Ep. 421: Dr. Michael Brown, Bob Jones University, and PCUSA Decline Continues

On today’s program, author and teacher Dr Michael Brown of the radio program Line of Fire has agreed to a third-party investigation after being accused of sexual impropriety. We’ll have details. And, we remember two anniversaries this week—the release of a GRACE investigation into Bob Jones University and their handling of sexual abuse cases, and the fall of Mars Hill Church. We take time to reflect on both—lessons learned and where things stand now. Plus, overall membership in the Presbyterian Church USA continues to fall—except among people who identify as genderqueer. We’ll take a look. But first, after a year-long battle, an Ohio church is NOT being allowed to shelter the homeless this winter. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Marci Seither, Bob Smietana, David Fairchild, Jeffrey Walton, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Juicy Ecumenism for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:   FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. And we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, author and teacher Dr Michael Brown of the radio program Line of Fire has agreed to a third-party investigation after being accused of sexual impropriety. We’ll have details. And, we remember two anniversaries this week—the release of a GRACE investigation into Bob Jones University and their handling of sexual abuse cases, and the fall of Mars Hill Church. We take time to reflect on both—lessons learned and where things stand now. Plus, overall membership in the Presbyterian Church USA continues to fall—except among people who identify as genderqueer. We’ll take a look. Natasha: But first, after a year-long battle, an Ohio church is NOT being allowed to shelter the homeless this winter. Warren: An Ohio judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Dad’s Place and its pastor Chris Avell, preventing the church from using its first floor to shelter homeless people, even as temperatures are expected to plummet later this week. Dad’s Place and Avell have been involved in a dispute with Bryan, Ohio, since last year over whether it can open the first floor of the church in a business district to allow homeless persons to escape the cold. In January, a federal district court issued an order “forbidding [the city] from enforcing any alleged violations of the City’s zoning or fire codes without the court’s approval or the church’s agreement.” Natasha: What happened? Warren: The City of Bryan and the church, through its counsel at First Liberty Institute, tried to resolve their differences, but negotiations broke down in April. In July 2024, the federal court denied Dad’s Place request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the city from enforcing its fire regulations against the church. Then in September a three-judge panel of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the church’s appeal of the district court’s decision. Now, Ohio Judge J.T. Stelzer has issued an injunction preventing the church from offering its building for use by homeless persons in the city. Natasha: What happens next? Warren: Dad’s Place remains in violation of several fire safety code regulations, including failure to install a sprinkler system, said Stelzer. The decision also pointed to two other shelters near Dad’s Place that utilize their second floors as temporary residences to shelter the city’s needy and homeless residents while in “full compliance with the city’s fire code and zoning ordinances.” First Liberty has filed a motion to stay the injunction and plans to appeal Stelzer’s ruling. I should add, On December 3, the municipal court held the trial of Avell for criminal charges based on zoning violations. At the end of the trial, the judge asked the parties to submit briefs within 10 days and will likely issue his judgment after that. Natasha: Next, Dr. Michael Brown agrees to a third party investigation. Warren: Line of Fire radio program host Michael Brown has agreed to a third-party investigation after allegations of sexual impropriety surfaced this week. He acknowledged a “lack of judgment,” but denied any sexual misconduct. An accuser going by the pseudonym Erin claims Brown crossed physical boundaries when she was working as a 21-year-old secretary at Brown’s FIRE School of Ministry in 2002. Erin says she looked up to Brown as a father figure and that his alleged actions have compromised her faith. Natasha: How has Brown responded to the allegations? Warren: Brown, 69, admits he and his wife Nancy had a close relationship with the accuser, even treating her like family, but that it was “totally non-sexual in every way.” In a statement on the Line of Fire website, Brown said, “Both Nancy and I were shocked and horrified by the mix of accusations, allegations, false statements, and mischaracterizations. That’s why we wholeheartedly supported our board’s immediate decision to launch a thorough third-party investigation.” Natasha: Next, an Idaho Presbytery employee sentenced for embezzlement. Warren: A presbytery employee in Idaho Falls, Idaho, who was accused of embezzling over $330,000 from a church organization has received her sentence. In May, police arrested Kaitlyn L. Fisher, 31, while she was working for the Presbytery of Kendall—a church organization overseeing at least 12 eastern Idaho Presbyterian churches. Initially, Fisher pleaded not guilty to 15 counts, including three counts of grand theft, four counts of state income tax evasion, four counts of perjury, and four counts of accessing or using a computer to defraud or obtain money. Fisher would have faced up to 42 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Natasha: So what happened? Warren: In July, Fisher entered a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to three counts in exchange for dropping the remaining charges and for the prosecution to recommend a minimum of three years in prison. On November 6, District Judge Bruce Pickett sentenced Fisher to three to 10 years in prison. She will also be required to pay over $330,000 in restitution. Natasha: Another arrest has happened – this time in Texas. Warren: A former associate pastor at 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas, was arrested last week for possession of child pornography and invasive visual recording. The investigation of Arturo Alarcon, 38, began after the church contacted police with a report that a missionary couple had found spy cameras in the mobile home where they were housed by the church, according to a report by WFAA. According to the arrest affidavit, the missionary couple located hidden cameras in two alarm clocks and two wall plugs labeled "Bug Control.” Natasha: And it wasn’t long before Alarcon was found out.. Warren: When police contacted Alarcon, he admitted to knowing the devices were in the home, but said they were donated and not purchased by him. In searching Alarcon’s phone, police discovered a sexually-oriented photo of a 5-year-old child, which Alarcon denied ever seeing. The Grapevine police are forwarding Alarcon’s phone to the U.S. Secret Service to unlock an encrypted account on his phone, WFAA reported. When questioned, Alarcon claimed he didn’t know about the account, didn’t set it up, and didn’t know who did. In a statement to WFAA, the church confirmed Alarcon’s arrest and his termination from employment. He also was a substitute teacher in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District – he has also been terminated by the district. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, Bible Project co-founder Jon Collins left a thriving business and growing income to create animated videos about the Bible. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: After starting a business with a few friends that excelled faster than any of them anticipated, Jon and Tristen Collins had to reprioritize. Jon said, “We began to make more money than we ever planned to make. It wasn't long until we were bringing more in in a month than we were used to bringing in in a year.” “At first it was exciting,” said Tristen. But it wasn’t all positive. “Jon was feeling conflicted in his job and business.” Natasha: What changed things for them? Warren: Jon attended a Generous Giving conference in Colorado Springs 12 years ago, and he said that conference changed his life’s trajectory. Natasha: How so? Warren: Seeing generosity from a new perspective sparked a desire to give more creatively. Tristen jumped on board with creating a family mission plan, capping their household budget, and dividing their income into a budget fund and a generosity fund. Jon felt like he needed to remove himself from his current businesses to focus on the project. “It was like God was calling me to free up my mind and imagination for something that was next,” said Jon. He and his friend Tim Mackie began to talk about the Bible and craft storyboards and scripts to produce short animated videos. That was the beginning of the Bible Project, that now has more than $24 million in annual revenue and works all around the world. ...