The Shepherding Movement was a movement that began in Florida in the early 1970s in an effort to bring accountability and provide a vehicle to disciple believers. The main proponents – Bob Mumford, Ern Baxter, Derek Prince, Charles Simpson, and Don Basham – were known as the Ft. Lauderdale Five. These men had been asked to oversee the Holy Spirit Teaching Mission at its headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale in 1970, and in 1972 they changed its name to Christian Growth Ministries (CGM). Derek Prince was an Assembly of God minister from the UK, Don Basham was ordained with the Disciples of Christ, Ern Baxter was a Pentecostal evangelist who had worked with William Branham years earlier, Charles Simpson was a Southern Baptist minister, and Bob Mumford was a Reformed bible teacher. Together they brought a wealth of experience and understanding to the new and sometimes chaotic Charismatic Movement. Eventually the total membership reached an estimated 100,000 people.
The movement emphasized a sort of multilevel hierarchical structure. Many people in the movement taught from the writings of Watchman Nee, his book Spiritual Authority in particular. That book emphasized unwavering submission to church authority figures, as they represent God. In time their approach was seen to be flawed. Their emphasis on covenant relationships and “covering” gave people the sense that they had to have every decision cleared by their shepherd. In some cases people were even being told who they should marry. Many of the undershepherds were harsh and controlling. Jack Hayford expressed serious concerns in 1974. Pat Robertson denounced the organization in 1975. Derek Prince withdrew in 1983. When Bob Mumford issued a public repentance in 1989, it pretty much signaled the end of the movement. Despite that fact, there are still many churches and fellowships that employ some of the concepts that were emphasized.
The Shepherding Movement – Reformed, Revamped, Reee-diculous!