1 Thessalonians 5:21 Its extremely worrisome that they feel they have to hide and be afraid of what Watermark Church may say or do in response to them telling the truth about their abuse. We handle this by ourselves. The second is sort of humorous. I am certainly not an atheist and am a regular church attender. Im providing links and screenshots of Watermark Church literature that explicitly asks its members to do exactly that. The indication in the sermon I took as this type behavior was common in the marriages of core members, and this system for family members to have a safe network should the man become overwhelming was being recommended.Read more , Thank you for these articles. I have first hand experience with a senior pastor doing exactly this and teaching younger families how to properly budget and cost of having kids. I have never met so many people using the term spiritual abuse asRead more , Concern, Who are you to judge!? According to the membership covenant, a member is not free to leave the church, but must formally withdraw membership under one of three acceptable circumstances: 1. I covered this in my previous post, When Is a Church Member Fair Game, referencing a case of church discipline that Watermark carried out publicly against one of its members. Share your testimony verbally with someone from our team. Per Todd Wagner I was not the right person or the right fit or whatever he thought. It became an ongoing issue which caused him to be singled out more and more for not being authentic. Equalities minister Maria Miller . Sure, lets not address anything that is rumored to be strange about Watermark and say that Jesus sounded cultish. Its a huge red flag to me about Todds character and understanding of God. Yes, membership is biblical, but Ive also never felt uncomfortable with anything mentioned here, nor do I share all my secrets with the church. Then its meeting with your group every week, camping trips, coffee with the girls (or guys), bible studies. Sermons | Watermark Community Church Current Sermon Series Click the series banner to listen to the sermon audio. Then you pressure them, of course! The church is renovating the vacant part of the. Do I believe writing posts about Watermark Church will cause them to change their policies? Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: bridal boutiques in brooklyn CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! Having community is not the issue its how Watermark DEFINES community. This was the same concept as we moved on to adult Sunday school. You can read more about it on his website, Freedom of Mind. *Michael was in a Community Group of men that he discovered were not particularly disciplined, dependable or trustworthy, yet he was expected to do life with them and be completely authentic. In *Susans story, she told me that in community group, you were expected to tell your group about any major decisions you were contemplating and the group was supposed to provide input and guidance into those decisions. In November 2021, the church announced that Blake Holmes would be the new lead pastor/elder, along with adding John Elmore & Timothy Ateek as teaching pastors. He found my blog while researching the similarities between Scientology and Watermark Church. Remember all of that sharing in Community Group living authentically, telling everyone about your finances, your struggles, getting their permission to make any life decision? CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 Excellent insight DB! Anna may be able to recommend some professional reading materials, which would help you to educate your daughter in a way at her age she will be able to see clearly. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. I was one of the cold ones! Feb 2022 - Present1 year 2 months. Dallas, TX 75251, In Person Sunday 9 AM, 11:15 AM, and 5 PM It has the usual stuff like submission, gossip, blah, blah, blah. BTW this is some Grade-A scripture twisting by Watermark Church on why you should share your financial information with the community group. Every person stated it is out of fear of repercussions that they have done this. It was an attempted blindside, but *Michael knew the real reason behind the meeting, which is why he chose to go in the first place. If we believe that, we should also have a desire to please God, and want the way we live our lives to reflect that desire. I knew several people who visited, but who clearly didnt fit in and later left. He began to consider that he was in a cult. A lot has happened at Watermark Community Church as well. Here's everything you need to know about your first visit, from parking and Kids' Ministry to accessibility for guests with special needs and what to wear. Oh, I wouldnt be so sure of that. Take Your Power Back we all know many invested their heart and lives into this place, only to be punished and abused when their performance was not up to the public image WM wanted society to perceive of their organization. Of course membership at Watermark involves signing a membership covenant and agreeing to follow all the rules (which includes joining a community group & following all of those rules), lest you come under church discipline. Ive spoken to these people and I believe them. Then she shares the sheep aspect which is they did help financially which is Christ like. After surviving the mental mind games; requirements which forced your focus onto WM (over Gods children as a whole); moved from a small/community group dialogue of what can we do to serve Gods children and one another to a focus on everyones sins/short comings; and focus on surviving their destructive behaviors under theRead more . Also, people deserve to know the truth about what is really going on at Watermark Church not just the flashy polished product that most people see. You tuned right into what most, including myself, ignored because we were too distracted by the perceived success and engaging teaching styles. Todd was my counselor at Kanakuk Camps for a summer. The congregation was small but affluent. The Yelp algorithm is strange. Now he confesses to sin himself , sin ofRead more , I knew Todd when he was an associate pastor at Northwest Bible Church. One person complained that her husband was forced to tell his community group how much he made and to account for how he spent his money. The FBI swoops in to try and use him to take down the law firm and the mobsters all at once. Their defense, interestingly enough, is that anyone who thinks Watermark Church is a cult is the one with a problem, and Ryan gave 4 reasons why (these are direct quotes): Ryan then challenges the students to ask the following 3 questions when asked if Watermark Church is a cult: Instead of actually addressing why Watermark is being repeatedly labeled as a cult, these students are being further indoctrinated to ignore those concerns and place the blame for them on those who would question the organization. Author: this is unequivocally WRONG. At the beginning of each year our membership goes to zero. There is an underbelly of control and abuse that starts at the top with the leadership and as long as these guys remain in control, theres little hope for change. Todd raised 6 kids there and has never take a big salary. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. And in Ecclesiastes 12:14, For God will bring every deedRead more , I would be curious to know if you are ok with disclosing all of your financial information to your community group and seeking their approval on life decisions? He counseled my former fiance and after several meetings with him my fiance broke up the engagement and I was left devastated. restitution in the bible. sabbath school superintendent opening remarks P.O. Its all sunshine and roses till you see it firsthand. I wish I could lay out my whole story because it was indeed my soul that felt abandoned and discarded. When I was 17, I started attending church regularly with my boyfriend (now husband) in high school, and we would go to Sunday School. This is a quality and important post. If you have not yet heard from your host and have completed Membership Class Part I, please contact the Believe Team. 4. Watermark might want the groups to be run a certain way, but that doesnt mean the group has to follow the rules. Want to join our team? Watermark Church has 6 core values for Community Groups: Im going to focus in on a few of these. I know his church was started in Lake Highlands at the HS and then he gained enough followers and was able to purchase a house in HP. Its inappropriate and wrong for a pastor serving the church to live an opulent lifestyle. The Watermark Church staff member attempted to use *Michael to help further isolate and exclude this wayward church member by exaggerating details of a situation in order to cause him to think negatively of this person, and thus no longer associate with him. Our daughters went to the same grade school and were on the same soccer team. Even though the CG leaders (or even the members of the group) promise not to disclose any of this information, no one is legally obligated to maintain confidentiality. It also lists Fellowship Church and Village Church in its top 10 on cults (Village likely is, Fellowship is more of a personality cult centered around Ed), strangely Gateway Church isnt listed (and several people think it may be more of a personality cult than Watermark or Village). Thanks to you for writing and Susan for sharing. Also resigned is David Leventhal, an elder and teaching pastor at Watermark, who said he had lost trust in Wagner's leadership. Aside from the fact that it was gifted to him (alarming at the very least) it shows poor stewardship and lack of humility on Wagners part. The entity becomes so big, that its influence reaches far and wide, into local industry, mutual relationships, etc. It is Not referenced as a legal tool which may be weaponized against anyone they desire to control or experiment on. In *Michaels case, he disclosed to his community group a business opportunity that he was considering. Spiritual authority influences others toward Gods purposes. Most people are content to carry on the way they always have and have no desire to be challenged in their beliefs. Watermarke Church has found a home after purchasing a former car dealership in Bellefonte. Champion and maintain the brand of photography at Watermark and The Porch. And this is important. No longer fulfill the requirements of membership. SERVICIO DOMINICAL EN ESPAOL 11:15 AM. On the April 8, 2019 episode of WordsfromWags, a website that features videos from Watermark Church senior pastor Todd Wagner addressing various issues, the topic of the day was Is Watermark Church a Cult? *Michael knew he was done with Watermark Church when he was invited to another blindside meeting by a Watermark Church staff member. They have about 11,000 attendees and have invested heavily in expensive buildings in and around the Dallas area. Being your authentic self in community with others is the goal, they say. One time during a sermon years ago Todd commented how his wife was set up with people to call should his behavior become too much for her to deal with. I often wonder if complicit Christians are becoming one of the most effective tools to the mis representation of Jesus teachings in todays world. Additionally, unless you have seen all of the financial reports from the last 22 yrs, you have no idea how Wagner was compensated. https://www.watermark.org/about/governance. In a video posted to the website along with the leadership update, Todd is joined on stage by several other elders and staff members. Once you've signed your life over to them, you must either form your own community group or go through the process of being placed in one. In this meeting he was advised not to associate with another church member. No where BEFORE or AFTER Matthew 6:3-4 or II Corinthians 9:2 is any further context given that would justify their belief that a Christian should expose their financial portfolio to a room full of people. At this link, you will find lots of information about how their community groups operate. If by community you mean meeting with like-minded individuals to foster friendships & develop relationships then great. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, front center on stage, attends a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party at its headquarters in Pyongyang . These Community Group Core Values are not negotiable. However, if you have any experience with these covenants or have heard stories of people who have dealt with a church where they signed one of these and there was a point of contention or disagreement, you know that these are LEGALLY binding agreements and can be used against you (re: current The Village Church lawsuit& the Karen Hinkley story.). I have NEVER been asked to, let alone forced, to disclose financial information. Having been a Watermark (now CityBridge) member since 2016 have never EVER heard these messages thatSusan speaks of. IfRead more , Adding to people in good standing who have zero knowledge of any discipline issues also fear leaving due to verifiable stories where watermark members have harassed and stalked people for leaving in cases where the person leaving has come to realize the place at its core is Not what is represented on its surface and middle layers. Outsourced: How Watermark Community Church Fails in Caring for Its Members, The Spin Cycle Watermark Community Church Members Unlikely to Ever Know the Truth Behind Resignations, Before You Sign: What You Need to Know About Membership Covenants, Making the Cut What Does It REALLY Take to Become a Member at Watermark Community Church, Dallas Megachurch Pastor Todd Wagner Resigns, Cites Pride as the Reason, https://www.watermark.org/about/governance, OUR COMMUNITY SERIES: Being Lonely in a Group of People | To Love, Honor and Vacuum, Leaders trying to drain members in order to live exorbitant lives. Todd Wagner, the embattled pastor of Watermark Church, a Dallas multisite megachurch with a pre-pandemic congregation of 20,000 people, has resigned his position as senior pastor and elder. First of all, Ryan did NOTHING to answer the actual concerns about WHY Watermark is sometimes labeled a cult he went straight into defense-mode. Amy Smith of the blog Watchkeep has documented her experience there, and it bears much of the hallmarks of a cult. I was a messed up kid at that time and Todd was the worst counselor ever. The problem is that those things that they do not do well are not just bad but are cancerous. He became heavily involved in all aspects of the community group, but soon discovered that sharing time became an issue for him, like it was for *Susan. Its sad to see how the church moved in the direction of being more cult like. The Aftermath: Stories from Former Watermark Church Members. People leave churches all the time. Also, he pointed out that all the people at the resort were drinking Mezcal (Then heRead more . Izael who are you to judge someone elses experience? Just a thought here Nueva inadvertently lays out some data which is interesting. Like Scientology, once they know these things, they can use them against you. He didnt formally withdraw his membership, to avoid suspicion and detection. Here is where to find the covenant. A very sad reality for many. Todd Wagner 'resigned' (read my post about that here) and now appears to be starting a new church. This process is called Community Formation (formerly GroupLink). Do the elders have to also provide theirs? If so, youre ready for our two-part Membership Class. Once you have joined (or been randomly placed), you are expected to give your life story immediately at the first meeting. The initial corporate fraud is in fact the membership agreement itself. I automatically defended the leaders and staff, and also automatically discredited the victims with pre determined notions the victim was not telling the whole story. I was told I was not allowed to talk poorly about WM leadership and was heavily pressured to say WM leadership didnt do anything wrong. We ask that those participating in a Watermark community group are Members. There are people who are genuinely afraid to withdraw their membership for fear of being put under church discipline, pressure from the community group to conform, and outright harassment. I assured those who wanted to speak out with their stories that I would not identify them or use any details in my post that could be used to identify them. During our four-step Membership process, youll learn what it means to be a Member here at Watermark. *Michael had tried repeatedly to engage his community group members in mission activities, but they were not receptive and didnt bother to participate. My husband and I were watching a movie the other night, the 1993 classic The Firm, based on a novel by John Grisham. After leading the Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas for more than 20 years, Todd Wagner, the church's senior pastor and co-founder has officially resigned. Throw money at him; the car, the house, after a couple of years your kids are in private school, youre used to the good lifethen they tell you. Astonished by the revelation that his new employer represents the mob, he asks FBI agent Moyle, Who in the firm knows? to which he responds, Every partner knows.. Because of the leadership structure at Watermark, we believe this is the best way to shepherd our local church body. Heres everything you need to know about your first visit, from parking and Kids Ministry to accessibility for guests with special needs and what to wear. Also, they believe that if you arent a member of a local church, you are essentially a rebel, dismembered from the body, exiled from the kingdom and an orphan of the faith. I cannot overstate how this should alarm people to the abusive tactics of Watermark Community Church. Gretchen Reigh Ministry Assistant If by community you mean confessing every single sin in your life to a group of virtual strangers, disclosing your personal financial information, and seeking the approval of the group to change jobs, buy a house, start a family then no,Read more , Christian community can have so many different levels, and not everyone is seeking the same depth in all relationships. What really matters is care for ones spirit which in her example is being ravaged. Just the congregationhmmmmmm.. If youre pursuing community to get Christian friends, to study the Bible, or to get an accountability partner, those are all great things, but you might be setting your sights too low. A pastor or elder does not automatically have spiritual authority due to his position in a church. Former Hillsong member Ian Keith claims he witnessed the Australia-based church's deep-rooted homophobia. He couldnt understand why NOT struggling with things, like habitually viewing pornography, was suddenly a problem? I think you need to expand on the 4B Spiritual Assessment forms. This is essentially a scaled down version of church discipline. What does being your authentic self really mean, in the context of community groups? Izael, Thank you for your comment. In the video below, its quite clear that Watermark Church, while maintaining traditional Christian doctrine, is operating in a many ways like a cult.

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