Greater Grace World Outreach

Infobox Christian denomination
name = Greater Grace World Outreach


imagewidth =
caption =
main_classification = Protestant
orientation = Evangelical
polity = mixed polity Citation
last = Van Doren
first = Arnold
title =
place = Baltimore, MD
publisher = Greater Grace World Outreach
year = 2007.]
founder = Carl H. Stevens Jr.
founded_date = 1987
founded_place = Baltimore
leader = Thomas Schaller (Chair, Board of Elders)|Thomas Schaller
separations = International Association of Grace Ministries [cite web |url=http://www.iagm.org/index.php |title=Welcome|accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2007 |publisher=International Association of Grace Ministries]
area = Worldwide
congregations = 463
ministers = 850

Greater Grace World Outreach is an affiliation of evangelical churches that emphasize Grace, the Finished Work, and Missions. GGWO was founded by Carl H. Stevens Jr. The headquarters of Greater Grace World Outreach is currently located in Baltimore, Maryland and led by Thomas Schaller.

The beliefs of Greater Grace are outlined in its doctrinal statement and detailed in booklets written by Carl H. Stevens. Worship is non-liturgical but generally includes prayer, singing, offerings, and sermons. Songs are usually contemporary, but services may also include classical hymns. Evangelism and "raps", informal bible study, are also considered important acts of worship.

Greater Grace is comprised of almost 500 churches from around the world, led by a pastor ordained by the Baltimore churchFact|date=July 2008. Most of these churches are located in New England, Europe and Africa. Some of the larger churches are located in Maryland, Hungary, Azerbaijan [cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB86943381833191500.html?mod=googlewsj |title=Religion Is Spread to Ex-Soviets, But Local Clerics Are Inflamed|accessdate=2008-05-27 |last=Pope |first=Hugh |date=2007-07-21 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal] and Ghana. Most of the pastors are educated at Maryland Bible College & Seminary in Baltimore. However, there are many other affiliated bible colleges around the world. The ministries of Greater Grace also include "Grace Hour", Greater Grace Christian Academy, Christian Sports Clubs & Verticalink.

Greater Grace World Outreach has been part of several notable controversies including what would evolve into a landmark legal case regarding the undo influence of an heiress to the Dayton Hudson fortune, Elizabeth (Betsy) Dovydenas. [^ "In re THE BIBLE SPEAKS (court case)". Justia.com (1989-03-09). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.] . Later a set of controversies between 2003-2005 would escalate into a separation of many of the affiliated congregations from the organization. These congregations would form the International Association of Grace Ministries.

History

Origins

In the early 1960s, Carl H. Stevens, a bakery truck driver, was praying at Wortheley Pond near Peru, Maine, and developed a vision that would lead to a worldwide Christian ministry. Stevens was later ordained by a council of independent ministers at the Montsweag Baptist Church on March 7, 1963 [cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage1.html |title= Report on "The Bible Speaks"|accessdate=2008-05-27 |last= |date=1981-03-28 |publisher=Gospel Truth Ministries] . Stevens' ministry first operated from Woolwich-Wiscasset Baptist Church, where Stevens established the Northeast School of the Bible in 1972Fact|date=July 2008. In 1976, the school grew beyond its capacity. As a result, Carl Stevens moved to Lenox, Massachusetts. In Lenox, he established his first ministry, The Bible Speaks.Fact|date=July 2008.

Former Ministry

In 1976, the Bible Speaks purchased a college-preparatory school for boys in Lenox where they etablished Stevens School of the Bible and a Christian day school. At this time, several affiliate churches were established throughout New England. Eventually, they also began an international ministry, first in El Salvador and then in Europe and AfricaFact|date=May 2008.

In Lenox, Carl Stevens developed ministries including "Telephone Time", Bus Ministry, and La Gracia. "Telephone Time" was one of the first Christian radio talk shows, which is now called "Grace Hour". In 2006, this program won an Angel award for Excellence in Media [cite web |url=http://www.angelawards.com/2006_radio.html |title=Winners |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2006 | |publisher=Excellence in Media] . The Bus Ministry would bring children from the surrounding neighborhoods to church on Sundays. In the early 80s, the Bible Speaks purchased a Norwegian ferry boat that they renovated into an international missions boat called La Gracia. [cite web |url=http://www.warsailors.com/homefleet/shipst2.html |title=Norwegian Homefleet–WW II|accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2008 |publisher=Warsailors.com]

In 1986, the Bible Speaks convinced heiress Elizabeth Dovydenas to provide a donation of more than $6,000,000. The church was then sued for undue influence and ordered to repay most of the moneyFact|date=July 2008. However, the church had already spent the money and so filed for bankruptcy. In 1987, Carl Stevens and the leadership of the Bible Speaks moved to Baltimore, Maryland and established Greater Grace World Outreach and Maryland Bible College and Seminary [cite web |url=http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F2/869/628/ |title= In re THE BIBLE SPEAKS (court case) |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=1989-03-09 |publisher=Justia.com] .

Baltimore, Maryland

In Baltimore, Greater Grace World Outreach established many new ministries including the "Grace Hour", Noah's Ark Bible Clubs, and the Christian Athletics Program.

In 2003, Carl Stevens became too ill to continue his leadership of GGWO. In 2005, the elders elected Roger Stenger to become the new chief elder of the church. However, a large portion of the congregation expressed dissatisfaction with the choice and Roger Stenger resigned. In his place the elders elected Thomas Schaller as senior pastor, after a congregatonal vote [cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage30.html |title=Timeline |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2007|publisher=Carlstevens.org] . Still, many of the elders and senior pastors were dissatisfied with the choice, citing Schaller's views on the role of the senior pastor.

2004-2005 Controversy

See also Rick Ross (consultant) Neil Patrick Carrick

In 2004, after a series of events including a large direct mailing of postcards alleging abuse, and thousands of Internet postings, The Baltimore Sun published a front page story on the allegations and possible abuse. [^ Langfitt, Frank (2004-05-15). "Church dispute spills onto Internet; Web site airs accusations of impropriety by pastor". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.]

chism

After multiple controversies and events, there was a meeting of GGWO pastors at Sandy Cove, Maryland. The motivation behind this and subsequent meetings that followed were concerns of doctrine and practices of the organization. After these meetings a group of pastors would dissaffiliate and form a new organization known as The International Association of Grace MinistriesFact|date=July 2008.

Affiliation

The GGWO is an affiliation of pastors ordained by the Baltimore church who agree to abide by the standards of the church. In return, the affiliation allows pastors to have fellowship and communication with other pastors and churches. Technically, it is an affiliation of pastors and not individual congregations. The GGWO recognizes local congregations as fully autonomous and independent. However, if a congregation’s pastor is a member of the GGWO then that congregation is considered within the GGWO as well. The GGWO cannot interfere within an individual church’s affairs unless assistance is requested.Citation| last = Van Doren| first = Arnold| title = | place = Baltimore, MD| publisher = Greater Grace World Outreach| year = 2007.]

Beliefs and Practices

GGWO professes to be a Christian centered organization with a strong emphasis on the family, missionary work, fundamentalist bible beliefs, and evangelical ministries.

The organization does not have a strict governance polity. In fact, it has progressed over the years depending on the current leadership situationFact|date=July 2008. This fueled a controversy regarding the succession from Carl H. Stevens to Roger Stenger and eventual succession to the current Senior Pastor Thomas Schaller.

The organization's positions on social issues can only be concluded by sermons and like materials by the leadership and public comments in media such as the organizations radio show "The Grace Hour" and "Grace Publications". The organization has never ordained any woman as a pastorFact|date=July 2008. They limit the roles of women to missionaries and teachers. The leadership has maintained a strong anti-homosexual and sometimes even controversial position on individuals who claim to be homosexualFact|date=July 2008. The church leadership is strongly pro life.

The worship services of most GGWO congregations include modern contemporary music and sermons. The organization has long supported a Creationism view.

The organization has limited public statements regarding its doctrinal views but has a 10 point Doctrinal Statement [cite web |url=http://www.ggwo.org/index.php?module=main&action=docstatement |title=Doctrinal Statement |accessdate=2008-06-07 |date=2007 |publisher=Greater Grace Outreach] .

Critics

On several occasions, Greater Grace World Outreach has been accused of cult-like behavior. [cite web |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/637903861.html?dids=637903861:637903861&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+15%2C+2004&author=Frank+Langfitt&pub=The+Sun&desc=Church+dispute+spills+onto+Internet+%3B+Web+site+airs+accusations+of+impropriety+by+pastor |title=Church dispute spills onto Internet; Web site airs accusations of impropriety by pastor |accessdate=2008-05-27 |last=Langfitt |first=Frank |date=2004-05-15 |publisher=Baltimore Sun] A letter was written by the Christian Research Institute, which offers a list of suggestions for the church, attempting to correct any of the false teachings that might exist. The main teaching which was considered a concern was that of delegated authority. [cite web |url=http://www.carlstevens.org/subpage.html |title=Christian Research Institute |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2007 |publisher=Carlstevens.org] However, in this document, Miller concedes that "TBS has, up to the time of this writing, also maintained an orthodox, biblical position on those doctrines most essential to the Christian faith. Thus, we do not consider TBS a non-Christian cult, but rather a Christian ministry."

Steven Hassan, a licensed mental health practitioner, and founder of Freedom of Mind centre, claims that the organization operates as a personality cult. [cite web |url=http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/g/greater/ |title=Greater Grace World Outreach |accessdate=2008-05-27 |date=2008 |publisher=Steven Allan Hassan's Freedom of Mind Center] He alleges that Pastor Stevens twists passages from the Bible to further his own ends, that of controlling the lives of the members of his congregation.

References

External links

* [http://www.ggwo.org Greater Grace World Outreach Website]