Editing Maranatha Campus Ministries

{{Short description|Protestant-oriented Christian denomination in the United States}}
{{Infobox organization
|name= Maranatha Campus Ministries
|image=
|image_border=
|size= 100px
|caption=
|map=
|msize=
|mcaption=
|formation= 1971
|extinction=
|type= [[Charismatic Movement]]
|headquarters= [[Gainesville, Florida]]
|location= International
|membership=
|language= [[English (language)|English]]
|leader_title= Founder
|leader_name= Bob Weiner
|key_people=
|num_staff=
|budget=
|website=
}}
'''Maranatha Campus Ministries''' was a [[Charismatic (movement)|Charismatic]]/[[Pentecostal]]-oriented [[Christianity|Christian]] ministry founded by Bob Weiner which existed from 1971 to 1990. Its primary outreach was to [[college]] and [[university]] campuses.

==Beginnings==
Maranatha began in 1971 in [[Paducah, Kentucky]] as a youth center led by Bob Weiner,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.youthnow.org/home.php |title=Weiner Ministries International |access-date=2006-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209001408/http://www.youthnow.org/home.php |archive-date=2007-02-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a former [[Assemblies of God]] youth pastor.  It was an outreach of a [[California]]-based ministry called "Global Missions."  Weiner and his wife, Rose, had helped lead a large revival in Paducah earlier that year.  Many disenfranchised "60's" teens found a new expression of Christianity in the center located near [[Paducah Tilghman High School]]. Large numbers of students from the surrounding area also began attending.

In 1972, Weiner founded a campus ministry called the "Maranatha House" at [[Murray State University]], a few miles from Paducah. The word "Maranatha" means "Our Lord, come" or "Our Lord is come" in [[Aramaic]], and was a popular Christian phrase around that time. Later in 1972, Weiner struck out on his own and changed Maranatha House's name to "Maranatha Christian Church."    During the mid-1970s and early 1980s, other Maranatha chapters were established across the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], as well as in [[Argentina]], [[Brazil]], [[Indonesia]], [[France]], [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and the [[Philippines]].  The ministry moved its headquarters from Paducah to [[Gainesville, Florida]] in 1979.

Weiner and his wife, Rose drew from a wide variety of leaders and influences all across the mainstream of the Charismatic movement including [[Kenneth Copeland]] and the [[Word of Faith]] movement, The [[Latter Rain (post-World War II movement)|Latter Rain Movement]], Dennis Peacoke, [[Derek Prince]], [[Ern Baxter]] and the [[Shepherding Movement]], [[Paul Cain (minister)|Paul Cain]] and the [[Apostolic-Prophetic Movement|prophetic movement]], Paul Jehle, [[Gary North (economist)|Gary North]], and other non-Charismatics who had [[Christian Reconstructionism|Reconstructionist]] or [[Theonomic]] ideas.

Early members were discipled through weekly meetings and periodic weekend conferences which hosted top national speakers.  Maranatha conference speakers included many of the big names in the Charismatic movement of the time, including ministers such as [[Oral Roberts]] and [[Larry Tomczak]].  A 1987 conference included [[Rosey Grier]], Rich Wilkerson, and [[Larry Tomczak]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forerunner.com/forerunner/X0333_Youth_Evangelism.html |title=Father Mike is Reaching Youth with Evangelism Teams |access-date=2006-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007061552/http://forerunner.com/forerunner/X0333_Youth_Evangelism.html |archive-date=2007-10-07 }}</ref>

Maranatha's members were told to work hard, get the best grades, and look as good as possible in order to rise in the economic and political ladders of success to be next to influence decision-makers.  The organization was one of the major players in the [[Christian right]] during the 1980s.  It first got involved in [[anti-abortion]] activism in the 1970s, and this soon spread to other [[conservatism in the United States|conservative]] causes.  It also had an outreach to athletes, [[Champions for Christ]].  The group often referred to itself as "God's [[Green Berets]]."<ref name=Tactics>Fialka, John. Maranatha Christians, Backing Rightist Ideas, Draw Fire Over Tactics. Wall Street Journal, August 16, 1985</ref>

Unlike most campus ministries, Maranatha functioned as a denomination.  Its campus chapters were called "churches," and its leaders "pastors."  At a local level, decisions were made by the pastors and elders of the university churches in their movement as well as by the traveling ministry teams.

In 1988 Maranatha established a church in South Africa at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. This church changed its name to His People in about 1990.

==Criticism and controversy==

===Authoritarianism===

Maranatha came under considerable fire during the 1970s and 1980s, largely due to its highly [[authoritarianism|authoritarian]] structure. There were accusations of MCM being a [[cult]] with some former members reporting behavior similar to cults that frequently recruited college students during that time. As advocated by [[Derek Prince]], members agreed to live in mutual accountability to protect their "purity in [[Christ]]."  As was typical of most organizations influenced by [[Shepherding Movement]] teachings, this resulted in the organization developing clear authoritarian characteristics.  Weiner, as Maranatha's president, was considered the ministry's "apostle," and was believed to receive direct revelations from God.<ref name=Tactics/> Campus pastors supervised members' lives very closely.  Disobeying one's pastor, or "shepherd," could have serious consequences ultimately leading to excommunication if one didn't fall in line with leadership. The movement was labeled as a "cult" or "cultlike" by some former members and newspapers.<ref>
{{ cite news
| title = Group awaits word of its fate: UNC-CH revoked its fraternity status
| publisher = The News & Observer
| date = 2005-02-28
| author = Jane Stancill
| quote = In the 1980s, (Ron) Lewis (of the King's Park International Church), was affiliated with Maranatha Christian Church, a national organization that disbanded after complaints about cultlike practices.
}}
</ref>
<ref>Ron Lewis website http://www.ronlewisministries.com/</ref>
<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Cult banned from K-State sues Minnesota
| author = Joanna Rubick
| date = 2004-04-26
| publisher = Kansas State Collegian
| location = Kansas
| quote = A cult that was banned at K-State over 20 years ago has shown its face again on a different campus.
}}
</ref><ref>
{{ cite news
| title = Some Colleges warn Students that Cult-like Methods are Being Used by Christian Fundamentalist Groups
| date = 1989-11-15
| author = Tanya Gazdik
| publisher = The Chronicle of Higher Education
}}
</ref>

===Proscription against dating===
Maranatha first came under fire because of its teachings against dating.  Weiner considered Prince's book, ''God is a Matchmaker'', to be a "revelation" stating that Christians should not date (though Prince's book does not directly advocate such an interpretation). He also claimed that sexual misconduct was rampant among college students.<ref name=Enroth>
{{cite book
  | last = Enroth
  | first = Ronald
  | author-link = Ronald Enroth
  | title = Churches That Abuse
  | publisher = Zondervan Publishing House
  | year = 1992
  | quote = Young people who were members of Maranatha Christian Ministries, started by John David Weiner also known as Maranatha Christian Churches (MCM), including the former Miss America, Debbye Turner, were not permitted to date. As a result of a so-called "dating revelation" received by the leadership, MCM discourages dating practices and cites extreme examples of sexual misconduct in the collegiate subculture (including Christian college students) to justify its stance. Instead, members were told to focus on serving God and then he would bring a mate into their lives. An ex-member of MCM comments: "The doctrine is put into practice by church members submitting the names of other church members whom they feel God may be leading them to as potential mates, and if the leadership confirms the name submitted, you wait on God to speak to the other person. If God speaks to that other person, he or she will submit your name to the church leadership and you will get married."
  | isbn = 0-310-53290-6
  | url-access = registration
  | url = https://archive.org/details/churchesthatabus00enro
  }}
</ref> For this reason, members of Maranatha were barred from dating.  Instead, singles were told to trust God, pray for God to guide them to a spouse, and hear God's voice speaking to them personally and individually about every decision.  If a member believed God had spoken to him or her about marriage, he or she would pray with the pastor about whether that "word" was truly from God.<ref name=Enroth/><ref>{{Cite book |isbn = 0800790588|title = God is a Matchmaker|last1 = Prince|first1 = Derek|last2 = Prince|first2 = Ruth|date = February 1986| publisher=Baker Publishing }}</ref> Pastors would then send the names to Maranatha's regional offices for prayer, and sometimes Weiner himself would weigh in on some of these requests.<ref name=Tactics/>

===Tithing teachings===
Another common criticism of the organization was its emphasis on [[tithe|tithing]], or giving 10 percent of their earnings to the ministry.  Although tithing is considered accepted practice in mainstream evangelical circles,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/giving_and_tithing.aspx|title = Giving and Tithing|date = 4 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kennedycommentary.org/default.asp?pg=topicmessage&id=395|title = 若作りはイタイ⁈20代で卒業したいポールスミスのビジネスバッグ &#124; 40代からのカバン選び。アナタの選択は合ってる？それとも・・・}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcu.edu/papers/tithe.htm |title=The Law of Tithing |website=www.mcu.edu |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970624074536/http://www.mcu.edu/papers/tithe.htm |archive-date=24 June 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> several Maranatha pastors were rumored to keep detailed records of financial contributions.  They reportedly admonished those who didn't give enough as having a "spirit of stinginess."<ref name=ChristianityToday>Frame, Randy. A Team of Cult Watchers Challenges a Growing Campus Ministry.  Christianity Today, 1985.</ref>

===Criticism from universities===
In 1982 the [[University of Waterloo]] in [[Canada]] expelled its Maranatha chapter after one member sexually maimed himself.  After complaints from former members of the [[Kansas State University]] chapter, KSU expelled the MCM chapter in 1983. Among other things, Maranatha chapter members were charged with misleading university officials about who was to receive money from a fundraiser.  One former member, Bob Tedford, said the pastor of the KSU Maranatha chapter said that lying to others was acceptable "only if it was for that person's own good."<ref name=Tactics/>

Maranatha also came under fire from former members of chapters that didn't get expelled.  Dennis Richardson, a former member of Maranatha's [[Penn State]] chapter, said he broke off his marriage engagement on the advice of his "shepherd."  Kathy Mynatt, a former member of the [[University of Kentucky]] chapter, claimed that when she questioned a church teaching that tampons were unsafe, she was told she had a "spirit of independent thinking and rebellion" that needed to be cast out of her.<ref name=Tactics/>

===Christian Research Institute's report===
During the ensuing outcry, Weiner volunteered to have the [[Christian Research Institute]] provide a letter of endorsement. He hoped to "expel the lie" that Maranatha was a cult. After a meeting between several cult-watchers and Maranatha's leadership, a six-member ad hoc committee was formed to address Maranatha's problems. More than a year later, the committee issued a scathing report criticizing Maranatha's theology and practices.<ref>Bjornstad, James; Cannon, Steve; Enroth, Ronald; Hoyt, Karen; Lewis, Gordon; Onken, Brian (June 1983) "[https://www.spiritualabuseresources.com/articles/a-statement-of-evaluation-regarding-maranatha-campus-ministriesmaranatha Statement of Evaluation Regarding Maranatha Campus Ministries, Maranatha Christian Ministries, Maranatha Christian Church]", ''Cultic Studies Journal'', Vol. 2, No. 2 1985, pp278-283</ref> Among other things, it found that Maranatha's authoritarianism had "potential negative consequences for members." It concluded:

:Until we have clearer understanding of the changes which MCM claims are being implemented, and until we see more discernible evidence of change in the lives of people being impacted by MCM, we would not recommend this organization to anyone.

Committee members later said they would have used even harsher language in the report had they not feared legal reprisals. Weiner promised to address the committee's concerns, but later attacked it for anti-charismatic bias.<ref name=ChristianityToday/>

==Breakup==
At a November 1989 meeting, after a few years of private conflict about the governance structure of the movement, Maranatha's board decided to disband the organization. The official explanation was that many leaders were uncomfortable with the group's denomination-like structure.<ref>Frame, Randy. "Maranatha Disbands as a Federation of Churches " ''Christianity Today'', March 19, 1990</ref> However, another factor was intense criticism from the secular and Christian press, as well as former members and college administrators. This criticism had continued almost unabated since the CRI report, and grew especially pointed after ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]'' published an article <ref>Gazdik, Tanya. "Some Colleges warn Students that Cult-like Methods are Being Used by Christian Fundamentalist Groups", ''Chronicle of Higher Education'', November 15, 1989</ref> detailing concerns about abusive religious groups on college campuses.  (See [[Maranatha Campus Ministries#Criticism and controversy|Criticism and controversy]] section.)

Many former Maranatha pastors have apologized and repented for the abuses of the organization, either personally or through books, and have asked for forgiveness.  In the view of these pastors, dissolving the organization was necessary to allow for greater freedom in Christ.  Indeed, at the last international conference held in San Antonio, Texas, in December 1989, Weiner publicly apologized and asked for forgiveness for any abuses anyone suffered from him personally from authoritarianism or from the organization. He also printed a public apology to the church at large in ''[[Charisma (magazine)|Charisma]]'' magazine in the winter of 1990.

In the break-up, leaders announced that the individual local churches were free to become independent entirely or to voluntarily associate with whomever they chose.  Many of the local churches struggled with shrinking congregations and dwindling funds, merged with other churches, or closed.  Most of the local churches that survived have different names now.

==Morning Star International/Every Nation==
{{Further|Every Nation}}
In 1994, several former Maranatha churches and ministries joined with other groups to form Morning Star International, under the leadership of former Maranatha pastors Rice Broocks, Phil Bonasso and Steve Murrell.  Every Nation currently counts in its roster of churches at least seven former Maranatha churches in the United States, as well as a network of eight former Maranatha churches in the Philippines founded by Murrell.

Every Nation has publicly disavowed Maranatha's more extreme practices.  It claims that Weiner and Maranatha practiced "controlling discipleship, authoritarian leadership, and theological mysticism," but that Every Nation itself "unequivocally rejects" such practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everynation.org/en/top/about-us/faqs.html |title=Every Nation &#124; FAQ's - Church Planting, Campus Ministry, World Missions |access-date=2007-08-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818131352/http://www.everynation.org/en/top/about-us/faqs.html |archive-date=2007-08-18 }}</ref>   In a May 2006 letter, Murrell stated that Every Nation does not permit any practices and teachings that were "controlling, coercive, or intrusive, or that violate biblical principles (or) the priesthood of the believer."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everynation.org/assets/files/LeaderLetter/Leader%20Letter%20May%202006.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-06-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617102316/http://www.everynation.org/assets/files/LeaderLetter/Leader%20Letter%20May%202006.pdf |archive-date=2006-06-17 }}</ref>

===His People/Every Nation merge===

In 2001, the [[His People]] network of churches in Europe and Africa merged with [[Every Nation]].  This network also has considerable past links to Maranatha.  Its flagship church, His People Church in [[Johannesburg, South Africa]] was formed in 1992 after His People Campus Ministry at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] united with Maranatha Church in Johannesburg led by [[Bill Bennot]]. As Vice President of His People International, Bennot maintained ties with former Maranatha ministers such as Rice Broocks.  His People began cooperating with Every Nation in 1996, and unity talks around this time as well. The addition of His People to the EN stable greatly increased  EN's footprint in Europe and Africa. Bennot is no longer affiliated with Every Nation.

==Responses to criticism==
[[Morton Blackwell]], former special assistant to President Reagan (who formed Students for America to lobby for President Reagan's policies on campuses) claimed that he hadn't seen anything in Maranatha's doctrine "outside the Christian tradition."  [[Ralph E. Reed Jr.|Ralph Reed]], later to become famous as the president of the [[Christian Coalition of America|Christian Coalition]], said that he thought Maranatha got "a bum rap" from its critics.<ref name=Tactics/>

==Notable members==
Notable people to emerge from Maranatha include:

*[[Reggie White]]
*[[A.C. Green]]
*[[Debbye Turner]], former [[Miss America]] 
*[[Paul Wylie]]
*[[Terry Crews]] was briefly involved in the organization as a student at Western Michigan University, but left.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Manhood : how to be a better man-- or just live with one|author=Crews, Terry|isbn=9780804178051|edition= First|location=New York|oclc=869806778|year = 2014}}</ref>

==Affiliated organizations==
* Maranatha Campus Ministries, International
* [[Champions for Christ]]

==See also==
* [[Every Nation]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/716-churches-that-abuse-online-book Full text of ''Churches That Abuse'', Ronald Enroth. Posted with author's permission. Maranatha Christian Ministries is addressed in Chapters 5 and 7]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former Christian denominations]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1971]]
[[Category:Pentecostal denominations in North America]]
[[Category:Pentecostal denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Florida]]