Also, please realize that the spirit of a statement cannot be contained in the mere words of that statement. I found the spirit of this meeting and those speaking to be humble, candid and sober. While this meeting discusses some unpleasant things, I consider news of this meeting to be a great first step on the path to healing and share it here for your instruction and encouragement. 

This note set copyright © 2002 by John Engler. All rights reserved.

Meeting in Los Angeles (attended by John Lusk and Chris Jacobs and their wives) the previous week had three purposes:

1. Give Kip McKean the opportunity to resign as "World Missions Evangelist and Leader of the World Sector Leaders"
2. Give "Geographic Sector Leaders" (GSL's) a chance to voice their concerns openly
3. Determine a new "Kingdom Governance Model" (in view of Kip McKean's resignation and the change in status of several "World Sector Leaders)

• He wants to explain what is going on. If you want to know more than what is presented here tonight, ask.
• There was a day of prayer and fasting before the meeting in LA. John felt the Spirit's presence perhaps like never before

• First there was about an hour long devotional of worship songs, Scripture reading and prayer.
• Then Kip took the podium and read his letter. (John then read the McKean letter).
• He spoke for an additional 40 minutes and made many detailed apologies.
• Denver was mentioned specifically regarding the push beginning in 1990 to move large numbers of people to LA from various congregations, including Denver. He moved about 200 people from Denver, mostly leaders, from a church that had about 700 members at the time. Kip admitted it was wrong and selfish to have done this. (The following day, Gregg Marutzky, the lead evangelist in those days, expressed regret for acting as "Kip's Sargeant" in enforcing this desire of Kip's to move people to LA.)
• Then Al Baird and Bob Gempel's letter was read (John then read the Baird/Gempel letter)
• Frank Kim also wrote a letter for the Pac Rim churches, expressing gratitude to Kip for baptizing him 22 years ago and for planting the Manila and Bangkok churches in1989. He also expressed sadness due to Kip's letter, but cited Jn 15 and the fact that pruning hurts but leads to growth. Kip needs our love and grace and forgiveness; his sins are not eing covered-up nor is he being rejected, but he is being an example in getting back to serving in a ministry role (South Region of LA).

• a candid time of sharing
• many expressions about the harm from moving people around in the early 90's, especially with regards to LA.
• Oftentimes, when the leaders get together, they don't really challenge each other. It's been more about planting churches here or there, getting into new countries. But this time, there was frankness and challenging on many things.
• Many GSL's expressed regret at not standing up for what was right at various times
• WSL's apologized for not standing up for what was right and encouraging bad motivations in the hearts of people

• Each WS had a 15 minute powerpoint presentation on their proposal for governance
• issues revolved around autonomy vs. maintaining unity
• each WS elected a transition team of 3 couples to caucus and come up with the new approach
• they spent 15 hrs meeting to work out the plan.
• The transition team will put together a formal statement that should be released in the near future
• Each WS will function as it has
• There will be an annual leadership conference (what leaders? don't know)
• There will be a bi-annual movement unity meeting. Representatives will discuss issues and keep communications open.
• John Lusk's comment: One-person leadership has a place in the early stages of a church or business for that matter. But as it grows one-person leadership is inadequate and sometimes downright harmful.

• For some of you, this is more than you are interested in and you just want to move on
• For others, these are deeper matters and you want to know what to do about it
• Trust- Isaiah 46:3-11-- I will sustain you
• We can sometimes confuse the kingdom with God and be shaken by these things.
• God is sovereign, in his time, he is in control
• We've sinned in saying "Kip is God's anointed"-- we're all anointed.
• Jesus is involved in leading this thing
• Some of us may say, "We said things and people didn't listen." Well, God listened! God heard, you were right. If you were told you were wrong, it was wrong.
• Lk 18-- parable of the persistent widow-- God gives people justice. This should inspire us to trust God's sovereignty even more
• Forgive
• Col 3:12-13- forgive... as God forgave you.
• Does God rub our nose in our sin? Does he refuse to forgive if we sin again? No.
• We've all got war stories and scars. It can be hard to forgive if we feel like people don't repent.
• This can be a time of great healing
• In John's own leadership, has been harsh, stat-motivated, unapproachable. Really trying to change this. Some might say "You led me that way last week!" He really wants to listen to people. He especially wants those closest to him to speak to him.
• Rev 2-3 "let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches." God's spirit is active here. Sometimes we think Christians are passengers on the kingdom "train"--- but the Christians are the kingdom.
• Heb 13-- imitate leaders, but after considering the outcome of their way of life. Sometimes we've seen bad outcomes and not wanted to imitate, that's good.
• When John moved here, he wanted to change things (i.e. harshness etc.), but he is a work in progress.
• Relationships and Leadership
• Humility- in the past, teaching on humility meant you all be humble towards the leaders. But humility is for all. He wants to consider other's voices in his life just as important as his disciplers; tends to listen to Frank but not to those he leads. He's sorry if his leadership has caused other leaders to be this way to those we lead.
• Honesty- speak the truth in love
• in LA, so many GSL's admitted to not being honest, not speaking up
• We need to speak up, in love and humility.
• You may be right, you may be the one God wants to use to bring something to light. Or, you might be wrong-- but you'll never know until you speak up.
• We need to lift the "cone of silence." (Get Smart)
• Sensitivity- leaders need to be more sensitive to where people are in life. Doesn't mean leaders have clipped wings, but need to consider where people are in life.
• Spirituality
• Need to establish spiritual motives for outreach and relationships
• Do things for the right reason, not just ot get alog, get a position, get someone off your back, etc.

Comments by Chris Jacobs (Elder, Denver CoC)

• God is leading us. We did say, "Kip is our leader." But Jesus Christ is the leader. We can't forget it.
• God does not show favoritism, but we have shown it to leaders. We'd like to blame them.
• I've avoided challenging leaders when I knew they were wrong, I didn't confront it. I should have said more when these things were going on in the US (apparently referring to the the buildup of LA) (He was in Tokyo at the time). He's sorry he didn't speak up.
• When he moved to Denver, he noticed people were afraid to speak up. Leaders need to take responsibility for that. I hope this is a turning point for us in regards to speaking up.
• Pride cannot be tolerated in the leadership. If you speak up to a leader and get a prideful response, take it to another leader. If you get another prideful response, take it to the elders. Follow it up.

• I've been here for the "revolving door evangelists" and when all he wanted to do was sit in the back row (i.e. not be involved).
• The good news is that we can change. The past is not permanent. Trust, forgive, learn (echoes John L's points)
• Take this personally, too. If you done harsh things, examine your heart... take it heart
• Repentance is moving in the right direction.
• The leaders really want to be humble

Copyright © 2002 John Engler. All rights reserved. Send a letter to the editor concerning this article