Mike Baker
Posted on 09/05/2023 6:01:16 PM PDT by Morgana
A mere six months after Mike Baker abruptly stepped down from his role leading one of the biggest megachurches in the state following allegations that he covered up his son’s sexual misconduct, he has done what all fallen megachurch pastors do after being unceremoniously excised: start up a new church.
Baker abruptly resigned from Eastview Christian Church in March of this year. A subsequent investigation conducted by church-hired attorneys found the allegations that he and his son Caleb Baker engaged in gross misconduct.
Mike’s son Caleb Baker was a pastor at Eastview who engaged in multiple extramarital affairs while on staff. Instead of exposing it, Mike took an active role in concealing it from the congregation, allowing his son to go pastor another church unencumbered by the stain of disqualification and clergy sexual abuse, where he would proceed to have another extramarital affair and scandalize another church.
After being confronted by his role in the mess, Mike Baker resigned in protest.
Mike Baker announced on his YouTube channel that he was naming his new church Song and Sword Church and would begin meeting at a hotel conference room next week. He insists he isn’t competing with his former church but will likely draw hundreds away for his first service:
Song and Sword Church, I’ve gotta say this from the beginning, is not about competing with Eastview Christian Church. With a clear conscience, the Holy Spirit is my witness; I can tell you, I’m not seeking revenge; I don’t hate Eastview. I don’t hope they fail. I love Eastview Christian Church.
U.S. Catholic bishop resigns after investigation of abuse cover-up
Anybody apparently can be a Pastor.
Getting into Heaven, not so much.
πολλοὶ ἐροῦσίν μοι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ Κύριε κύριε οὐ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι προεφητεύσαμεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δυνάμεις πολλὰς ἐποιήσαμεν —Mathew 7:22
You couldn’t get away with this btw, if you were Jehovah’s Witness.
They find out. You’re no longer an Elder.
I think that is right.
It’s these Megachurches. Seems to me they are more about raking in the money than spreading the Gospel.
Multi dicent mihi in illa die : Domine, Domine, nonne in nomine tuo prophetavimus, et in nomine tuo daemonia ejecimus, et in nomine tuo virtutes multas fecimus?
Matthew 7:22
Latin.
Until he loves the L_rd more than he loves himself (or his family), he will not be a good and faithful shepherd in the church.
Yes I had to translate andybear’s verse so I could read it
Some certainly are, others not. I used to belong to one out here in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago for 20 years. I didn't see misconduct or corruption in the church while I was a member.
What I saw was an active, vibrant church that spread out across communities, fed, clothed and helped house people in need. Helped people pay their bills, find work, lend a hand, ministered to the elderly in nursing homes, participated in pro-life marches and gatherings, had massive outreaches for families children, had a very successful sunday school program that then extended into child-care during the week, a pre-school with hundreds of children, teachers, volunteer parents and a whole lot more.
I was very proud to be a member of that church. It was the kind of church were Pastor would say on Sunday "Next week we're packing all the local food pantries to the gills" --- and we did. Three, four, sometimes five semi-trailers full of non-perishable food, boxed food items and thousands of dollars in cash given to local food pantries at all times of the year. All that had to happen was one pantry call and say they needed help and they ALL got it. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, didn't matter.
I also see churches that are all about the money, "name it and claim it" theology and worse. Have to look at it on an individual basis, not lumping them all together.
My own .02 of course.
I agree that we shouldn’t paint a broad brush when it comes to “megachurches”. However, I think the larger the church, the easier it is to begin viewing it as a corporate entity, rather than the body of Christ. The pressure of managing big budgets, publicity, and all the other strains can cause a fellowship to lose its way.
It has been done before. This guy started another church after being convicted of sexual abuse but beating a jail sentence
https://usa.inquirer.net/27532/ex-baptist-pastor-on-trial-in-guam-for-sexual-abuse-of-minor
Larger churches require background checks
\ The one I was a member of certainly did. They were required w/o exception for anyone handling money in any way and had a role in the childrens ministries.
The church's books were independently audited every year, the budget for the church was public along and IIRC (it's been awhile...) salaries for pastoral staff were public.
Was it a perfect church? Far from it. What I think separated that church from so many others was the level of transparency it operated with.
Kinda miss being there.
All Greek to me. Should have been in Aramaic. But that verse and the one after it is what’s gonna happen to many. Sobering.
Forgot bidenomics....should be 0.04...corrupt hypocrites are in small churches and big churches. Case by case. One must scrutinize the church carefully.
Congregations of all sizes are falling away.
Anyone CAN be a Pastor or any minister.
In many ways, they remind me of Psychologists.
They both spend most of their lives trying to make $$$, messing with people’s heads and creating more Pastors/Psychologists.
Before I made the jump into Engineering 40+ years ago, my Pastor told me I should get into Ministry Work.
I left a month later.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.