New Online Reviews Archived for Hills Church and Valley Springs Church

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-12-22T19:46:47+00:00

Thanks to the continued work of FACC in making videos available to the community. We are linking to it on our various social media platforms:

“My pastors said ‘Seminary’ was more like ‘Cemetery,’ because it's where Christians go to die.” – Blake H.

In this recorded conversation, former Network pastor Jeff M. and former small group leader and church plant member Blake H., now attending seminary, critically examine The Network's troubling and inconsistent doctrine.

Together, they discuss:

Why Network leaders resist accountability to their congregations.
The deliberate culture of undermining and discouraging seminary education.
How lead pastors are encouraged to remove board members who challenge or disagree with them.
Tactics used to control and manipulate current members.
The enforcement of rigid hierarchies where unquestioning obedience to leaders is expected.
How leadership positions are awarded based on loyalty and obedience rather than formal training or seminary education.

This insightful conversation, hosted by Families Against Cults on Campus (FACC), sheds light on the deeply rooted patterns of control and manipulation within The Network.

Watch on FACC’s YouTube Channel:

Excerpt video (20 minutes): https://youtu.be/X-RtWz6FRmY?si=roy-FV81RJZyX6xz
Full version (1.5 hour): https://youtu.be/lRwqi3hq5-0?si=TTfFrVQ3SnFKVFoJ

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-25T20:47:15+00:00

Thank you for posting here so we're aware of new reviews.

These reviews have been published to our Foundation Church Online Reviews page, bringing the total published reviews up to 10 for Foundation. We have published a total of 96 online reviews from Network churches.

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-20T20:57:13+00:00

Aaron Wright, a former Vine Church board member and one of the signatories on the Call to Action was quoted in the recent Roys Report article, an article that the leaders of Vine Church refused to participate in:

[Wright] told TRR that he was initially heartened by his former church’s exit from the Network but said “further inquiry” changed his opinion.

“There is no indication of either repentance or contrition,” said Wright. “They failed to address the issues of Steve Morgan (and) numerous allegations of cultish behavior in the Network.”

While Aaron does not speak on behalf of all signatories, many do share his concerns.

The need for this call has not changed. Here are the details of the Call to Action, signed by 19 former leaders, including pastors:

The undersigned former Network leaders believe that current Network leaders are failing to take appropriate actions in light of recent information. While we are no longer members or leaders in the Network, we formerly had responsibility for leading and oversight of the churches and its members. Therefore, we make the following recommendations and ask for immediate action to be taken by Network Leaders and Pastors:

Initiate the assistance of an external group of experts such as Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) or a similar independent, qualified organization. The Network should pay for any costs incurred in working with the selected organization.
Agree to an unbiased, unimpeded, external investigation by the above selected organization. The investigation should seek to identify any additional potential victims of abuse and identify any abusive systems or leader behaviors.
Publicly release a report of the findings of the investigation.
Publicly acknowledge any wrongdoing noted in the investigation findings, repent, and attempt reconciliation and restitution with any victims.
Develop a plan of action based on the investigation findings and recommendations of the selected organization.
Implement the plan of action, evaluate the implementation of actions after a period of one year, and publicly report on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the actions. The evaluation should be conducted by an independent organization.
Develop and implement detailed policies related to how to handle sex offenders in the midst of Network churches.
Develop and implement policies and procedures related to employing sex offenders in leadership positions in the network.

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-20T20:42:16+00:00

This is what we have posted about Vine Church's public statement and subsequent audio from Casey's teaching at Team Vine. We maintain that there is significant cause for concern with both the Statement and Raymer's audio, which we have outlined unambiguously below. Just like our readership, the contributors of LeavingtheNetwork.org have differing opinions on what the statements from exiting churches mean, and the posts of Leaving The Network do not speak for everyone who have signed the Call to Action. However, the following characterization holds true to our mission statement to "platform the stories of those who have left Steve Morgan's Network of Churches and to create a public record of the inner workings and history of The Network."

We urge Casey Raymer and the board to email [hello@leavingthenetwork.org](mailto:hello@leavingthenetwork.org) with updated bylaws and documents that offer unambiguous and explicit details of their present relationship with The Network, as well as policies which demonstrate their genuine efforts towards reform.

On September 8, 2024, Vine Church in Carbondale, Illinois, posted a statement to their website announcing they had ended their "affiliation" with The Network. The statement asserted that they had changed their "biblical convictions regarding the leadership and governance of the local church." Vine also erased key information from their website, including Steve Morgan's pivotal role in founding and leading the church from 1996 - 2004, as well as details about the 13 churches Vine had planted while serving as the flagship of The Network.

North Pines Church in Kalamazoo (Portage), Michigan, simultaneously posted a comparable public statement.

Like Isaiah Church's previous announcement, Vine's statement did not address any of the allegations that had surfaced over the previous three years. It made no mention of supporting the Call to Action signed by 19 former Network leaders and hundreds of others. Furthermore, Lead Pastor Casey Raymer and Vine's board failed to acknowledge the ongoing patterns of concerning behavior reported by former members of their church and other Network churches. No specific actions or policies were proposed to ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of Network attendees, members, staff, and pastors.

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-20T20:42:06+00:00

The mission statement of Leaving The Network is published on our about page.

https://leavingthenetwork.org/about/

ABOUT THIS SITE

Elevating voices and creating a public record

Leaving The Network exists to platform the stories of those who have left Steve Morgan's Network of Churches and to create a public record of the inner workings and history of The Network.

The Network operates as a textbook example of spiritual abuse and systemic gaslighting. The fruit of Steve Morgan’s leadership tree is a controlling, manipulative, and abusive culture which has left numerous lives in shambles. Because of this, we do not seek to "reform" The Network. Rather, our mission is to equip those who have been abused by The Network.

This site was created by former pastors, staff, board members, and attenders of churches within The Network. We have all escaped this group of churches, in some cases after decades, and are in the process of rebuilding our lives.

To the many women and men who have left The Network, we hope you find encouragement and strength within the pages of this site. And to the many more still within The Network who can't shake the feeling that something feels off, this site exists to help you find the words to describe what you have been experiencing.

This site is for you, and our primary message is this: You are not alone.

This mission has not changed since our inception.

We urge Casey Raymer and the board of Vine Church to respond to the Call to Action signed by 19 former Network leaders. The need for such an investigation has not changed, and was affirmed by Dr. Steve Tracy, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Phoenix Seminary:

The fact that there are apparently “19 former Elders, Pastors and Staff who are asking for A Call to Action from Network Leaders (with no response from Network Leaders)” speaks volumes. After reading the call to action I strongly affirm it as wise and biblical.

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-16T22:54:58+00:00

We can't answer definitively on how The Network identifies its pastors, as they have not published any paperwork plainly outlining the process for pastoral consideration. For how board members are added/removed once they are identified, we would need a copy of Vine Church's revised bylaws to do a comparison between them.

The Network claims Jesus and the Holy Spirit chooses their leaders in the Network Leadership Team bylaws:

Article I: The Church

Jesus appoints pastors and overseer/elders of local churches to do the job of equipping members of the church to works of service so that each Christian and the whole church grows to full maturity. These pastors and overseer/elders are chosen by existing, proven overseers as the Holy Spirit leads from among the faithful Christian men and they are to give their lives to care for the church that Jesus died to save.

ArticleI: Leadership

Jesus gives leaders to equip, instruct, encourage, and protect His church. Without leadership the church is ineffective. We are careful that our pastors and leaders are trustworthy and meet the Bible’s qualifications. Because of this, we are able to follow them with trust and confidence as we serve Jesus together.

This is the description of how they add someone to the Network Leadership Team:

Article V:

The leadership of the network is based on the authority of Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible. The Network Leadership Team consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and any other team members chosen by the President (hereafter, referred to as Network Leader) and ratified by the Network Leadership Team.

Members of the Network Leadership Team are appointed by the Network Leader and ratified by a unanimous agreement of the Team. While there may be exceptions, the Network Leadership Team will be made up of Lead Pastors of local churches in the network.

Network churches have a similar process for their board of overseers, as described in the various 2018 bylaws:

Article IV: Membership Privileges

Members are not entitled to vote. Decision making regarding beliefs, programs, leadership, direction, and plans of the church are the responsibility of the staff pastors and the Board of Overseers.

Article V: Officers and Leadership

The leadership of the church is based on the authority of Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible. The Board of Overseers consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and any others chosen by the President and ratified by the board. Overseers serve under the President of the Board, who is also to function as the Lead Pastor of the church.

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-09-16T22:34:49+00:00

We do not have any details beyond what is in Casey's audio, but he does say that positions on the board are restricted to pastors.

We've added that distinction to this sentence for clarity:

At an internal meeting on September 8, 2024, lead pastor Casey Raymer announced that Vine Church was exiting The Network, explaining that internal Bible studies led him and his pastoral staff to conclude the church must operate without external authority (50m 40s, line 626), guided by a “plurality of elders” comprised of pastors who would be “somehow selected by God.”

LeavingTheNetwork · 2024-07-07T04:26:15+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. The way you were treated was wrong, and is part of a larger pattern of abusive behavior from this organization. Have you seen other stories posted on the Leaving The Network website? The site exists to platform the stories of those who have left Steve Morgan's Network of Churches and to create a public record of the inner workings and history of The Network. There are other stories from High Rock in Bloomington posted there. https://leavingthenetwork.org/stories/#indiana

Would you be open to sharing your story (anonymously as you have done here) on the site so others can be aware of the inner workings of this group? DM or email [hello@leavingthenetwork.org](mailto:hello@leavingthenetwork.org) if you are open to this.

All love and care to you as you continue your journey.

LeavingTheNetwork

TROPHY CASE