Urban refuge sermon link.

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[DarthVader]

http://www.theurbanrefuge.com/listen?sapurl=Lys4dnYyL2xiL21pLys3Z2IzNXk5P2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZQ==

Urban Refuge message. Andy was spot on - I wished he reflected the heart of the broader ECC organization. But I think Mark B and Brett are a more accurate assessment.

And although he would not want me advocating this, he should be the chairman of the board. He is the only senior ECC leader untainted by bad behavior and his heart is far closer to the right place than the others.

[Linda]

"To the women that were involved in this, I’ve lamented that they’ve experienced confusion, pain, and spiritual distortion from conversations that were inappropriate with their pastor. I’ve lamented that it’s impacted their marriages and families and left questions of how to trust leadership in church. I’ve lamented that women have felt unheard and marginalized in a place that should affirm dignity at every possible turn. And I’ve lamented that social media was the platform that many women in our society have had to use just to be heard. –Andy Gray

Thank you for saying this, Andy. God bless you.

[Differentstrokes]

Andy has such a good heart. I am really glad you shared the link to this message.

[DarthVader]

Thanks. He’s the best. That’s why it would be so hard to leave. I just wish Urban would separate from ECC soon (like today).

[Rebel in a Good Way]

I agree.  Thank you Andy, for providing an example that the rest of ECC leadership should follow.  I look forward to listening to the message in its entirety.

"To the women that were involved in this, I’ve lamented that they’ve experienced confusion, pain, and spiritual distortion from conversations that were inappropriate with their pastor. I’ve lamented that it’s impacted their marriages and families and left questions of how to trust leadership in church. I’ve lamented that women have felt unheard and marginalized in a place that should affirm dignity at every possible turn. And I’ve lamented that social media was the platform that many women in our society have had to use just to be heard. –Andy Gray

Thank you for saying this, Andy. God bless you.

[GodisFaithful]

Thanks for sharing this DV.

Really appreciated his response, which is appropriate when many women and their families and their faith were very negatively impacted by Mark Darlings sin and abuse of power. I really hope that significant changes are made, especially in respect to the pastors of Evergreen having actual accountability to the BOT and not just to themselves which obviously left room for serious spiritual, emotional, and sexual abuse.

It was so good to hear someone express genuine empathy for the women involved and regret for the impact it had on them.

Suzanne especially experienced heaps of verbal abuse for bringing this to light. I am so thankful for her willingness to bring some of the stories into the light.

[LisaFeist]

This had me in tears! What a great message.

[DarthVader]

Thanks for sharing this DV.

Really appreciated his response, which is appropriate when many women and their families and their faith were very negatively impacted by Mark Darlings sin and abuse of power. I really hope that significant changes are made, especially in respect to the pastors of Evergreen having actual accountability to the BOT and not just to themselves which obviously left room for serious spiritual, emotional, and sexual abuse.

It was so good to hear someone express genuine empathy for the women involved and regret for the impact it had on them.

Suzanne especially experienced heaps of verbal abuse for bringing this to light. I am so thankful for her willingness to bring some of the stories into the light.

Thanks GF - it grieves me that this was apparently the only of the 4 locations (The Rock gets a pass on this given they really didn't have a service this week) where empathy for the victims was clearly expressed. But then, the other 3 locations are - still -  led by men who contributed to these events by protecting their friend and giving lie to the "mutual accountability" system ECC promotes to avoid any congregational supervision of pastors.

[KnowingGod]

All of this only matters when The Rock remains apart of GCC and Evergreen. Nothing is preventing them from splitting from GCC all together and becoming independent which I believe is very likely to happen. I say it’s highly likely that happens and Mark is preaching in some form or another within a year.. nothing new about a massive falling out within a “denomination” followed by the split and than formation of a new independent church run by the loyalist. Look at LDS Mormons and the 100 other fundamentalists sects that split after LDS banned polygamy.

[OneOfMany]

All of this only matters when The Rock remains apart of GCC and Evergreen. Nothing is preventing them from splitting from GCC all together and becoming independent which I believe is very likely to happen. I say it’s highly likely that happens and Mark is preaching in some form or another within a year.. nothing new about a massive falling out within a “denomination” followed by the split and than formation of a new independent church run by the loyalist. Look at LDS Mormons and the 100 other fundamentalists sects that split after LDS banned polygamy.

Yes he can do that. Yet the truth as to what he has done will still be public knowledge. We can pray that he does not have opportunity to deceive. But more than that, that Mark Darling is healed and saved. Let God bring him to repentance.

[KnowingGod]

Yes amen.