On December 12, 2012, the members of Covenant Life Church affirmed the pastors’ decision to end our formal association with SGM.

My hat is off to pastor Joshua Harris for doing a very difficult thing – choosing to serve his flock over maintaining natural ties to a beloved, though deeply flawed mentor. He had to do this with precious little support from the “Big Dogs” of the Reformed world, who seem unable to shake loose from C. J. Mahaney, having shared so many convention stages and book endorsements with him. It is rare these days to see celebrity pastors put the people first.

There are, I think, many lessons to be learned from this sad saga of those who thought they were creating a superior form of Christianity. One lesson is that celebrity can only take you so far. Your own people know you best. Another is that in the age of blogs, one had better learn to deal with critics graciously.

The SGM brand, I imagine, will continue to decline in a long death spiral.

Wayne, I agree with you. If most here read the new and revised SGM polity, it only makes sense that Josh Harris and CLC would sever ties.

The 2nd in command, Dave Harvey, also announced he is severing ties with SGM. Dave took CJ’s place in the interim while CJ took a leave of absence. Additionally, SGM Fairfax will vote soon to see if they will remain with the group. They are expected to leave the fold as well. SGM will be the church group to watch this year, as the lawsuit will most certainly expand as often happens in class action lawsuits. Those Big Dogs sure barked in defense of CJ, but have been completely silent since the lawsuit. Who are they trying to protect?