MBCWatch

We report. God decides.

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

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

https://t.co/XwMkSHue3T

[MBCWatch @mbcwatcher]

@jarbitro Your IBC congregation includes many Mclean Bible refugees & some plaintiffs -Why did you not seek wise counsel from these godly men to gain clear understanding of the issues prior to jumping in with both feet? Seems it would have been wise.

[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]

@jarbitro It was. The elders decided to charge someone with trespassing. So, they were happy to run to Caesar when it suited them.

[MBCWatch @mbcwatcher]

@jarbitro @Tysingerlaw For clarity, attendance is not taken at Sunday service..This was admitted in court. "Allegedly" (alleged by who) is not grounds for dismissal. Members were not interviewed re their attendance -"I haven't seen them for a few weeks" is not sufficient.

[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.

[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.

[Capstone Report @CapstoneReport]

David Platt & McLean Bible Church lost at Virginia Court of Appeals. Long running case against Platt over allegations he rigged a church election reinstated by appeals court.

[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.

[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.

[Center for Baptist Leadership @BaptistLeaders]

2025 was a big year for us! Time for a few threads for our annual "Year in Review"

Let's start with the TOP 10 MOST READ ARTICLES /🧵/

Coming in at #1 by "CBL Staff" was our breaking report that NAMB/Send Network took Biden Refugee Resettlement grants.
https://t.co/6uHlisFxw0

[Protestia @Protestia]

Pulpit & Pen releases their list of the 'Worst Christians of 2025' https://t.co/viFzF366oP

[MBCWatch @mbcwatcher]

@Protestia JUST CRINGE

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

@megbasham @WorldRelief @NAEvangelicals McLean Bible was one of the churches who partnered with World Relief & Afghan Resettlement. @CapstoneReport even raised concerns about it back in Aug. 2021.

https://t.co/ZilGFShS8t

[Restoration News @NewsRestoration]

FOIA emails show district leaders coordinated with campaign staff, redirected school resources, and urged teachers to attend a partisan rally with Democrats Hashmi and Jones on paid time.
https://t.co/RvWd1EEn7S

[Megan Basham @megbasham]

Do I want a smaller association so that this is not part of our representation? Yes, yes I do. I would rather be a smaller convention, but a more faithful one. This is appalling.

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

He’s not radical, he just radicalizes certain aspects….

Don’t know Bob, but Bob clocks David’s tactics so well here. Watch this video.

[Church Reform Initiative @Church_R_I]

For anyone who may not know- yes, David Platt still retains the title of Lead pastor at McLean Bible Church alongside Mike Kelsey. Both are also listed as elders.