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Sovereign Grace Churches

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Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) is a group of Christian churches primarily located in North America [1].

Previous Names

Sovereign Grace Ministries was known as People of Destiny International until 1998, when its name was shortened to PDI Ministries[2]. British restorationist leader Terry Virgo claims that the change was a result of then-leaders Larry Tomczak and CJ Mahaney becoming "increasingly uncomfortable" with the "People of Destiny International" tag[3]. A further name change came in the early 2000s, as the group rebranded itself "Sovereign Grace Ministries".

History and Leadership Changes

The organization of over 70 member churches grew out of the charismatic renewal of the 1970s under the leadership of Larry Tomczak and has its roots in the Gathering of Believers (now Covenant Life Church) in Maryland. It was formally established in 1982[4]. CJ Mahaney, whom Larry Tomczak had been asked to "take under [his] wing and help... grow in the faith" in 1972, was the co-founder of both Covenant Life and People of Destiny[5][6]. The pair were both close to the leaders of British restorationism - speaking at New Frontiers' Bible Weeks and Stoneleigh Conference - and were also associated with Maranatha Campus Ministries for a period[7].

Tomczak eventually left the leadership of PDI in 1998 and has subsequently suggested that the increasingly Calvinistic theology of PDI was a major factor in this parting of the ways [8][9]. He has also described the parting of the ways as "an unbelievable nightmare" during which his family were "were threatened in various ways if we did not cooperate with [SGM]... A letter was circulated in an attempt to discredit me and to distort the events surrounding my departure"[10]. Other notable charismatic figures, such as Lou Engle, founder of The Call prayer concerts, and Che Ahn, pastor of Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, also ceased to be formally associated with PDI during this period[11].

Neither the official website of Sovereign Grace Ministries nor that of Covenant Life Church contain any reference to Tomczak's role in their history [12][13]. Additionally, Covenant Life Church's website leads one to believe that Mahaney was the sole original senior pastor[14]

Recent Developments

In recent years, Sovereign Grace has moved closer to the Reformed wing of the evangelical church. It has partnered with speakers such as John MacArthur, author of Charismatic Chaos (which accuses the charismatic movement of "error" and of being responsible for undermining the "sufficiency of scripture") [15]. Other friends of SGM include Mark Dever, RC Sproul and John Piper, who speak at SGM's Together for the Gospel Conferences[16].

SGM currently describes its theology as "evangelical, Reformed, and charismatic"[17]. Sovereign Grace's apostolic leadership team is currently led by C.J. Mahaney and is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland where it shares a building with Covenant Life[18][19].

Publishing Ventures

SGM/PDI published a magazine for about twenty years. It was initially entitled "People of Destiny Magazine", with the title later changing to "Sovereign Grace"[20]. The first issue had the the words "Are You A Pioneer - Or A Settler?" on the front cover[21].

Larry Tomczak was a popular author with mainstream Christian publishers from the early 1970s onwards[22][23][24][25]. During the 1990s, SGM launched the self-published series of "Pursuit of Godliness" books, each penned by SGM authors[26][27]. In recent years, since published author Joshua Harris joined the staff of Covenant Life Church, CJ Mahaney has also achieved mainstream Christian recognition as an author[28].

Criticisms

Since late 2007, Sovereign Grace Ministries has been the subject of an online weblog discussion by former members. The site, Sovereign Grace Uncensored, can receive hundreds of anonymous posts in a single day and alleges that the group regularly practices heavy shepherding, along with poor pastoring and counselling.[29] Over 80,000 hits have been made on the site during its first three months of existence.[30] Additional criticism has been directed at US-based SGM churches for alleged cultural insularity and withdrawal from the wider world, though British-based SGM churches are more influenced by conservative emerging churchmanship, such as that exemplified by Mark Driscoll.[31] [32] Another criticism include pastors claiming that they are neither a homeschooling nor a courtship church, while both are the practice of most members and there is cultural pressure for all members to do the same.[33]

Larry Tomczak

CJ Mahaney

Covenant Life Church

Together for the Gospel

Joshua Harris



References

  1. ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. ^ "Christianity Today". 1998-04-27. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. p.145. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  4. ^ "Charisma Magazine". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands.
  6. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. p. p.164. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  7. ^ Virgo, Terry. No Well Worn Paths. p. p.162. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  8. ^ "Charisma Magazine". Charisma Magazine. 2000-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Tomczak, Larry (1998). What Do You Believe About How People get Saved?.
  10. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. p. p.15. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  11. ^ Engle, Lou. Digging the Wells of Revival.
  12. ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  13. ^ "Covenant Life Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  14. ^ "Covenant Life Official Website". Retrieved 2008-03-01..
  15. ^ MacArthur, John. Charismatic Chaos.
  16. ^ "T4G 2008 Conference". Retrieved 2008-02-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  17. ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  18. ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  19. ^ "SGM Official Website". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  20. ^ "People of Destiny Magazine, Sovereign Grace Magazine". 1982-2002?. {{cite magazine}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. ^ "People of Destiny Magazine, Issue One". 1982. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  22. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Clap Your Hands. ISBN 978-0884192527.
  23. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Divine Appointments. ISBN 978-1560433200.
  24. ^ Tomczak, Larry. Reckless Abandon. ISBN 978-0884198765.
  25. ^ Tomczak, Larry. God, the Rod and Your Child's Bod.
  26. ^ CJ Mahaney and Robin Boisvert. Why Small Groups. ISBN 978-1881039068.
  27. ^ CJ Mahaney and Greg Somerville. How Can I Change?. ISBN 978-1881039037.
  28. ^ CJ Mahaney. Living the Cross-Centred Life. ISBN 978-1590525784.
  29. ^ "Sovereign Grace Uncensored". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  30. ^ "Sovereign Grace Uncensored". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  31. ^ "Sovereign Grace Uncensored". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  32. ^ "Outpost Cardiff - a ministry of a Welsh SGM church". Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  33. ^ "Sovereign Grace Uncensored". Retrieved 2008-03-02.
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