We’ve been covering some of the controversy going on at Matt Chandler’s Acts 29 church planting network over the last few weeks. This organization has been wrought with controversy since its inception. Notably, the well-publicized removal of co-founder Mark Driscoll due to allegations of plagiarism and abusive leadership set the stage for ongoing scrutiny.

After Driscoll’s departure, Steve Timmis, the then CEO, was also removed amidst accusations of bullying and authoritarian leadership. Additionally, the network faced criticisms over financial transparency and the allocation of donations. Darrin Patrick’s dismissal for “historical patterns of sin,” only for him to be later reinstated, further intensified debates about the network’s internal governance. These controversies serve as more than mere blemishes; they indicate deeply rooted issues that demand thorough investigation.

But over the last few years, we’ve seen a notable shift in its theological views as well. The organization, under Matt Chandler’s leadership, has moved toward softening its stance on homosexuality and other sexual ethics issues including transgenderism. And Matt Chandler himself has revealed himself to be consumed by the cultural zeitgeist of the day—the “woke” movement, which is rooted in cultural Marxism. By weaving in progressive social justice themes—especially on matters of race and gender—into his sermons and church policies, Chandler undermines the purity of the Gospel message.

And just recently, an uncovered video clip from the Acts 29 Network, represented by Justin Anderson and Mike Sullivan demonstrates a theological shift on homosexuality, urging Christians to embrace homosexuals in the church, calling into question the motives of the organization as a whole. Another Acts 29 pastor preached a sermon urging Christians to support “transgender” bathrooms. There is no discipline within Acts 29 for churches and pastors that begin to preach sexual ethics that are contrary to the Scriptures.

Angi Pratt, the children’s ministry assistant director at Acts 29 board member, Hunter Beuamont’s, church has now been exposed for holding unbiblical views on sexual ethics and morality. Pratt is fully aligned with the woke ideology, openly supporting the transgender movement with her queer theory-based “pronouns” in her bio and prominently displaying her support for the Marxist Black Lives Matter movement on her Twitter profile. This clearly indicates that her worldview is rooted in secular culture, not in the authoritative Word of God.

Why does this matter so much? It exposes a culture within Acts 29 that tolerates sexual immorality, heresy, and worldviews that are incompatible with Scripture. These are not solid, Bible-believing leaders who submit to the authority of God’s word. These are frauds that have infiltrated the Church in order to change the culture of the Church and move it away, subtly, and little by little, until it no longer resembles any true Christlike character and purity.

It should come as no surprise as the organization’s leader, Matt Chandler is about as compromised as they/them get. Matt Chandler is woke and has been given over completely to the social justice movement. Chandler has made headlines for saying that Black people who aren’t woke are just trying to win the “approval” of White men, pushing progressive “woke” politics, his church writing worship songs about microaggressions, comparing Black Lives Matter leaders to biblical prophets, denouncing America as racist and demonic, declaring that parts of Critical Race Theory are good (even though it’s demonic), having disdain for White people, speaking at various “woke church” social justice conferences, or sharing the stage with lesbians, racists, and charismatics all in the name of social justice.