Church Disrupted

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran welcomes back Natalie Runion to discuss her latest book, 'The House that Jesus Built.' They explore the dangers of building on shifting sand, shepherds versus CEOs in church leadership, and the critical need for transparency and accountability within the church. Natalie and Jeff also discuss the importance of navigating disagreements with grace, the power of listening as a ministry, and the need for a healthy church culture that supports individuals leaving the church. Get Natalie's books and follow her work here: https://www.instagram.com/raisedtostay/ Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Learn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledge Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:24 Returning to the Blueprint: The House That Jesus Built 05:34 The Dangers of Building on Shifting Sand 12:06 The Role of Leadership: Shepherds vs. CEOs 18:34 Financial Transparency in the Church 30:08 Accountability and Trust in Church Finances 37:06 The Widow's Mite: A Misunderstood Teaching 45:40 Social Media Backlash: The Green Room Controversy 51:14 The Impact of Financial Security on Pastoral Care 01:00:20 Listening as a Spiritual Superpower 01:05:12 Navigating Church Transitions: Leaving Well

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran and organizational psychologist Lianna Chong to explore the complex issues surrounding spiritual abuse within church settings. They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the role of whistleblowers, and the resistance to change often encountered in church leadership. Lianna shares her personal journey and about her research project aimed at creating a validated assessment to help individuals and churches recognize spiritual abuse,. Take Lianna's Survey Here: www.salcsurvey.com Follow Liana Here: - Instagram: @Liannachong - Substack: goodshepherding.substack.com Get the Power Control Wheel: https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/ Join Spiritual Abuse Awareness Weekend HERE: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/about/saawarenessmonth Learn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledge Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Abuse and Organizational Psychology 03:01 Understanding Psychological Safety in Organizations 05:49 The Role of Whistleblowers in Church Dynamics 09:06 Resistance to Change in Church Leadership 11:53 The Importance of Listening in Leadership 15:11 Recognizing and Responding to Spiritual Abuse 18:07 Personal Journey into Addressing Spiritual Abuse 20:56 The Impact of Institutional Betrayal 23:59 Healing from Spiritual Abuse and Trauma 26:49 Existential Trauma and Its Effects 30:13 The Challenge of Recognizing Spiritual Abuse 39:24 Understanding Spiritual Abuse and Its Impact 47:57 Recognizing Signs of Spiritual Abuse 55:43 The Complexity of Holding Two Truths 01:01:05 Developing Tools to Identify Spiritual Abuse 01:10:10 Engaging the Community in Research

Dive into the complexities of spiritual abuse and its often-hidden signs within church environments. Discover the dangers of idolizing authority figures and the importance of questioning teachings that manipulate scripture. Explore the concept of spiritual bypassing and how it can mask genuine emotional struggles. Learn about the need for transparency and accountability in spiritual communities, along with practical steps for healing and protection against these toxic behaviors.

Explore the urgent issue of spiritual abuse and the need for reform in churches. Discover the Safe Church Pledge, a transformative initiative focusing on transparency and accountability. Learn how implementing financial transparency and conflict of interest policies can restore trust within congregations. Hear about the importance of abolishing NDAs and non-compete agreements to maintain ethical standards. The conversation advocates for safety measures and robust governance to protect vulnerable members and ensure a supportive church environment.

In the final episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast for 2024, we re-stream part of episode 1 as a reminder of where we've been and where we are going. Narcissism, hush money, NDAs, and spiritual abuse in churches are all on the docket for this round table conversation. Want to support SAI financially?https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/about/endofyeargiving Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share!

In the final new episode of the Church Disrupted podcast for 2024, host Jeff Cochran welcomes back Rebecca Davis, author of the Untwisting Scriptures book series. They discuss the journey of unlearning misconceptions about scripture, particularly the controversial concept of 'dying to self.' Rebecca emphasizes the importance of returning to the Word of God for understanding and encourages listeners to engage in conversations about faith and theology, even when they disagree. The conversation also touches on the role of faith in understanding scripture, the importance of living in freedom rather than striving for holiness, and the importance of empathy in healing trauma, particularly within the church context. Want to support SAI financially?https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/about/endofyeargiving Get Rebecca's books and FREE resources here: https://heresthejoy.com/ Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Untwisting Scriptures 02:54 The Journey of Unlearning and Understanding Scripture 06:05 Dying to Self: A Controversial Concept 08:51 Exploring Misunderstandings in Scripture 12:07 The Role of Faith and Trust in Understanding 14:59 Living in Freedom: The Final Part of the Journey 27:27 The Role of Suffering and Empathy in Healing 30:45 Understanding Trauma and the Church's Response 34:35 Misrepresentation of God and Scripture 39:44 Debunking Myths: Dying to Self vs. Following Christ 49:22 Resources for Spiritual Growth and Understanding

We've had so many Church Scandals in 2024 that people are starting to get scandal fatigue... with the CHURCH!!! This should NEVER BE! If christians want to stop this madness and see real change in the Church, then we HAVE TO LEARN some key lessons from recent scandals like the one at Daystar TV. So, in this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran shares 20 lessons that churches can learn, and SHOULD learn, to return to being above reproach and above scandal. Want to support SAI financially?https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/about/endofyeargiving Roys Report Articles on Daystar Scandal; - https://julieroys.com/former-daystar-tv-executive-wife-accuse-joni-lamb-covering-up-daughters-sexual-abuse/ - https://julieroys.com/podcast/full-audio-of-daystar-meeting/ - https://julieroys.com/suzy-lamb-says-she-was-pressured-to-hide-her-sexual-assault/ Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZPlease Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Learning from Scandals: The Need for Reform 03:18 Addressing Celebrity Culture in the Church 05:08 Expecting Higher Standards in the Church 07:03 Defining the Church Beyond IRS Labels 08:31 The Church as a Body, Not a Business 10:00 The Power of Community Action 11:27 Disqualification of Leaders through Intimidation 12:53 The Importance of Documentation 16:18 Standing Against Spiritual Bullies 18:41 Severance Policies and Church Staff Rights 22:05 Whistleblower Protection in Churches 23:33 Proactive Policies for Investigations 25:56 Ethics of Tithes and Legal Fees 27:49 The Dangers of Nepotism 30:13 The Harm of NDAs in Churches 31:13 The Need for Independent Church Boards 33:07 Transparency and Accountability as Non-Negotiables 34:34 Understanding Leadership Accountability 35:58 Recognizing and Preventing Spiritual Abuse 37:55 Setting the Standard: Above Reproach

On today's episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran reveals the actual NDA that Daystar TV tried to force Jonathan Lamb to sign. In this video, Jeff compares the NDA to what Joni said about it, and breaks down where things don't line up with her statement, the red flags of the NDA, and what christians can learn from this document about NDA use and its dangers in the Church! Roys Report Articles on Daystar Scandal; - https://julieroys.com/former-daystar-tv-executive-wife-accuse-joni-lamb-covering-up-daughters-sexual-abuse/ - https://julieroys.com/podcast/full-audio-of-daystar-meeting/ - https://julieroys.com/suzy-lamb-says-she-was-pressured-to-hide-her-sexual-assault/ Boz Tchividjian Video- https://youtu.be/A2wtT6s3qqg?si=LoFsMFa9aiMv21Qq John Ferrell Video - https://youtu.be/VgPRPxriwm4?si=g9mBFhEqlKBpH0Hi Chapters 00:00 Unpacking the Daystar TV Scandal 02:58 Understanding NDAs in Church Contexts 06:06 The Pressure to Sign: A Closer Look at the NDA 08:57 Legal Perspectives on NDAs 11:47 Analyzing the Daystar NDA 15:11 Red Flags in Non-Disclosure Agreements 18:04 The Dangers of Non-Disparagement Clauses 20:57 Trade Secrets vs. Confidentiality in Churches 36:31 Understanding Confidential Information 39:50 Evaluating the NDA's Structure 41:15 Identifying Red Flags in the NDA 46:32 Analyzing Non-Disparagement and Non-Compete Clauses 52:51 Assessing the Reasonableness of Confidentiality Definitions 01:00:25 Concluding Thoughts on NDAs in Church Contexts

Should Joni Lamb be removed or resign from leadership at Daystar? We think so, and in this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran shares a long list of reasons why. 22 reasons, to be exact. Roys Report Articles on Daystar Scandal; - https://julieroys.com/former-daystar-tv-executive-wife-accuse-joni-lamb-covering-up-daughters-sexual-abuse/ - https://julieroys.com/podcast/full-audio-of-daystar-meeting/ - https://julieroys.com/suzy-lamb-says-she-was-pressured-to-hide-her-sexual-assault/ Chapters 00:00 The Daystar TV Scandal Unfolds 03:11 Reasons for Joni Lamb's Removal 05:58 Concerns Over NDAs and Legal Threats 08:46 The Use of Darvo and Lack of Transparency 12:08 Investigations and Accountability Issues 14:55 Behavioral Concerns and Spiritual Abuse 17:48 Celebrity Culture and Leadership Integrity 21:09 The Impact of Allegations on Family Dynamics 23:57 Character Concerns and Public Perception 27:01 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Accountability

Just when you thought the Daystar scandal couldn't get any worse, Joni Lamb made a statement that made it worse. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran breaks down the DARVO like responses in Joni Lamb's official statement and in a recent Daystar TV interview. And sadly, just like many church scandals this year, DARVO reared its ugly head. DARVO is deeply damaging and is the worst response ministries and faith leaders could make to allegations of sin and abuse, yet it seems to be the go to response. We talk about why and how to recognize it in this episode. Roys Report Articles on Daystar Scandal;- https://julieroys.com/former-daystar-tv-executive-wife-accuse-joni-lamb-covering-up-daughters-sexual-abuse/- https://julieroys.com/podcast/full-audio-of-daystar-meeting/- https://julieroys.com/suzy-lamb-says-she-was-pressured-to-hide-her-sexual-assault/Chapters00:00 Allegations Against Daystar TV and Initial Reactions02:52 The Importance of Independent Investigations06:12 Analyzing Joni Lamb's Response09:01 Understanding DARVO in Church Responses11:48 The Role of Tone and Language in Responses15:04 The Impact of Spiritual Abuse Allegations17:52 The Need for Transparency and Accountability21:03 Examining the Interview Dynamics24:12 The Consequences of Denial and Attacks26:59 Final Thoughts on Trust and Credibility42:56 Discrediting and Dehumanization in Media Responses49:03 Family Dynamics and Allegations of Control56:04 The Ethics of Recording Conversations01:01:14 Authority and Accountability in Leadership01:07:43 The Impact of Darvo on Credibility01:13:45 The Role of NDAs in Church Organizations01:20:20 Concluding Thoughts on Transparency and Trust