Acts 29 Network

Acts 29 is a global family of church planting churches that adheres to Calvinist theology.[2] It derives its name from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, which has 28 chapters, making Acts 29 the "next chapter" in the history of the church.[3] A number of other Christian organizations also use the phrase "Acts 29" in their respective names.[4][5][6]

For the apocryphal/pseudepigraphical work sometimes known as Acts 29, see The Lost Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 29
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCalvinist
PresidentBrian Howard[1]
Executive directorMatt Chandler[1]
Founder
Origin1998
Congregations730
Official websiteacts29.com

History

Acts 29 was founded in 1998 by Mark Driscoll[7][8] and David Nicholas.[9] Beginning September 17, 2007, with the Raleigh Boot Camp, Acts 29 began using Great Commission Ministries as its mission agency for fundraising and leadership training.[10][11][12] Matt Chandler was appointed as the president of Acts 29 Network in 2012.[13] Chandler announced plans to keep the network's objectives intact while reorganizing to address the global scope of the organization. The offices and leadership of Acts 29 moved from Mars Hill Church in Seattle to The Village Church in Texas in March 2012.[13][14] The offices of Acts 29 are now in Mission Viejo, CA [15]

In August 2014, Acts 29 removed Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church from its membership. According to the Acts 29 Board, this was due to "the nature of the accusations against Mark, most of which have been confirmed by him."[16][17][18] Subsequent years saw the network restructure, with a focus on diversification, financial accountability and devolved leadership, transforming "from an American-based network to a diverse global family of church-planting churches".[19]

Board members

As of May 28, 2020, Acts 29's board consisted of these members: [20]

  • Matt Chandler | Board Member and President | Lead Pastor at The Village Church in Dallas, TX
  • Dwayne Bond | Board Member | Lead Pastor at Wellspring Church in Charlotte, NC
  • Gareth Paul | Board Member
  • Ryan Kwon | Board Member | Lead Pastor at Resonate Church in Fremont, CA
  • Vic Keller | Board Member
  • Sergio Queiroz | Board Member | Lead Pastor at Primeira Igreja Batista do Bessamar in Brasil

Character

Acts 29 is a global family of church planting churches that originated in North America and now has representation in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Latin and South America, Africa, and Asia.[2]

Acts 29 has been described as part of the emerging church.[21][22] However, Darrin Patrick, Former Vice President of Acts 29 has pointed out "bad things" in the emerging church such as "the fascination with deconstructing almost everything while building almost nothing," and "ugly things" such as "conversing about God's Word [the Bible] to the neglect of obeying it, deviating from historical orthodoxy and the lack of clarity regarding issues of theology and sexuality."[23]

Four Values of Acts 29

In 2012, Matt Chandler became the President of Acts 29 and outlined four values for the future of Acts 29. As he states, "these aren't complex and seem to me to be no-brainers, even though it might take years before some of them are a reality. I will be and am currently putting my efforts and influence to work in these directions."[24]

  1. Planting Churches that Plant Churches
  2. Pursuing Holiness and Humility
  3. Being a Radically Diverse and Global Community
  4. Praying for Conversions Through Evangelism[25]

The full brief on "The Four Values For Acts 29" can be found on the website of the Acts 29 Network.[26]

The Mission of Acts 29

In March 2019, Acts 29 included 740 churches on six continents. The stated mission of Acts 29 is to be a diverse, global family of church-planting churches characterized by theological clarity, cultural engagement and missional innovation.[27] Acts 29 makes no claim to be a model or a style, stating "[W]e have churches with live preaching and others with video-delivered sermons. We have independent church plants, replants, and existing churches that want to focus on planting new churches out of their existing congregations. Simply, we seek to be a movement of church-planting churches."[28] A number of Acts 29 churches belong to a denomination as well. For example, Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America,[29] while The Village Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention.[30]

Reactions

Steve Lemke of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary cited interactions with Acts 29 instead of local Baptist churches on the part of Pleasant Valley Community Church in Owensboro, Kentucky as a reason they were denied acceptance into the Daviess–McLean Baptist Association, saying, "those who want to be accepted should make themselves acceptable."[31] Roger Moran, a former member of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee and head of the Missouri Baptist Layman's Association has criticized Acts 29 on matters of doctrine, vulgarity and drinking. In his view, Acts 29 and other emerging church movements have become a "dangerous and deceptive infiltration of Baptist life".[32][33] Christian Piatt of the Huffington Post has criticized the network for disguising the traditional evangelical agenda of conformity and conversion behind the veneer of the new missional church movement. He also criticizes the emphasis on male leadership.[34]

Controversies

Acts 29 churches have faced criticism for a number of high-profile church discipline issues. On 13 April 2016, Darrin Patrick was removed from his position at The Journey for misconduct and was required to step down from all external leadership positions.[35] He is no longer listed as a member of the Acts 29 Board of Directors.[36] In February 2020, it was announced that Steve Timmis had been removed from the position of CEO of the Acts 29 Network amid allegations of an abusive leadership style; five staff members had previously raised similar concerns with Chandler in 2015, only to be fired and asked to sign non-disclosure agreements.[37] Timmis is also no longer listed as a member of the Acts 29 Board of Directors.[36]

Criticisms have also been made over how church discipline has been conducted. The Village Church in Dallas offered a general apology after a female member was disciplined for annulling her marriage to a man who admitted to viewing child pornography. No elders or leaders were removed from their offices, but the church said in an email that the action taken against the woman was "unbefitting" of a church leader.[38]

See also

References
  1. Graham, Ruth (5 December 2022). "Popular Pastor Returns After Absence Over an 'Inappropriate' Online Relationship". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. "2014 Annual Report" (PDF). Acts 29. 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  3. Evans, Lyndsey. "Acts 29 Network brings micro-churches to Fort Worth neighborhoods". The 109. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. "Acts 29 Ministry". 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  5. "Acts 29 Missions". 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  6. "Acts 29 Ministries". 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  7. Henard, William D.; Greenway, Adam W. (2009). Evangelicals Engaging Emergent: A Discussion of the Emergent Church Movement. B&H Publishing Group. pp. 8, 245. ISBN 978-0-8054-4739-2. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  8. Thomas, Scott. "Happy Birthday and Happy 15th Anniversary, Mark Driscoll". Acts 29 Network. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  9. Stetzer, Ed; Bird, Warren (2010). Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers. John Wiley & Sons. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-47055045-8. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  10. "Annual Ministry Report". Great Commission Ministries. 2007. Retrieved Jan 12, 2013.
  11. "Fund Raising – Great Commission Ministries". Acts 29. Retrieved Jan 12, 2013.
  12. "GCM Partners". Great Commission Ministries. 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  13. "A Change of Leadership at Acts 29 Network". Outreach Magazine. Mar 28, 2012. Retrieved Jan 16, 2013.
  14. Driscoll, Mark (March 28, 2012). "A Note on Some Transitions". Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  15. https://www.acts29.com/connect/
  16. "Acts 29 Network Removes Co-founder Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church From Membership (UPDATED)". Patheos. 2014. Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  17. "A Message from the Board of Acts 29 concerning Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church". Acts 29. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  18. Moon, Ruth (8 August 2014). "Acts 29 Removes Mars Hill, Asks Mark Driscoll To Step Down and Seek Help". Christianity Today. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  19. "How Acts 29 Survived and Thrived after the Collapse of Mars Hill". The Gospel Coalition. 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  20. "Leadership - The Acts 29 Board". Acts 29. 2018. Retrieved Oct 18, 2018.
  21. Jameson, Norman (21 March 2011). "SBC Pastors' Conference slate raises ire". Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  22. Palmeri, Allen (28 January 2008). "Theology committee tackles Emerging Church". The Pathway. Missouri Baptist Convention. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  23. Patrick, Darrin. "Emerging Church - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Acts 29 Network. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  24. Chandler, Matt. "President". www.acts29.com. Acts 29. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  25. "Our Values". Acts 29. 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  26. "Four Values For Acts 29". Acts 29. 2014. Retrieved Aug 3, 2016.
  27. "About Acts 29 - What we are". Acts 29. 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  28. "About Acts 29 - Our Story". Acts 29. 2014. Retrieved Aug 19, 2014.
  29. "Why We Do It". Christ the King Presbyterian Church. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  30. "What is Our Denominational Affiliation?". The Village Church. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  31. Lemke, Steve (Nov 4, 2011). "Thoughts on the Daviess–McLean Baptist Association Decision about Pleasant Valley Community Church Part 2: Reflections on the Significance of What Happened". SBC Today. Southern Baptist Convention. Retrieved Jan 12, 2012.
  32. Kaylor, Brian (June 24, 2009). "SBC Agencies Asked to Investigate 'Cussing Pastor'". Ethics Daily. Retrieved Jan 12, 2013. As messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention walked into the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, they were handed a copy of Missouri layman Roger Moran's nearly 50-page Viewpoint document attacking the 'Emerging Church Movement' and the church-planting Acts 29 Network.
  33. Miller, Norm (Mar 20, 2007). "Alcohol, Acts 29 and the SBC". The Baptist Press. Retrieved Jan 12, 2013. Moran addressed the Executive Committee Feb. 20 regarding his concerns relative to Acts 29, saying in part, 'One of the most dangerous and deceptive movements to infiltrate the ranks of Southern Baptist life has been the emerging/emergent church movement. Not since the stealth tactics of the CBF (Cooperative Baptist Fellowship) have we seen a movement operate so successfully below the radar of rank and file Southern Baptists.'
  34. Piatt, Christian (Mar 1, 2012). "Evangelical 2.0: The Deception of Driscoll's Acts 29 Network". The Huffington Post. Retrieved Jan 12, 2013. I'm all for congregational and denominational change. But when it's the same old white guys preaching largely the same old agenda, it smacks more of a desperate power grab than a genuine longing to better know and connect with the world around us.
  35. "Leadership Update | the Journey". Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  36. "About".
  37. "Acts 29 CEO Removed Amid "Accusations of Abusive Leadership". Retrieved 2020-04-25. According to a copy of a 2015 letter sent to Acts 29 president Chandler and obtained by CT, five staff members based in the Dallas area described their new leader as "bullying," "lacking humility," "developing a culture of fear," and "overly controlling beyond the bounds of Acts 29," with examples spanning 19 pages. During a meeting Chandler arranged with two board members to discuss the letter, all five were fired and asked to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of their severance packages.
  38. "Former Member Accepts Acts 29 Megachurch Apology in Church Discipline Case". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on 2015-09-04. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
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