A number of members of the Horizon West campus of First Baptist Church of Orlando continue to express alarm over the way the church’s three senior pastors have treated their campus pastor and a campus worship leader.
Since publishing an article about Campus Pastor Chris Ogden being placed on administrative leave for questioning a decision of the three senior pastors and an article about Turning Point USA dropping the Florida church as a site on its “Make Heaven Crowded” tour, BNG has received multiple unsolicited confirmations from church members. All have expressed shock and alarm at the turn of events, believing their beloved campus pastors have been wrongly humiliated.
All have spoken to BNG on background, fearing reprisal from church leaders at the main campus.
Socrates Perez
BNG also has confirmed the identity of a Horizon West staff leader who resigned in protest. That is Socrates Perez, who was a worship leader at the Horizon West campus and previously was a staff member at Saddleback Church in Southern California. Perez also grew up in First Baptist Orlando.
Horizon West is a satellite campus of First Baptist Orlando that was started in 2018 in partnership with the SBC North American Mission Board.
As BNG previously reported, on Valentine’s Day, the church distributed a video from Ogden apologizing to the congregation for questioning the three senior pastors’ decision to host the TPUSA political revival tour. That video was distributed along with an email to campus members from David Loveless, executive pastor for campuses and discipleship.
“As some of you know and others do not yet, Pastor Chris and Pastor Socrates were placed on paid administrative leave for inappropriately speaking out in an all-staff meeting, disagreeing with a decision made by senior leadership of the church,” the letter begins. “The disagreement itself was not the issue. The concern was how it was addressed in that setting.”
David Loveless
Regarding Ogden, Loveless says: “Pastor Chris remains on leave as we continue working toward resolution and a path to restoration. During this time, we have asked him not to have communication with staff and members of First Orlando and the Horizon West campus while he walks through this process with church leadership.”
That includes “meetings” with Loveless, Senior Pastor Danny de Armas and members of the Personnel Committee.
“Above all, we pray that God’s purposes prevail,” Loveless writes.
Regarding Perez, Loveless says: “After further conversations about a potential path forward, Pastor Socrates chose to resign rather than continue in the restoration process. You may hear that he has shared concerns regarding leadership, alignment or relational trust. While we will not address those matters publicly or in detail, you should know that our Personnel Team and lay leadership were involved throughout this process. The steps taken were measured, prayerful, graceful and aimed at protecting the unity and health of the church. Again, disagreement itself is not the issue. Leadership accountability applies to all of us. How concerns are raised and handled matters deeply in the life of the church.”
Loveless claims the executive leadership of the church is working toward “reducing speculation, calming anxiety and modeling steady trust in the Lord.”
BNG contacted de Armas for comment on Monday and has not received a response.
Also in this week’s edition of the church newsletter, The Beacon, de Armas said the “Make Heaven Crowded” tour had been “postponed by the event organizers.”
The church received a letter from Turning Point USA on Monday, he explained. That was the day after Senior Pastor David Uth had announced the tour stop to the church for the first time.
He reported the letter stated in part: “After careful thought and prayerful consideration, we believe it is best at this time to withdraw this particular tour stop from your church’s calendar. Please know this decision is made with respect and appreciation for your ministry. We remain thankful for the work you are doing and would welcome the opportunity to reconnect in the future.”