Lead Pastor Scott Joseph teaching at High Rock Church in Bloomington, IN
ARCHIVE: 10 ONLINE REVIEWS FOR HIGH ROCK CHURCH IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA
BACKGROUND
Network churches heavily control their public image, going to great lengths to control information about their methods and practices. Leaders encourage church members to flood sites like Google Reviews with positive reviews for Network Churches (and, in some cases, for churches other than the one the reviewer attends). This practice of having members leave positive reviews on social media has had the effect of burying legitimate public criticism.
For an in-depth analysis and specific examples of how Network churches encourage leaders and members to flood review sites with positive reviews, read this article on NotOvercome.org.
WHY DO THESE REVIEWS MATTER?
These reviews matter because they corroborate the manipulative, abusive, and harmful practices which are documented throughout this site. We have chosen to surface these reviews because they give further voice to victims and provide additional reassurance to anyone who has experienced abuse within these high control groups that they are not alone.
NOTE: We are not surfacing all negative reviews which have been posted to crowdsourced review sites. Rather, we have selected entries which bear witness to a pattern of the behaviors outlined in our article "8 Signs of a Dysfunctional Church".
WHO WAS THE LEAD PASTOR OF HIGH ROCK WHEN THESE REVIEWS WERE WRITTEN?
- Scott Joseph: lead pastor from 2008 - present
CHURCH DETAILS:
- High Rock Church
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Website: www.highrock-church.com
- Year founded: 2008
IT'S A SECRETLY CONTROLLING FAMILY; THE LEAD PASTOR TOLD US WE COULDN'T LEAVE
Source: High Rock Church Google Review, December 2024
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
I went here for 11 years. I stayed in Bloomington to be a part of this church after college, and with a sorrowful heart, I would strongly recommend you do not attend this church. I am not bitter, but I just put 2 stars to hopefully get more eyes on this, and I do believe it is an actual church still. The issues are deeply rooted; they are very ambitious to be a large network of churches. Unfortunately this all depends on finding young people they can "pour into" and "win over" only to move on once you're completely devoted to the church (not saying this with bitterness, there are a lot of anecdotal and observable evidence). They will "love" you but they will not enjoy you. They will "win" you, aka make you feel important, put you in leadership, and then expect your devotion but then focus on the the next "quality" people to "win" and get "on mission." If you are insecure, burdened with sin, or simply don't have a believing family, be aware of your vulnerability. They will make you feel great, you'll finally have a "family." However, it's secretly a controlling family. One that has a controlling/"testing" side and also a very disappointingly dark side if you try to leave.
After 11 years, I wanted a break for a few months. Just to rest at a different church for a few months. I had led a small group, which is a big undertaking at High Rock, for 7 years, through two close together kids, a new marriage, and job uncertainty. Around year 8 or 9 I got out of that, but never again felt rested. I had previously felt "led" to leave pretty strongly once before, but the lead pastor said not to trust my leading from God through his telling multiple stories where people's leading from God had gone terribly wrong (specifically stories of network church planters, which was weird). He then said he felt led for us not to leave. When asked what that meant, he said that he didn't like it. Reread those last 2 sentences...
1. tell Christians in your congregation not to trust their own leading 2. tell them what your leading is 3. brainwashed, truly.
Later, when we tried to leave again, I had given the pastor the benefit of the doubt prior, there were some stressful things at that time for him, some families were leaving the church, whom likely contributed a lot of finances, so the second time I went I was open. However, the same thing happened but worse. This wasn't me angry; I literally said we'd like to take a few months break, and I said it gently. Then I didn't get a word in as he tore into me for about 20 straight minutes. I then went back to one thing he had said in what I would fairly call a tirade; he had said that "it is not biblical to leave a church unless you are moving" (which the first time we had felt led to leave we were considering moving closer to family, so by this logic, the first time he would have been fine with us leaving, but he wasn't). I asked him where it said that in the Bible, to "not leave a church unless you are moving." He physically picked up a bible he had and said, as he quickly flipped through the whole thing, that it was "in the whole Bible." Oddly, he later twice denied ever saying this, but I remember him saying it and don't believe his, what I would now call gaslighting, because I remember him quickly flipping through the whole Bible as he said it.
Searching for a church? I would HIGHLY recommend Redeemer Church of Bloomington as the antithesis of everything I've said here. Bible believing & wonderful church.
To my dear friends at High Rock, I love you, and I wish you the best, but I would suggest changing churches, even if it's just for a bit to get a better perspective about life. A church does not deserve your undying loyalty. You'll know what I mean when you are out for a year or so. You'll become a new person. It's amazing.
For a long time, I was a part of this system as much as any leaders above me, and I'm sorry to those of you in my small group. I'm sorry I was so arrogant and to push my own agenda for your life on you, truly. I'm sorry to those I asked not to leave the church. I'm sorry.
WE’VE BEEN OUT FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NOW, BUT ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE CHURCH ABUSE/TRAUMA
Source: Facebook Post about High Rock Church, July 12, 2022
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
We’ve been out for almost 5 years now, but are still working through the church abuse/trauma from our time at High Rock (one of the churches in “The Network.”) I haven’t talked about this a lot - and mostly only with other people who got out. We started attending when <child's name redacted> was just a few months old and we were new to Bloomington. Our lives revolved around this church for 7 years. Who we spent our time with, what activities our kids were involved in/not involved in, group nights, discipleship nights, meetings, conferences, serving on multiple teams/capacities every Sunday - even the home we purchased so that we could easily pack up and move if the church told us to. <Husband name redacted> was a group leader for many years, hosting group in our home once a week too. After many months of asking to meet with the lead pastor to work through questions I had and a lack of transparency surrounding other leaders and conflict, I was told he would only meet with me if <husband name redacted> was also there (<husband name redacted> was supportive of me going on my own), and <husband name redacted> was contacted by our pastor outside of my attempts and told that he needs to lead me better. I was creating problems and needed to “trust” my leaders and ask less questions, because some questions couldn’t be answered and gossip would hurt the body of the church.??
Our friends who were also leaders said this. “The Network” is corrupt. It grooms young men into “spiritually disciplined” YES men that are numb to spiritual abuse and obsessed with control and power over others. It oppresses young women and encourages older women to give up their dreams and passions in order to gain submission. It is a system that makes idols of men. The foundations of this network were built on one man and any leader in the network knows exactly how idolized and royal Steve Morgan is.” Anyone you would talk to within the network would tell you that they’d follow Steve anywhere and do anything he’d ask of you.
I’ve never flat out asked anyone to leave the church, but honestly, if you are still in The Network I would highly encourage you to quit listening to your “anointed leaders” for just a second and actually read all of this website and reflect. “Pray and reflect. Look at your friends who have left and reflect. Actually think for yourself and make your own opinion. You have the Holy Spirit to discern within you. Your “anointed leader” is not in charge of the Holy Spirit that is in you. Let’s stand for change in our corrupt systems in the world.” Thanks for sharing <name redacted>. ❤️
THE LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE AND MANIPULATION OUTWEIGHS ANY OF THE POSITIVE TRAITS
Source: High Rock Church Google Review, March 2022
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
I helped plant this church in 2008 and attended for 7 years before I left. While I still love some of the people who attend I CANNOT recommend anyone join this church. While on the surface it is a very welcoming place and there is some biblical teaching the level of spiritual abuse and manipulation outweighs any of the positive traits.
Google leaving the network to read more about the history of this network of churches, the poor structure and lack of accountability.
A BROKEN SYSTEM FULL OF UNBIBLICAL HATRED, CRUELTY, JUDGEMENT AND GREED
Source: High Rock Church Google Review, March 2022
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
Some loving, amazing people misled within a broken system full of unbiblical hatred, cruelty, judgment and greed. For connection, healing and insight visit the leaving the network website as well as the associated Reddit site that has more than 450 members in healing after being part of this unnamed network of churches. If you are wondering why all the Google reviews are positive, it is because they actively remove the negative ones. Literally every couple days.
Also, keep an eye out because these reviews keep getting deleted. I attended for 7 years. I still live in Bloomington. There is no reason this review should be flagged, but yet I re-post (as do others) every few days because of the reviews getting removed. It is just sad.
HIGH ROCK CHURCH IS A DANGEROUS PLACE
Source: High Rock Church Yelp Review, April 2022
High Rock Church is a dangerous place. My husband and I were members and very involved for four years, and are so thankful to have moved away from Bloomington and this "church." From the outside, the church appears friendly, caring, and a fairly mainline Christian church. However, we found the church and leadership to be manipulative, demanding, arrogant, and not in line with the teachings of Jesus. Google "Leaving the Network" to learn more.
“THE NETWORK” IS CORRUPT
Source: Facebook Post about High Rock Church, July 8, 2022
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
I chose to not try and “tell anyone to get out” when I left the network. I chose not to make a big deal even of the website Leaving the Network because I had made my peace about it all and new the truth would come out eventually anyway. I didn’t post my story on the website about the spiritual abuse I endured at High Rock Church in Bloomington after my several years as a leader and 1 full year as a full time pastoral intern which showed me a lot of the inner workings of oppression and abuse throughout the entire network.
However, I am choosing to make this public because it has finally hit a point with me to make my opinion publicly known. “The Network” is corrupt. It grooms young men into “spiritually disciplined” YES men that are numb to spiritual abuse and obsessed with control and power over others. It oppresses young women and encourages older women to give up their dreams and passions in order to gain submission. It is a system that makes idols of men. I could go on for much longer.
However, I now feel obligated due to the nature of an aggravated sexual assault and the accompanying cover up from the networks leaders. This was rape of a minor and a felony that would today land the leader of the entire network on a sex offender registry forever and would not even be allowed inside of a church, yet he still leads them all. The foundations of this network were built on one man and any leader in the network knows exactly how idolized and royal Steve Morgan is.
If you are still in The Network I would highly encourage you to quit listening to your “anointed leaders” for just a second and actually read all of this website and reflect. Pray and reflect. Look at your friends who have left and reflect. Actually think for yourself and make your own opinion. You have the Holy Spirit to discern within you. Your “anointed leader” is not in charge of the Holy Spirit that is in you. Let’s stand for change in our corrupt systems in the world.
IT'S BECOME CLEAR HOW MUCH OF AN ISSUE ACCOUNTABILITY IS AMONGST LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH NETWORK
Source: Facebook Post about High Rock Church, July 8, 2022
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
There’s a lot to read with mine and the shared post. To get the gist, just read my last paragraph.
We left High Rock Church and the Network it was part of largely because of the issue underlying what <name redacted> is describing below.
There is no true accountability of leadership in the Network. I watched people bring good and right objections to the pastor of High Rock and the leadership of the Network and these were for the most part, waived-off and put-away.
While I wouldn’t describe the way things were run as domineering, there was a “right” way to do everything. From the way coffee and donuts were presented on Sunday morning to how to think doctrinally. (If you want to learn more, there is a website that catalogues a lot of the issues that occurred across the whole of the network.)
I intentionally chose to not rail against the network of churches. I wanted to be gracious and courteous. But that is very difficult to do now that we know what leadership in the network has known for a while about the leader of the network, Steve Morgan.
I can tolerate the particularities that leadership put on their churches as long as leadership modeled those same thigs. A pastor believes everyone should serve? Sure, as long as they served as well. Etc.
I can apparently tolerate pastors overlooking some of the rules/guidelines they set for everyone such as refraining from owning a business as a pastor, purchasing lavish property, fundraising for adoption, etc.
But when all these add-up, all these little things that seem irrelevant in the big picture, and something like the story below comes out, it becomes clear how poorly and how much of an issue accountability is amongst leadership in the church network.
With that, if I had known the leader of the network of churches that I gave several years of my life to had, at one point, a warrant for their arrest for aggravated criminal sodomy against a minor while serving as a youth pastor, I might have made different choices.
WHEN I LEFT I WAS A SHELL OF A WOMAN WITH A SHATTERED SELF ESTEEM AND NO SENSE OF AGENCY
Source: High Rock Church Yelp Review, 30 September 2021
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
I wish I could give this place 0 stars, but I can't. I was a part of this church community for several years during college, and I can say with great conviction that this is an unhealthy and toxic church. The church leadership will seek to control your every decision, and will particularly demand total obedience from its women. When I told leadership I was leaving back in 2014 to move to New York City, I was warned that if God wasn't actually calling me there, I was risking Him abandoning me and losing my salvation.
I was also told "We have just been praying that the Lord would change everything about you, so that you won't desire to leave."
When I left I was a shell of a women with a shattered self esteem and no sense of agency.
Praise God that He is the One who gets the final say. I am now happy and healthy in a theologically sound church, and am married to an incredible man of Faith working on his PhD in Theology. He has shown me the true meaning of complementarianism and male leadership, and shows me love and respect as his friend and partner. We respect our church leaders, but make our own decisions with their input because we are two intelligent adults.
This church will pretend to love you, but do not believe their enticing promise of community and love. They will only hurt you.
EXTREMELY CONTROLLING PLACE
Source: High Rock Church Yelp Review, 12 February 2019
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
Extremely controlling place. Run. Leave. A man should NEVER have this amount of control over your life. When my family and I left because of these reasons, I was labeled a 'Jezebel' and my husband 'weak' for not controlling me.
Super phony leadership. We stayed as long as we did because some of the lay members were true believers. Grateful some of them got out. Sickened at the price they paid to do so.
READER BEWARE! THIS PLACE IS A TINY CULT THAT WANTS YOUR MONEY
Source: High Rock Church Yelp Review, 2 February 2017
Full text of review (view screenshot of full review):
I've attended this church for about two years because my significant other wanted to try it, but we're done. This church is more like a tiny cult with no real understanding of the truth.
First, the lead pastor Scott Joseph does most of the teaching, but he's a horrible teacher. He brings up Chicago pizza at least twice a month, tithing almost every week, and a short version of the prosperity gospel every Sunday. He has obviously never had to worry about anything in his whole or make a tough decision in his life (except whether or not to be a pilot or a pastor) and doesn't seem to understand that others have had to make much harder choices or had much harder situations in their lives. He never discusses anything people could be going through or any applicable situations like divorce, adultery, drugs, family, children, sex, death, or any other topic that is a real struggle.
In the last two years, I swear!, I've heard about prayer, "God is so good," "all you need is Jesus - even if you have depression!," and that we must tithe at least 10% of our income before taxes regularly.
For the culty part, they are all about inviting and including new people. They make these little cards to hand out to strangers to invite them to church and pass them out all the time. People invite their friends, family, and strangers, and then people include them in everything that happens. Sounds great until you want something more than from the actual sermon or to learn to really live life with God.
If you try to leave, people will do everything to guilt you into staying. They will tell you to just trust Scott Joseph, that he's wonderful, and that it's still a young church. When people do leave, their "friends" cut them off completely. I have heard people say that they miss such-and-such but won't call or text because they "can't be a part of their life anymore." That it's just "too hard to try to have a relationship with them now that they don't go to High Rock anymore." It's fucking weird.
And really, the people aren't that loving. They seem that way, until you are going through a real struggle or have a real problem with something. Then they can't have that in their lives. I've heard people turn their backs on others for visiting different churches or saying a bad word about Scott Joseph.
After the whole refugee ban, Scott Joseph didn't even acknowledge it that Sunday. He focused on how to pray and that we should be making new friends and inviting them to church more often. They he brought up tithing. I, my significant other, and many of our close friends were upset because we felt that no matter what the politics are, any christian can agree that they should help those in need, which includes refugees. I and some of my friends were involved in volunteer efforts to help refugees resettling in America. So for Scott Joseph to ignore what is a moral and love issue was shocking, but after two years of him not talking about anything in the real world, it was really not a big surprise too. My significant other and I are leaving for these reasons.
Reader beware! This place is a tiny cult that wants your money and will sell you a conservative prosperity doctrine that looks like christianity, but really isn't.