Apologist Michael Brown, who’s under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, was honored with a standing ovation at a conference last weekend at Mercy Culture Church, where Brown serves as an apostolic elder.
In his message at the Presence Driven Church Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, Mercy Culture Pastor Landon Schott equated the allegations against Brown with “gossip and slander.”
Schott also warned pastors that an “accuser of the brethren is going after men of God that have given their lives to build the kingdom.”
Then, directly addressing Brown, who was sitting in the first row, Schott exclaimed, “Dr. Brown, we honor you! We celebrate you! And this Presence Driven Church and community of pastors is behind you!”
The approximately 1,500 pastors and attendees in the room rose to their feet cheered for Brown for nearly a minute.
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Brown has been accused of crossing physical boundaries in the early 2000s with a former secretary, by holding her hand, kissing her on the lips, and slapping her bottom.
Brown has denied any sexual component to the relationship but said he lacked judgment.
Brown also has been acusado of engaging in an “inappropriate” relationship with a married congregant. Brown has denied committing adultery, but said he had an “emotional, not a physical, tie” with her.
The three-day Presence Driven conference, held Feb. 23-25, also featured Texas megachurch pastor Josh Howerton as a speaker. Howerton has been accused of plagio y misogynistic preaching.
Due to the allegations against him, Brown’s speaking ministry, The Line of Fire, has hired Firefly Investigators to conduct a third-party investigation. Firefly is also the group that recently investigated sexual misconduct at the International House of Prayer-Kansas City.
Brown’s board also recently required Brown to step back from public ministry during the investigation.
Brown told El Informe Roys (TRR) he wasn’t a speaker at Mercy Culture’s conference, so being there doesn’t violate the “sabbatical” he’s taking.
“In keeping with my board’s request, I am continuing my sabbatical until the investigation is completed,” Brown wrote in an email to TRR. “I am attending the conference as a guest and doing no ministry as is readily apparent by the conference schedule.”
TRR also asked Brown if his role as an apostolic elder at Mercy Culture violates the board’s mandate to take time off.
“(F)rom day one, I have been in full compliance with the board’s request to take a sabbatical until the investigation could be carried out and completed,” Brown wrote in response.
The Line of Fire Board Spokesperson Jonathan Bernis told TRR in a statement, “Dr. Brown is not in violation of his agreement to refrain from ministry during the investigation. He is free to travel and seek refreshment from friends and attend any church or conference he wishes to.”
Bernis added: “He is not under ‘House arrest’ and we do not feel the need to monitor his vacations or travel. He is cooperating fully and has gone above and beyond our requests.”
Brown recently was accused of promoting his new memoir during his required time off and posting introductions to pre-recorded videos online.
Schott calls TRR ‘Jezebel Report’
Schott has recently come under fire for calling neighbors of his megachurch “evil” and “witches” and for opposing the church’s plan to build a 100-bed facility for victims of sex trafficking. When TRR publicó un story about the controversy, Schott came after TRR Founder Julie Roys, calling her an “accuser of the brethren.”
Schott likewise told the conference that God recently had told him the church is entering a season in which an accuser will be taking out righteous pastors along with unrighteous ones.
“I want to warn every single pastor friend that I have in this place, we are walking into a place where there’s been a demonic spirit that’s been loosed in our nation. And this demonic spirit is called the accuser of the brethren,” Schott said.
Schott said God gave him this message just a week before TRR published its article on the controversy involving Mercy Culture.
“It wasn’t a week later that a national article trying to assassinate my character comes out,” Schott said. “I was like, ‘Whoo! We were waiting for you.’ It’s called the Jezebel Report.”
Schott added, “This is the Jezebel spirit if I’ve ever seen a Jezebel spirit before. And you can hide behind PhDs . . . . You can hide behind reporters. You can hide behind whatever you want. But at the end of the day, it’s a spirit, and our battle is not against flesh and blood. We’re not battling against people. We’re battling against dark forces.”
Schott also warned pastors at the conference they could be the accuser’s next target.
“I am warning you tonight, the accuser of the brethren, it’s not just coming to Mercy Culture,” Schott said. “It’s not just coming to Dr. Michael Brown. But it’s coming to Presence Driven Churches all over America that will stand for truth in this hour.”
Julie Roys addressed Schott’s previous allegations in her recent talk at the Restore Conference. To hear that message, click the link below.
Rebecca Hopkins es una periodista radicada en Colorado.
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34 Responses
This proves that the real problem is not so much the abusive narcissist pastors like here at NoMercy Culture, but the people who really, really want Jesus to be an abusive, controlling jerk. They will seek pastors out who are like Mark Driscoll and endure abuse because this is what they want in a god. Then they give standing ovations to predators. If these leaders actually repented of being sons of the Devil, they would just leave and go find someone else who is cruel. I just do not get it. Jesus Christ is not a sadist. Why are so many masochistic?
That explains how Donald Trump became the Second Coming of Christ.
As one blogger I used to know put it, “If you liked Mark Driscoll, you’ll LOVE Donald Trump.”
Because Christians were groomed by their Pastor/Dictators to see such behavior (especially in their Pastor/Dictator) as Godly and Anointed. Said Pastor/Dictators never thought someone else would come along who acted more “Godly” and “Anointed” than they did. But someone did, and all their pre-groomed responses and loyalty transferred right over. Because someone so even more “Godly” and “Anointed” could only be God Himself.
And with the Driscolls and other Biblical Manhood types, Manosphere Hypermasculinity is also a part of the Anointing.
And we wonder why the North American church is in such sad condition.
“Come out of her, my people.”
Yes, Schott is correct when he says a demonic spirit is at work today. It’s called the institutional church; especially mega churches. I have been reading TRR for many years now, used to donate but then stopped. However, after reading such vitriol from this ‘pastor’ I will now become a monthly contributor again.
You are right, but this “demonic spirt” of “institutionalism” and “clergyism” has corrupted the household of God for 1500 years. Even the Reformation and post reformation leaders did not clean this up, but polished and protected. it. And so until today, UNLESS believers learn the truth of the corruption of the pulpit and pew ritual claimed to be church. God’s instructions for “meeting together” are the REVERSE of this.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And LET US (all of us)
CONSIDERE CÓMO (prepárese con anticipación)
to stir up ONE ANOTHER (opposite of a sermon)
to LOVE AND GOOD WORKS, (far beyond cerebral knowledge)
25 no dejando de REUNIRSE,
as is the habit of some, (as the habit of 99% of sermon listeners)
but encouraging ONE ANOTHER, (again, mutual participation by all)
and ALL THE MORE (beyond one service)
cuando veis que el Día se acerca.
And there is MUCH MORE twisting of even the translations of our Bibles to INSERT clergyism when it is not there, and is forbidden in many places.
gary,
My name is Wes, and I’m a pastor in an institutional church. I don’t know exactly what you mean by that phrase, but the idea of an organized church is biblical, and one that I find to be deeply important. The church in America has many issues, and one of them is churches without an institutional identity. These are necessary to keep clarity about moral and theological issues, and to address issues of misconduct. Individual churches rise and fall constantly as leadership comes and goes.
The churches I lead have recently changed denominations because of misconduct within our parent organization, but we remain committed to the idea that even as individual Christians need accountability, so do whole churches, and so do clergy.
There are issues within organizations as well, including the concentration of power by a few, and the instinct to protect the institution, but I believe the chaos, and lack of accountability and doctrinal clarity over time, that comes from lone-wolf churches is a greater problem.
I am not impressed with institutional churches, nor those who promote them. Not when they do unto the least of these: the children, as molesting Jesus Christ as a child. Not when they lie, and bend scriptures, and promote wolves, and abuse everyone for their own lusts and ego. Jesus had no place to lay his head. He ordered not anyone to build a building. He ordered to make disciples, not institutions. I am surely not impressed by what men like you, disobeying Jesus by setting yourselves up as lords have done to Jesus’ body. Their voices scream out against you from the grave. The lying, theft, abuse and leveraging the authority of God just as Brown has done. And you have the self-righteousness to come here and comment under this topic and say such things. You should be in sack-cloth and ashes but the fear of the Lord is something you have never known. Truly woe to you! Just as Jesus still says to the unholy leaders today.
“…and bend scriptures”
Here is an example:
The Devil has baked deception into the bride of Christ for centuries. Leaders fail to recognize it.
Example: “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy…” 1 Tim. 5:17
The Greek word for “rule” is not found here. But the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, RSV all use it.
Jesus used the Greek word for “rule” and forbade its use among his people.
Matthew 20:
But Jesus called them to him and said,
“You know that the RULERS of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones exercise authority over them.
It shall not be so among you.
But whoever would be great among you
must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you
must be your slave,
even as the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The clergy system has been unwilling to fix this disobedience. They insist on wearing an elevating title, claiming authority, dominating expression of truth in the worship service, etc. God is rich in mercy, willing to forgive . Jesus is our example. There is rich reward when we follow him.
Who else could deceive the most devoted leaders in the body of Christ to embrace disobedience as godliness for 500+ years straight, even through a major reformation?
I don’t have a dog in this discussion, but I did at least want to point out that the greek verb “to rule” (προεστῶτες, the perfect active participle of προΐστημι ) is absolutely in 1 Tim. 5:17. This word means to preside, govern, superintend, etc.
rafael,
I’ve been on here enough to see many of your statements and behavior and know that its pointless to talk to you.
However, I will take the time necessary to remind you that slandering people is a sin. Your ignorant and baseless accusations against something like tens of millions of people who attend and affiliate with institutional churches, and who knows how many people who selflessly serve the church and love Jesus as ministers, is beneath a believer and decent person. And again, sin.
These guys never cease to amaze.
Grown men take their families to these kind of churches. Amazing!
He’s posting on youtube line of fire every day.
No, they’re coming for you predator “pastors” who prey on innocent young girls who looked up to you as a spiritual father, instead you turned into a molester all in the name of ministry. Every woman/girl who has been a victim is coming after you guys and will uncover your dirty laundry! God is Holy and looking for Holy men to lead and guide HIS church. It’s HIS church. Instead, you pastors turn out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing and you need to keep your money rolling in for your mansions, jets, condos, and luxury cars. God is sick of it, and so are we! Please clean up the church, Lord Jesus Christ!
Bravo! Bravo! Barbara! The demonic spirit the Schott is talking about is how Satan has drawn in so many in ministry leadership, by giving them power and feeling they can get away with sexual misconduct. Not the accuser – the seducer! They know God will forgive them, and now Satan is having the demonic forces work overtime to seduce them. The powers of the air….. wifi connecting to Porn, secret emotional trists that ruin marriages and teaching false and non-biblical topics to support politics more than the grace and power of Jesus. The church needs to face these issues instead of letting them go.
Some basic facts for Mr Landon Schott:
– The noun “slander” means “the utterance of FALSE charges”; “a FALSE statement about a person”.
– One definition of “gossip” is “a RUMOR”.
– The Greek word translated as “accuser” in Revelation 12:10 is κατήγορος and literally means “against (in the) assembly/public place”.
“Satan” in Hebrew means “accuser” or “adversary”.
Jesus calls Satan “the FATHER OF LIES” in John 8:44.
Satan is a FALSE accuser by definition because the Holy Spirit of Truth (John 14:17) convicts people of things they HAVE done.
Michael Brown has not OUTRIGHT denied the charges against him.
Several people are called out in the letters of Paul and John.
But nobody has ever suggested these epistle writers were false accusers, gossipers and slanderers…because that itself would be a false accusation against THEM!
There is definitely a spirit coming after these corrupt church leaders but they are getting the name wrong – its name is “JANITORIAL” because its high time to take out the stinking trash. May the Most High God abundantly bless all the different variations of TJR!
And the ideological, power grasping, suck-up, financial grist rolls right along …merrily – just as another fountain as wad dropping the coins in the box to set another soul free from purgatory…..all in the name of Jesus…of course…that’s a big cross grifters can hidden hide behind!
“Accuser of the brethren”? This declaration emanates from a prideful and arrogant spirit. If there is a dark force spreading across this land, it’s a lack of humility and a lust for power on the part of too many professed Christians and church leaders. Paul said, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). If anyone is doing the Lord’s work, it’s Julie and the brave journalists of the Roys Report.
Drug abuse in youth tends leads to very wierd forms of Christianity and often horrible pastors. . The lack of the ability to develop any introspective skills it’s a kind of marker in language. Masked by the word “,belief”
I am Almost certain what we believe or don’t believe has little to do with either the topic God or nature. Jesus was not a “believer”. He also was not a “non believer.” That is a tiny tiny world.
Church is not healthy at that point right there. The man is 69 he is incapable of thing a single idea together coherently he never grew up. Never mind the sexual conduct issues. I am 69 myself. The entire Jesus revolution? Lead by an LSD crazed lunatic Lonnie friesbee and the crackpot church smith. Oh please we are a drug addled society even if folks stop. Dysfunctional.
There’s a trio, Brown, Scott, and Howerton. Don’t talk bad about my best friend… And don’t get in the way of my $$$$
There is a voice trying to take pastors down. It has been around since the very beginning and tells these pastors “You can do whatever you want.” That can be sex, silencing, attacking truth-tellers (stoning the prophets). That voice really wants to take down pastors. Thus an active board that really holds people accountable is very valuable for both the church and th pastor.
Roberto,
I agree, but I think there is a second component along with your observation. Many are attracted to the platform and privilege of the pulpit in ways that have nothing to do with a desire to share the Gospel, be a servant leader, or bring glory to God.
Your comment could be characterized as saying that many pastors are victims of attack of various kinds, and I think that’s true. Also, many are simply unworthy men and women who seek out the office. We have been guilty of promoting people with discernible spiritual gifts, but have not been guilty of discipling and preparing them, nor of wisely discerning they should be trusted.
False pastors & teachers defending each other. And they still insist that they are true Christians. They deceive themselves as God is revealing truth & what has been hidden for so long. Judgement begins at the house of God & none of these charlatans will escape it. These are who Jesus was referring to when He said to those pretending to be righteous, “I never knew you.”
Well, in German we have a saying that goes like this: „Den Bock zum Gärtner machen“ and for my American friends: „set a fox to keep the geese“!
Then, directly addressing Brown, who was sitting in the first row, Schott exclaimed, “Dr. Brown, we honor you! We celebrate you! And this Presence Driven Church and community of pastors is behind you!”
Community of Pastors? Celebrating themselves, a man, and not God, no surprises from the Brethren of self promotion.
So this manipulative, bulling , lying narcissist had a standing ovation which means the victims and there will be more are just pushed to the side ! DISGRACEFUL oh and brown is also very dangerous I pray for his salvation
I’m encouraged to see that 9 of the 11 current comments on this post are from men condemning what happened. Thank you.
“The approximately 1,500 pastors and attendees in the room rose to their feet cheered for Brown for nearly a minute.” It is apparent who is worshipped. Men’s ego, arrogance, and abuse are celebrated by leaders and followers. Churches are toxic. Christ is absent. I do not see hope and salvation for the American church.
Please someone correct me if I’m wrong on my bible knowledge but I don’t remember Jezebel calling out Elijah for CSA, wasn’t it the other way around and that’s why she wanted to kill him and he fled in fear of his life. I view Landon’s comments as threats. But we will not be intimated by Denise the Menace!
God is exposing the wolves in the church. He is a God of justice, if these arrogant pastors don’t repent they will have a bigger problem dealing with Him rather than with the victims and other whistleblowers. To say that those who talk about what these people have done Jezebels and being accusers of the brethren is disgusting. We need the fear of the Lord to return to the church, and holiness. How these pastors cover for each other is just another good old boy’s club. I pray strength, justice and healing for the victims.
After reading the continuing coverage on Michael Brown here, plus watching the two latest Wake Up and Win podcast episodes on YouTube with interviews by two persons directly knowledgeable of Brown’s ethical and moral failures, it’s clear Michael Brown should retire from ministry immediately.
He is permanently disqualified by New Testament standards.
As for his ministry, as Julie has pointed out previously, God doesn’t need us to advance his kingdom. God can raise up a worthy successor to Brown if He wants the ministry to continue. There is no need for Boards to cut ethical and moral corners in an attempt to keep the money coming in and the seats filled by retaining biblically disqualified leaders.
“New Testament standards”
It could be argued that by any basic biblical definition, these people and their enterprises aren’t even christian pastors or christian churches.
The more worry thing is that the so called ‘laity’ – who stroke egos by simply attending or by giving volunteer time and money – are unable to work this out for themselves. 😕
It could be argued of course that this is the result of broader issues and circumstances within the US which now set the standards other than NT Standards.
Think critically if you struggle to think spiritually. 🤔
Schott is the same pastor that said if you voted for Biden/Harris you can’t be a Christian and who complained about too many Harris and Ukrainian signs in the residential areas near his house. And called his neighbors EVIL and demonic.
Something to think about.
Given that TRR did nothing but publish first-hand testimony of wrongdoing, the “accusers of the brethren” would have to be those who were quoted giving testimony against Brown… as well as the Firefly investigators, who are taking the testimonies seriously. Instead, Schott’s repeating “accuser” label was applied exclusively to Julie Roys and her reporting staff.
And by telling his audience that the “Jezebel” gang are out to “destroy the righteous”, Schott promoted unqualified and selective character assassination. In short, he himself became a mouthpiece for the Accuser, trying to “take out the righteous with the unrighteous”.
After his 3-second admission that sexual abuses in the Body do exist and “need to be exposed,” he had not one word of commendation for those trying to do that in some way. Not even a shred of benefit for TRR at least having honorable motives.
Nope, they are “tares in God’s field”, aka demon-seed infiltrators who are pretending to be saved but are destined for hellfire.
So much for “Mercy Culture”…
And his leader “community” approved it with prolonged applause and cheers.