I have attended Gracepoint Community Church for eight years and have been an active member. My review is not intended to be attacking but rather voice my experience where I have been silenced. Recently, I have been nothing short of shunned from Gracepoint Community Church after a conflict with a male member in the church. I could of never imagined such a tremendously negative and traumatic experience with my church community that is left unresolved.
The lead Pastor threaten me with an ultimatum to let it go or he would encourage the church to shun me. He ignored my request for conversation and reconcilliation in this conflict. I also reached out for support to my mentor of 7 years, the Pastor of family ministry. The family Pastor accused me of having "malicious intent" and "distorting towards evil intent". After several months of emails, despite the fact I requested an in-person meeting, and being aware that emails can easily be misread neither Pastor agreed to meet with me to strive for resolution. There was never an in-person meeting.
As an educated women in the church displaying frustration and concern, I was then referred to as scheming. I was told I was being emotional and difficult.I never was threatening, I never named called. I simply had conflict, displayed irritation, and didn't agree with the lack of communication and reconciliation. I was striving for resolution and standing up for injustice. Jesus wasn't quiet about injustice either.
The Pastors of Gracepoint have no authority or accountability guidance above them which I feel has created an environment that is insensitive and arrogant. The HR person at Gracepoint is the Worship Arts Pastor's wife and even though she was CC'd in many of the emails, I was not reached out too by either herself or anyone from the Elders. Another person from the Leadership Team told me they would not listen too me as well. It is a community for the privileged that thrives on being comfortable. So comfortable that there is zero conflict resolution skills, even among the staff.
People are not leaving Gracepoint because of "falling away". People are leaving because all too often Gracepoint has become a safer place for patriarchy, and sexism then it is for the radical and subversive teachings of Jesus.
You can know hundreds of Bible verses, sing thousands of songs, hold a staff position at a church. But if you aren't fighting to protect the oppressed, if you aren't inviting the outsider to sit at your table, if you aren't acting with love, then something isn't lining up. The experience I have had with Gracepoint is an example of why people view Christians as hypocrites. Jesus said turn the other cheek, not freeze out those that make you uncomfortable or shun when your values aren't lining up with your actions.
"Consider this my final communication with you as I'm not interested in playing these emotional games any longer. So my boundaries are abundantly clear, I ask that you refrain from any further communication with me as I will neither be reading nor responding to any messages henceforth." - Pastor of Family Ministry at Gracepoint
It is frustrating that my experience and hurt is chopped up too "emotional games" to a Pastor. I doubt that was Jesus' posture when he left the 99. All too often women are being told that standing up for themselves and others is "games" by privileged white men in leadership positions. The community and Pastors at Gracepoint Community Church displays behaviours of toxic masculinity. Not of someone who is a Pastor of Christ. read more
