Epic fail

PCA leader wrecks career over ‘scandalizers’ list

The Rev. Bryan Chapell, newly retired minister and stated clerk for the Presbyterian Church in America, held up a "scandalizers” list on the Gospelbound podcast on May 20. Gospelbound podcast/YouTube via evangelicaldarkweb.org

The age of instant information is filled with landmines.

Perhaps an “enemies list,” or “scandalizers” list, shouldn’t see the light of day on social media, which would include podcasts.

It cost the Rev. Bryan Chapell, a Presbyterian Church in America leader, his career and thrust him into the spot of repenting for slandering the reputations of others.

It started by showing a list he had on a sticky note on a podcast for a few seconds.

Chapell, the now retired PCA stated clerk, was a guest on The Gospel Coalition “Gospelbound” on May 20 when his conversation with Collin Hansen, TGC editor-in-chief, went sideways. The PCA stated clerks are responsible for recording and preserving records, interpreting actions with PCA constitution, and advising churches on procedure and ecclesiastical law.

The Gospel Coalition deleted the episode of “Gospelbound” because of the backlash. In Chapell’s conversation with Hansen, he stated the following:

You may have seen me glance aside, and the reason I did that was—I’m gonna show this to you quickly. I keep the note on my desk. Those are the names of the scandalizers, the people have invested hours every day, attacking others for their supposed lack of faithfulness, for their compromise, whose identity comes from scandalizing others. And every name on that list has either left his family, left the faith, or taken his life. Every name on that list. It amazes me. I’ve done this for almost fifty years now, been in ordained ministry, and I can tell you almost with certainty: those who build their reputations on destroying the reputations of others will end up with terribly dark lives.

Chapell didn’t expect the worst, but in the age of instant information, screenshots, and zooming in on images, the worst happened. Within hours, the podcast made the sticky note unreadable and the episode later would be deleted.

However, the damage had been done.

Collin Hansen, The Gospel Coalition editor-in-chief, hosts the Gospelbound podcast that had Chapell as a guest May 20. The backlash caused the episode to be deleted.

Anthony Fava, a writer for the Evangelical Dark Web, a news and discernment blog, wrote a story May 24 that detailed the damage.

A PCA pastor paused the podcast, did a screenshot of the sticky note, and zoomed in on what Chapell’s enemies list. Someone decoded the list and Fava reproduced it from an X post that also isn’t accessible.

The sticky note had more than 20 names of people and Chapell apologized within hours.

Jon Brown, a reporter for The Christian Post reported:

‘With deep regret for harm done to others, I am issuing a public apology for not taking proper care to protect the reputation of others,’ he said.

‘In an unplanned moment on a recent video podcast posted by The Gospel Coalition, I held up a small piece of paper that I believed was not readable but included names of individuals. TGC personnel who prepared the video also thought that nothing was legible on the paper. However, there are now those who have taken a screen shot (sic) of the video and enlarged it to identify some names. I sincerely apologize.’

By May 28 an ethics complaint had been filed against Chapell for violating the Ninth Commandment: not bearing false witness against a neighbor. By Memorial Day weekend, PCA leaders were discussing the backlash.

Brown reported: " ‘Bryan is Teflon, but I don't see how he survives this,’ one source within the PCA told The Christian Post.”

The letter accompanying the ethics complaint called the “scandalizers” list “deeply disturbing” and “troubling” it surfaced on a video interview.

Brown also reported:

‘We are deeply grieved for any injury that resulted from this in the lives of individuals and families. Likewise, we are saddened by any disruption this has caused to the peace of the Presbyterian Church in America as well as other Presbyterian and Reformed denominations,’ the statement also said, adding that a meeting was planned to address the issue.

By May 29, Chapell humbly repented of this sin and retired. He said:

. . . As a consequence, I brought unwarranted disrepute upon persons identified in the screenshot. For this wrongdoing I repent to my Lord and I apologize to the

individuals, their families, and the church I serve. I have begun, and will continue, personally to ask forgiveness from those I harmed. I also confess the seriousness of these errors and sin.

Therefore, at the upcoming called meeting of the Administrative Committee, I will ask for approval of my retirement as Stated Clerk. I give thanks for my Savior whose provision for sinners such as I is according to his grace rather than my deserving.

To Chapell’s credit, he humbly took responsibility to address the crisis that emerged from his actions. On Thursday, the PCA accepted Chapell’s retirement and letter of repentance.

The moral of Chapell’s recent story is if you brag about an enemies list and talk about it on social media, be ready for the receipts because social media is unforgiving.

The ensuing five-alarm fire may cost you more than you expect.