Author: Andy Rowell

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Willow Creek Community Church

List of articles from allegations to resignation of Bill Hybels and its aftermath

In order to help people who missed this story, here are what I thought were the key articles that came out from the allegations against Bill Hybels on March 22nd to his resignation ("early retirement") from Willow Creek Community Church on April 10, 2018 and then also the aftermath. This post has been updated through March 3, 2020. It was originally posted in April 2018. 

Chronological list:

Initial Chicago Tribune bombshell report (March 22, 2018)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-pastor-20171220-story,amp.html Initial allegations.

After years of inquiries, Willow Creek pastor denies misconduct allegations

By Manya Brachear Pashman and Jeff Coen
Chicago Tribune
March 23, 2018

Willow Creek Community Church meeting on March 23, 2018 to denounce allegations in the Chicago Tribune story

Video of initial response of Heather Larson, Pam Orr, Steve Carter, and Bill Hybels at Willow Creek to allegations on March 23.  Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojmS_uEhQRo Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwTNCJsbto0

 

Commentary: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/time-reckon-celebrity-power/ Andy Crouch commentary about broad climate of celebrity pastors. March 24, 2018. 

 

Prescient Commentary from 2015 about investigations hired by a board not necessarily being effective and truly independent. https://religionnews.com/2015/10/16/are-abuse-survivors-best-served-when-institutions-investigate-themselves/ Boz Tchividjian article from 2015 that is relevant to independent vs. internal investigations.

March 26, 2018 Bill Hybels responds to the initial allegations in a church meeting at Willow Creek Community Church

March 26 point-by-point defense by Bill Hybels video

By my count, the five allegations explained by Hybels on March 26 include: Nancy Beach (described in Chicago Tribune article above); and Vonda Dyer (described most fully in her statement below); and three anonymous: woman who recanted (oral sex, overnights, 1150 emails, 14 years, suicidal, counseling) described in many of the resources; woman who swam naked with code word moon; recent case of woman who pressed him to bring wine to his room and he has this time email evidence that he rebuffed her. 

April 2, 2018 John Ortberg, former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, speaks out. 

http://www.johnortberg.com/observations-on-the-chicago-tribune-article-re-willow-creek-leadership/ John Ortberg statement

 

https://jodiwalle.com/ Jodi Walle, John Ortberg's executive assistant at Willow for seven years, writes to say that her experience was the culture at Willow included teasing and joking around between males and females. She has removed the post.  (It was written before April 13, 2018).  

 

Vonda Dyer posts about her accusation of Bill Hybels in the Chicago Tribune report (April 8, 2018). 

https://vondadyer.weebly.com/blog/archives/04-2018 Vonda Dyer accusation of Bill Hybels

 

Statement from Betty Schmidt, who was previously an elder. (April 10, 2018)

https://veritasbetold.wixsite.com/website

 

Bill Hybels resigns (April 10, 2019)

Resignation or "early retirement" Bill Hybels, Pam Orr, and Heather Larson Statements at https://www.willowcreek.org/en/willow-creek-announcement is now removed  But is available at Wayback Machine.

April 10 resignation video is available

 

Christianity Today overview

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/april/bill-hybels-resigns-willow-creek-misconduct-allegations.html Summary article by Bob Smietana of resignation ("early retirement"). [Note: Why I probably should not have said "resignation" is that Hybels "retired early" and therefore is likely keeping his retirement package].

 

Nancy Beach responds (April 11, 2018)

http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/2018/4/11/why-we-cant-move-on

 

Nancy Ortberg allegation (the sixth allegation by my count) (April 12, 2018)

https://www.nancylortberg.com/

 

Some publishers stop printing some of Bill Hybels’s books (April 13, 2018)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-hybels-publishers-20180413-story.html

 

Three new allegations here (# 7, 8, 9): Maureen “Moe” Girkins, Julia Williams, feet rub anonymous woman (April 21, 2018).

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/april/bill-hybels-willow-creek-promises-investigation-allegations.html "Christianity Today talked with six women who have made allegations against Hybels and reviewed emails and documents about the allegations." Bob Smietana (April 21). 

 

http://www.juliawilliams.net/blog (April 23) .

There has been a total of 9 women (according to my count) mentioned so far above. Six have talked with Christianity Today.

 

Hybels resignation

 

 

Willow Creek elders apologize for casting doubt on women's allegations against founder Hybels (May 10, 2018)

Manya Brachear Pashman
Chicago Tribune
May 10, 2018

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-hybels-conduct-20180509-story.html  

 

An update from the Elders on May 9, 2018

https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-two  Now removed and not at Wayback Machine

 

Heather Larson and Pam Orr Statement on May 9, 2019 starting at 14:30-20:53 minute mark. Then Steve Carter prayer.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fkg83pAnkE  

 

Vonda Dyer statement May 10, 2018

https://www.facebook.com/vonda.dyer/posts/10156399275247206

https://twitter.com/Chelseaker/status/994710675950891008

  

Nancy Beach MY RESPONSE TO THE “APOLOGY” May 11, 2018

http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/myresponsetotheapology 

https://twitter.com/NancyLBeach/status/995089167179767808

 

WCA statement about the Global Leadership Summit. May 17, 2018. 

https://twitter.com/wcagls/status/997231537232982016 

 

My (Andy Rowell) response to WCA statement is in this thread: 

  • Sadly, what is missing here is deep regret for the part that the WCA Board played in dismissing allegations and failing to provide accountability. Also, they do not say they will seek out the truth regardless of what the church elders do. So, "restoration" talk painful and scary.
  • If one reads through the allegations and watches the defense by Bill Hybels and then the subsequent full descriptions of what occurred by the 8-9 women, it is clear (as Hybels admitted) inappropriate, defensive (abuse of power), and unwise things occurred.
  • Recall @NancyOrtberg @KPowellFYI @presjonwallace resigned from the WCA Board @wcagls in 2015 because of "the board’s decision not to pursue another inquiry." The rest of the WCA Board needs to express deep regret for their mistake.
  • The WCA letter is signed by @trdevries and @DickDeVos (yes, husband of Betsy). I don't see on the WCA website who the other WCA board members are.
  • A reminder that the Willow Creek Association is a separate organization from Willow Creek Community Church. The WCA Board have had to deal with controversies in the past with vetting speakers. They're putting on a public event for hundreds of thousands of people.
  • Making tough decisions that involve millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of people so that Christ is represented well is what the WCA Board signed up for.
  • I'm concerned because I used to believe in the GLS and Hybels. Our church hosted GLS last year and I attended. And I am a professor of ministry leadership at Bethel Seminary which has advertised at the GLS in the past.
  •  https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/997250673073905664  

 

Elders Update #3 (May 23, 2018)

https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-three is now removed but available at Wayback Machine 

 

Lane Moyer (Elder Chair) video announcement (May 23)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t-DHgxbyYw

 

Vonda Dyer statement May 24, 2018: THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE

https://vondadyer.weebly.com/blog/the-cart-before-the-horse

 

Betty Schmidt, May 25, 2018

https://veritasbetold.wixsite.com/website/blog/updated-statement-from-betty-schmidt

 

Nancy Ortberg, May 24, 2018, Sequence Matters

https://www.nancylortberg.com/

 

Nancy Beach, May 25, 2018

WHAT "CARING FOR THE WOMEN" WOULD LOOK LIKE
May 25, 2018

http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/2018/5/25/what-caring-for-the-women-would-look-like

 

As Willow Creek seeks reconciliation, pastor’s accusers seek independent inquiry
Manya Brachear Pashman
Chicago Tribune
May 27, 2018

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-willow-creek-reconciliation-20180524-story.html

 

Elder Update #4 (June 6, 2018)

https://www.willowcreek.org/en/elder-update-four (now removed) and not available at Wayback Machine.

Video update from Lane Moyer (Elder Chair) on June 6, 2018. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E_Nkz6DMvE

 

Scot McKnight reflection (June 27, 2018)

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2018/06/27/about-willow-creek-what-do-i-think/

Comment from Andy Rowell (June 27, 2018)

I agree with Scot's take here. Thanks for this reflection, Scot. I was concerned, then open to the accusations being explained properly, but then more and more similar accusations came out and the explanations began to sound more and more far-fetched, then Hybels resigned ("retired early), and then more accusations came out. It is a sad situation. Hybels was a hero to me.

It is good to have the conflict confrontation procedure of Matthew 18:15-17 in mind but it teaches proportionate escalation. Sometimes a situation needs to be escalated quickly past some levels because of the seriousness of the offense. For example, abuse of a child being reported to the police. A number of people resigned from the Willow Creek Association board a number of years ago when a proper investigation into these matters was not conducted. Scot is also right that when an organization does not properly deal with a situation, it is appropriate to speak publicly (in the press, on the internet, etc.) about the truth so as to warn others and see if there are more accusations.

None of us envy the responsibility that the elders of WCC or the board of WCA were in or are in because of Hybels's behavior. But the priority should be on the WCA and WCC commissioning an independent organization and then giving up control over it. It will seek out the truth of what has purportedly occurred and investigate the counter-evidence and issue a report to the church and the accusers. They also need to report on the failures of the WCC elders and WCA board and their policies and culture (email, private homes, hotel rooms, travel, alcohol, sleeping pills, language about other people's bodies and clothing, appropriate trust, swimming, exercise and fitness, accusations of inappropriate behavior, sidelining of spouses to isolate, and firing people who were raising accusations, denouncement of accusers). Perhaps also there will be words of concern about how the situation was handled by the accusers or recommendations for the future about how accusations should be reported and how they should be handled if they are not believed. This report should be made available to the accusers and to the accused and those who commissioned the report. Victims should be allowed to remain confidential in the report. It will not be long before Bill Hybels will be back as a speaker and author if Mark Driscoll, Ted Haggard, Tullian Tchividjian, and Percy Noble are any guide. The pain of victims and the distrust of Willow Creek Church and the Willow Creek Association will return when Hybels returns to public ministry–likely he will repeat his claim that much has been exaggerated. Those with concerns are understandably not interested in relational reconciliation with Willow until Willow has energetically attempted to understand what has happened and repent of their part.

 

Willow Creek leaders issue public apologies for mishandling allegations

by Manya Brachear Pashman
June 29 and updated through July 2, 2018

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-steve-carter-blog-20180629-story.html

 

Statements from Heather Larson, Steve Carter, and the Willow Creek Elders
June 30, 2018
https://www.willowcreek.org/en/june-30-statement (now removed and not available at Wayback Machine).

  

Open Letter to Willow Creek Association Board and Tom De Vries

by me (Andy Rowell)

July 3, 2018

http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2018/07/public-letter-to-tom-de-vries-and-the-willow-creek-association-board.html

 

Open Letter to Tom De Vries

July 4, 2018

Rob Speight 

https://robsp82.com/2018/07/04/trouble-at-the-gls/

Speight also outlines what other steps he has gone to as a Willow Creek Community Church member to inquire into what the church's board of elders is doing in response to the situation. 

 

Willow Creek's Global Leadership Summit Loses 111 Sites Due to Allegations Made Against Bill Hybels

By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter

The Christian Post

July 27, 2018

https://www.christianpost.com/news/willow-creeks-global-leadership-summit-loses-111-sites-due-to-allegations-made-against-bill-hybels-226467/

 

The Christian Post reports July 27, 2018 that 111 of 600 sites (so 18.5%) have pulled out of hosting the GLS because of the Hybels situation and the WCA's response.

 

Benjamin Ady has tried to keep track of the sites that have cancelled.

 

July 29, 2018: I was made aware of online 2017 Willow Creek Association Annual Report, which includes the names of the Board. 

http://www.willowcreek.com/support/docs/WCA_Annual_Report_2017.pdf

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bill Hybels
Dick DeVos
Tom De Vries
D. Mitch Barns
Bob Merritt (Merritt's Eagle Brook Church is not longer hosting the GLS)
Sherri Miller
Terry Moore
Gary Schwammlein
Kimberly D. Simios
Bradford Whitmore

Benjamin Ady has tried to identify who these people are. 

 

Pat Baranowski, 10th allegation, New York Times, Aug 5, 2018

He’s a Superstar Pastor. She Worked for Him and Says He Groped Her Repeatedly.
Bill Hybels built an iconic evangelical church outside Chicago. A former assistant says that in the 1980s, he sexually harassed her.

By Laurie Goodstein
Aug. 5, 2018
New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/us/bill-hybels-willow-creek-pat-baranowski.html

 

Summary of ten allegations as of August 5, 2018. 

By my count, Pat Baranowski is the 10th woman that it is alleged Bill Hybels behaved inappropriately with. This is just what has become public. The articles about all of these allegations are linked to above.  

  1. Nancy Beach (described in Chicago Tribune article and on her website)
  2. Vonda Dyer (described most fully in her statement on her website)
  3. anonymous woman who recanted (oral sex, overnights, 1150 emails, 14 years, suicidal, counseling) described in Chicago Tribune article and explained by Hybels
  4. anonymous woman who swam naked with code word moon in Chicago Tribune article and admitted by Hybels
  5. anonymous recent case of woman who pressed him to bring wine to his room and he has this time email evidence that he rebuffed her reported from Willow Creek Community Church elders and Hybels explained it. Possibly Keri Ladouceur.
  6. Nancy Ortberg (see her website statement)
  7. Maureen “Moe” Girkins in Christianity Today article
  8. Julia Williams (see her website statement)
  9. Feet rub anonymous woman named in Christianity Today article
  10. Pat Baranowski in New York Times article.

 

Steve Carter resigns (Aug 5, 2018)

A Diverging Path
by Steve Carter
https://www.steveryancarter.com/blog-1/a-diverging-path
August 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/steveryancarter/status/1026180554755133440

Willow Creek teaching pastor Steve Carter and co-successor to Bill Hybels (along with @HeatherJLarson) just announced his resignation from Willow Creek Community Church effective immediately because of the ongoing poor response by church leaders to the allegations against Hybels.

 

Hybels Heir Quits Willow as New Accusations Arise Before Global Leadership Summit
Teaching pastor Steve Carter resigns after New York Times article; GLS had already lost 111 host sites.
BOB SMIETANA AUGUST 05, 2018 3:20 PM 
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/august/bill-hybels-steve-carter-resigns-willow-creek-gls-summit.html

 

Teaching pastor resigns over Willow Creek’s handling of allegations against Bill Hybels
Manya Brachear Pashman
August 5, 2018 8:20 pm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-steve-carter-resigns-20180805-story.html

 

Willow Creek, Your Time Is Now
AUGUST 6, 2018 BY SCOT MCKNIGHT 
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2018/08/06/willow-your-time-is-now/

 

Lee Strobel, who was a teaching pastor at Willow Creek, writes: 
@LeeStrobel
August 6, 2018
My heart breaks for Pat Baranowski and all victims of Bill Hybels at Willow Creek. I never saw any hint of misconduct when I was there. Still, I know these women and they are Godly and credible. I believe them and weep for them. Scot McKnight is right:
https://twitter.com/LeeStrobel/status/1026549077926797314

 

Brainstorming about next steps for Willow Creek Community Church and Willow Creek Association
August 06, 2018
by Andy Rowell
http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2018/08/brainstorming-about-next-steps-for-willow-creek-community-church-and-willow-creek-association.html

 

Willow Creek to launch independent investigation of allegations against Bill Hybels (Aug 6, 2018)

Manya Brachear Pashman
Chicago Tribune
August 6, 2018 2:40 pm

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-independent-investigation-20180806-story.html

 

Willow Creek Association Announces Independent Investigation
Tom De Vries, President, WCA

Published August 6, 2018

https://globalleadership.org/news-and-updates/willow-creek-association-announces-independent-investigation/

https://twitter.com/wcagls/status/1026583410171633669

 

Willow Creek leadership event struggles without founder Hybels, its star
August 7, 2018
Manya Brachear Pashman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-leadership-summit-20180726-story.html
 

Heather Larson and Elders announce their resignations (August 8, 2018)

Willow Creek Update
Statements from the Willow Creek Elders, Heather Larson, and Steve Gillen on August 8, 2018
https://www.willowcreek.org/en/august-8-statement now removed but available at Wayback Machine
https://twitter.com/WillowCreekCC/status/1027560886284771329
 
Willow Creek Elders and Pastor Heather Larson Resign over Bill Hybels
Church leaders apologize to Nancy Ortberg, Nancy Beach, Vonda Dyer, and other women with accusations: “We have no reason not to believe you.”
BOB SMIETANA AUGUST 08, 2018 8:58 PM 
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/august/willow-creek-bill-hybels-heather-larson-elders-resign-inves.html
 
 
Willow Creek pastor, elders step down, admit mishandling allegations against Bill Hybels
Manya Brachear Pashman
Chicago Tribune
August 8, 2018 10:15 pm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-willow-creek-elders-step-down-20180807-story.html
 
Willow Creek Church’s Top Leadership Resigns Over Allegations Against Bill Hybels
By Laurie Goodstein
Aug. 8, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/us/willow-creek-church-resignations-bill-hybels.html
 
Vonda Dyer statement of reaction
https://www.facebook.com/vonda.dyer/posts/10156614801022206
 
Nancy Beach
WHY I STILL HAVE HOPE
August 8, 2018
http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/2018/8/8/why-i-still-have-hope
 
 
Pre-Summit Address from Tom De Vries
August 9, 2018
Global Leadership Summit
Willow Creek Association
Global Leadership Network
https://globalleadership.org/news-and-updates/pre-summit-address-from-tom-de-vries/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5MfBKzGoT0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOnIqYgZuBk
https://twitter.com/wcagls/status/1027612641588662273
 
 
Willow Creek’s journey from defending pastor to accepting accusations unfolds slowly, ends in mass resignations
Manya Brachear Pashman and Jeff Coen
August 10, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-willow-creek-resignations-20180810-story.html
 
Resignations at Willow Creek:  It’s a Start
Rob Speight
August 12, 2018
 

Keri Ladouceur (possibly the 5th accuser speaks out) (Aug 10, 14, 2018)

I Believe You
August 10, 2018
https://kerilad.com/2018/08/10/i-believe-you/
"the inappropriate comments and invitations, the multiple grooming attempts I reported" An anonymous person suggested to me on Twitter this is victim #5 listed above.
 
Keri Ladouceur
The weight of grief
August 14, 2018
"he was also inappropriate with me- on multiple occasions."
https://kerilad.com/2018/08/14/the-weight-of-grief/
 
See also below the Feb 28, 2020 article about Keri Ladouceur speaking out. 
 

Report on how Willow Elder Response Team would silence members with threats and how Willow Creek would silence staff with non-disclosure agreements (Sept 6-15, 2018)

Willow Elder Response Team
Jim Bedell
SEPTEMBER 6, 2018
See especially the posted photo of the letter from Pluymert, MacDonald, Hargrove & Lee, Ltd. sent to former attenders asking them not to return to the Willow Creek property.
 
Non-Disparagement Agreements And Truth-Telling In The Church: Willow Creek
 SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 BY SCOT MCKNIGHT
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2018/09/13/non-disclosure-non-disparagement-agreements-and-truth-telling-in-the-church-willow-creek/
 
 
Willow Creek Explains Why Staff Sign Non-Disparagement Agreements After Scot McKnight Raises Questions 
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter | Sep 15, 2018 9:39 AM
https://www.christianpost.com/news/willow-creek-explains-why-employees-sign-non-disparagement-agreements-in-response-to-scot-mcknight-227380/
 
Vonda Dyer video statement of allegations of what Bill Hybels did
Sept 14, 2018
Religion News Association
 
Willow Creek Community Church Process Updates
https://www.willowcreek.org/en/about/process-updates
 
Willow Creek Community Church Process Updates Sept 16, 2018 to May 24, 2019.
Download PDF of WCCC Process Updates Sept 16 – May 24 2019 (saved Aug 1, 2019)
 
Former Willow Creek pastor Steve Carter breaks his silence on Hybels allegations
September 18, 2018
Emily McFarlan Miller and Bob Smietana
https://religionnews.com/2018/09/18/former-willow-creek-pastor-steve-carter-breaks-silence-on-hybels-allegations/
 

Willow Creek Names Independent Advisory Group (Sept 18, 2018)

Published September 18, 2018
https://globalleadership.org/news-and-updates/willow-creek-names-independent-advisory-group/
"The group is co-chaired by Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita of The Wesleyan Church, Indianapolis, IN, and Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Washington D.C. Other members are Margaret Diddams, Provost of Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, and Gary Walter, past president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, IL."
 
National Association of Evangelicals president, others to oversee new investigation of Hybels, Willow Creek
September 18, 2018
Emily McFarlan Miller
https://religionnews.com/2018/09/18/national-association-of-evangelicals-president-others-to-oversee-new-investigation-of-hybels-willow-creek/
 
Vonda Dyer comments on her openness to the IAG investigation and a list of issues to be addressed.
Sept 20, 2018
https://vondadyer.weebly.com/blog/my-response-to-the-willow-creek-advisory-group-announcement
 

Independent Advisory Group Report (Feb 28, 2019)

February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1101272446718627841
The 17-page report about the Bill Hybels was released today.
Download Iagreport-022819
It is a solid, prudent report. The Independent Advisory Group had to invent a process and the form of the report.
 
February 28, 2019
Scot McKnight
Willow’s Independent Review: Verdicts (are) In
https://twitter.com/scotmcknight/status/1101465875289391104
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2019/02/28/willows-independent-investigation-verdicts-in/
 
Nancy Beach
RIGHT/WRONG/CONFUSED/MISSING: MY RESPONSE TO THE IAG REPORT
March 4, 2019
http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/2019/3/4/rightwrongconfusedmissing-my-response-to-the-iag-report
 
 

Willow Creek Governance Review 2014-2018 by James C. Galvin (May 4, 2019)

May 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1124672327831117824
For everyone who followed the Willow Creek Community Church and Bill Hybels mess, I recommend the "Willow Creek Governance Review 2014-2018 by James C. Galvin." Read the 9 page PDF report, not just the recommendations.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/dfd0f4e0c107728235d2ff080/files/6d3bafc4-0b43-450c-8e1e-4eb1c80771e2/Report_on_Governance_Review_2014_2018_FINAL.pdf
Download Report_on_Governance_Review_2014_2018_FINAL
at
 https://www.willowcreek.org/en/blogs/south-barrington/elder-update-may-2-2019
Download Elder-update-may-2-2019
 
My comments on May 4 governance report: 

Anyone interested in board governance should read this report. The report from Galvin makes clear that Hybels dominated the elder board.

Note this May 2 report on governance from Galvin is a different report from the February report on Hybels from the IAG (Anderson and Lyons, et. al.)

An omission is the incorrect theological conviction stressed at Willow that the elders are the only authority in the local church. But Paul writes, "Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?"- 1 Cor 14:36. Ask other churches for help!

Willow Creek also called gossip and collusion careful reporting by journalists from the Chicago Tribune, Christianity Today, and the New York Times. Whistle-blowers made the truth known after trying to work through in-house channels and being fired. The defensiveness was wrong.

After describing a long list of board of elder failures, this line at the end of the report is weird: "The place to start is with the paid staff at Willow Creek." Is that another defensive lashing out at the staff? There is plenty to do for both elders and staff.

Benjamin Ady is right that this line is dissonant. "Unfortunately, it is difficult for any board to hold a Senior Pastor accountable more than he or she is willing to submit." There are a lot of things the elders failed to do as the report makes clear. https://twitter.com/tripleoxymoron/status/1124291373568413698

Benjamin Ady is also right that it is important to acknowledge, more than this report does, the victims, the human pain afflicted, the deep wounds, when a leader is allowed to bully and avoid accountability.

Overall, I think this church governance report by Galvin is well done and very useful in the history it tells and the recommendations it suggests.

 

The Elders release a letter on July 19, 2019. 

Elder Update: Reconciliation
Willow Creek Elder Board
JULY 19, 2019

https://www.willowcreek.org/en/blogs/south-barrington/elder-update-july-19-2019

Download Elder-update-july-19-2019

 

Julie Roys writes a tweet on July 20 that links to her report on the letter.

Willow Creek Elders Release Statement Supporting the “Women”; Yet One Woman Says Hybels’ Sins Were “Far Worse” Than Anyone’s Said Publicly

http://julieroys.com/willow-creek-elders-release-statement-supporting-the-women-yet-one-of-women-says-hybels-sins-were-far-worse-than-anyones-said-publicly/

The elder statement is included at that post. 

 

 Vonda Dyer responds by tweet. "I am grateful for the compassion of current @WillowCreekCC elder board and support their desire to bring restoration. Details matter & provide context for the severity of what occurred over decades. It’s a tragedy w invitation for unity and reconciliation."

and another tweet: "I hope for clarity in order to remove the shadow of obscurity behind credible and important allegations, and continue to open the door for unity and reconciliation of this matter for all. #mercifuljustice"

 

Emily McFarlan Miller of the RNS (Religions News Service) also writes an article: 

Willow Creek plans reconciliation service to move on; Hybels not involved

https://religionnews.com/2019/07/23/willow-creek-plans-reconciliation-service-to-move-on-hybels-declines-invite/

Vonda Dyer responds to this article by tweet. "I look forward 2 finding out how it went & hear what’s spoken on behalf of victims and their advocates in this long road to transparency. I am hoping for a restorative reset for everyone to reconcile the depth and breadth of abuse & sin that occurred."

July 22, 2019
Willow Creek Wheaton Lead Pastor Resigns, Citing Intense “Drive” That Hurt Staff
By Julie Roys

Willow Creek Community Church has a meeting on July 23, 2019. 

"Join us tomorrow, at 7 p.m. in the Lakeside auditorium of the South Barrington campus for an Elder-led Worship & Reflection Service. During this service our Elders will share on reconciliation, their vision for the future, and the gospel-centered hope that anchors our church."

 

Emily McFarlan Miller of the RNS (Religions News Service) tweets July 24th to a story she wrote about the meeting. 

Willow Creek elders preach reconciliation after allegations against Hybels

https://religionnews.com/2019/07/24/willow-creek-elders-preach-reconciliation-after-allegations-against-hybels/

The story is reprinted with permission by Christianity Today: 

Can Willow Creek Find Closure After Bill Hybels?
The elders: There is “a fracture in our church marked by disbelief, confusion, fear, and hurt.”
EMILY MCFARLAN MILLER – RELIGION NEWS SERVICE JULY 24, 2019 7:20 AM

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/july/willow-creek-bill-hybels-reconciliation-service.html

 

Nancy Beach responds to the meeting. She is one of at least ten women who Bill Hybels has been accused of behaving inappropriately toward. She attended the meeting. Here is her tweet to her written post.   

THE MORNING AFTER THE “FINAL WILLOW MEETING"
July 24, 2019

http://www.nancylbeach.com/blog/2019/7/24/the-morning-after-the-final-willow-meeting

Scot McKnight also tweets about his reposting of Nancy Beach's response. 

Nancy Beach: A Voice of Wisdom

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2019/07/24/nancy-beach-a-voice-of-wisdom/

Someone tweets: "I mean no disrespect with this tweet, but I believe the Church has said all of the things you hoped they would say in email updates from the elders to the members. And I believe that is all public information. Have you not seen that communication?"

I reply: "They should have done a lot more orally, rather just written. "We did the repentance and truth-telling via email!" rings hollow. Hybels, elders, and staff said on the stage that the victims were jealous liars colluding together. The repentance should also have been on the stage."

And

"Even in the written communication, there is little specificity so that a reader might think all of this hubbub was much ado about little."

 

Julie Roys writes a tweet on July 24th that links to her article: 

Willow Creek’s Reconciliation Service Brings Closure to Some, But Alleged Victim Says “Hope Evaporated”

http://julieroys.com/willow-creeks-reconciliation-service-brings-closure-to-some-but-alleged-victim-says-hope-evaporated/

Videos of the meeting are included. 
 
October 13, 2019
Second Willow Creek Campus Pastor Resigns
By Julie Roys
 
October 29, 2019
Willow Creek Crystal Lake Attenders Angered Over Hybels’ “Golden Parachute” & Elders’ Actions That Led Pastor to Resign
By Julie Roys
 
December 10, 2019
Video: Hybels’ Victim & Her Husband Tell of Trauma & Urge Church to Help Abuse Victims
By Julie Roys

2020 updates including allegations of misconduct by Gilbert Bilezikian and concerns about Willow Creek Community Church being slow to respond to AIG and Governance recommendations

January 25, 2020
Longtime Willow Creek Member Accuses Bill Hybel’s Mentor, Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian, of Clergy Sexual Abuse
By Julie Roys

January 27, 2020
Willow Creek Responds to Abuse Allegations: “We Believe Dr. B Engaged in Inappropriate Behavior”
By Julie Roys

January 28, 2020
Willow Creek Elders Say They’re “Heartbroken” over “Abuse” of Congregant by Church Co-Founder
By Julie Roys

January 30, 2020
Willow Creek Honored as “Living Legend” the Co-Founder It Believed Abused Congregant
By Julie Roys

January 30, 2020
Willow Creek Acting Senior Pastor Steve Gillen to Resign in March
By Julie Roys

February 4, 2020
Wheaton College Coeds Say Bilezikian Sexually Harassed Them; College Accused of Mishandling Reports
By Julie Roys

CBE International and Gilbert Bilezikian
By Mimi Haddad
February 11, 2020

February 28, 2020
Wheaton College Rescinds Dr. Bilezikian’s Title of Professor Emeritus After Investigation Of Allegations
By Julie Roys

February 28, 2020
Alleged Victim of Bill Hybels Tells Story of How Church Tried to Silence Her
By Julie Roys

G.T. Davis: 2/28/20 A Second Row Seat to the Crises
G.T. Davis: 3/1/20 Have the Elders kept their Promises? Part 1 IAG and Governance

 

________________________________________________________________

I would welcome people listing additional articles that are relevant in the comments. 

___________________________________

There is a similar compilation of articles and commentary by Julie Anne of all the events at:

Resource Bibliography on Willow Creek Church Situation and Bill Hybels’ Reported Misconduct

https://spiritualsoundingboard.com/2018/04/12/resource-bibliography-on-willow-creek-church-situation-and-bill-hybels-reported-misconduct/ 

and 

Resource Bibliography on Willow Creek Church Situation – Part 2

July 1, 2018

Julie Anne

https://spiritualsoundingboard.com/2018/07/01/resource-bibliography-on-willow-creek-church-situation-part-2/

____________________________________ 

I should say that I, along with everyone I know, is sad about all of this. I am however a ministry leadership professor. This blog is called Church Leadership Conversations. My fellow seminary professors, seminary students, and pastor friends are all keenly interested in this story because of how much we have learned from Willow Creek Community Church and Bill Hybels.

_____________________

Note about url: I had this post repeated three times on this blog because I accidentally kept changing the url of the post when I updated the date so I have an April (2018/4) and May (2018/5) post that link to this post: June (2018/6). Links to all three are at various places on the internet. But this (June post) is the main one now.

 

Categories
Books

Some books I have enjoyed

A friend asked for books I have enjoyed. I think he specifically said he likes biography and history. 

Here is the list I gave him in March 2018. 

Biography and Historical:

  1. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin,
  2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand,
  3. Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty by John M. Barry,
  4. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography by Eberhard Bethge,
  5. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932 by William Manchester (first volume of 3),
  6. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris (first volume of 3),
  7. Grant by Ron Chernow,
  8. Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose,
  9. John Adams by David McCullough,
  10. 1776 by David McCullough,
  11. The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough,
  12. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson,
  13. Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King,
  14. The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson,
  15. The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis,
  16. Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt by Michael Lewis,
  17. The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis,
  18. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell,
  19. The Road to Character by David Brooks,
  20. What Are We Doing Here?: Essays by Marilynne Robinson,
  21. The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today by Thomas E. Ricks,
  22. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg,
  23. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander,
  24. Gandhi & Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age by Arthur Herman.

Fiction / Classics / Literature / Award Winners:

  1. Middlemarch by George Eliot,
  2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy,
  3. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky,
  4. The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead,
  5. Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York by Francis Spufford.

Some people keep track of their books on Goodreads. I should do that.

Most of these I have tweeted about at https://twitter.com/AndyRowell

Here is how to Search Twitter:

https://twitter.com/search-advanced 

Categories
Parenting website

Where are they now?

I last posted to this blog in 2012. Below is an update on what the kids are up to, a few recent photos, and then a compilation of funny things they have said since 2012 and various pieces of advice I have posted on Twitter and Facebook. 

Update on kids May 2018

Ryan is a 7th grader and playing recreational soccer, basketball, baseball and ultimate frisbee, Boy scouts, church youth group, set and lights for school musical, playing saxophone, riding his bike, riding scooter, reading, playing Wii U video games and games on his phone (a little–we limit these), babysitting, and wants to build a tree house. With friends, he bikes to the lake and swims and also goes and sleds on his own with his friends. He plays infection tag with kids in the neighborhood. 

Jacob is 4th grader and playing recreational soccer, basketball, and baseball and likes riding his scooter. He is also playing trumpet, Wii U and games on iPad (a little–we limit these). Jacob and I are about to finish the Harry Potter series reading it aloud. Jacob likes reading Big Nate. He likes drawing. He likes listening to music on Spotify including Weird Al.  

Allie is a 2nd grader and playing recreational soccer, basketball, and softball and likes riding her scooter and jumping on the neighbor’s trampoline and loves swimming. She is also in Brownies. She loves listening to audiobooks: Doll People, A-Z Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Wayside School from the library’s Overdrive service on an old iPod. She likes making crafts for friends and family. She plays imaginary games with friends. She likes listening to music on Spotify including The Greatest Showman. 

 

Here are some photos from March – May 2018. 

IMG_20180528_094101285
IMG_20180528_094101285
IMG_20180528_094101285

 

Sometimes I still tweet parenting things at: 

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell

 

Here are some tips and observations I posted on Twitter (2013-May 2018):

Miscellaneous: 

Peanut allergy: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/963103561222705153

Tree house: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/967629996981411845

Justin Roberts: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/792956113754873856

Tidying up: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/777244844359987201 Kids have existential block with regard to cleaning up toys / desks but if parent helps by the end they are inspired to play in clean space. 

Fathers: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/818700274466516992 
Wallace Stegner: “The dominant figure in your life probably is your father, if you have one, and if he happens himself to be mixed-up . . .
irritable, and frustrated, and to feel himself many times a failure–those things do bounce off a child’s head and leave knots.”
I enjoyed Wallace Stegner’s novel The Big Rock Candy Mountain (1938). America. The West. Fatherhood. Restlessness. American Dream. Stories.
I read Wallace Stegner’s The Big Rock Candy Mountain on Eugene Peterson’s recommendation in his book Take & Read.

 

Movies

Movies: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/962145915686539264

Inside Out: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/625760399204286464

Greatest Showman https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/982823062310739968

 

Books 

Wingfeather: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/539063759445426176

Harry Potter: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/911254586509479936

Manga Bible thread: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1001113798533701637

Book recommendations: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/625811701418471424

Moby Dick: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/501947007825895424

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/975580552819601409

Parenting tip regarding love of books. 1. Look up some good books for the child’s age and request 20-30 from the library. 2. Begin listening to the audiobook or reading aloud the first chapters with the child. 3. Permit child to go on without you. You can catch up later or not.

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/864918472790290437

In my parenting I have emphasized nurturing the love of reading. However, there are a lot of unhappy writers who read a lot as children.

 

 https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/871802290352652288

Three forms of hyper-parenting:
(1) Micromanaging, home schooling, family-centric.

(2) Local-mission, public school, neighborhood, PTA, rec sports coach, school volunteer, birthday parties, friend-centric.

(3) Private school, travel sports, private language, music tutors, achievement-centric.

 

Facebook replies to people about books: 

5/5/2017

We have paid a lot of library fines over the years because we check out tons of books from the library and then need to be conscientious about renewing them and have to go to the library once a week to return things and pick up what we requested so it also takes a lot of time. Our kids are 12, 9, and 7 now and all read a lot. 

Every couple of months, I request a whole slew of books at a time online from the library: from the Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease or Boston Globe Horn Book Award winning Picture Books http://www.hbook.com/…/past-boston-globe-horn-book.../ or Caldecott Award books: http://www.ala.org/…/cal…/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal and Geisel award: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/geiselaward (There are other awards for older kids). I did also take a bunch of photos at the school book fair and order a bunch of the books they had displayed from the library rather than buying them (though we did let the kids buy something from the book fair!).

Our kids also use Overdrive from the library to download books onto our Kindle but I had to set the settings to exclude them playing games as that is too tempting for them. 

Our kids have also been pretty into audiobooks downloaded from the library through Overdrive or checked out from the library as CDs–especially prior to second grade when they read more fluently on their own. They have listened to lots of audiobooks of: Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, A to Z Mysteries, Boxcar Children, and Wayside School. Audiobooks build up their vocabulary a lot so reading is way easier once they start reading on their own. Little kids can also check out books with CD’s from the library with the page turn signals so they can read along and turn the pages. 

5/8/2014

With our oldest, we read lots to him (Jim Trelease – Read-Aloud Handbook recommendations) and he is now a great reader but the younger kids haven’t gotten the same attention so are not as interested I’m afraid so we probably need to ramp that up. Ideally, I think it is more fun and probably effective long-term for them to develop love for books and higher vocabulary by listening rather than drilling the mechanics and skill (but there probably is some place for sounding out things, spelling, etc.) With our first, we read lots and lots of picture books with great illustrations–lots of Horn book award winners:http://www.hbook.com/boston-globe-horn-book-awards/ I think that is hugely helpful for them in gaining vocabulary–to see the pictures. (I have had to learn German and testify to value of pictures!). In addition, he listened to lots of picture books with a CD from the library (where you turn the page with the signal). Then he listened to all of the Magic Tree House audiobooks(they improve after the first 10). Then lots more library audiobooks: Junie B. Jones (they also improve), A to Z Mysteries, Roald Dahl, Wayside School, Secrets of Droon, Beast Quest, Dick King-Smith, Beverly Cleary, and Encyclopedia Brown. He listened in the car, while drawing, playing basketball, playing with Legos, etc. Christian books: First grade: Narnia. Second grade: Wingfeather Saga. 3rd grade: The Action Bible. 

 

Sports

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/978324745417580544

In an age of screens and isolation, I highly recommend kids play local team sports, do school musicals, school band / orchestra, and church. I coach youth soccer, basketball, and baseball. l played three sports in high school and college baseball. BUT . . . These recent ESPN stories about Geno Auriemma and Ichiro Suzuki are cautionary tales about competitive sports. Do parents really want to push their kids into the wounds and anxiety of this?

 

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/967626950994006017

This is quite a powerful article on youth sports development, particularly soccer. Ted Kroeten argues against tryouts because of Relative Age Effect and argues the best players emerge late (age 15) after developing creatively by playing for fun. What I take away from this is to facilitate (as a coach and parent) kids enjoying playing the sport. Encouraging pick-up games, small-sided games, scrimmaging. https://www.poweredbyjoy.org/single-post/2018/02/13/The-revolution-will-not-hold-tryouts

 

https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/821428693486764032

Reading Napoleon by Roberts and 600 pages in, finally, he has begun losing. The clever “genius” is revealed to be a pompous, callous fool.

Also, in reading Napoleon I’m reminded that war is terrible. Slaughter. Brutality. Starvation. Cruelty. Cannibalism. Torture. Stupidity.

If we love the strategy and courage seen in war, it is far better to channel those into justice, compassion, science, business, even sports.

 

Dad’s stupidity: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/989968061351583744

 

Funny things the kids have said that I have posted on Twitter (2013-May 2018):

Ice-skaters: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/963245910724575238

Big Nate: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/919963809007235073

80’s: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/707768707662000128

Bible stories: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/351173484472320000

Doctoral studies: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/56912038613618688

Good Samaritan: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/798217213022978049

Bonhoeffer: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/353596264291639296

 

Facebook highlights of kids from May 2018 – January 2013. 

 
March 18

 

Parenting Today 2018: A video game where you keep your child avatar from being swallowed by screens without losing lives by hitting burnout levels.

 

February 25

 

This is quite a powerful article on youth sports development, particularly soccer. Ted Kroeten argues against tryouts because of Relative Age Effect and argues the best players emerge late (age 15) after developing creatively by playing for fun.

https://www.poweredbyjoy.org/single-post/2018/02/13/The-revolution-will-not-hold-tryouts

 

November 12, 2017Minneapolis

 

Our ten-year-old has a closet category called “retired jerseys.”

 

 
October 22, 2017

 

Our 4th grader asked the main (adult) objections to Christian faith at breakfast today. “People died even though we prayed they wouldn’t. Aren’t other religions just as likely to be true? God does not seem physically present now. How do we know the Bible is not fiction? Was Jesus a real person?”

So, a lesson is if one is old enough to read Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, then one is old enough to talk about these questions. For what it’s worth, I think Christian faith has more plausible rational responses to these questions than other points of view. And I think there are some other questions not mentioned above where Christianity is particularly persuasive: Where does one receive moral direction if there is no God? If there is no God, there is little hope.

I think generally with kids and adults it is a better approach to constructively teach the stories of the Bible and how the logic of Christianity works, rather than focusing on the most difficult borderline questions for which neither atheism nor religion have complete answers. When one is wearing Christian glasses, life and the world come into focus and make sense.

As for resources, we facilitate the Alpha course which allows and encourages any and all questions like this. There is also a youth curriculum. I liked Tim Keller’s latest book Making Sense of God. We also like Peter Enns’s Telling God’s Story curriculum for families. We also recommend the Narnia series and Harry Potter for moral and spiritual formation. Most important for thoughtful reflection on these issues and moral formation is attendance and involvement at a great church. At a good church, one should not be left with the impression that Christianity is totally farfetched but that it is helpful and useful and practical and pro-science and healthful. As I say this I’m conscious that it needs to be said over and over: Yes, too many Christians claim to be Christians and don’t look much like Jesus. Christianity that does not look like Jesus is not Christianity.

 See also on Steve Jobs’s questions: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/557955255787614209

Overheard: “Now that it’s not Dad’s birthday, let’s do whatever he doesn’t want,” said this person hiding behind the cereal box.

 

 
July 22, 2017

 

We bought a house! The neighbors refer to it as the Up house, the gingerbread house, the Easter egg house, the Vikings house, the Crayola house, etc. We’re working on it for now and move in August 5th. It is 4 blocks from our previous home. Come by and distract us from painting and give us your advice on a million home improvement issues.

 

April 30, 2017Minneapolis

 

12-year-old woke up and said he had a dream that he got a phone. 9-year-old: That means he should get one. Me: That’s not really how it works. 9-year-old: Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream!

 

 
October 7, 2016

 

Friday afternoon. 1st-grade-girl, “Halloween is coming! Let’s make scary decorations!” 6th-grade-boy, “Let’s play some pranks!” 3rd-grade-boy: “Let’s go buy some candy!” Old tired father: “How about we go to the library, clean up the house, and do laundry?”

 

 
September 6, 2016

 

Camped this weekend. Great outdoors makes you appreciate great indoors. Upon returning to internet range, googled “lightning while in tent.” Highlights were 6-year-old daughter volunteering to paddle in canoe and climbing 100 foot fire tower with “no forcing.” 11-year-old: “I just love fire.” 8-year-old: “I just can’t stop myself from looking for good rocks.” Also finding dropped key in gravel lot, a dry tent, no allergic peanut reaction to accidental Mr. Goodbar bite. Sliding van door was stuck open in middle of nowhere. Cut door wire with 8-year-old’s pocket knife and it shut. Honda dealer, you’re welcome. Pretty apparent when camping which campers are nice and which are not. I started out as latter but became a little more of the former as time went on–and this is why you go camping I suppose. Some illustrations in comments below.

 

 
March 21, 2016

 

8-year-old-Jacob:”When you grow up, can you do more than one job? Basketball player, basketball announcer, illustrator, art teacher, DQ employee?”

 

 

March 17, 2016

 

“Did anyone comment on your Duke shirt today?” Jacob: “No, I don’t think any of them celebrate March Madness.” Some families observe certain religious holidays, others are non-observant.

 

March 8, 2016
 

Giving advice to 8 year old Jacob about dealing with a situation at school and he retorts angrily, “A lot has changed since the 80’s.”

 

January 1, 2016

 

Help. Children wanting to use hose to reinforce snow fort and do experiments with household chemicals. These children need jobs (with no holidays) or school to start again!

 

November 20, 2015

 

Public Service Announcement: When the temperature is below freezing, children don’t realize they have to go until it is too late.

 

October 7, 2015

 

8 year old Jacob on being bribed with food to stay up late with me to watch the Cubs (win!). “Why are we doing this again?” Because the Cubs lost in 1984 and 1989. “Oh yeah.”

 

October 2, 2015

 

Brother Jacob (shakily) filmed Allie biking here.

 

August 15, 2015

 

Picking up 8 week old beagle puppy Copper

 

April 25, 2015

 

61 degrees so time for the sprinkler. / with Amy Steinfield Rowell

 

April 7, 2015

 

We let the boys stay up until 10:30 to watch Duke win but they were mostly inspired to play basketball themselves on our little hoop next to the TV which is good I guess but I kept saying, “You can play basketball tomorrow. We’re letting you stay up to watch the game.” After the win began the decision-making about whether to wear their Duke shirts tomorrow to school. “Some of the tough kids are big Wisconsin fans.” These things must be considered carefully. (We went bananas cheering but we usually cheer for the underdog so understand the many annoyed. My take is many of these tournament games are close and the players are kids so: luck and low expectations).

 

February 1, 2015

 

4.5 year old Allie and 7 year old Jacob reflect on the superiority of The Hardy Boys over Nancy Drew.

 

January 30, 2015

 

4.5 year old Allie’s first attempts at hockey.

 

“Jesus isn’t here so my animals will blow out his candles.” — Allie (with Amy Steinfield Rowell)

October 14, 2014

 

Our book choices. 1 vote for Laura Ingalls Wilder and 1 for Barbie.

 

I turned 39 today and told 6-year-old Jacob I shouldn’t eat cake so my pants will fit. He said, “Just get some 40T ones.”

 

August 24, 2014

 

Amy Steinfield Rowell preached today at City Church for the first time. I didn’t notice the four-year-old’s dress was on backwards.

 

August 14, 2014

 

6 year old Jacob: “I’m cheering for the patriots in the Revolutionary War because the New England Patriots are one of my favorite teams.”

 

July 28, 2014

 

Family update: We are excited that Amy Steinfield Rowell will start as Pastor of Community Life at City Church in southwest Minneapolis on August 11th. We are renting a house a few blocks from the church building and moving this Sat, Aug 2nd. I’ll still teach at Bethel Seminary but have a 25 min commute. Unfortunately, the boys (Ryan 4th grade, Jacob 1st grade) will have to adjust to a new school (Burroughs Elementary) but it is a good school. We are sad to be moving away from our Arden Hills and Shoreview friends but excited to be joining this new community.

 

July 28, 2014

 

Our 4-year-old Allie is pretty brave. with Amy Steinfield Rowell, Brenda McDonell, Bob McDonell

(dipping face in the water).

 

June 21, 2014

 

We are enjoying World Cup highlights at the ESPN website but the kids always beg for the 2010 song with this soccer highlight compilation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMophHw6iX4

 

May 11, 2014

 

4-year-old Allie batting today with her tiara under her baseball helmet–beautiful and tough like her mom Amy Steinfield Rowell. Happy Mother’s Day as well to my mom Brenda McDonell. We miss Amy’s mom Nancy Steinfield as well today.

 

April 8, 2014

 

Allie working on her swing with Batman mask. — with Amy Rowell

 

March 1, 2014

 

A family photo from this week: me, Jacob (6), Ryan (8), Allie (3), and Amy. It was chilly and this is the second spot where we posed so Ryan isn’t thrilled. I just checked and the current weather is -2°F feels like -19° and yes, it is March. We’ve had six days of school cancelled in Jan and Feb for extreme cold or heavy snow but we are enjoying the sledding, ice-skating, and are thankful for a two-car garage, a short commute, down comforters, and the indoor Shoreview Community Center playground. We signed up for baseball today–games begin in May!

 

On the Olympics: 3 year old Allie on a couple ice dancing. “That man is trying to keep up with that woman.” Also: “Snowboarding is the dangerousest.” 6 year old Jacob: “Do they have boxing on skates? That would be cool.” – with Amy Steinfield Rowell

 

January 30, 2014

 

“People who smoke could just drink hot chocolate to get warm.” — 6-year-old Jacob

 

December 6, 2013

 

This is one of those days that the weather is different in MN (-6°F) from NC (69°F). We hadn’t felt much difference until Thanksgiving. But the kids are loving the snow.

 

“Mommy dropped us off at school and there were even kids who arrived after us!” — Kindergartner Jacob.

with Amy Steinfield Rowell

 

October 31, 2013

 

Allie (3) Princess, Jacob (6) Captain American, Ryan (8) Jedi. – Halloween 2013.

 

October 5, 2013

 

Why I am not letting my boys play football and why we have stopped watching it. I’ll be glad to be wrong because I love football. “By the fall of 2012, McKee had examined the brains of 34 former NFL players. Thirty-three had CTE.”

League of Denial excerpt in Sports Illustrated.

 

August 3, 2013

 

Our kids were with Grandma this week. Here are the photos. The kids arrived last night in St. Paul, MN–thanks to Kathi McDonell Valentino and Joe. We still have lots of boxes and no internet but are getting there. The townhouse will work ok–decent shape, mostly soundproof we think, a little small, nice grounds. Kind people–everywhere–it is impressive. Beautiful weather. Lots of construction and traffic. Lowes/Home Depot/Menard’s: 20 minutes away–too far! Lots of family stuff everywhere: indoor waterslide in hotel. A couple anecdotes: Left the frog at Red Robin restaurant last night but the employees have the bowl and him and Kathi is going to bring it to us Monday on her way back to Illinois. First morning today in the house: Jacob said: “I want to go back to our old house.” Allie said: “You’re never going back there!” He punched her.

July 21, 2013

 

Goodbye Durham friends. We will miss you! From earlier today before church. — Amy and I, Ryan (8), Jacob (5.5), and Allie (3).

 

July 6, 2013

 

Amy, “So who are some of daddy’s friends?” 5-year-old Jacob, “Well, there’s David Miller and Bonhoeffer.”

 

June 29, 2013

 

“Allie, what did you learn at VBS today?” 3-year-old Allie: “An angry mom was chasing Paul!” [Acts 17:5 “a mob started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul.”]

 

June 22, 2013

 

Looks like we have a townhouse to rent in Arden Hills, MN 4-7 minutes from Bethel Seminary, which will give us a chance to get to know the Twin Cities a bit more before we buy. The boys will be going into 3rd grade and kindergarten at Island Lake Elementary School in Shoreview, MN. AND we’re thrilled to have sold our house to great folks! We’re moving out of Durham, NC around July 23rd.

 

June 1, 2013

 

Big news for us: I am taking a position as Assistant Professor of Ministry Leadership at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Our house here in Durham, NC closes July 24th. We would be glad for your advice about the Twin Cities. We are excited!

 

May 20, 2013

 

Our 8-year-old Ryan giving leadership advice to his friend about chasing the girls at recess.

 

March 28, 2013

 

5-year-old Jacob listening to a gospel choir from Mt. Level Missionary Baptist Church at a combined service with Blacknall Presbyterian Church tonight: “Are they making a CD of this?”

 

February 6, 2013

 

That coffee at 7 pm so you don’t fall asleep reading to the kids.

 

January 27, 2013

 

5-year-old Jacob: “Mommy, did you know that an ogre came out when Jesus opened Lazarus’s tomb?” [John 11:39 “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”]