Church Disrupted

Join Jeff Cochran, host of Church Disrupted and board member at the Spiritual Abuse Institute, as he highlights the alarming ways church systems can enable spiritual abuse. He discusses the urgent need for transparency and accountability in both mega and mid-sized churches. Cochran reveals how organizational protection often overshadows individual well-being and emphasizes the necessity of honest conversations for meaningful change. This insightful discussion also advocates for prioritizing community-centered values and introducing proactive safety measures in church governance.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran and Drew Cordell (the author of Honest Christianity) explore the pressing need for reformation within the church, discussing the decline in trust towards church leadership, the troubling intersection of business practices and church operations, and the importance of accountability and transparency from churches and pastors. This conversation highlights the tension of frustration and hope for the church's future at the same time. Follow Drew's work and get his book here: https://www.honestchristianity.org/Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgePlease Subscribe and Share!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Drew Cordell and His Journey07:07 The Need for Reformation in the Church12:52 Cultural Shifts and the Church's Response18:09 Business Practices vs. Church Values25:05 The Role of Systems in Church Growth31:11 Identifying Areas for Change in the Church37:42 Disruption vs. Reformation in the Church43:22 The Importance of Questions in Faith44:47 Reallocation of Resources in the Church47:05 Restoration vs. Reformation in the Church50:56 Curiosity and the Pursuit of Truth56:43 The Priesthood of All Believers01:02:02 Safe Church Practices and AccountabilityFair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran addresses a public rebuke directed at Landon Schott, the senior pastor of Mercy Culture Church, over bully pulpit tactics that demonize detractors and questioners of Mercy Culture. This episode focuses on the importance of correction, repentance, and restoration in church discipline and sets a Biblical foundation for how to bring correction and church discipline to leaders and pastors in the church.Read the original article about what's going on at Mercy Culture here:https://julieroys.com/dallas-area-megachurch-pastor-calls-neighbors-evil-and-demonic-in-clash-over-building-project/Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast athttps://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here:https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here:https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).Chapters00:00 Public Rebuke and Its Purpose05:48 Understanding Church Discipline12:03 The Context of the Rebuke18:12 Behavioral Concerns and Spiritual Abuse23:54 Conclusion and Call for Restoration39:36 The Dangers of Othering in Community Discussions45:09 Prophetic Words and Accusations53:45 The Complexity of Good and Bad in Ministry01:01:52 The Importance of Correction and Truth01:12:46 The Need for Healing and Restoration01:17:58 A Call for Unity and Constructive Dialogue01:25:55 Scriptural Context and Accusations01:32:39 Power Dynamics in Leadership01:39:10 Fear Language and Its Impact01:46:42 Hubris and Community Relations01:54:08 Witch Walks and Community Tensions01:59:16 The Role of Narrative in Accusations02:06:01 The Misuse of Scripture in Spiritual Abuse02:12:05 The Call for Repentance and Restoration02:22:22 Identifying Signs of Spiritual Abuse02:30:00 A Path Forward for Mercy Culture

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran engages with David Ruybalid, a trauma-informed theologian, discuss his journey from faith deconstruction to healing. they talk together about the complexity of spiriutal abuse, how to deal with conflict in the church, the need for accountability, and how churches can create safe and trauma informed environments. Follow David's work here - https://www.instagram.com/david_ruybalid/ - https://davidruybalid.com/ 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 07:01 Navigating Spiritual Abuse and Trauma 14:03 The Role of Questions in Faith Development 20:05 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Disclosure 27:03 Misuse of Scripture: Matthew 18 and Church Discipline 37:57 Supportive Environments for Personal Growth 39:35 Understanding Matthew 18 in Modern Context 41:03 The Importance of Humility and Accountability 43:12 Selective Enforcement of Church Policies 44:54 Principles for Better Church Leadership 45:51 Exposing Darkness: The Role of Accountability 49:01 The Burden of Pastoral Leadership 52:22 The Need for Systemic Change in Churches 54:20 The Prevalence of Spiritual Abuse 57:22 The Role of Systems in Church Culture 01:01:24 Reimagining the Role of Pastors 01:03:13 Missteps in Addressing Mental Health 01:07:41 Creating Safe Church Environments 01:10:56 Introducing the Religious Trauma Network

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