Some churches are governed by bishops, some by elders, and some are run by their congregation,

who gather regularly and make decisions democratically.

But since the early 2000s, a growing number of charismatic Christians have promoted another form of church government, apostles

and prophets.

New Apostolic Reformation is the most radical change in the way of doing church since the Protestant Reformation.

That's what we're dealing with. That's what we're springing off into the 21st century.

This idea was popularized by C. Peter Wagner, a Fuller Theological Seminary Professor who died in

2016. The concept of churches governed by special supernaturally empowered men and women

raises lots of theological questions and lots of questions about accountability.

The issue has become especially urgent as reports of

abuse and cover-up have multiplied within the movement. This guy was my white rabbit. He's the

rabbit I chased down the rabbit hole to see how bad things are in cover-up culture inside the

charismatic church. The connections to all these different figures and years of stuff, generations of abusers. We've moved to an increase in accountability this morning. Just last month, Bethel Church in Reading, California, promised increased accountability after admitting repeated failure to warn the church about known fake prophet Sean Bowles.

But then, in a secret recording of a family meeting obtained by the Roy's report,

the church's apostle and prophet couldn't articulate any changes.

We all absolutely, listen, we have to work in order to that question.

And this is one of the biggest questions we have.

So this is a great question that we are just beginning to ask that.

So we don't have an answer to that question, and it needs to be answered.

So what's the history of this radical change in church government?

And can this form of church government be checked and balanced, or is it fundamentally

flawed and beyond accountability? In this podcast, Daniel Silliman, senior reporter and editor

...