Antioch International Movement of Churches

The churches within the Antioch Movement recognize marriage as only between the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.[12] Founder Jimmy Seibert has emphasized "...Homosexuality is a sin" and that it is a lie that homosexuality is not a sin.[13] A believer in "gay conversion therapy", he attributes most homosexuality a result of some type of physical, sexual, mental abuse and has stated "for over 30 years — I have seen hundreds of people personally change their direction of same-sex attraction from a homosexual lifestyle to a heterosexual lifestyle."[14][15]

As a result of this stance, HGTV celebrities Chip and Joanna Gaines from the show Fixer Upper, who attend the church, released a statement on it.[16][17] It has also been reported a psychologist in Waco meets regularly with a group of self-described “Antioch survivors," noting former members' stories of crises of faith after being made to feel unwelcome by the Antioch Community Church in Waco, either for life decisions (declining to go on a mission) or for their identity (coming out as gay).[17]

Antioch Waco's position paper states abortion, including abortifacient contraceptives, are wrong under any circumstances. Although Antioch describes a pregnancy resulting from incest, rape, specifically rape by her husband, as devastating, they do not believe these substantiate grounds for an abortion. Neither do they believe a woman should have the right to choose an abortion, describing the position of "choice" as inconsistent with the logic and the laws they hold dear.[18]

In their book, Parenting without Regret, Jimmy Seibert and Laura Seibert advocate spanking children for discipline in a way that one reviewer described as "ritualistic and instructive."[8]

Former Antiochers Gary and Brittany Wardlaw of the youtube channel "WardlawstoWaco" allege to having experienced pervasive oppression, silencing, and internally systemic racism by the leadership at Antioch Community Church.[19][20][21] Gary and Brittany are trained therapists of African American descent.[22]

Debates over an LGBTQ student group at Baylor University were shaped by the Antioch International Movement of Churches' decades long embracing the controversial practice of gay conversion therapy.[23][24] Jimmy Seibert, the lead pastor of the Antioch International Movement of Churches, has consistently upheld his position against homosexuality and staunchly opposes gay rights.[25] The Antioch Movement promotes that homosexuals can be converted into heterosexuals. They have a years long partnership with Living Hope Ministries, an organization that carries conversion therapy out. The Antioch Community Churches in Texas, Antioch Norman Oklahoma, All People's Church in San Diego, and all Antioch affiliates are directly partnered with Living Hope Ministries. [26][27]

Antioch International actively sends independently covert missionaries in secret to countries and places that are dangerous and hostile to Christianity. Notable in the movement's history is the arrest and imprisonment of Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry by the Taliban on August 3, 2001 due to conducting evangelism and missionary work which was illegal in Afghanistan.[28] Antioch Community Church responded to the crisis by creating a rotation of 24-hour prayer for Mercer and Curry's release.[29][30] The crisis attracted the attention of international secular and religious media.[31][32][33] The prayer vigil for Mercer and Curry lasted 104 days. At the news of the missionaries' release, Antioch responded with what was described by the LA Times as a "joyous fest" of prayer and worship.[34] Mercer and Curry co-authored a book about their experience in Afghanistan, titled "Prisoners of Hope." As of 2021, Curry and Mercer still do work in Afghanistan serving on behalf of the Antioch Church[35] Despite the dangers, Antioch Community Church continues to conduct evangelistic work and send missionaries to Afghanistan. In 2021, Dr. Mansoor Sawiz, a pediatrician who worked as an interpreter for Antioch Community Church has sent desperate messages to family in Texas and to the media for aid in leaving Afghanistan with his wife and five children. Ajmal Mayar, an engineer whose wife’s sister is married to Sawiz, said that the lives of Sawiz and his family have been upended and placed in danger since U.S. troops pulled out of Afghanistan and the extremist group has taken over.[36]

After the Sri Lankan tsunami of 2005, Antioch Community Church sent at least a dozen Americans under the pretense of humanitarian aid. Most American aid groups, including those affiliated with religious organizations, strictly avoid mixing aid with missionary work. Pat Murphy, 49, a leader of the team, claimed the group is nongovernmental organization, or NGO, and not a church group. But the church's own website said the Americans are one of four teams dispatched to Sri Lanka and Indonesia who have convinced dozens of people to "come to Christ." Rev. Sarangika Fernando, a local Methodist minister, accused the Americans of exploiting traumatized people. Antioch's aggressive proselytization have also angered and alarmed other humanitarian aid groups, who feared backlash.[37][38]

In 2017 pastor Edward Ignacio Espinosa was arrested for patronizing an illicit massage parlor. Upon his confession, Pastor Espinosa was placed on administrative leave from Antioch Community Church and was later allowed to resign. Antioch Community Church’s own anti-human trafficking ministry, UnBound, assisted the women who were found at the massage parlor that Espinosa visited. Espinosa was on staff with Antioch’s Community Outreach Ministry for eight years.[39][40][41][42][43][44]

With "church planting" and expansionism as part of the core values of Antioch Waco, along with their close association with celebrity home renovation and redecoration entrepreneurs Chip and Joanna Gains, Antioch has been criticized for aggressively gentrifying their surrounding neighborhoods. [45][46] The Waco neighborhood, in particular, has been in focus, where journalist Anne Helen Petersen argues that Waco's diversity is not reflected in Antioch Community Church's white majority makeup. Antioch often capitalizes on church networking as a means for creating internal upward mobility.[47][48] On one expansionist project, Antioch intends to spend $11 million dollars on infrastructure alone.[49]

Amist accusations of anti-semitism and homophobia, Antioch Movement’s All Peoples Church is in the process of a contentious battle to plant themselves in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Del Cerro, in San Diego. A number of Del Cerro residents oppose this "mega project" in a campaign called "Save Del Cerro."[50][51] All People’s Pastor Robert Herber, has empathetically spoken about a “revival” of the city, and specifically referenced the “Jews of Del Cerro”. In August of 2023 the Navajo Community Planners unanimously voted against the church's mega project.[52]

In 2008, a church plant of Antioch Community Church called Mosaic Community Church was characterized as "forcefully" inserting itself into the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Initially, the nightclub Neumos had agreed to rent out their space to the church. While Pastor Jady Griffin stated that his church is "open to everyone," several members of the MCC revealed that gays would not be accepted at the church. After local nightclub owners and residents had discovered what they viewed as Mosaic's "homophobic" beliefs, the nightclub has since denied the church plant's lease and have severed all ties.[53][54]

There have been many reviews and personal testimonials on blogs, articles, Google Maps, and reddit that allege Antioch International Ministries and Antioch Waco of being a cult.[55] One former member outlines brainwashing techniques, manipulation, strict rules, and people with their own "Antioch lingo" code speak. She describes being part of a certain target audience that Antioch will "prey" upon: young, seeking, vulnerable, on the "fringes."[56] In her blog, another former member has described her experience as "toxic" and "abusive."[57] One journalist even staked her career on the dangers of Antioch.[58] It also reports a psychologist in town meets regularly with a group of self-described “Antioch survivors," noting former members' stories of crises of faith after being made to feel unwelcome by the church, either for life decisions (declining to go on a mission) or for their identity (coming out as gay).[47]

Former member Becky Oberg was kicked out of the Antioch Community church in the late ’90s after she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. “They thought I was possessed by a demon,” says Becky, adding that church leaders told her it was her fault and tried to treat her with an exorcism. “They pinned me to my floor and yelled for Satan to leave. They want you to confess your sin and be healed or cast out the demons.” However, in an interview, Seibert denied this and goes on to say they don’t use the term “exorcism” but they do recognize “demonic oppression.” Becky maintains she was a victim and survivor of religious and spiritual abuse.[59][60][61][62]

Antioch Waco encourages its members who are suffering from mental illnesses to join non-medical non-professional Grace Alliance "groups" to receive and provide general wellness therapy as an alternative to "overloaded" local mental health care professionals. Such individuals struggling with mental health issues mentioned range from minor lack of sleep to thoughts of suicide, long term sufferers of depression. The program anticipates catering to individuals who haven’t been educated about professional services or cannot afford them. While professional mental healthcare is still encouraged, their stated intent is for a community of lay people that will "fill in the gaps" for the mental health care system and professionals.[63] These groups follow a workbook and curriculum which subjects pay for. Grace Alliance group's large disclaimer reads: "Grace Alliance materials are not professional mental health or medical resources and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any mental or physical disorder or replace treatment services of mental health or medical professionals. The use of Grace Alliance resources in personal or small group context is the sole discretion of the user."[64]

In 2018 lead pastors, JR & Brittany Baker, disagreed with specific parts of the doctrine, values, and ethos of the Antioch Movement and of Antioch SLC. It became clear during their last handful of months that they were in process with their convictions. Namely, Antioch's beliefs on homosexuality as sin, overfocus on sin, being the "best and the top," rather than being humble and encountering Jesus.[65] Due to this, out of a heart to serve the church and to see it move forward with unity and clarity of vision, the Bakers made the decision to step down as Lead Pastors of Antioch SLC.[66] In 2021 lead pastor Codi Waison stepped down due to struggling with conflicting pressures of being a lead pastor, depression, emotional breakdowns, and deterioration of emotional health. Codi shares how he came to this decision in the January 24th Sunday service youtube video scattered with jump cuts.

Antioch SLC has encouraged members to attend the controversial "cult-like" YWAM (Youth With a Mission) School, which has hundreds of reports of abuse to its name, both on social media and in the courtroom. There are also multiple online resources detailing Antioch's troubling and abusive situations.[67]

On June 19, 2019 the Antioch affiliate church planter and founding pastor, Lawrence Huey, announced his stepping down from lead pastor of Epicentre West LA; he went on to accept a lower administrative position at a different church network, Chris Rattay succeeding his position at Epicentre West LA.[68] After 2 years, Mr. Huey has quit his position at Renew Church LA and since revamped his past work experience to erase any trace of having been a pastor, instead describing his prior church positions as "Community Leader Coach" and "Executive Director."[69]