by Covenant Life (13 churches in multiple states) or "adopted" on the basis of shared doctrinal convictions and relational ties. Originally called People of Destiny International, the association's name changed over time to PDI, then Sovereign Grace Ministries, and finally to Sovereign Grace Churches (2014). In the early '90s C.J. was selected to lead the association of churches in addition to his responsibilities as senior pastor of Covenant Life. Tomczak relocated to Atlanta in 1996 to plant a new church and left the association by 1998. He later stated that the increasingly Calvinistic theology was a major factor in this parting of the ways. Mahaney held the role of senior pastor for over 20 years, and in September 2004 passed this role to Joshua Harris. C.J. continued as a mentor while leading Sovereign Grace, whose offices were located in the same facility. In 2011, documents written by a former Sovereign Grace leader were circulated online that triggered sharp disagreements between leaders and internal strife within the church. Despite a formal reconciliation process mediated by Ambassadors of Reconciliation, in December 2012 members of Covenant Life Church voted to end their formal association with Sovereign Grace Ministries, citing numerous differences, but especially noting differences on issues related to church polity. Joshua Harris and C.J. Mahaney "resigned from the council of The Gospel Coalition (TGC) in 2014. Also in 2014, a former church member was convicted of sexually abusing three boys in their homes in the 1980s and early 1990s. None of the abuse occurred at Covenant Life Church. In 2014, a civil lawsuit against Covenant Life Church and Sovereign Grace Ministries alleging a cover-up of child sexual abuse was dismissed in Maryland. The case was dismissed by a lower court with prejudice since the statute of limitations for a civil suit in Maryland had passed. The case was finally dismissed by Maryland's highest court on September 22, 2014. In January 2015 Joshua Harris announced plans to step down as lead pastor and pursue formal graduate theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. He stated in an interview that "the isolation of Covenant Life, and of a small cluster of churches of which it was a part, may have fed leadership mistakes, including the decision of pastors — himself among them — to handle a child sexual abuse case internally instead of going to police." In December 2015, Covenant Life Church voted