Unexpected Storm for Nelson Author

By Lori Smith -- Publishers Weekly, 6/28/2006

Chuck Smith’s latest book, When Storms Come (Thomas Nelson/World, Jan.), has generated a storm of its own. The 79-year-old pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and leader of the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches drew ire from online evangelical activists, like Dave and Deborah Dombrowski of the Lighthouse Trails Research Project, who said the book “included contemplative and Eastern meditation language” inconsistent with orthodox Christian theology.

Both Smith and Thomas Nelson agree that there was a rush to get the book out, but deny any theological errors. David Moberg, v-p and publisher for W Publishing, who recently took over responsibility for World trade books, said, “The Web site postings on Lighthouse Trails created the impression that Thomas Nelson tampered with the book. This is simply not true. We simply did a quick copy edit. Nothing substantive was added or changed.”

Ramona Richards, the in-house editor on the project, described the problem passages: “There was a three-word quote from Anthony de Mello, a Jesuit priest from India whose other works have to do with contemplative spirituality, and another passage about a deep breathing exercise to help you relax before prayer.” Moberg added, “These are totally minor issues in a book of sound Calvary doctrine, based on a series of Chuck’s sermons.”

Smith acknowledges that his son, Chuck Jr., edited the book and added these elements. “There was a haste to get it out, and some things slipped by. We didn’t really mean to create a storm, it was supposed to be a book that would help a person through the storm. There are a lot of heresy hunters out there that are just looking for anything to jump on.”

Thomas Nelson has agreed to put this edition of the book—which has sold 12,000 copies to date—out of print and intends to work with Calvary Chapel to correct the problems, likely with a new edition. Smith is eager to re-release the book with the problem elements removed, along with some copy corrections. “We will work with them and accommodate what they want to do,” Moberg told RBL.

Chuck Smith Jr. is pastor at Capo Beach Calvary, which recently removed itself from the Calvary Chapel fellowship of churches—creating more online speculation about possible controversy. Smith Sr. denied any rift. He said that Capo Beach’s ministry is directed toward the postmodern generation, and that style of ministry does not fit within the more conservative Calvary Chapel model.

Smith Sr. recently wrote cautionary guidelines about postmodern ministry, or the “emergent church,” in a “Parson to Parson” letter to the 1,400 churches in the Calvary Chapel fellowship. However, the letter has not been released to the public and Smith avoided discussing specifics. Asked if he would work with his son again on another book, he replied, “Oh, yes. He’s an excellent writer; he’s a very brilliant young man.”

Smith said his next book likely will be a commentary on the book of Ephesians.