promises to secure an open and thorough evaluation of Sovereign Grace Ministries by an outside, third party, no history with SGM, group of objective evaluators?  Or do you plan to break your promises and impose a highly contained and minimalistic evaluation that is done by people belonging to SGM?

I am prepared to start my presentation today.  I suspect it will take three weeks (or 120 hours) to present all my evidence in a condensed fashion.  I’d plan on another three weeks to present evidence put forth by 25 other witnesses.  Please don’t be negligent and let this drag out any further.  We should schedule three weeks during October-December and three weeks during January-February.

I expect to hear back from you within the week. 

Sincerely,

Brent

Post Script – February 6, 2012 8:03 AM

Dave Harvey emphatically stated that the SGM Board would “work with AOR…”to develop and launch an alternative process.”  He also stated AOR “helped,” “recommended,” “affirmed,” and “endorsed” the entire three panel approach.  Ted Kober denies all of these assertions.

“On October 13 we informed readers here that Brent Detwiler had declined participation in a formal adjudication to try his allegations against C.J. Mahaney.  We also said that we would work with Ambassadors of Reconciliation, adjudication facilitator Bryce Thomas, and SGM pastors to develop and launch an alternative process.  We’ve done that, and I’ll outline the plan [the three panel approach] in a moment.” (Dave Harvey, “Evaluating Brent Detwiler’s Allegations,” October 28, 2011) 

“So with the help of Ted Kober from Ambassadors of Reconciliation and under the direction of an independent facilitator named Bryce Thomas, we’ve set up the following process…. Each committee is made up of two pastors from within SGM and one member of the SGM board.  Both AOR and the facilitator recommended a panel of three and affirmed this composition…. Is this a perfect process?  No, of course not.  We never could come up with a perfect process.  But we believe that this is a fair, impartial process.  The fact that it has been endorsed by both the independent facilitator and the team from AOR gives us confidence that the questions before each panel will be answered fairly and judiciously.” (Dave Harvey, “What Are We Doing About the Allegations against C.J.,” November 28, 2011)