“We are facing a significant moment as a church family. We have an opportunity to move forward together as a thriving, united church bringing hope to the nations, beginning right here in metro Washington, DC. But this vision depends on members’ involvement in two important congregational meetings and votes over the coming weeks,” the webpage reads.
“As some of you may remember, five individuals filed a lawsuit against our church contesting our election of elders last summer. While we are grateful this conflict is no longer a part of daily church life for most people at MBC, the conflict continues to cause harm and resolution is still needed in accord with God’s Word for the glory of His name and the good of His church. As Elders, Lead Pastors, Location Pastors, and Central Ministry Directors, we want to take extra steps to strive toward healing in our church,” the statement continues.
McLean Bible Church’s leadership is encouraging all active members to attend an online congregational meeting that will take place on Wednesday, May 18, wherein they will be called upon to approve a “Plan for Lawsuit Resolution.”
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In that plan, McLean leadership outlines that church members will “re-vote on elder nominees from 2021 in addition to a vote on elder nominees in 2022, consistent with the plaintiffs’ petitions in their lawsuit against the church.” A neutral party will oversee the votes and ballot counts.
Anyone who was on the active member list as of March 1, 2020 and “before God still claim[s] to be an active member” of McLean Bible Church will be allowed to vote, and the vote will take place via secret ballot.
Should the elders not receive the required 75% of the vote, Platt, two elders who are currently in the middle of their term, and any elder nominees who do receive 75% of the vote will have 90 days to present new elder nominees for consideration.
If the church has less than six duly elected elders at the end of the 90-day period, Platt and the elders will call for a vote of confidence in their leadership. If they fail to receive 75% of that vote, they will step aside for a new six-man governing body and a six-person nominating committee, which will be appointed via a simple majority vote.
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Should this plan be approved at the May 18 congregational meeting, the new elder election will take place at an online congregational meeting on June 1, with voting open to active members until June 5.
