SCHISMS, SECTS, AND BREAKAWAY GROUPS

A public record of organizational changes and groups splintering from The Network

SCHISMS, SECTS, AND BREAKAWAY GROUPS

JUMP TO SECTION:

  1. 2022: South Grove Church fails to leave ⇣
  2. 2024: Isaiah Church first church to disassociate ⇣
  3. 2024: Vine Church becomes "independent, local church" ⇣
  4. 2024: North Pines Church "ends affiliation" ⇣
  5. 2024: Hosea Church "lovingly ends" association with "nameless network" ⇣
  6. 2024: Vida Springs Church "seeks to have relationships with other churches" ⇣

PUBLIC RECORD OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES AND OFFSHOOTS

In response to rising public scrutiny, certain churches have concealed their ties to The Network, fractured into smaller sects, and scrubbed their websites of references to their past affiliations. To promote transparency, this page monitors these developments since 2021 and provides documentation on how these alleged breakaway groups have acknowledged abuse claims, responded to our Call to Action, and shown transparency throughout the process.

We call on these groups to email [email protected] 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. To date, we have received no responses.

Bobby Malicoat (lead pastor of South Grove Church in Athens, Georgia) along with non-staff board members Jason R. and Gabe W. sent a letter on August 29, 2022 urging the Network Leadership Team to investigate whether Steve Morgan had shown a pattern of untruthfulness in 2020-2022

2022: SOUTH GROVE CHURCH FAILS TO LEAVE THE NETWORK AFTER LEAD PASTOR OVERRIDES BOARD MEMBERS

After Steve Morgan's 1987 arrest for Aggravated Criminal Sodomy became widely known, the elders of South Grove Church in Athens, Georgia, noted "what appeared to be troubling inconsistencies" between the internal story shared by Network leaders and reports emerging from court documents, former members, and Morgan's former overseers within the Vineyard association.

Lead Pastor Bobby Malicoat along with non-staff board members Jason R. and Gabe W. sent a letter to the Network Leadership Team urging an investigation over whether Morgan had shown a pattern of untruthfulness. Their request for an investigation was denied, and the non-staff board members believed South Grove would dissociate from The Network.

Malicoat reversed his stance after returning from a lead pastor's retreat which was presided over by Steve Morgan. South Grove Church remained in The Network, and all board members except for Malicoat resigned.

READ FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS AND OTHER LINKED DOCUMENTATION →

 


 

On August 31, 2024, Isaiah Church in Madison, Wisconsin, announced their decision to “formally disassociate” from The Network - background photo: Lead Pastor Stephen Putbrese

2024: ISAIAH CHURCH BECOMES FIRST CHURCH TO “DISASSOCIATEFROM NETWORK

On August 31, 2024, the Board of Overseers at Isaiah Church in Madison, Wisconsin, posted a statement on their website announcing their decision to “formally disassociate” from The Network. The statement cited "concerns surrounding leadership theology, church governance, and past decisions with network leadership."

Isaiah'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 Stephen Putbrese and Isaiah'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. When contacted by The Roys Report for comment, Putbrese declined to respond.

READ ARTICLE ON THE ROYS REPORT →

FULL TEXT OF ISAIAH CHURCH'S STATEMENT

The Isaiah Church Board of Overseers has made the decision to formally disassociate from the network of churches we have previously belonged to. This decision has been made with as much prudence, patience, and prayer as possible. During the last two years, the Isaiah Church Board has made multiple attempts and efforts to address issues and resolve concerns surrounding leadership theology, church governance, and past decisions with network leadership. However, these conversations and formal attempts have not yielded the changes that would be necessary for us to move forward. It has come to the point that we believe we have exhausted all avenues and withdrawing from the network is the appropriate action for Isaiah Church due to our biblical convictions.

 

We have many dear friends and acquaintances in numerous network churches and do not believe the problems we’ve expressed are spread equally across each individual church. We are grateful for the many godly men and women who we know are in humble obedience to Jesus across the network, especially to Vine Church in Carbondale who sacrificed to plant Isaiah Church. We pray that all will seek biblical truth and wisdom as they move forward, and only wish the best for all.

 


 

On September 8, 2024, Vine Church posted a statement that their "elders unanimously agree" to end their affiliation with "a network of churches" - background photo: Lead Pastor Casey Raymer

2024: VINE CHURCH POSTS THAT IT WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT, LOCAL CHURCH

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. When contacted by The Roys Report for comment, Raymer declined to respond.

READ ARTICLE ON THE ROYS REPORT →

FULL TEXT OF VINE CHURCH'S STATEMENT

Vine Church is now an independent, local church led by a plurality of elders under the authority of God’s word. We were previously part of a network of churches, however, our biblical convictions regarding the leadership and governance of the local church have changed in such a way that our elders unanimously agree no longer allows us continue our affiliation.

AUDIO OF LEAD PASTOR CASEY RAYMER ANNOUNCING THE DECISION

"THERE IS NO HUMAN AUTHORITY OVER THE LOCAL CHURCH." - CASEY RAYMER, VINE CHURCH

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 Vine's pastors who would be “somehow selected by God” (30m, line 366). He claimed the move reaffirmed Vine's longstanding practice (30m 15s, line 376), but later contradicted himself by labeling it a “significant departure” from their current governance model (1h 0m 25s, line 739).

While Raymer does not name Steve Morgan directly, his lengthy repudiation of the Apostle’s role in modern times seems aimed at Morgan, whom other Network pastors have endorsed for his Apostolic authority. Raymer’s other remarks on leadership reiterate familiar Network teachings, such as his statement that following leaders is “joy for the leader and an advantage to the follower” (57m 12s, line 698), an idea echoed in Steve Morgan’s 2011 teaching, which describes it as "delightful” when “leaders are leading and followers are following.” Raymer also suggests that congregants who are “confused about what it actually means to follow their leader” could cause pastors to overstep (55m 52s, line 686).

Raymer did not repudiate his 2022 defense of Morgan, which included misinformation about Morgan’s 1987 arrest and praise for the “culture of transparency” that Morgan fostered, nor did he address the letter distributed on his behalf which dismissed allegations of spiritual abuse as “unbiblical, unproductive, and harmful to Jesus' church.”

 


 

On September 8, 2024, North Pines Church posted a statement that they would "end their affiliation with their prior church network" - background photo: Lead Pastor Nick Sellers

2024: NORTH PINES CHURCH POSTS THAT IT WILL END AFFILIATION” WITH THE NETWORK

On September 8, 2024, North Pines Church in Kalamazoo (Portage), Michigan, posted a statement on their website announcing they had ended their "affiliation" with The Network. The statement cited  "oversight and leadership of the local church" as their reasons for disaffiliation. Vine Church in Carbondale, Illinois simultaneously posted a comparable statement.

Like Isaiah Church and Vine Church's announcements, North Pine'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 Nick Sellers and North Pine'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 North Pines attendees, members, staff, and pastors. When contacted by The Roys Report for comment, Sellers declined to respond.

READ ARTICLE ON THE ROYS REPORT →

FULL TEXT OF NORTH PINE CHURCH'S STATEMENT

Our Board of Overseers has unanimously decided to end our affiliation with our prior church network.

 

As we’ve been in process internally, we’ve consulted with external theologians and pastors, and this has put us on an increasingly divergent path regarding oversight and leadership of the local church, as well as the applications that follow.

 

Going forward, we are operating as an independent local church governed by a plurality of overseers under the authority of the Bible.

 


 

On September 16, 2024, Hosea Church posted a statement that they they have "lovingly ended [their] official association" with a "nameless network." - background photo: Lead Pastor David Bieraugel

2024: HOSEA CHURCH “LOVINGLY ENDS” ASSOCIATION WITH “NAMELESS NETWORK”

On September 16, 2024, Hosea Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, posted a statement on their website announcing they "lovingly ended [their] official association" with a "nameless network." The statement cited  "differing theological positions regarding leadership and local church governance" as their reasons for disaffiliation. They also stated the church would "pursue additional relationships with churches as Jesus leads, both locally and abroad, for mutual upbuilding and missional support."

Like the other churches which made similar statements of disaffiliation, Hosea'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 David Bieraugel and Hosea'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 Hosea attendees, members, staff, and pastors. When contacted by The Roys Report for comment, Bieraugel declined to respond.

READ ARTICLE ON THE ROYS REPORT →

FULL TEXT OF HOSEA CHURCH'S STATEMENT

Hosea Church is an independent, local church, led by a plurality of elders (overseer/pastors) under the authority of Jesus and his instruction given to us in the Bible.

 

Hosea was planted out of a nameless network of churches and remained a part of that network for just over 5 years. In September 2024 we lovingly ended our official association with that network due to differing theological positions regarding leadership and local church governance. Although our affiliation has changed, we maintain our shared faith in Christ and look forward with hope. We remain deeply grateful to the many wonderful people who have helped us along the way, the lifelong friendships established, and the invaluable support given.

 

Hosea Church will continue to pursue additional relationships with churches as Jesus leads, both locally and abroad, for mutual upbuilding and missional support.

 


 

On September 16, 2024, Vida Springs Church posted a statement that they are "not affiliated with any formal network." - background photo: Lead Pastor Tony Ranvestel

2024: VIDA SPRINGS CHURCH “SEEKS TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CHURCHES”

On September 16, 2024, Vida Springs Church, located in Gainesville, Florida, posted an update on their website, stating they are "seek[ing] relationships with other churches" and "not affiliated with any formal network." Because The Network has historically maintained that it is "not a denomination, but like-minded in doctrine and style," Vida Springs’ announcement raises questions about the church’s current standing with the group. It remains unclear whether Vida Springs has cut ties with The Network or if they are referencing the network’s informal structure.

Vida Springs Church'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 Tony Ranvestel and Visa Springs' 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 Vida Springs Church attendees, members, staff, and pastors. When contacted by The Roys Report for comment, Ranvestel declined to respond.

READ ARTICLE ON THE ROYS REPORT →

FULL TEXT OF VIDA SPRINGS CHURCH'S STATEMENT

Vida Springs Church is now an independent, non-denominational church governed by a local team of overseers under the authority of the Bible. We are not affiliated with any formal network, but seek to have relationships with other churches for mutual help, support, and encouragement.

 


 

FURTHER READING:

WHAT IS THE NETWORK? Find out more about The Network — the group of churches started by Steve Morgan