No. Darwin was once a member of Grace Community Church and briefly participated as a non-paid leader in the youth ministry. Instead of becoming a pastoral intern or following any of the established tracks for leadership training within Grace Church, however, he soon dropped out of ministry there and became a severe critic of the church, and of John MacArthur in particular. He began meeting not far away with a small group of followers who were willing to submit to his authoritarian style. He declared himself a pastor; he has never submitted to pastoral training or examination of any kind from any biblically-qualified elders.

In 1994 Darwin was disciplined by Grace Church for brazen factiousness. He was first warned in accordance with Titus 3:10. He refused to repent, however, so he was excommunicated—publicly put out of membership in the church (the church's final recourse when a sinning member refuses repentance—Matt. 18:17).