Saved by Grace Though Faith

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

NEW DOCUMENTARY ALERT! 🎬:

“Battle for the Bible: Female Pastors in the SBC”

The debate over female pastors has become one of the most significant and controversial issues facing the Southern Baptist Convention. This documentary examines the history behind the controversy, the Conservative Resurgence, the Law Amendment, and the ongoing debate over biblical authority and the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Worth the watch & stay informed ahead of next week’s meeting!

https://t.co/sw8gs2sJi2

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@megbasham @DrPatrick Still praying mightily for you Megan

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@jonharris1989 This was an excellent interview - it was so nice to get a deeper insight into Megan. It was very "real" and a true blessing to me. Thank you (both)

[Dee Parsons @wartwatch1]

"The Lawsuit Against David Platt’s Version of McLean Bible Church Is On! In the Meantime, Enjoy a Chuckle From Its ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ Page." New TWW pots. @ThouArtTheMan https://t.co/lWvmNcPZml

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@jonharris1989 Happy anniversary

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

“Churches operate under both spiritual principles and legal frameworks, and both deserve respect.”

https://t.co/XwMkSHue3T

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

As a well-respected pastor of a large church in Northern Virginia where many of the members who were disenfranchised turned to, you would think that taking the time to actually understand this case would be more important than crying wolf & grossly misrepresenting the court of appeals opinion. Pastor Johnson is wrong on his statement here and I hope he comes to terms with that sooner rather than later.

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

he court of appeals didn’t establish something new in its opinion, which is what’s being framed here. The precedent was set 47 years ago. and something that should be considered when establishing a church. Not raise the alarm when the established church has breached its contract with its members.

Jones v. Wolf (1979): This is the most directly relevant modern ruling for congregational churches. It approved the “neutral principles of law” approach for resolving church property (and related) disputes. Courts can examine deeds, constitutions, bylaws, and secular documents—like any secular organization—without interpreting religious doctrine. https://t.co/AkzRQgbtqO https://t.co/pAmzHvZg7X
• For hierarchical churches: Defer to the denomination’s highest authority.
• For congregational churches: Courts can enforce majority rule or the church’s own governing documents (e.g., via bylaws on voting, notice, quorums, or elder elections) if done neutrally. This allows limited judicial review to ensure a “fairly conducted meeting” when the church’s own rules are allegedly violated, without forcing doctrinal decisions. https://t.co/AkzRQgbtqO 
The Court emphasized that states may use majority-rule presumptions (overcome by clear church documents) and that this accommodates both polities without excessive entanglement.

[Capstone Report @CapstoneReport]

Religious liberty protects believers — not leaders who rig elections or ignore church constitutions. The Virginia Court of Appeals was right in its decision against McLean Bible Church. https://t.co/JxBcIsHV5w

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

Good write up here from @Protestia . There is a larger issue at play wrt to the growing pattern of church/parachurch boards who abuse governance and avoid any accountability under the misused guise of First Amendment “protection”. The VA Court of Appeals drew a distinct line in the sand with this opinion- churches, while they retain religious privilege, are nonprofit entities that must operate lawfully. That, in and of itself, warrants accountability outside of just themselves.

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@jonharris1989 Well stated

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

“Victory For the Plaintiffs on Appeal” (re: Gaskins, et al v McLean Bible Church)

Integrity Law Firm, PLLC: Press Release (For Immediate Release) May 20, 2026 from Rick Boyer, Attorney for the Plaintiffs

(See comments for full press release)

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

More clarity from the Court of Appeals’ opinion on the issues with MBC’s arguments and the circuit court’s erroneous dismissal w/o discovery regarding religious privilege, judicial oversight and limits of First Amendment defenses.

1. On the limits of religious immunity:
"In ruling against MBC on this point, we embrace the perhaps subtle—but meaningful—distinction between a religious institution being 'above the law' and being subject to the law while still wielding significant privileges and protections." (Page 20)

2. On applying "neutral principles" to church rules:
"The number eight is neutral. ... This Court, and all other courts in Virginia, are surely able to count to eight without entering a 'religious thicket.'" (Page 18)

3. On the dangers of absolute ecclesiastical abstention:
"[A] rule barring any inquiry into church governance, even just to determine whether the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine applies in the first place, could swallow the neutral-principles doctrine and present a great potential for abuse by religious entities endeavoring to shield their malfeasant employees from any secular ramifications." (Page 20)

4. On the need to hold church leadership accountable to its own constitution:
"[It] would render meaningless the MBC constitution, and with it, the will of the majority of this congregational church. It would effectively allow the Board to insulate all its decisions from judicial review—even those plainly violative of the very constitution that grants it authority." (Page 17, Footnote 11)

5. The Court's definitive conclusion on the dissenters' right to discovery:
"But until MBC demonstrates a genuine threat to, or a present infringement of, its First Amendment rights, the dissenters are entitled to pursue discovery—and this case endures." (Page 21)

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

@mcleanbible @MinistryWatch @ChurchLead today the State Court of Appeals opinion puts to bed your claims that the active lawsuit is “meritless” and “frivolous”. Will you retract your statements? Because you should.

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

McLean Bible Church Lawsuit Update: VA Court of appeals sides with the plaintiffs- breach of contract case over rigged election allegations reinstated.

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@jonharris1989 YES YES YES

[AG @AGHamilton29]

There have been 4 murder cases in Fairfax County, Virginia this entire year.

3/4 arrested suspects are illegal immigrants.

At least 2 of those have previous arrests.

The sanctuary policies are doing real harm to the people who live there.

[Virginia GOP @VA_GOP]

🚨🚨🚨

There it is, Virginia.

Fake Moderate Spanberger, who said she had “no plans to redistrict Virginia” and called gerrymandering “detrimental to democracy,” has been exposed for actively trying to hide her rigged maps from voters.

RT to get this message to as many voters as possible.

Democrats know their power grab is unpopular, and they’re trying to confuse voters about what they’re actually voting on. They don’t want you to see their corrupt maps.

You can’t trust Abigail Spanberger. You can’t trust Virginia Democrats. They are LYING to you!

VOTE NO!

VOTE EARLY!

[Saved by Grace Though Faith @Savedfaithalone]

@jonharris1989 🙏🏻 so sorry

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

Update: Gaskins, et al v McLean Bible Church Inc lawsuit contesting the 2021 elder election under David Platt- Oral arguments scheduled for March 25th at the Virginia Court of Appeals in Fredericksburg.