Who is brent detwiler

The Sovereign Grace Pastors College is a ten-month, academic program with a very specific purpose: we exist to train pastors. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Pastors must be skilled in the teaching and application of Scripture, faithfully bringing it to bear upon their lives and the churches they serve.

The teaching faculty includes Jeff Purswell Dean , C. Mahaney, and other Sovereign Grace pastors. A number of our courses are also taught by noted scholars and instructors such as D.

Since pastors are called to be examples to the people they serve, our program is also designed to cultivate godly character. There are weekly fellowship groups where they care for, encourage, and pray for each other. Wives receive specialized training to serve alongside their husbands. Couples spend the year in varied and intentional contexts to help them grow as disciples, as married couples, and as parents.

Finally, they experience all of this with an intimate connection to the local church at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville—which is of critical importance.

Their training takes specific account of the local church precisely because students are being equipped to serve in a local church context. So much in this write-up is pure hypocrisy. For example, they preach accountability and transparency but refuse an independent investigation of their year history of covering up sexual assault and abuse which they categorically deny.

That aside, Jeff is using all of you to not only promote the PC but to promote C. Even more disturbing to me is the fact that you allowed Mark Prater to promote you. February 12, by Jeff Purswell. We are pleased to announce that both D.

Carson and Sam Storms are scheduled to teach in the Pastors College for the upcoming academic year. Carson will be doing a special course on the book of Revelation, while Dr. Storms will be teaching Pneumatology, one of our core systematic theology courses. In addition to speaking at a number of Sovereign Grace conferences over the years, Dr. We are thrilled to have him return as he teaches on Revelation December 15—18, Known for his voluminous writings, Dr.

Carson is currently working on a commentary on Revelation. Storms, although new to the Pastors College, is no stranger to Sovereign Grace.

We have long benefitted from his writing and ministry. In addition to our core courses, each year the college offers special courses that both strengthen our curriculum and provide ongoing training for our existing pastors. We would encourage you to consider bringing your pastoral teams to these important classes. Registration for these classes will open June 1, For more information or questions regarding the Pastors College, please contact us. A Week Learning from Sam Storms.

May 4, by Mark Prater. A wonderful feature of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College is the strategic way scholars are scheduled to teach specific courses that fall into their area of expertise. For example, right before the Christmas break, Dr. Carson taught the book of Revelation, and in January Dr. Ian Duguid spent a week teaching on the Old Testament Prophets. These courses provide unique opportunities, not only for full-time Pastors College students but also for Sovereign Grace pastors to be equipped in serving their local churches.

Last week I had the joy, along with 12 Pastors College students, and 22 other Sovereign Grace pastors, to be taught pneumatology by Dr. It was a wonderful week full of theological and practical instruction where Dr. Storms taught on the person, power, and work of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few things I appreciated about last week. The Course was Taught with Biblical Accuracy. With biblical precision, Dr. Storms taught on the person and broad work of the Holy Spirit.

To clearly see the deity of the Holy Spirit from Scripture, and to see the work of the Spirit throughout redemptive history, from Genesis through Revelation, only stirred worship in my heart for our Triune God.

Again, and again, Dr. Storms answered good questions from the class by taking us back to Scripture as the basis and proof for his answers. The Course was Filled with Pastoral Application. Storms is not just a theologian; he is also a pastor. Over and over again, Sam answered questions that equipped us to depend upon the work of the Holy Spirit as we seek to care for the people in our churches. This is just one of the things I love about the Sovereign Grace Pastors College: men are equipped academically, and practically, to care for their churches.

The Week was Filled with Rich Fellowship. Like all the courses taught at the Pastors College, the course on pneumatology was taught in a didactic setting in a culture of rich relationships and fellowship.

We laughed together, prayed for one another, and shared meals together where we enjoyed friendship and fellowship. I was particularly affected on Thursday when Sam, being led by the Spirit, stopped his teaching and called us to pray for one another. FYI — I asked Jenny about leaving the meeting. Maybe you could clear [this] up with the persons who [were] concerned.

She will get up and use the ladies room…then remain in back of gym so as not to be a distraction. I never referred to C. The next day, Saturday, May 23, I stopped by the Kirchers. I wanted to reach out to them and thank Anna for all her help on the recent ladies retreat. It was a pleasant time of casual interaction with. Eric held his ground and insisted it was true. We all laughed. A conflict did not ensue but it was another example of how entrenched and extreme Eric can be in his criticisms.

Four days later on Wednesday, May 27, I met with Eric again. His perspective had deteriorated. Whereas he had said no one sinned at the dinner, now he said in no uncertain terms that I sinned against him.

I asked him how he came to that conclusion. He was clearly resentful for the mild, but necessary, correction I brought him. Nor was I quick to address him. I waited at the dinner as long as possible. That is until the conflict became intense and had to be addressed.

I was doing all I could to remain with Sovereign Grace. Two days later on Friday, May 29, we met again with Eric and Anna in the afternoon. Jenny wanted to ask their forgiveness in person and not simply by e-mail. Brent was trying to help us. He did not respond the way I did. I so respected the humility my dear wife modeled for all of us.

I assumed Eric would follow her example with a similar confession. Regrettably, he acknowledged no wrongdoing. This brings us back to my resignation lunch with Eric which occurred five days later on a Wednesday, June 3.

With sincerity, I expressed my appreciation for the ways they had cared for us and served us. I was also fearful. Seconds later I found out when Eric demanded I resign within 72 hours and presented me the letter. This request is based upon our uniform agreement that Brent Detwiler is no longer qualified to preside as Pastor.

In addition to the four signatories i. He mentioned the only two exceptions — Andy Elseman and John Sutton — both of whom he tried to contact but unsuccessfully. It was the only statement I gently contested.

I affectionately reminded Eric that I had always shared everything with him, involved him in every decision and there was nothing he did not know about. Time and again, Eric had commended me for these very things. I appealed to his integrity and self-knowledge but Eric was not in his right mind.

Clearly, his anger, bitterness and resentment from Main played a huge part in his betrayal of me. He denied this to the Assessment Team but it was his stated reason at our lunch for why I was no longer fit to be a pastor.

It was also his main point during our last meeting on Wednesday, May Eric was bitter for the correction he received and that bitterness poisoned his heart and mind. At some point in this process, Ray talked to Gene Emerson to. I was totally unaware any of this was going on behind my back. My son, Jonathan, called Eric almost immediately after my lunch with him on June 3 and then wrote all the leaders.

Detwiler Subject:. I just got off the phone with Eric and found out that he has been meeting with some of the Care Group leaders, has contacted you all, and has asked Dad to step down as pastor. This news comes as a shock to me, and I am very disappointed and troubled to hear this news!

I believe it is important that I write you this brief note. First, I am saddened that this has never been discussed in any fashion with Mom or Dad or with myself as a member of the leadership team. This has come quickly and without any warning and is a quick turnaround from what was being said [i.

I believe that they are in many ways inaccurate and come from clouded perspectives. E-mail is not a good medium to go into the details of my concerns, but I would certainly ask that you be careful of processing without the proper information. I am sorry that you all have to wade through all of this, as I know these are not pleasant things to deal with.

I know that God is at work and will sovereignly be working out his good plan. From: Jonathan M. As I am guessing you have probably now heard, Eric Kircher working in conjunction with Ray Mulligan after having apparently already informed the care group leaders and talking to some other guys, totally out of the blue asked Dad step down as pastor of the church today. As you have been somewhat kept abreast of the various developments here, and are guys that are friends, I wanted to briefly update you.

From my perspective, this has not been walked out in any sort of a biblical manner. It is also perplexing and concerning because just the other week Eric was praising Dad for his unbelievable humility and then after a few disagreements about which I think some serious questions should be raised to Eric he has spun around to this. Much could be said, but at the moment just wanted to give you a brief update.

Glad to talk more if you have any desire or questions. Either way, if you would be praying for the situation both for Dad and for the sake of the people in the church. It is our desire that God would be glorified and things would be walked out by everyone in a manner that would please him. FYI, below is an email [the one included above], I sent to the care group leaders who according to Eric had already all been contacted…and Sovereign Grace notified, before he ever talked to me.

Yesterday Eric gave me a letter signed by himself, Ray, Roger and Jim requiring me to step down as sr. It was firmly and cordially presented as an ultimatum. Eric stated his reasons. I asked a few questions.

There was no conversation regarding the impact on Jenny and me, our friendships, my livelihood, or the church. Eric also said all of you had been contacted and fully agreed with this action implemented in this way except for John Sutton and Andy since they had not been contacted yet.

This action came as a complete surprise — no hint or warning. I realize a case for this action is being made to each of you. Jenny and I are glad to talk to you in private and answer any questions.

At this point, we are praying for God to guide and help us. We love you all. He will direct each of our paths. Jonathan Paul wrote me that morning saying he was misrepresented by Eric and did not agree with the action taken. I was not aware that Eric was going to ask you to step down yesterday. I knew that Eric, Jim and Roger were going to confront you on certain issues. If my name was used yesterday in this I want to be clear what my understanding was.

I am sure this is devastating to you and I am concerned for you. If you would like to get together on Saturday to talk, please let me know.

That was a lie. The first of many. All three men told me they knew nothing about the plan to fire me. Eric purposely misrepresented them in order to put added pressure on me to resign. Later, Eric tried to cover his tracks and told the Assessment Team i. This was a fallacious explanation. It also proved to be a lie.

I brought the statement up to the Assessment Team to show the extent to which Eric attempted to turn people against me. Roger disagreed with my statement and laid out a corrected chronology.

Jim and Ray contributed also. This sinful exaggeration was also intentional and purposeful to pressure my resignation. On Wednesday evening, Anna wrote Jenny the following. You are my friend and I am committed to that friendship. This has been a very difficult decision and I cannot begin to imagine the struggle you both are experiencing. It was strongly worded and appropriately so.

You have not been honest with us and others. You have not dealt with us with integrity or loyalty. There is nothing about this that even remotely resembles a biblical response to conflict or concerns.

I confessed that he was trying to get me to stop and that his concern in what he said was to help Eric and I resolve the conflict. You completely agreed and said that you did not feel Brent was where I was and that he was always open to hear your perspective.

You said you were not concerned for his part in the conversation. I had also already communicated to you even at dinner, I wanted to hear your perspectives as I have many, many times before but that I was stumbled by how you were communicating and I was trying to.

On the other hand, I was surprised that neither you nor Eric asked my forgiveness for your responses at the dinner.

I would submit for your consideration that you both were angry. I felt attacked for struggling with your words rather than a loving concern for how they affected me. Eric appeared extremely offended that Brent asked him to consider the categorical way he was speaking. We feel blind-sided. And now I hear that you are communicating your grave concerns for Brent in part due to the dinner.

It seems from the things we are hearing that you are twisting all of this and many other things to manipulate others to your new perspective. While you and Eric have spent hours and hours with people promoting your side we have not been given even one opportunity to respond. How can this be right or honor the Lord? Brent and I have bared our souls to you and Eric over the last many months.

We have been completely vulnerable to you. We have trusted you. You even said that we have allowed you over and over to ask any question and bring any concerns and that we have responded humbly and honestly. We drew you close. We opened everything about our lives to you.

How can you treat us like this? How can you suddenly be making such charges and coming to these conclusions. You guys have been involved in everything! Every decision — every move. You know how Brent and I have sought to honor the Lord. You know how often Brent has suffered his reputation to protect others. You know how he allowed Ray [Mulligan] to sin against him [without correcting him] — time and time again in an effort to be open and humble.

I know of no other man who would have let himself be treated like that. You know how we have been seeking to apprehend grace to move forward. Putting together a new leadership team — working to get Wayne involved — putting together a strategy to move forward as a church. We were right there — right on the edge of seeing it happen.

We felt new faith budding in our hearts…. I am heartbroken that after all these months and all the time we have spent together that you have turned your back on us. Even though in love for Ray and Jenny we protected their reputation you know very well where Ray has been at spiritually. You know of the grave concerns Wayne [Brooks] expressed for his soul — for his bitterness toward God and his lack of humility and hardness.

How can I not think that in your offense toward us you went to recruit the man you knew would join with you? We would have been so happy and willing to do that. We were close friends and I feel you have betrayed us. You have demonstrated the opposite of love — especially to someone who has trusted you and so deeply shared their lives with you.

I so wish these past few weeks could be erased. I so want the church to be built and people to enjoy the grace of God and each other. I long for our friendship to be restored and fellowship we shared to resume. I am so sorry for any way I have provoked you or tempted you or added to this situation. Rhonda and Tracie, I have copied you in hope that you would consider and somewhat understand my limited perspective. I was not invited to participate in the call or even told about it.

My son, Jonathan, knew about the phone call and asked to participate since he was a board of director and on the leadership. He was forbidden by Dave to do so. Given the extent of the concerns but also an awareness of our own fallenness, we discussed these issues with the Care Group leaders, who unanimously agreed to invite Sovereign Grace Ministries in — to evaluate our findings.

Over the previous six months, I only had one conversation in March when Ray shared any concerns with me. Eric only shared concerns with me very recently. In violation of Scripture, I did not know what Ray and Eric were saying about me and I was not present to share my perspective if I differed.

First, they had already discussed their concerns with Roger, Jim, Mike and Kenny. Days earlier these four men had been convinced I should be fired. That is, a concern for their sinfulness. I find that doubtful. This never happened. There was no regard for biblical justice and fair mindedness throughout the process. Of course, that was not about to happened.

Needless to say, it was important to find out what Dave, Gene, Eric and Ray covered at this closed meeting so I wrote Dave and Gene asking for their notes. Hope you are well. I did not take notes since most of the time was spent with Gene and I simply answering questions the men had about you and about how they should proceed.

I suppose you could contact the men that were present to see who took notes, but you should carefully consider how that will appear before you take that step. It deterred me from making contact with the men.

I felt manipulated. I felt demeaned and manipulated by his answer. I want full disclosure. And Gene and I would be glad to write down our recollections from the meeting for you. Once that is completed, I want you to meet with all the men to share your perspective and answer any questions they might have. It is only right for them to ask you the same questions they were asking us about you. Here is a second request to Gene. He also claimed to have no notes from the meeting.

I took the occasion to explain the obvious and copied Dave. Would you [Gene] please send me your notes since Dave has no recorded minutes or talking points from the phone meeting? Otherwise, I have no have no idea what is being said or covered in reference to me. So far as I know, they never raised any of these issues with Dave either.

The only snippets of information on the closed meeting came from John Schaaf when I met with him the next day. Here is what John said according to my notes. This was completely untrue. He was not. After the Thursday evening conference call with Dave and Gene; Jonathan Paul wrote me the following e-mail late that night.

We would like to rescind the resignation letter at this time. We need you to give your planned [home school] graduation talk [on Saturday] and to preach this Sunday. John Schaaf also wrote me that night about withdrawing the demand for my resignation.

The Grace leaders would withdrawal the demand for my resignation if I agreed to an evaluation by Sovereign Grace Ministries.

I called ahead, and we came by the house to talk in person, but at 10 PM all the lights were out so we did not knock…. The conclusion after a long conference with Dave and Gene is as follows. The leaders here would like to withdraw the request for your immediate resignation if you agree to allow the Sovereign Grace guys to come alongside us to evaluate you, the leadership team, and the situation….

They are willing to do this in a quick enough fashion to be humane to all involved. We would request your continued leadership of the church, please, until the conclusion of the review process including preaching this Sunday and your Guest Speakership at the home school graduation!

I am at the clinic tomorrow and very available to talk through about noon. Then I will be swamped until 6, then at your service if needed. It was an assignment. I admit to feeling used and abused.

I understand that Jonathan Paul and John Schaaf met with you last night to explain that the formal request from the leaders that SGM assemble a team of men to evaluate your qualification for leadership. Part of this agreement is that a public statement will be made in the next week or two on Sunday morning or at a family meeting acknowledging that this process will be moving forward in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you will need to continue to provide leadership for the church.

I am praying for you, Jenny, and all those involved. Rightly so. I could have refused to speak at the home school graduation and the Sunday meeting and then told everyone in the church what happen on Wednesday with Eric. Or, I could have spoken on both occasions and removed Grace Community Church from Sovereign Grace Ministries for what they instigated and condoned.

Instead, I decided to serve the many dear people in the church and not force a split or expose Eric and others. I hoped good would come out of this travesty. Therefore C. You cannot conceal vital information and then claim to be framing the process with integrity. This did not serve the church. I believe this action deceived the church. I communicated this concern to everyone. Gentleman, an additional point of clarification related to the public announcement to the church. Since we are being informed from many parties that there is growing speculation over these issues from within and outside the church.

We believe this step will serve the church by framing the issue carefully and respectfully, quelling speculation, inviting prayer and reinforcing the desire of all parties to walk through this process with integrity. That he not withhold this information from everyone and be accused of a cover up later. I never heard back from Dave. A non-response was typical of Dave whenever I asked questions that involved answers for which he could be held accountable.

I copied all the leaders. I want to alert you to an unfortunate development. While we have not yet been able to verify the details although we are aggressively attempting to do so , it appears as if there is a direct link regarding the details of this situation to one of the anti-SGM blogs [SGM Refuge].

The information has not yet been posted, but we have been informed that it may soon appear. Needless to say, the circulation of this private information [that Eric, Ray, Roger and Jim demanded my immediate resignation without any process] could ultimately hinder, if not entirely undermine the important process in which we are engaged.

Blogging over local church matters is an unhelpful and unbiblical way to stir uninformed critique without the benefit of context or accurate information. You can also assure them that there are a number of trustworthy men involved in this assessment and that no information will be inappropriately withheld from the church at the conclusion of this evaluation process.

Also, while I have your attention, I just want to clarify that the role of Sovereign Grace in this matter is merely advisory.

This means that the recommendations — resulting from the evaluation of Brent, the local leaders and Gene — are not binding. We would not require that…and we would not recommend you do that either. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. And thanks for your patience in this important process. The church deserved to know what was happening to their senior pastor.

They had no voice. Thereby, the need for this paper and the previous ones to C. This was all part of a cover-up. He also told Jonathan the same thing. I need to be able to quote you on this. Now that the resignation was rescinded, Eric began to distance himself and cover his tracks.

He told others that it was never his intention for me to resign. In other words, the resignation letter requiring my signature, all the secret meetings, the signatures from Ray, Roger and Jim, the pressuring, the embellishing was just a hoax or ploy. If true, as I told the Assessment Team, it was crueler and more wicked to fake the demand for my resignation then to sincerely require it. It was real. He was lying again and in the most blatant way possible. That is, telling people he never intended for me to resign.

That was pure deception. No, I am not going to resign. Get over it. Stop joking around. I brought this matter up to Roger and Jim for clarification.

In other words, I tried to ascertain from them, whether or not their demand to resign was sincere or whether it was a sham. Their answers were elusive and confusing but clear enough — they genuinely intended for me to resign.

Were you really asking for my resignation in 72 hours? Or were you, like Eric has claimed, just acting pretentiously? That does not really answer my question. Was it a pretense or a feigned request? Or did you really intend for me to resign? After sending this to Roger, I began to wonder if they were instructed to demand my resignation. If you look at the Biblical qualifications for a pastor in 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1, you notice that the vast majority of those requirements are character qualities that have nothing to do with the pulpit.

You might be reading this and have no clue about what kind of scandals I am referring to when it comes to Pastor John MacArthur. None of this happened. He claimed that he was arrested for preaching the Gospel in the South. It turns out he was pulled over for driving without a drivers license.

He claims he turned down an NFL career to go into ministry and was being recruited by professional teams after his junior year of college. He only played three games and rushed once for three yards that year.

The college accreditation says that the Masters University and Seminary are filled with nepotism and retaliation to anyone who pushes back against the narrative about MacArthur or the school. MacArthur and the University have covered up sex crimes and rape against women that happened by their students and staff. The massive empire built through double and triple dipping on his sermons.

For example, he gets paid a salary to prepare and preach sermons for the church, of which he then has Phil Johnson format into book form where he earns royalties, and then has Grace To You take donations as they promote and sell his books where he earns a salary there, as well. However I think Christians should not vote at all. I wrote a post why I will not vote in December of Like Like.

It is one thing to be the abuser. It is something far more vile and depraved to cling on to his coat-tails. These people have no shame. Like Liked by 1 person. It just goes to show God said this is my beloved son listen to him. We cant put christian leaders or politians above Jesus who died and rose from the dead for our sins.

Search for:. What If C. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading I wrote a post why I will not vote in December of Like Like. Agree with you Melody. Follow Following. Wondering Eagle Join 1, other followers. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress.

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