Why did Calvary Boise stop hosting the Exiles in Babylon conference? Was it due to backlash or theological issues?
After three years, it became clear that the conference had run its course at our venue. The Exiles in Babylon Conference has transitioned to a new location for 2025 and we support their move.
Exiles in Babylon initially approached us about using our venue for their independently operated conference, and we agreed to host them. Their vision is to facilitate conversations on cultural topics, many of which feature theological perspectives different from ours. We believe open discussion and good-spirited debate is extremely valuable, but we also recognize that hearing views from our stage that did not align with our church’s teaching caused confusion for some in our congregation.
During the time we hosted the conference, we did our best to continually clarify that Exiles in Babylon’s guest speakers were not affiliated with our church’s leadership or doctrinal positions. When questions arose on topics like biblical sexuality, the nature of hell, or women in ministry, we addressed them individually and reaffirmed our church’s theological stance. By God’s grace, these conversations were healthy and fruitful, and even contributed to the development of helpful in-house resources, such as our Biblical Sexuality Statement, which is now being used by other churches as well. In the end, we are thankful for the years we hosted the event, but that chapter is now closed.
As far as backlash goes, we did see a few people choose to disfellowship from our church. We know that we did not address questions and confusion surrounding the conference very well at times, and understand why they lost trust in our leadership. We respect their decision, but mourn their absence. We still have a lot to learn and grown in, and are committed to seeking the Lord as He keeps bringing clarity and correction through these kinds of experiences. That said, if you are reading this as someone who has left our church because of unsettled questions, the door is always open. We would welcome further discussions to work toward healing, understanding, and reconciliation.
