The Death of Roderick C. Meredith

LCG has announced that Roderick C. Meredith has passed away aged 86 on Thursday, May 18, 2017. It had been announced earlier that he had terminal cancer. His funeral is to be held Sunday, May 21.

I wished he had lived longer. My thoughts and condolences go to his family members.

We human beings are complicated. We can treat those close to us well while neglecting those not so favored. I will not speculate about those who were close to him. But for those of us who participated in and saw the fallacies of what Roderick C. Meredith taught it is sad to see that he used up his working life promoting and sustaining a religion that is severely flawed and has caused much pain to the many people who have grown disillusioned with it.

As HWA's organization grew HWA and those immediately below him including Meredith had few restraints upon their authority. In a situation like that abuse of that power were practically certain to occur.

Infamously, as may be seen in his July 18, 1969 letter, he helped enforce HWA's astoundingly brutal divorce and remarriage policy which gave ministers of HWA's organization the power to order couples to end their marriages for arbitrary reasons. This frightening policy was in force until 1974.

In 1992 HWA's organization had to pay $750,000 to Leona McNair to settle a libel case that started after Meredith made public statements about her in 1979 that she denounced as libelous. At one point of the long running case a jury awarded her $1,260,000 in damages for Meredith's libel on August 23, 1984.

Last year Meredith was sued again by the Scarboroughs for alleged bad behavior against them when they were disfellowshipped out of LCG. However that particular lawsuit failed.

Although Meredith often played up his associations with HWA he actually fell out of his favor long before HWA's death. David Robinson stated in his book, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, that HWA no longer favored Meredith as early as 1972. He insisted that Meredith was only placed over the ministry in 1979 in order to bolster HWA and Stanley Rader's power over HWA's organization during the receivership crisis. Once he had served his purpose in reasserting HWA's authority over the ministry he was immediately replaced by Joseph Tkach in July 1979. Even after Rader lost HWA's favor in 1981 Meredith was not returned to that position which he previously held. HWA's actions indicate that he did not view Meredith as a possible successor.

While Meredith was over the ministry in January-July 1979 he disfellowshipped numerous ministers. The authoritarian nature of HWA's organization allowed Meredith to wield such frightening power even over other ministers.

In 1992 as the Tkach changes got closer to transforming the organization founded by HWA into essentially another Protestant church Meredith left it and formed a splinter group. In 1998 a schism erupted and he left to form yet another splinter group. While leading these organizations of his he hosted a telecast. And even though there had emerged hundreds of splinter groups which taught many doctrines very similar to what he himself preached he would still say things like, "You will gain precious insights and information available nowhere else," letting his audience falsely think that no one else taught what he did. How is saying a statement like that not a con?

Meredith also had a long history of demonizing and vilifying the LGBT community. While such hostility is common among the splinter groups originating from HWA's organization Meredith seemed especially obsessed with vilifying them. One shudders to imagine the effects of his vindictiveness upon those who paid attention to his words. One wonders why he was so bitter and nasty towards them,

It is clear that Meredith was badly served by his uncle C. Paul Meredith who seems to have helped lead Meredith into joining HWA's organization in Meredith's teenage years. Serving HWA's organization led to Meredith promoting all kinds of misinformation that were simply untrue such as British Israelism. It would have been better for himself and those around him if Meredith had pursued another avenue of employment that would have prevented him having such a negative influence over other people. But he made his choices and the consequences of his choices have to be addressed.

******

Roderick C. Meredith's death has been mentioned elsewhere.

Banned by HWA. (Here and here.)

As Bereans Did.

Painful Truth.

Roderick C. Meredith's Cruel Purge of WCG Ministers (1979)

In January 1979 during the receivership crisis HWA appointed Roderick C. Meredith as head of the ministry. Roderick Meredith was only in this role until August 1979 when he was replaced by Joseph Tkach (it seems at the behest of Stanley Rader) but even in that small space of time he proceeded to go on a rampage disfellowshiping and marking WCG ministers who he viewed as not sufficiently conforming to HWA's rule.

The previous year HWA had cast out his own son, Garner Ted Armstrong, out of WCG  as part of a bitter power struggle. HWA then proceeded to reassert his authority among WCG members. The rules became more stern. HWA's makeup ban was reimposed.

Roderick Meredith was a part of this and he was appointed head of the ministry in January 1979 and he worked towards HWA's reassertion of authority. Many WCG members and ministers did not support what was going on. Knowing this Roderick Meredith proceeded to disfellowship several WCG ministers on the pages of the Pastor's Report as part of HWA's campaign to crush any potential dissidence within WCG. The purpose of all this was to intimidate and horrify the WCG members into submit to WCG's authority regardless of their personal feelings. Only the victims truly know how terrible all this was.

The following is a compilation of several posts I had made looking at Roderick Meredith's time as head of the ministry. People deserve to know the truth about Roderick Meredith and what he did at this time. The original posts may be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.

***

While reading John Tuit's book I found the April 23, 1979, Pastor's Report, which contains Roderick Meredith announcing that he had disfellowshipped two WCG ministers.

One unhappy note was the situation in Hawaii. We had to switch our previously announced plans and send Mr. Dennis Luker to Hawaii because our minister there, John Ouvrier, had been carefully "programming" our brethren against God's Work and against His apostle, Mr. Armstrong. In spite of Dennis' best efforts, it looks like 2/3 of the Honolulu church has defected to John Ouvrier and his disloyal, heinous, back stabbing tactics.

It is my sad duty, therefore, to announce that John Ouvrier is out of God's ministry and has been officially disfellowshipped from God's church. I am here marking him as one who has caused GREAT division and confusion in the area of Christ's ministry over which he was responsible. I feel it is necessary to mark him here so that all of you ministers can warn any of your brethren going to and from Hawaii about this situation. (pp. 7-8.)

The Painful Truth has an article, The "Plain Truth" about Hawaii that describes this courageous mass liberation of WCG members in Hawaii from HWA's tyranny.

The following is Meredith's announcement of his disfellowshipping of Mr. Richard Prince.

Another sad situation that has just come up is that of Mr. Richard Prince -- former pastor of our church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Prince "vomited" on the St. Joseph church a week ago Sabbath -- spilling out to Christ's "little ones" all of his frustrations, misunderstandings, and personal animosities about Mr. Armstrong and those assisting him and his upsets over all manner of programs and policies with which he personally disagreed. The area coordinator, Mr. Ray Wooten, reports that Mr. Prince has also "programmed" the church so that we may lose quite a number of brethren from the St. Joseph church.

Therefore, it is my sad duty also to mark Mr. Richard Prince as one who has been aggressively causing DIVISION and great hurt within God's Church. I have had to ex-communicate him from the body of Christ for his reprehensible conduct and he, too, must be avoided by those who are loyal to Jesus Christ. (p. 8.)

Those two ministers are heroes for standing up against HWA's tyranny. Despite the great fear they must have had they still dared to resist HWA's tyranny.

This serves as a remainder of the terrible dictatorial abuses that Meredith unleashed upon WCG during those dark and terrible days.

 ***

Found this from pages 3-4 of the May 14, 1979 Pastor's Report.

Here Roderick C. Meredith demonizes C. Wayne Cole and Dave Antion for joining Garner Ted Armstrong's Church of God International.

One bit of sad news to report is that Garner Ted Armstrong held a publicly advertized meeting of his dissident church out here in Arcadia just east of Pasadena this Sabbath, and was joined at the podium by both Wayne Cole and Dave Antion. Hurt feelings and rebellion make strange bedfellows. As all of you know, these two men continually proclaimed that they would NEVER join Ted and told many of us privately including myself that they were appalled at Ted's wretched immorality and hypocrisy over so many many years that they did not feel he was fit to be a minister of God. Yet here there are, frisking up by his side in the hope, perhaps, that his personality and human charisma and following may somehow work to give them a following and sense of "respectability" after their dastardly attack on the Church of the Living God this last January. ...

They are directly or indirectly attacking the authority of Jesus Christ and his chosen apostle, Mr. Herbert Armstrong. They are attacking or undermining the peace and unity of the body Jesus Christ has used all these years to do His Work. ... they have decided to take matters into their own hands and REBEL against the one they have ALL acknowledged as the specially chosen leader of God's Church in this time--Herbert W. Armstrong. ...

But when reality comes, God's dedicated apostle--who has never tried to hurt or kill or unjustly humiliate anyone--was finally forced by increasing evidence of rebellion and immorality to ask his son to go on a leave of abscene. The result?

WHERE ARE all those "yes sirs" and responsive attitudes? And where are they in the lives of David Antion and Wayne Cole who honored Mr. Armstrong up until so recently, while at the same time proclaiming their disgust and distaste of Garner Ted Armstrong?          

What Meredith wrote is really disgusting and untrue.

It is disgusting the way these Armstrongite "leaders" pretend that any challenge against their rule is an attack on Christ. 

What happened to C. Wayne Cole was very tragic. As a result of the Receivership in January 1979, at first HWA decided to cooperate and appointed C. Wayne Cole as his second in command. This is how John Tuit described C. Wayne Cole's reaction to his appointment to this important position.

At this point Cole was nervous and upset to the point of being physically ill, realizing the magnitude of Armstrong's decision. He had not sought such prominence and now was finding himself thrust into the position of being temporarily in charge of the Church. He realized that this could bring conflicts between himself and Rader, such as he had not had in the past. He said, "Gentlemen, I'm not feeling too well, I'm nervous over this whole thing. I'm going to go out for some fresh air." 

 While Armstrong typed his press release, Cole took a lengthy walk around the neighborhood, as he tried to adjust to his new responsibilities. He wondered what Rader's reaction would be. He realized that while Armstrong had just only that very morning discussed with him the removal of Rader from certain positions, he was now concerned about a deteriorating relationship with Rader. Cole now found himself in the most prominent position in the Church, next to that of Armstrong's position as head of the Church.

But shortly afterwards HWA stabbed him in the back and had him fired and shunned from WCG. HWA changed his mind and decided to resist the Receivership as much as possible.

But despite all this Meredith viciously accused him of committing a "dastardly attack on the Church of the Living God" and tried to demonize him. In reality C. Wayne Cole merely tried to do what HWA said he wanted and was betrayed by him.

After reading this it is all too easy to see how Meredith could later libel Leona McNair and cause WCG to be embroiled in her lawsuit that forced them to pay her $750,000 after a thirteen year court case. As far as I am concerned the untrue accusation Meredith made against C. Wayne Cole are just as libelous as his accusations against Leona McNair.

I am under the impression that Meredith yearned to be HWA's number two man. C. Wayne Cole was a threat to his position and this explains why Meredith chose to be so vicious in demonizing him even though he was then no threat to Meredith's position of responsibility under HWA.

As it turned out C. Wayne Cole soon left the Church of God International.

Mr. Cole, with his wife, Doris, found himself sucked into the usual black hole of obscurity reserved for disfellowshipped WCG members. Known to hardly anyone but close family members was their move to Texas and their joining up with the new Church of God International ministry of Garner Ted Armstrong.

But their career with the CGI was short-lived, only about six months. Beginning in 1980 the Coles dropped out of sight even of the CGI and reemerged in the parallel universe of the non-Church of God . They began successful careers brokering real estate in the Tyler area, not returning to formal Sabbath-service attendance until 1995....

The Coles in June 1995 began attending Sabbath and feast-day services of the Church of God Big Sandy and have continued to attend with that fellowship.

It is good to know that despite the terrible betrayal he endured he was still able to rise above that terrible adversity.

***

This is from the May 21, 1979 Pastor's Report, pages 1-2.

In these words Meredith, in his "wisdom," underlined the word 'disfellowship' twice. ...

Mr. Armstrong has reminded us again that we are to disfellowship any members who attend GTA's [Garner Ted Armstrong's] campaigns, church services or other meetings. Some of our weaker members apparently do not realize that this man is in direct rebellion against God and His government! We must not allow them, or ourselves, to rationalize about this matter, to try to "help the underdog," or in any other way lend support to one whose gross immorality, whose long standing "play acting" and hypocrisy, and whose direct insubordination to the Government of God has long been and is now a source of confusion and DIVISION among God's people. So, as per Mr. Armstrong's instruction, I charge and exhort every one of you faithful ministers of the living Christ to explain this in no uncertain terms to your members, to warn them about this cause of division and then to disfellowship any who consort with GTA or any of his fellows. 

What a disgusting order! Look at these words!

We must not allow them, or ourselves, to rationalize about this matter, to try to "help the underdog," or in any other way lend support to [Garner Ted Armstrong.]

This is particularly repugnant. Let me explain why I feel this way.

As far as I understand it post-traumatic stress disorder can occur when a person does something nasty to another, for instance murder. When a person murders another it can, surprisingly, be traumatic and distressing to the perpetrator as well. This is usually because when you see something like that happen you cannot help but imagine that happening to yourself as well.

Surely being ordered to disfellowship someone must also be traumatic, at least at first. I cannot help but think that enforcing such an order must also be traumatic to the perpetrator. (I am NOT saying we should feel sorry for the disfellowshipping ministers or "blame the victim," I am simply explaining why Meredith wrote the words above.)

It seems to me that some good hearted WCG ministers were reluctant to enforce such draconian policies.

But here HWA and Meredith are laying down the law and ordering WCG ministers to disregard any natural affection and feelings of sympathy for the victim and simply cast them out.

Don't let your conscience be your guide, HWA and Meredith are saying here to WCG ministers, do what we tell you. Don't let your body's natural warning systems trying to tell you that you shouldn't do that, or that you will feel terrible and traumatized about this. Just do what we tell you and cast them out.

One can only speculate how much misery and strife these words inflicted upon WCG members.

One can only speculate how much misery and trauma "loyal" WCG ministers inflicted upon themselves trying to fulfill HWA's and Meredith's orders here.

I find Meredith's words particularly disgusting because some good hearted WCG ministers were reluctant to enforce this draconian order because of their own consciences and HWA and Meredith are here ordering them to disregard their consciences and inflict traumatic disfellowshipping upon WCG members and to traumatize themselves as well.

Let me emphasize again, I am NOT saying we should sorry for those who disfellowshipped WCG members at this time. Rather I am explaining why I find Meredith's words above particularly disgusting and explaining how Meredith gave license to WCG ministers to be heartless and cruel towards WCG members.

Also note how vague this order is:

Mr. Armstrong has reminded us again that we are to disfellowship any members who attend GTA's [Garner Ted Armstrong's] campaigns, church services or other meetings.... disfellowship any who consort with GTA or any of his fellows. 

"GTA's [Garner Ted Armstrong's] campaigns, church services or other meetings". What "other meetings"? Here WCG members are not just forbidden from "campaigns [or] church services" but even "other meetings". This insures that WCG members will have to be able do anything that could be considered "disloyal" to HWA's WCG. They will have to viciously watch themselves in fear that they could be accused and consequently disfellowshipped.

"disfellowship any who consort with GTA or any of his fellows." "Or any of his fellows"? What does that mean? The potential for abuse of these orders is so vast. It does not appear that Meredith is worried about any innocent victim getting cast out for false reasons. He wants any challenge to HWA and his authority viciously removed. 

It is ironic that at the same time WCG was fighting the State of California's forced receivership claiming it violated their freedom of religion, HWA and Meredith were violating the freedom of religion of WCG members who attended any meeting associated with Garner Ted Armstrong or his organization, the Church of God International. What hypocrites HWA and Meredith are!

And right after the disgusting paragraph reported above Meredith reports the following:

On a more happy note, I am glad to report that Mr. Gerald Waterhouse has so far reached 68 churches on his tour across the U.S. He reports positive and encouraging response from ministers and members alike.

What a fantasyland HWA, Meredith and Co. were living in at this time! Today many people remember Gerald Waterhouse's long winded sermons with loathing. It is strange to see how Meredith at the time seems to think all is well with Gerald Waterhouse. How wrong they are. When many WCG members moved beyond Armstrongism they remembered his sermons with disgust. He is now remembered as a sign of so much that was wrong in the authoritarian Worldwide Church of God cult.

***

Here is Roderick C. Meredith once again demonizing C. Wayne Cole, this time for trying to get his side of the story told to people within WCG. Roderick C. Meredith viewed him as a rival for access to HWA and accused him of collaborating with the State of California's receivership when in fact Cole was only doing what HWA ordered and HWA changed his mind and betrayed him, casting him out of the church.

These words of Meredith may be seen in the June 11, 1979 Pastor's Report, page 2.

Of a far more ominous nature is the news -- which many of you know -- that Wayne Cole and the dissidents have been "dredging up" from the past all kinds of old reports, letters and memos which they can find which in any way make the Work look "bad," appear to be contradictory, etc. This, coupled with various reasonings and accusations based on this out-dated information, is being sent out to many of you ministers.

I am sure that most of you are intelligent and mature enough to see through the twisted fabric of various bits and pieces of truth mixed with half-truth, lies mixed with speculation which are woven together in a distorted manner to make Mr. Armstrong and God's Work look bad. If any of you have sincere questions about this material -- not only for your own sake but to be able to answer others -- please drop me a line about the specific point and I will try to see that we make a genuine answer to you and we will NOT try to judge you or hold this inquiry against you in any way.

I wonder how many ask questions of Meredith? Did he judge them for it? Of course it is impossible for me to know the answers to such questions, but based on what I know of him I would not have trusted his assurances that "we will NOT try to judge you or hold this inquiry against you in any way" if this publication was sent to me.

***

Roderick C. Meredith's words regarding WCG's legal defense against the State of California's receivership on page 5 of the June 25, 1979 Pastor's Report are fascinating in that they reveal that Stanley Rader was second in power even though he was then still just a lay member.

Note how Meredith, the head of the ministry, makes sure to flatter Rader and compliment him.

All of us ministers should be more grateful than we have been for the fine work done by Mr. Rader, Mr. Helge and the excellent legal team they have put together. Many of you out there do not realize the tremendous job they have done under adverse circumstances, and the massive amount of work and long hours they have had to put in -- often working FAR INTO THE NIGHT -- in order that we can have the kind of "peace" in God's Work now...

Meredith does this because Rader was more powerful than him. He is showing deference to his superior, who happens to be simply a lay member. 

However in truth Meredith viewed Rader as a rival he needed to overthrow so that he could become the number two man within WCG. Meredith had already tried to destroy the reputation and dignity of the betrayed C. Wayne Cole. He did this repeatedly.

He had thrown C. Wayne Cole under the bus, so to speak. Meredith tried to do the same to Rader, as John Tuit notes in Chapter 17 of The Truth Shall Make You Free.

Rodrick Meredith, however, decided to use the conference as an opportunity to undermine Rader. His purpose was not that altruistic, as he felt that he was the one who should be in charge of the Church next to Armstrong, and he was anxious to make a move. There had been a rumor regarding Rader that had not yet been too widely spread. In order to make sure everyone knew the rumor, Meredith decided to publicly deny the rumor. He then announced to the entire assembled group of ministers that all of the allegations regarding Rader's homosexual conduct with Cornwall were false. Now everyone knew the story. And while Rader remained totally silent on the subject, he would have the final word on Meredith.

A few months later, Rader was to have Meredith removed by convincing Armstrong to eliminate the position of head of the ministry and take it to himself. 

Later Meredith was even sent to paid exile in Hawai'i for six months and was given a scathing letter by HWA stating he was not qualified to succeed him as leader of "God's Church." When he tried to take on Rader he failed miserably.
  
John Tuit has more to say about Roderick C. Meredith.

***

... And now let us continue reading the June 25, 1979 Pastor's Report.

This report is notorious as, on page 6, it contains Meredith's infamous libel against Leona McNair. This libel plunged WCG into a thirteen year court case which forced it to pay her $750,000 in an out of court settlement.

Reading this Pastor's Report, at first I completely missed his vicious and false accusations against Leona McNair.

But now looking at it, and remembering the instrumental and vital role Roderick C. Meredith played in destroying families to impose HWA's divorce and remarriage doctrine I find it most fitting that Meredith should stumble into this costly and humiliating blunder by talking about WCG's policy on divorce and remarriage.

Meredith felt that WCG members and ministers were divorcing and remarrying too much and wanted to tell them that they could only divorce for "legitimate reasons," the few exceptions WCG allowed marriages to dissolve.

Now he knew WCG members and ministers could dismiss his words by saying, "But Raymond McNair got a divorce, and he did not have a "legitimate reason" to do so. Your words are hypocritical, so I will ignore them."

Meredith is trying to get around this objection by saying Raymond McNair's divorce was legitimate within "God's Church" and met his exceptions for allowing divorce.

But he did this by demonizing Leona McNair, saying untrue things about her.

These are Meredith's words on page 6.

Now, fellow ministers, I would like to discuss something that is becoming an increasingly critical problem within the ministry and within God's Church as a whole -- especially here in the United States. Increasing numbers of our church members are beginning to divorce their mates for, it seems, almost ANY conceivable reason! What's more, they then expect to "remain in the church" and probably REMARRY someone else in the Church -- perhaps their former friend's wife who has, by now, divorced him, and is also "still in the Church."

We are going to have long doctrinal and theological discussions with Mr. Herbert Armstrong to cover and thoroughly understand any legitimate reasons for divorce and remarriage. However, as of this writing, there are only THREE that God's Church has officially recognized as legitimate:...

(III) Desertion -- by the unconverted mate -- although this was accepted and taught by the Church long before his action, a classic example of this would be Mr. Raymond McNair's situation. His wife refused to be a wife to him for over two years -- to sleep with him, cook for him, or even civilly communicate with him in a decent manner. Rather, she had left God's Church and was actively FIGHTING God's Church and Mr. McNair, turning his children against him and literally cursing him to his face. Finally, upon advice of Mr. Armstrong and Ted Armstrong, he was finally forced to make legal the already existing FACT that she had deserted him and was no longer his wife in any way whatsoever.   

Of course, as it turned out, what Meredith said was very misleading and inaccurate.

And later, when Leona McNair read about Meredith's words she was very upset and traumatized that he said such untrue things to the many people who knew her and that she knew within WCG.

A $70 million libel suit against the Armstrong organization was filed in July [1979] by Leona A. McNair. ... 

contacted Mrs. McNair requesting details of the suit but was told that she has been deeply hurt by the allegedly libelous statements made against her and does not wish to give the matter further publicity. (Ambassador Report 10)

On 23 August 1984 a Pasadena jury awarded her $1,260,000 in damages for Meredith's libel. The whole topic is extensively covered in Ambassador Report 29, hosted on the Painful Truth website. This issue contains much valuable information regarding Roderick C. Meredith and Raymond McNair.

This is how the divorce really happened.

What the McNairs discovered when they arrived [at Pasadena in 1973] was a church headquarters fraught with doctrinal divisions, political infighting, and sex scandals.
To all of this, Raymond turned a blind eye, remaining faithful to his mentor, church founder Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA). Leona's patience with the church's leadership, however, rapidly waned. Her high intelligence (Dr. McKelligott would later testify that her 143 IQ is equaled by only three in a thousand) and strong religious values conflicted with the role she was expected to play. She told Raymond she could no longer continue to support him in what she viewed as the perpetration of a giant fraud. She stopped attending Worldwide Church of God (WCG) services in 1974 and occasionally attended lectures given by such ex-WCG ministers as Dr. Ernest L. Martin.

Leona's disillusionment with Herbert Armstrong and her desire for religious freedom were intolerable to Raymond, and he made his feelings known. According to testimony by Leona, in 1975 her husband told her, "I am going to crush you until you are totally dependent on me!" (In court Raymond denied ever making this threat. However, third parties have confirmed hearing Raymond say the equivalent.) Raymond cut Leona off from access to their joint bank accounts, badgered her into giving back jewelry he had given her and then sold them, refused to give her adequate money for groceries, and moved into separate sleeping quarters. Leona also soon began to notice that many WCG friends would no longer have anything to do with her.

Communication between Leona and Raymond became increasingly strained. But in spite of this, Leona - concerned for the welfare of her children - put aside all thought of divorce or separation. Raymond, on the other hand, had different ideas. According to Leona's court testimony, and corroborated by her daughter, on a number of occasions Raymond took her to the door, opened it and yelled, "You're not paying the bills here. Get out!" The reason for this behavior was inexplicable to Leona until later when she realized that, although the WCG had for four decades prohibited all divorce, around 1974 church leaders began to discuss the possibility of allowing divorce for members deserted by nonmembers. Leona's suspicions were confirmed when Mrs. Nancy Tate, one of her close friends, told her how the wife of one WCG evangelist had confided, "If we could just get Leona to leave the house, we could get her on desertion." Before long, Raymond made his intentions perfectly clear. He flat out told her he would divorce her when the time was right.

The relationship was now a traumatic one, but Leona still had no intention of deserting her family. Nor was she lingering on for (what Allan Browne would later claim in court) a "free ride." She started attending college again in 1974 to reestablish her nursing credentials. And when those were obtained in 1975 she found work at a local hospital. But then, a few weeks later in June, Raymond McNair did something no WCG evangelist had ever done. He filed for divorce. 

It is terrible to think that Meredith simply lied and claimed the divorce was all Leona McNair's fault.

The issue of Ambassador Report also note how Meredith once, in 1960, gave Leona McNair a humiliating four hour shouting session at her that adversely affected her health.

Meredith's testimony, less rambling than Raymond McNair's - but equally self-justifying - was particularly remarkable in its portrayal of the WCG as one big happy family. Meredith went to some length in describing the close friendship that had supposedly once existed between the McNairs and himself. But Ruth McNair-Knasin, when asked about the matter, said she didn't believe true friendship ever really existed between Meredith and her father. She described their relationship as one that would quickly evaporate were it perceived as getting in the way of "the Work." ...

The WCG may be one big happy family to Meredith, but Leona on the stand recalled how one evening in 1960 Raymond let Meredith into their home and announced, to her astonishment, that he had been invited in to "counsel" her. What followed, according to Leona, was four-and-one-half hours of railing accusation, authoritative preaching, sex-life interrogation, and high-decibel, humiliating verbal abuse from Meredith. Her problem? She was not a submissive enough wife and two ministers (unnamed) had found fault with her. She needed to obey his dictates because he (Meredith) was "God's number three man on earth" and would very likely remain in authority over her for all eternity! She needed to learn true submission! (Those who have seen Bryon Forbes' movie "The Stepford Wives" - referred to by Ruth McNair-Knasin in her testimony - will understand what Meredith was apparently aiming at.)

The 4= hours of harangue left Leona - then 2= months pregnant - in utter shock. She began shaking and hyperventilating. While Raymond slept well that night, she sobbed all night. The next morning found her still trembling. According to her court testimony, it was then that her nervous disorders began. In court Raymond claimed that Leona never had any emotional problems during their years in England. But a letter he wrote to her in 1975 specifically referred to her "emotional hangups." And Ruth testified how around 1970 her father had asked for her support in the event that he would find it necessary to have her mother committed.
On the stand, Meredith gave a very different picture of what happened. He described the 4=-hour session as nothing more than a friendly discussion lasting about an hour or so. Meredith's benevolent persona, however, stands in stark contrast to his reputation as a psychologically intimidating and harsh authoritarian in the performance of ministerial duties.  

 The Ambassador Report also notes other instances of Meredith's authoritarian behavior. Here is one.

Another former WCG minister told us that after a Meredith "counseling" session with his wife, she became so totally depressed he emphatically ordered her never to discuss anything privately with Meredith again. He explained, "Rod has the ability to somehow dig into a person's mind in such a way as to make them feel utterly guilt ridden and despondent. He seems to revel in this strange power to bring someone down psychologically." The same man also told us how once on a walk with Meredith, Roderick turned to him and said, "You may not realize it, but in all the universe, I'm number five, and you're number such and such." To us, at least, Leona's testimony was quite credible.

No wonder the jury awarded her $1,260,000 in damages for Meredith vicious libel against her.

WCG appealed and the case dragged on until 1992 when WCG paid $750,000 in an out of court settlement because of Meredith's libel. 

Mrs. Leona McNair's libel lawsuit against the Worldwide Church of God, Roderick C. Meredith, and her ex-husband Raymond McNair, was finally ended in December when the suit was settled out of court for $750,000 (Pasadena Star-News, 11/21/92). ... the WCG still refused to admit any wrongdoing, ... The victory by Leona was no small accomplishment...
 Leona McNair says she intends to get back to her career in nursing very soon. In the meantime, she is working on a book about tithing which she believes is a false doctrine that has cursed many Christians. Whether or not the book ever gets done, she has already written a short, but thought provoking, paper on the subject and she is distributing it to friends.

The best thing about her lawsuit coming to an end seems to be that, because she is no longer perceived as fighting against "God's Work," her two WCG-member sons are once again able to talk to their mother. Ironically, because Leona's ex-husband, Raymond McNair, recently left the WCG for Rod Meredith's Global Church of God, Leona's two sons are not supposed to talk to their father now because he has become "an enemy of God's Church." (Ambassador Report 52.)

Because Meredith left WCG shortly after this case was settled it is often asserted that Meredith stayed in WCG because of the libel lawsuit. Once the lawsuit was over he got out of WCG, which shielded him by paying the out of court settlement and paying to defend him and WCG from her libel suit, and started up his own COG offshoot group.

What a terrible legacy of shattered dreams and shattered lives this Roderick Meredith has left behind in his wake.  

How can anyone choose to follow a man who done such terrible things?

***

Here is Roderick C. Meredith announcing the disfellowshipment of David Robinson in the July 16, 1979 Pastor's Report, page 1:

Mr. Herbert Armstrong just returned from a very helpful and profitable trip to visit the church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our minister there, Mr. Don Mason, reported that Mr. Armstrong gave a very warm and loving sermon which encouraged the brethren a great deal. However, because of very serious wrong attitudes and wrong accusations he made, Mr. David Robinson, the former pastor there, has been terminated from God's ministry.

Meredith discusses David Robinson again in the July 23, 1979 Pastor's Report. These are Meredith's words on pages 1-2.

Now for the perennial BAD news. ...

So here goes.

Dennis Pyle refused to come in on sabbatical and has resigned from the ministry. Jim Redus also refused to come in for his sabbatical and has resigned. Dennis Adams has been terminated from the ministry as he wants to pursue a secular vocation.

On a much more serious note, Daryll Watson has been terminated and disfellowshipped for disloyalty to God's Work. He is already actively cooperating with the enemies of Christ's Work. Jack Martin has also been terminated and disfellowshipped. He, too, was found actively assisting the enemies of this Work. And I am very sorry to report that David Robinson whom we worked with personally for many, many hours on his problems, has had to be terminated and now disfellowshipped because of gross disloyalty to Mr. Armstrong and this Work.  

Later David Robinson wrote the book, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web. WCG's lawyers unsuccessfully tried to block its publication. That book also first revealed to the public that Herbert Armstrong committed incest with his daughter, Dorothy for ten years, around 1933-43.

***

In the July 30, 1979 Pastor's Report Roderick C. Meredith writes the following:

On the sad side, it is my duty to inform you that Mr. Jack Pyle and Mr. Bronson James have both been disfellowshipped from God's Church. They are to be marked in all areas of their activity, as both consorting with and helping the enemies of the Work of God.

Somehow I can't believe Meredith when he pretend that he regrets disfellowshipping people. He seems perfectly willing to hunt out and viciously cast out anyone threatening his, and HWA's, rule over WCG members. If he just fired them, maybe it would be so much of a problem, but HWA and Meredith ordered WCG members to shun and avoid contact with people disfellowshipped by WCG's leadership, tearing apart peoples' lives simply to maintain their rule and authority over WCG members in order to exploit them more effectively by getting them to pay three tithes and more to them.

***

On August 3, 1979 Herbert W. Armstrong removed Roderick C. Meredith as head of the Office of Ministerial Services.

This announcement was published in the August 6, 1979 Pastor's Report, page 3.

Worldwide Church of God

World Headquarters

Pasadena, California   91123

Herbert W. Armstrong
President and Pastor

August 3, 1979

A DIRECTIVE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 

PASTOR GENERAL

I am hereby installing Mr. Joseph W. Tkach in charge of the Office of Ministerial Services, with Dr. William Kessler as assistant.

Mr. Ted Herlofsen is too be transferred to a ministerial post in the field. This directive is to be effective immediately.

[Signature] Herbert W. Armstrong

Pastor General

HWA talks about his decision on this matter in page 13. He seems to me quite mad at Meredith here.

In the emergency [the receivership crisis], I set Roderick C. Meredith as head of the ministry until I could decide how to eliminate this POWER BLOC by having a man as "head of the ministry"-- which is virtually the same as being head of the Church and the entire Work. Such an office simply does not belong in God's Church.

Therefore I am ABOLISHING that office entirely. Christ's Apostle is the human head over the ministry, and MUST NOT BE CUT OFF FROM THE MINISTERS! Mr. Meredith is being transferred back as Dean of the Faculty of Ambassador College. 

(My word! HWA is referring to himself in the third person.)

Tkach does not speak for himself in this issue.

In the August 21, 1979 Pastor's Report, page 7, Joseph Tkach writes his first article in the Pastor's Report. (For some reason that is upside down.) Here we get a strong indication of what really happened and why Meredith was removed.

Notice how Tkach calls for WCG ministers to pray for HWA and Stanley Rader.

Stay close to God and remember always to pray for Mr. Armstrong. As the China trip draws near, pray even more earnestly for his health, success, and protection. Pray for God's guidance and protection for Mr. Rader as he makes advance preparations for these extremely important meetings with top officials of the Chinese government.

Your servant in Christ,
Joe Tkach.

Notice how Tkach ask WCG ministers to pray for HWA and then Stanley Rader. This shows quite clearly that at this point in time it was Stanley Rader who was the number two man in WCG, even though he was then only a lay member.

Maybe that was another reason why HWA removed Meredith? In some of the previous issues of Pastor's Report Meredith announced that non-career ministers (essentially retired ministers who continued to minister part time with reduced pay) would be abolished. Meredith emphasized that any such man from now on is to regarded as only a laymember.

Perhaps Rader was suspicious of Meredith's call for ex-ministers in good standing with WCG to be regarded only as lay members and interpreted this as an attack on his position of authority within WCG.

In a previous post we also saw how Meredith attempted to undermine Rader by spreading a rumor that had not been spread that widely before he publicly denied it, thus causing everyone to know of it.

Rader lashed out at Meredith and got HWA to remove him. Leaving him as Dean of the Faculty was not enough and he was later sent to paid exile in Hawai'i for six months. It was while Meredith was in Hawai'i that HWA sent Roderick C. Meredith a letter that harshly criticized him and among other things said that Meredith had no ability to run the church after HWA's death even though Meredith viewed things differently.

Stanley Rader also proceeded to take care of the problem that he was only a lay member.

Meredith's removal was the first move in a sequence of moves to strengthen Rader's power, culminating in Rader's ordination as an Evangelist by HWA and heir apparent.

The big news was really not much of a surprise. We predicted it in 1976, in our very first issue: Stan Rader was ordained an evangelist. The well-executed sequence of events went as follows:

First Roderick C. Meredith was removed as director of the WCG's ministry. Then all WCG evangelists were stripped of their rank. The hierarchical structure of the ministry was reorganized with Joseph Tkach, a preaching elder, and Kevin Dean, formerly a steward on the church airplane, elevated to top positions under HWA. (Both Tkach and Dean are proven Rader loyalists.) The board of trustees was purged of anti-Rader trustees (Meredith and Luker). (Raymond McNair remained, as he is now in the Rader camp.)

In his September 20 co-worker letter, Herbert Armstrong hinted that his life might soon be coming to an end (an amazing admission for HWA). Within days, it was announced that Rader had been ordained an evangelist along with Joseph Tkach ...

As we go to press, we have learned that Roderick Meredith has been given a six month "leave of absence" in Hawaii. Few believe he will ever return to any significant position in the WCG. Perhaps he will not return at all. (Ambassador Report 10.) 

Meredith tried to remove Rader from power and failed miserably. That is why he got removed as head of the ministry in 1979.

***

What a shameful record of oppression and cruelty Roderick Meredith showed at this time. And LCG members tithes go to support an organization led by the person who did these oppressive things.

People deserve to know the truth about Roderick Meredith and what he did at this time.

Reading PCG's That Prophet (Royal Vision, 2000): Part 1

Let us now read what Gerald Flurry wrote in the July-August 2000 issue of Royal Vision. It was in this issue of Royal Vision that Flurry proclaimed to PCG members the "new revelation" that he was "That Prophet", a personage he claims was written of in numerous part of the Bible and that he, Gerald Flurry, fulfills this role. Flurry first made this declaration in the ministerial conference of 1999. This Royal Vision article announced this declaration to PCG members in printed form. You can read this magazine issue courtesy of PCG Information.

Joel Hilliker created the cover. On the page with the table of contents is the following caption describing the cover.

The various biblical titles associated with an end-time prophet who comes on the scene just before Christ's return. (Joel Hilliker)

And the titles in question are: Malachi, breaker, the knock, Joel, Habbakkuk, Elisha, Watchman, teacher of righteousness, lawgiver, king, Micah, new thing, ambassador, Zechariah, a voice, counselor.

In a previous post discussing Flurry's booklet, Micah, it has already been mentioned that Flurry in that booklet proclaimed himself to be the "breaker (a king or leader)" sent by God to lead WCG members out of Tkach's WCG and to join his PCG.

God sent a breaker (a king or leader) to lead the way so His faithful remnant sheep could know where God was working. God then gave His tiny remnant the little book—Malachi’s Message to God’s Church Today—so they could understand what had occurred and what He was commissioning the breaker and the little group to do (Rev. 10:1-10). (Gerald Flurry, Micah, 2000 version, p. 25.)

It has also been mentioned a previous post how Flurry compared himself to Winston Churchill as a watchman warning the world about a coming catastrophe in the same way as Winston Churchill warned Britain about the peril of Nazi Germany.

Also it has been previous noted in a previous post about Joel that Flurry proclaimed himself to be a teacher of righteousness mentioned in Joel 2:15. However I was reading the current 2006 version so it is quite possible that particular section was added in a post-1999 version of that booklet.

And so with that we begin.

Part 1

So there are actually three voices here in Isaiah 40. There is John the Baptist. There is Mr. Armstrong. And there is a voice that comes on the scene during the final era of God’s Church, the Laodicean era—a voice bringing God’s message to God’s own lukewarm Church. This third voice is the final one; two voices have already come and gone. This is the LAST VOICE before Jesus Christ returns! It is the voice that says, “BEHOLD YOUR GOD!” (p. 3.)

These words seem to indicate that Flurry seems to believe that Christ will return very soon and that he himself is the last voice to announce God's will before Christ's return.

***

After that Flurry boasts that PCG is proclaiming its message even within the State of Israel.

Our message is reaching the cities of Judah (or Palestine) today. But I still expect that message to become more powerful. (p. 4.)

It is now fourteen years since these words were written. Has PCG's increased their presence there either through their television presence or in terms of gaining members there?

***

Later on Flurry begins to talk about the British throne which he claims to be the direct continuation of the throne of David, a doctrine inherited from HWA who took that idea from British Israelism.

If God is going to give REVELATION about this throne, it will only come through a prophet or an apostle (Eph. 3:5). This man will have the responsibility to preach to the world the revealed prophecy about David’s throne—the key of David. Some man will always be there to tell people about this single greatest hope in the world. (p. 4.)

As seen previous in a previous post concerning Flurry's booklet, Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible, Flurry teaches that a minister in "God's Church" will always preach and declare that the British throne is the continuation of the throne of David and that (PCG's) Christ will return to sit on that specific throne.

***

Flurry boasts that PCG prints HWA's writings and then uses this fact to say this proves that his PCG is the sole legitimate continuation of HWA's WCG.

From the beginning, the PCG has been able to distribute The United States and Britain in Prophecy. It was the first booklet by Mr. Armstrong that we reprinted. In 1992, we printed the small 1945 version. We have distributed more than 50,000 copies of that booklet. Now we have printed the larger 1980 version. God says we have to continue that message. (p. 4.)

Flurry goes on to say that unless a church publishes HWA's writings it is not a true church and has no connection with God.

How much do the Laodicean churches understand about this vision? They don’t teach it because THEY HAVE LOST IT. None of the Laodicean churches even want the God-inspired United States and Britain in Prophecy. It is about the greatest vision in the Bible, and when you lose it, you lose everything. Those who have it are Philadelphian; those who don’t are Laodicean. (p. 4.)

In fact many of HWA's writings are freely available over the Internet. That is how I got to read while I was an Armstrongite.

***

Around here Flurry says that along with the covenant that the House of David would always have a monarch to continue David's royal line there was another covenant that there would always be a minister who would proclaim the truth regarding the British throne. Flurry says that HWA is this man, and he himself, Gerald Flurry, has succeeded HWA in this matter. This teaching has already been discussed in a previous post regarding Gerald Flurry's booklet, Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible.

God’s one-man rule will be disputed more and more as time continues. As the spiritual war heats up, you will see God’s one-man rule called into question more than anything else in this Church. People will say that one-man rule is an evil thing! But that is only true if that one man isn’t being ruled by the great God who will sit on David’s throne! FOLLOWING GOD'S MAN IS ACTUALLY FOLLOWING GOD. God says we are cursed if we follow a mere man (Jer. 17:5). This work is not about a man. “That prophet” doesn’t even have a biblical name. This helps us to focus on God. (p. 5.)

If "that prophet" does not have a biblical name what are the names written on the cover of this booklet then? PCG is all about Gerald Flurry. It is founded on the teaching that Flurry is the legitimate successor to HWA. Flurry appointed himself to this position after he was fired as a minister from Tkach's WCG. All those who disagree are vilified as Laodiceans who are doomed to be cast into the Great Tribulation.

Meditate on these verses in Jeremiah 33, in the context of those two covenants. THERE IS A SPIRITUAL THRONE OF DAVID IN GOD'S CHURCH TODAY. We experience a type of what it will be like over all the Earth once Christ returns. EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE UNIFIED AROUND THAT THRONE! (p. 5.)

Beginning here Flurry says that it is his duty to warn the British Royal family about their sins and if the royal family do not listen to Flurry nuclear disaster awaits them. Flurry also speculates that he will deliver a warning to Prince Charles after assuming the throne. (pp. 5-7).

I don’t yet know exactly how God will want this fulfilled. But remember, there is a connection between that man in the Levitical priesthood—that prophet—and the king or queen sitting upon the throne of David today. This verse specifically says “king.” Will it be King Charles? It will take great faith just to “go” and “speak” to that king. How direct will this message be? This isn’t a message that the British royalty will want to hear! (p. 5.)

If the British royal family does not listen to Flurry nuclear disaster awaits them and the people of Britain.

If this “king” fails to heed, it will affect not only his throne, but all of Israel! Cities are to be uninhabited. Cities like London, Manchester, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallas! These major cities are to be left like a desolate “wilderness”— an uninhabited plain, flattened and unpopulated. How terribly important our message is! This catastrophe can only be avoided if they hear that prophet. It is their only escape! (p. 6.)

Flurry claims that only those who submit to his authority can escape the Great Tribulation. He made similar claims in his 1993 booklet, Lamentations and the End-Time Laodiceans.

***

If you remember history, you realize that the people of Israel should know about and be a part of that covenant. God does hold the British people specifically (and all Israel generally) accountable for scorning that throne and covenant today! (p. 6.)

It is very ironic that an American like Gerald Flurry should say such things considering the fact that the United States of America was founded as an independent nation by waging an armed struggle to overthrow British rule. It is bizarre with this history that Flurry should speak of the British throne in this way.

***

Flurry fantasizes that London will become a tourist attraction after it is destroyed by the German led Europeans.

God gives special attention to “this great city” where David’s throne is. That has to be London, England! This scripture says many nations will come to see the total destruction of this city—it will be a bigger tourist attraction than the Coliseum of Rome or any other ruins on Earth. People will wonder, how did this happen? Imagine London being the number-one tourist attraction in Europe. And why? Because it is totally obliterated! Not one inhabitant left! People will ask why God punished London more than any other city until this time. That devastation will show they did not listen to our message—just as many other destroyed cities did not listen! (p. 6.)

It is a bit hard to imagine that considering that London will only be destroyed for about three and a half years, according to Flurry. Also would not these tourists avoid London because they might be scared of radioactive fallout? Flurry so loves to cry out that the cities of America, Britain and the State of Israel will be destroyed by nuclear attacks.

***

If this king doesn’t repent, he is going to have the burial of an ass! (verses 18-19). What a tragic ending for the world’s most famous and important royalty. (p. 6.)

Flurry really wants to his way with everyone, even the British royal family. Flurry also said this in his booklet, Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision of the Bible, as seen in a previous post.

***

Proclaiming the warning about this destruction is a hard job. It is not a message that guilty people want to hear. Yet no one can prevent this message from going out. God says it will happen. We must deliver the message to Israel, and to that king. How much can you support a man to deliver it? If you love God’s people, and you love this world as God does, you will do all you can to help proclaim this desperately needed message. (p. 6.)

That is the real point of Flurry's grandstanding: he is trying to impress and overawe people into sending him and his PCG money. It is all about the money.

***

Did you know Gerald Flurry has "the most important job on Earth"? Well, that is what he says.

Jeremiah knew God would have to send someone to deliver His message in the end time. And that watchman must have the most important job on Earth, because we’re about to face the worst catastrophe ever, just before Christ returns! (p. 7.)

And Flurry means himself when he talks of a "watchman". He is talking about himself.

Look at Europe today, and you see a boiling pot ready to spill over at any time! It was never boiling when Mr. Armstrong was around. What he warned about all those years is REALLY boiling today! (p. 7.)

Flurry may now say that Europe was not "boiling" in HWA's time but HWA always claimed that Europe was "boiling" from the 1930s onwards. Flurry is manipulating PCG members' memory of what happened in HWA's time. Many WCG members thought Franz Josef Strauss would be the European dictator who would conquer America because of the constant barrage of fear mongering false prophesies that WCG's leaders told to them.

***

Yet, in some ways, we face a more intense warfare. So I also believe it is now time that God wants to magnify my office. I fulfill the office of "that prophet." (p. 8.)

Finally Flurry just admits it simply and plainly. He says he is "that prophet." But he still goes on and on about how great and powerful he is for another 32 pages in order drum this idea into PCG members' head even more firmly.

Curiously in the booklet, Who is "That Prophet", which was released the year after this magazine issue, Flurry does not directly state that he is "That Prophet" in this section.

***

Part 2

This part is entitled "A New Thing". As mentioned above "a new thing" is actually a euphemism for Flurry's one man rule over PCG ministers and members as shall be seen later on.

At the start of this part Flurry provides a most fascinating account of how he converted into a WCG member and then how he was cast out of WCG. Flurry very rarely discusses so much of his personal history. The fact that Flurry himself shares these details of his life here shows how important he regarded his declaration to be "That Prophet". Let's take a look. (For the record Flurry was born in 1935.)

I was 25 years old when God called me into His Church. My life was a mess. I had grown up in a family where my dad, who was an alcoholic, gave me a lot of severe discipline. Some of it I certainly needed, but many of my needs went unfulfilled. So when the time came, I was happy to move out on my own. I wanted to live the “exciting life” everyone in the world was living. Yet it wasn’t that way at all. Soon I felt life was hopeless and empty. I even started trying to prove whether or not there was a God. The more I tried to prove it, the more I thought God did not exist. This discouraged me even more.

My mother had been called into the truth in 1957, and from that time until 1961 she tried endlessly to convert me. I rebelled against that and persecuted her for what she was doing. Whenever Herbert Armstrong came on the radio, she would turn up the volume so I could hear him, and that upset me. I was antagonistic against him and his message— that is, until my life had finally become so miserable and hopeless that I would do anything to change it, even if it meant getting interested in “mom’s religion.”

I eventually came into the Church and began to think of Mr. Armstrong as a father. My own father was lacking in many ways—he didn’t know how to teach me; no one had taught him. But I saw that Mr. Armstrong was very stable. Following him helped me stabilize my life and become stronger. (p. 9.)

"Mr. Armstrong was very stable"? What planet was Flurry living on? HWA was not stable at all. HWA went gallivanting around the world while leaving his followers neglected. HWA's anti-medicine superstition drove many WCG members to die because they were indoctrinated into not going to doctors or using medicines. HWA banned makeup because he disapproved of how his elder daughter looked one day inflicting so much misery upon the females members of WCG. HWA deposed his own son and shunned him for the rest of his life. And over the years he went back and forth on this issue. In 1980, thanks to David Robinson, it became public knowledge that HWA committed incest with his daughter for ten years (recently confirmed to have happened by his own niece his own niece and his own grandson). How can Flurry say HWA "was very stable"? Nothing could be further from the truth.

***

I knew he [HWA] was God's man. (p. 9.)

He was not.

***

Then Flurry talks about how HWA died he was stunned by this but thought the new leader, Tkach Sr., would just keep things going as before. At first Flurry thought everything was fine. He and his congregation even sent Tkach a letter and received Tkach as a visitor. 

At that time, I pastored nearly 500 people in the Oklahoma City area, and we all signed a card for Mr. Tkach, showing our support and inviting him to the area. He decided to come, and I was thrilled. Here was the man who replaced Herbert W. Armstrong. I was truly supportive of him. (p. 9.)

 But as time went on Flurry gradually learned that things were changing in WCG.

Doctrinal changes began to come from headquarters, which were unsettling to me. I had seen nothing but stability and strength in the Church for all those years; even in the 1970s, when the Church went off track, Mr. Armstrong was there to set everything straight. This time, he wasn’t there to fix the problem. (p. 9.)

So Flurry says he saw "nothing but stability and strength in" WCG until Tkach took over. What planet was he living in? It is very hard to take these words at face value. With the shenanigans regarding Garner Ted Armstrong's adulteries, the disappointment of 1972, the rise of Stanley Rader (who is never mentioned in this magazine issue), dissatisfaction of WCG members at HWA's visits to world leaders, the purging of Garner Ted Armstrong, C. Wayne Cole and those said to be "liberal" within WCG how can Flurry say he saw "nothing but stability and strength in" WCG?

But as we shall soon see there is a reason why Flurry claims WCG was so perfect before Tkach, it is to claim that his own PCG is so perfect and to justify his one man rule over PCG.

***

After this Flurry talks about how he and John Amos were fired in December 1989.

Then on December 7, 1989, the late John Amos (my assistant pastor) and I were fired from the Worldwide Church of God. We sat in the office of Joseph Tkach Jr. for about four hours. I was in emotional shock because of what was being said. It was obvious that Mr. Tkach Jr. seriously disagreed with what Mr. Armstrong had taught. This surprised me, because on some naïve level I believed that when I went to Pasadena, I might be able to contribute to helping God get the Church back on track with what He had revealed to me in Malachi’s Message. ...

Leaving Mr. Tkach’s office that night, I was more discouraged than I had ever been in my life. I didn’t know what was going to happen. ...

My daughter, who was working at Pasadena headquarters at the time, was going to travel back with us. She had a little yellow pickup truck, and I let her take my airplane ticket so I could drive the truck home. The trip took three days. I needed those days to sort things out in my mind. As I drove, Church issues weighed so heavily on my mind that I sometimes would have to stop the truck and walk around. What in the world was happening to God’s Church? I wondered.

While talking about this Flurry says that he came to appreciate how desperately they needed HWA.

Soon thereafter, the Philadelphia Church of God began. God created a “new thing” again. We were a Church that wanted to make its work revolve around a man who was put there by God to do His work. It was to be God’s creation.

The Laodiceans don’t want God’s government. They don’t want “the evils of one-man rule,” as they have said many times. THOSE WORDS ARE STRAIGHT FROM THE MIND OF THE DEVIL! They don’t even discuss the blessings of one-man rule, when that man follows God. Think about it: Was the era of Herbert Armstrong evil? I know that Mr. Armstrong’s rule was wonderful. It almost drove me crazy after he died, when we no longer had that wonderful gift. Is one-man rule bad? I have to say my experience with one-man rule was absolutely splendid! I exalt the office, not the man. But Mr. Armstrong was a wonderful blessing all my adult life. I know. I experienced it. I don’t care what any carnal-minded rebel says. (p. 10.)

Of course Flurry found HWA's one man rule over WCG "wonderful." Flurry was a WCG minister and enjoyed the benefits of working for HWA. The tithes and extra offerings of WCG members and co-workers supplied his income. He had the respect and even fear of the members he was in charge of in Paco, Washington (1973-85) and then in Oklahoma after he was transferred there. He had respect, power and authority over the WCG members in his congregation. He was over 500 members in Oklahoma City. And before he joined HWA's Radio Church of God he had none of those things. So of course he adored life in HWA's WCG. He was not one of the lowly members who gave and gave till it hurt.

And as for any of those lay members should dare to point out to Flurry that things were not so good for them or for others they are simply demonized as a "carnal-minded rebel".

***

After this Flurry extols the virtues of one man rule, calling it a "new thing" that must be supported or else one will be cast into the Great Tribulation. One man rule is here euphemistically referred to as a "new thing". This was previously discussed in a previous post about Flurry's booklet, Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible.

Soon this new thing will rule the Earth. Thankfully, it will last forever. What a fabulous joy to be able to help Christ establish His rule over the Earth and the universe. We must be grounded in this concept if we are to be a part of what God is creating. Our ministers must be grounded in this concept today. It is God’s majestic creation, and humanly it revolves around that prophet. This is a deep, deep, deep concept that we must learn before we can ever be born into God’s family. (p. 10.)

God always builds His work around a man. ... The Church revolves around a man—Christ’s man. This you can and must prove to yourself. You are under a curse if you just follow a man (Jeremiah 17:5). It must be Christ’s man. This government of God is the hope of the world. This is how God would solve all the world’s problems, even today, if they would heed His message. It all revolves around finding God’s man! (pp. 10-11.)

So why is one-man rule a new thing? Because under the Old Covenant submitting to the law was manditory and enforced as a law. But under the New Testament such compliance must be done willingly as an act of will. Flurry also states that submitting to PCG's authority will make you one of the elite within the God Family.

Why is this a “new thing”? The book of Jeremiah is prophecy for the end time. Anciently God established a letter-of-the-law government. Moses enforced it on Israel even when they didn’t like it. Today we have God’s Holy Spirit and must choose God’s government. Nobody is forced to submit. Most of God’s people have chosen to reject God’s one-man government. They often talk about “the evils of one-man government.” They refuse to let God’s Church revolve around a man. They must be plunged into the Tribulation, where God makes them choose His government or eternal death. VOLUNTARILY ACCEPTING GOD'S GOVERNMENT TODAY QUALIFIES US TO BE CHRIST'S BRIDE—THE HIGHEST POSITION MAN CAN ATTAIN IN GOD'S KINGDOM. (p. 11.)

Flurry's claim that submitting to "God's government" seems quite disingenuous. If a PCG minister orders a member to no longer attend services or forbids them from associating with any PCG member how can this be done voluntarily? Such restrictions are forced upon people.

***

Then Flurry claims that some verses in Micah actually talk about Flurry specifically. He claims that Micah prophesied of Flurry as the "breaker". This teaching has already been mentioned in a previous post discussing Flurry's booklet, Micah: God's People Rise Up As His Enemy.

But calling himself the breaker is not enough for Flurry. Flurry even says that he is a "king" and "counselor".

But is this king, this counselor, God? Or, again, is God using a man? In fact, “king” and “counselor”apply to the office I hold. Remember, the woman, or the Church, must revolve around ONE MAN. The Laodiceans will not look to one man. They don’t get God’s counsel because they don’t have His family government. (p. 12.)

So Flurry is a king he says.

I have to make “kingly” decisions sometimes. We all have to make certain decisions, because we will rule as kings and priests in the World Tomorrow. So if God’s very elect are kings and priests in embryo today, as God said He has made us (Revelation 1:6), then there must be a “king” over them. Is that bad? If God is leading him, it is the greatest blessing possible! I know, because I experienced it under Mr. Armstrong. (p. 12.)

***

And just to drive the point home at the end of this part Flurry says that one-man rule, which he calls a "new thing", to be the greatest thing for PCG.

God’s GREATEST GIFT to His Church is the “new thing”! (p. 12.)

***

And so Part 2 comes to an end. But there is still more in this magazine issue which shall be discussed in a future post.

To be continued...

[Update: October 20, 2014: This analysis is concluded in Part 2.]

Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web Now Available Online

David Robinson's famous book, Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, is now available to be read online for the first time in flip book format, thanks to AmbassadorReports.com. (Hat tip: Banned by HWA.)

Although for a few years now it could be read upon request from Exit and Support Network (that's how I got to read it) this is the first time the entire book is now made available to be read online.

It is a most stunning book. If you believe HWA was a man sent by God, even if you had moved on from Armstrongism years ago already, you need to read this book.

I have already made a few posts regarding David Robinson and his book Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web.

It, among many other things, reveals the remarkable hold over HWA that Rader had at this time. Somehow that later came to an end in 1981 after this book's publication. As far as I know only the Ambassador Report provides any details regarding the fall of Rader. If they is any other source I am at present unaware of them.

One thing I remember about it that I had not posted already is how it detailed that some construction workers were laid off once they had finished constructing a Feast of Tabernacles site.

Also the conversation between David Robinson and HWA in the second to last chapter is absolutely astounding and breath taking. HWA was living in a bizarre fantasy world after having been sheltered in a cocoon of wealth and privileged for many years. A quick summary simply fails to do justice to that remarkable encounter. You just need to read it. Those who read will see just how absurd it is to rely on this extremely privileged and rich man to make your life better.

No doubt many of the movers and shakers within WCG made sure to read this book, if only to make sure they got a better idea of what was really going on. Why not join their privileged in this one matter of reading this book? 

Reading PCG's Booklet, God's Family Government

Let us now read Gerald Flurry's booklet, God's Family Government.  This is one of the earlier booklets that PCG produced. This booklet was first published in 1993 and was later revised in 2001. Let us see what Gerald Flurry has to say. You can read this booklet on their website.

This booklet is actually a polemic condemning Meredith's Global Church of God, which was established in late 1992. This booklet was published soon after that in 1993. Flurry specifically criticizes Meredith's decision to adopt a collegial government for GCG, a move away from HWA's one man rule. Meredith and Co. did this to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

Flurry must have been furious that despite all his works many WCG members (more then PCG's membership) chose to go with Meredith and not him. All these potential tithes payers sided with a far more prestigious rival. Meredith was one of the first men ordained as an Evangelist by HWA in 1952 and well known among WCG members. Even today, despite the GCG split in 1998, LCG is larger than PCG.

This booklet is born out of Flurry's anger and disappointment that so many WCG members chose Meredith instead of him.

***

Chapter 1 

God’s government SERVES those who obey God (and the world, through God’s work). God’s family government doesn’t go around looking for people’s faults and sins. God’s leaders search for ways to serve the people! That is God’s law of love.(p. 1.)

A lot of people would say PCG ministers do not behave that way.

***

God is a family. He is inviting us to be a part of it. If we accept, we must obey God’s loving family government.

The door to my office is always open if someone thinks our ministers are implementing harsh and dictatorial government. That is not God’s kind of government. God’s leaders are here to serve God’s people—not be served. (p. 2.)

Well, that is how it is advertized. But it must be said many would say that PCG does not operate like this.

***

This passage is representative of Gerald Flurry's strong tendency to claim that Biblical events are merely foreshadows of the Tkach changes and the rise of PCG in response.

So we see that Amos 3:1 is primarily discussing God’s SPIRITUAL FAMILY. Today, that family is divided. God’s family should be deeply united. THE BOOK OF AMOS IS MAINLY FOCUSING ON GOD’S CHURCH! And its prophecies are being fulfilled this very moment. These prophecies are only for the world secondarily. (p. 2.)

***

It is a rare and glorious honor to know the great God spiritually. But many of God’s people now have a ho-hum attitude and have grown lukewarm. (p. 3.)

Maybe this is because over the years they saw the various abuses that occurred within WCG under HWA's watch and understand that there is a double standard in how members and those with power in WCG are treated.

***

On page 5 there is a picture of HWA. On the side of page 4 you can make out the attribution for the picture. It is just one word: "TRUMPET". I find that very curious considering how The Philadelphia Trumpet was not founded until 1990, four years after his death.

***

God will put the whole universe under our governmental control. This is promised ONLY to God’s people. ONLY God’s true Church understands this now. How blessed God’s people are! (p. 7.)

Actually many non-WCG Laodiceans understand this as well. I know this because Meredith taught me this God Family doctrine when I read his booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

***

Gerald Flurry expects true Christians to yearn to be corrected or else you are not a true Christian (Flurry teaches only PCG members are true Christians).

God chastens and scourges every SON. The word scourges can mean VERY HARD CORRECTION—if that is what it takes to bring a son back to his Father. ...

God is always dealing with us as sons. If we refuse correction, then we are spiritual bastards! That means God doesn’t correct us any more.

OUR GREATEST CURSE IS WHEN OUR FATHER NO LONGER CORRECTS US. THEN WE ARE NO LONGER A PART OF HIS FAMILY! GOD CEASES TO BE OUR FATHER.

OUR GREATEST BLESSING IS BEING CORRECTED BY OUR FATHER! That means we’re not spiritual bastards.

God’s correction is always just and produces fabulous fruits (vv. 9-11). His correction heals and encourages us (vv. 12-13). (p. 8.)

***

Chapter 2

Here Flurry insists that "the Laodiceans" (any Armstrongite not in PCG) are that way because they do not submit to God's government. He accusses all other COG groups of not following this doctrine.

The most important doctrine in God’s Church is GOD’S GOVERNMENT—or holding the Head of the spiritual body, Jesus Christ. If you lose a doctrine equal to the hand or foot, you can continue living. But if you lose the doctrine of government—the Head—the body dies unless God can somehow awaken you before it is too late! As Herbert Armstrong often said, “GOVERNMENT IS EVERYTHING!” YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO NO OTHER DOCTRINE. No doctrine is even close to being as important! (pp. 10-11.)

But in fact most COG groups operate their groups in exactly the way HWA operated within WCG: one man rule. That is what Meredith does within LCG, Pack within RCG, Weinland within COG-PKG (at least until he got thrown into jail for tax evasion).

Now it needs to be said that when this booklet was first released in 1993 Meredith's group, the Global Church of God, chose to use a collegial form of government. They decided not to have one man rule in order to avoid the possibility of one man changing major doctrines at will. They were trying to prevent a repeat of Tkach's changes within GCG. However Meredith could not accept correction from others and in 1998 decided to leave GCG to set up a COG group in which he could enjoy uncontested power. LCG was created to perpetuate the one man rule of Meredith.

But when PCG revised this booklet in 2001 it continues to insist that the other splinter groups do not practice government as HWA's WCG. This is a bold faced lie and rank deception. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

***

The Worldwide Church of God (WCG) has been disintegrating spiritually since Mr. Armstrong died. They are deeply divided. And other groups that have left also are divided and will become more divided. Why? Because none of them, except the PCG, HAS THE GOVERNMENT GOD TAUGHT TO MR. ARMSTRONG! That is the only way to be knit together. God’s government is based on God’s LAW. Our Head leads us based on God’s law of love (I John 5:3). The whole process of LEADERSHIP can be gigantic and complicated. But leadership is simplified by LOOKING TO OUR HEAD—JESUS CHRIST. He directs the body through His government based on God’s law. Then God feeds us spiritual manna, or revelation. And then the place where Christ is becomes obvious to any discerning person. That is how we all become one. We all have the lawful mind of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5). (pp. 12-3.)

As stated before most COG splinter groups in fact operate according to one man rule as HWA's WCG operated. Why does Gerald Flurry say untrue things?

This paragraph is also notable in that Flurry insists that PCG is the true successor to WCG by citing his supposed new revelations as proof God is working through him and none of the other COG splinter groups. ("God feeds us spiritual manna, or revelation. And then the place where Christ is becomes obvious to any discerning person.")

Of course it is left unstated that much of Gerald Flurry's new revelations are plagiarized from the writings of Jules Dervaes, specifically The Letter to Laodicea. In fact on September 26, 1990 Jules Dervaes sent a letter to Gerald Flurry in which he denounces Malachi's Message as "a direct and clear plagiarism" of his work.

***

All of the Laodiceans who reject Mr. Armstrong’s Elijah role ALSO REJECT GOD’S GOVERNMENT! (p. 13.)

Actually Meredith reverted one man rule within LCG when he set it up in 1999. It does appear that he does not teach that HWA was the end time Elijah but in fact he practices "God's Government" (COG jargon for one man rule). Also it must be stated that this version of Flurry's booklet was written in 2001 after the restoration of one man rule in LCG so Flurry is badly misinforming his readers here. Why does Flurry say untrue things?

***

Also, God has given us some prophetic understanding Mr. Armstrong did not have. (p. 17.)

In other words, Gerald Flurry changed and altered doctrines and teachings for his convenience.

***

Only through strong government, based on God’s law, can we see God’s lamp! The more intensely we keep God’s law, the brighter God’s lamp will be! (p. 18.)

In other words: Only by listening to Gerald Flurry and his subordinates really closely can we persuade ourselves that he is God's man and that what he says makes sense.

***

Soon people will remember how the WCG once preached a strong prophecy message. People will go to them in the future, asking for an understanding of terrifying events in their land. But the WCG can give them little or no prophetic understanding.

Then these people will go to other Laodiceans seeking the answer to their nation’s problems. Still, they will receive very little prophetic understanding. There have been several dissenting groups from the WCG, but ONLY the PCG will give them a “vision,” or new revelation. That is because only we have held on to God’s government based on God’s law— which was taught by Mr. Armstrong! And only we are doing God’s prophesied work! (p. 20.)

This statement is yet another false slur against the non-WCG "Laodiceans". In fact the other COGs believe much of what PCG teaches regarding future events. If people went to them for guidance they will be told much the same of what PCG is teaching about (false) prophecies.

Also here Flurry boasts that God reveals new revelation to PCG. What this really means is that Flurry is willing to change doctrines and teachings for his convenience and then boasts that it is new. In fact many other COG splinter groups have changed various doctrines with wild abandon. Dankenbring teaches the US is the Beast, not a German-led European Empire. Weinland claimed to know the date the Great Tribulation would occur several times. Those men has just as much legitimacy to make these absurd predictions as Flurry does. (But it must be said they are all false prophets. God is not with any of them.)

***

After this Flurry then recapitulates HWA's doctrine that the Earth was created many years ago and placed under Lucifer's rule but then he rebelled and rose up against God. But Flurry adds an intriguing twist to this tale in order to once again mock GCG and UCG. (One cannot honestly say this criticism can be applied to LCG.)

Satan said, “I will be like the most High.” The Moffatt translation reads, “I will rival the Most High!” Lucifer wanted a COLLEGIAL type government. He wanted to be equal to God in power. Reader’s Digest, in its “Word Power” section, once defined COLLEGIAL this way: “Relating to a group of colleagues, each of whom has equal authority; as, Collegial deliberations can be lengthy, inconclusive and frustrating.” Even the world sees that this type of government can be “lengthy, inconclusive and frustrating”! Already, several of God’s Laodicean churches have experimented with this type of government.

Desiring such a government is just another way of rebelling against God’s government! God does not have a two-headed or multi-headed government. (p. 23.)

While I was an Armstrongite I never heard Satan's original rebellion related in this way. HWA quite unambiguously stated that Satan was plotting to overthrow God, not be his equal or rule with him. Lucifer was trying to replace God. He was trying to utterly defeat God, not rule with Him.

But this only shows how liberally Flurry treats the doctrines and dogmas of HWA. Just to make a rhetorical point against GCG and UCG he twists this teaching contrary to what HWA's WCG taught.

***

God’s government is so simple. He uses a man to lead His Church. Then God commands us to follow that man, as he follows Christ. If that man goes astray, don’t follow him. God will shortly replace him with a loyal leader or raise up another Church.

You don’t have to fear following God’s man. (p. 25.)

So we see that "God's Government" as taught by Flurry is simply one man rule.

***

Here Flurry once again accuses collegial government as being Satanic. Not only does this serve to discredit GCG and UCG in the eyes of PCG members

How did Satan deceive all those angels? The same way he deceives men today. He gets them to desire a collegial government, or some other perverted government of man; then Satan has them following him. Of course, people follow him in varying degrees. ...

Herbert Armstrong served God for 57 years—a long time. He ordained many evangelists who seemed loyal at the Church headquarters in Pasadena, California. All of those top men have rebelled against that government. NOT ONE OF THEM submits to the GOVERNMENT OF GOD taught through Mr. Armstrong! NOT ONE! Some of them will repent in the Tribulation—but others will never repent, and perhaps have already blasphemed against God’s Holy Spirit! (p. 25.)

Also Flurry fear mongers that some high ranking WCG ministers or ex-ministers may have committed the unpardonable sin in order to scare PCG members into remaining loyal to Flurry and his collaborators.

***

I will admit it, I have never heard of this before in the world of Armsrongism.

God intended Lucifer to go to other planets after His work was established on Earth. But Lucifer would not wait. The only place astronomers can find little or nothing is in the northern heavens. That is in the direction of God’s throne, and almost everything in that direction was destroyed WHEN SATAN FOUGHT WITH GOD OVER GOVERNMENT! There was a violent, destructive war. And SATAN IS STILL FIGHTING AGAINST GOD’S GOVERNMENT TODAY! (p. 26.)

Flurry is lying, or astoundingly ill informed.

Why does Flurry say untrue things?

What madness!

***

Today, God is warning those top men who were trained under Mr. Armstrong about the seriousness of their rebellion. They were trained by God’s end-time Elijah. That was the highest level of God’s government on Earth! Now they are being judged accordingly. (p. 26.)

Actually HWA was quite absent from WCG during long periods of time during his rule. The only ministers who really learned from him personally were those who went to Ambassador College in the early days of Armstrongism.

***

At the 1972 Feast of Tabernacles in Spokane, Washington, Mr. Armstrong said, “Government is the most important [issue] to God and in His mind. And it should be in ours!” Yet EVERY EVANGELIST and PASTOR-RANK MINISTER ALIVE TODAY that Mr. Armstrong trained has REJECTED THAT GOVERNMENT! Almost all the ministry and the Church he founded has rejected the government of God! After all those years, THEY STILL DIDN’T LEARN THE LESSON OF GOVERNMENT! That is always the big issue. (p. 28.)

This revision of this booklet was made in 2001 after Meredith reverted to one man rule in LCG. So Flurry is being very deceptive here. Flurry is inaccurately besmirching all the LCG ministers who held prominent roles within HWA's WCG, such as Roderick C. Meredith, Dibar Apartian, Carl McNair and others. Why does Flurry say untrue things? 

What they learned is that if all power is given to one man, such as HWA or Tkach, then that man can do whatever he wants, even change the group's doctrines into another religion. Tkach had absolute power and he used it. No one could stop him. It was to prevent that happening again that UCG and GCG decided to set up a collegial form of government.

Also there was no clear successor for dissatisfied WCG members to follow. HWA's true successor was Tkach. HWA appointed him as such. But since he lost many WCG members' loyalty by renouncing most of HWA's doctrines there was no obvious successor to replace Tkach in the hearts of dissatisfied WCG members.

Meredith was one possible choice. He commanded a sizable following out of WCG. But Roderick C. Meredith was quite unpopular among many WCG ministers for his authoritarian tendencies. Furthermore in 1970 he got "repair surgery" to fix (heal) one of his eyes while many WCG members were suffering by refusing to see doctors or take medicine. Roderick C. Meredith caused a long running libel lawsuit with Marion McNair that cost WCG $750,000 in damages. These things would not have helped his standing among WCG members. Consequently when the Tkach changes reached its consummation with Tkach's Christmas Eve sermon most departing WCG members joined UCG, not GCG.

Now among UCG there were numerous high ranking ministers. There was no dominant leader among them. No one could decisively claim the right to rule within UCG. So naturally they settled on a collegial form of government. They did this partly in order to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

So we see their move away from one man rule was not an evil rebellion against God. Rather they were trying to prevent anything like the Tkach changes from occurring again.

***

After that Flurry then claims all (yes, all) of his "booklets contain revelation from God!"

Satan caused Adam to be cut off from the tree of life. And he is cutting God’s Laodicean Church off from the tree of life. That is why only the PCG receives REVELATION from God today! For example, Malachi’s Message and all of my booklets contain revelation from God! There is new truth and deeper understanding in all of them. (p. 29.)

Actually numerous COG groups claim to receive some form of new revelation. But PCG pretends those COG groups are somehow different. When other COG groups change what was taught these changes are lebelled as proof they are "Laodicean" and are cursed by God. (But really it was Flurry who cursed them.) But when PCG changes doctrines and teachings ("new truth and deeper understanding" he calls them) Flurry claims this is proof that God is with PCG and no other.

What an absurd double standard!

What lies!

***

The Philadelphians—not the Laodiceans—are to be in God’s headquarters temple forever! (p. 29.)

But if you are God as God is God then why can't you just visit them? Look at how Flurry inject rank and privilege in order to divide "God's people" (Armstrongites) even in the afterlife as God beings. This preoccupation with rank and privilege is utterly disgusting.

***

Flurry was just another minister in HWA's WCG. So he tries to discredit all those who were powerful within HWA's WCG, including Meredith.

One evangelist, who was considered the third man in charge of the WCG for years, started his own church and formed a “COLLEGIAL GOVERNMENT.” THAT IS THE STRANGEST AND MOST ABOMINABLE DOCTRINE OF ALL! (p. 32.)

What Flurry really means is he wants you to pay three tithes to him and not Meredith.

Also this booklet was revised in 2001. Meredith abandoned collegial government when he left GCG in 1998 and reverted to one man rule so this statement is misleading and inaccurate at the time this booklet was published the second time in 2001.

***

If you lose God’s government doctrine, then many other doctrines will also become strange! How could it be any other way when you lose your Head? (p. 32.)

Many COG groups have not lost "God's government doctrine" (one man rule). Many in fact operate in this way.

***

Every Laodicean group has one ingredient in common—THEY REJECT GOD’S GOVERNMENT TAUGHT BY MR. ARMSTRONG! (p. 34.)

Nonsense. This is a lie! This booklet was revised and published after Meredith renounced collegial government and reverted to one man rule within LCG. Flurry's statement is a lie! Many other COG splinter groups have one man rule just like HWA's WCG.

***

Interlude

On pages 36-7 there is an intriguing little side article in which Flurry criticizes Meredith for adopting a collegial government for GCG.

(Some words are highlighted to show how vicious these words are.)

Mr. Meredith continued, “Let’s try to do it right this time, as shepherds with a loving approach….” It doesn’t take a genius to see that he is attacking Mr. Armstrong. He is saying that Mr. Armstrong didn’t do it right— his government lacked a “loving approach,” it was not “servant leadership”! I don’t know how his attack against Mr. Armstrong could be more heinous! Saying that the government Mr. Armstrong taught didn’t have a “loving approach” is a vicious attack! Of course, he is really attacking Jesus Christ and His government! ...

The only reason we correct the Laodiceans is because of their attack on Mr. Armstrong and what he taught. We wouldn’t criticize them at all if they would stop destroying what God restored through him! They are the cause of our warning. Only their repentance will ever correct the disunity. (p. 37.)

This version of this booklet was published in 2001, after Meredith reverted to using one man rule to control LCG so for PCG to criticize him for that in 2001 is quite misleading and deceptive. Meredith "repented" of collegial government yet PCG continued to publish these vituperative words long afterwards. This is still available on their website so PCG seems to think this is still truth today, fifteen years after Meredith reverted to one man rule.

***

Chapter 3

Here Flurry finally gets to the point: He is angry at Meredith for daring to start up his own COG splinter group (larger than PCG) without meekly submitting himself to Gerald Flurry like a little child. He lets Meredith have it here.

Under the heading "Destroying God's Government" Flurry unleashes his wrath at all the potential tithes payers slipping away from his grasp with Meredith's departure from WCG. Here is Flurry having a temper tantrum like a spoiled kid.

Rod Meredith, after being disfellowshiped from the WCG, also started his own church. ... Later in that booklet he [Meredith] wrote this: “If we look into the New Testament with an open mind, WE FIND A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT than what has developed in the Church” (p. 10; emphasis mine). He is referring to God’s government taught by Mr. Armstrong! In one simple paragraph ROD MEREDITH HAS SWEPT AWAY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LIVING GOD! The very government that God established, which DID THE GREATEST WORK EVER ON THIS EARTH SINCE JESUS CHRIST—IN TERMS OF NUMBERS! The fruits prove that! And that work could NEVER have been done without God’s government.

And yet, Mr. Meredith boasts that he sat at Mr. Armstrong’s feet, which I didn’t have the opportunity to do. If you closely examine what he and I teach, you’ll clearly see who sat at Mr. Armstrong’s feet—spiritually! The above statement is from a man who would dare to say he is “FAITHFULLY PREACHING THE TRUTHS PROCLAIMED BY HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG”! No, he is not! If you lose God’s government, ALL THE OTHER DOCTRINES WILL BE TAINTED! He says he is “faithfully preaching the truths PROCLAIMED BY HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG,” yet his first booklet destroyed the most important truth Mr. Armstrong ever restored—government! And that was only the beginning! (pp. 40-1.)

Flurry must have been really angry when he saw so many WCG members siding with Meredith. Even more members than his own following within PCG. Even today Meredith's LCG has more members than Flurry's PCG.

Also the fact that PCG is still printing this booklet shows that PCG does not care, even for simple accuracy's sake, to account for the fact that Meredith reverted to one man rule when he precipitated the GCG schism in 1998. The version I am reading is a second version printed in 2001, two years after Meredith reverted to one man rule.

***

Mr. Meredith must destroy God’s government to get people to follow him. (p. 42.)

What nonsense! Meredith was always far more well known, even, dare I say it, popular among WCG members, at least compared to Flurry. Meredith did not need to change anything to start up GCG or to make it bigger than PCG. His notoriety was enough.

Flurry, on the other hand, was just another minister. He was not particularly important as a WCG minister. Most WCG members probably never even heard of him until he got fired by Tkach's WCG in 1989. Flurry must have hated how this event reminded people of how undistinguished he was within HWA's WCG.

***

 Flurry also brings up the fact that Meredith was suspended in 1979.

Mr. Meredith was suspended from the WCG by Mr. Armstrong for about six months in 1979-80. Since Mr. Armstrong had to personally suspend him, it should cause anybody to be somewhat concerned. The fruits of his life now strongly indicate what his problem was. He was rebelling against God’s government even then! Now his government problem is out in the open, where the whole Church can see it! (p. 42.)

What is not mentioned is how Meredith apparently was suspended because Roderick C. Meredith was plotting to overthrow Stanley Rader (or at least Rader thought so). After Garner Ted Armstrong's expulsion from WCG in 1978 Stanley Rader emerged as the most powerful man within WCG, even though he was then unordained. During the receivership crisis of 1979 Roderick C. Meredith allied himself with Stanley Rader in order to purge those ministers who supported the State of California's forced receivership of WCG. But Roderick C. Meredith hoped to remove Stanley Rader as well so that he could be WCG's number 2 man under HWA. But Rader was too clever for him and easily got HWA to fire Meredith and send him to exile for six months in Hawai'i. HWA later sent a scathing letter to Meredith at this time. (In 1981 HWA deposed Rader but despite this HWA never trusted Meredith after this.)

***

Mr. Meredith failed to learn the lesson of government. And because of that, his work is destined to fail. (p. 47.)

Surely we must say this is a false prophecy. It is now twenty one years since Flurry first wrote this booklet and Meredith's group is still larger than Flurry's, and this is despite Meredith precipitating a schism in 1998. Also it must be stated that Meredith reverted to one man rule after that schism in 1998 and Flurry never acknowledges this fact. PCG continues to print this booklet to this day. PCG even reprinted this booklet in 2001 without even noting that Meredith had had a schism and reverted to one man rule.

***

Flurry claims that HWA was a good and saintly man.

I personally know that Mr. Armstrong would bend over backwards 100 times to avoid giving hard correction. Many people couldn’t understand why he wasn’t more authoritative at times. His mercy is a matter of record. But there were times that God’s government had to be implemented. He also had an advisory council of elders and he did seek a multitude of counsel. (p. 49.)

David Robinson said that HWA did not know how to make a friend and that he had no idea about friendship.

There are a lot of people who were disfellowshipped from WCG who would beg to differ. Even if was like this personally he set up a system of one man rule (often called "God's government" or some such phrase) that allowed those in power to be very cruel and to abuse power over WCG members.

***

On page 49 appears this statement.

He [Meredith] knows that Mr. Armstrong never made such a distinction! 

Is Flurry ignorant of HWA's 1939 article which condemned hierarchical government in the church?

This economizing of the truth that Flurry does so often simply shows up yet again. Even if we excused the HWA of 1939 that he was still learning the truth why does Flurry here misleadingly glosses over HWA's early opposition to hierarchical government. (Of course HWA was simply trying to protect his power over his own followers at that time.)

***

On pages 50-6 Flurry quotes at great length HWA's May 2, 1974 co-worker which was written in response to the mass defection of 1974.

David Robinson, in his book Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web, revealed that apparently Stanley Rader, who was not even a WCG member at the time, greatly guided HWA in making this letter. At one time Rader even boasted to him that he, Stanley Rader, had really written the letter.

***

Flurry ends with these words.

Remember, GOD’S PEOPLE ARE IN TRAINING PRIMARILY TO HELP GOD RESTORE HIS GOVERNMENT. Satan is fiercely trying to destroy that government. Let’s make certain that no man beguiles us into rejecting God’s government. (p. 58.)

Maybe Flurry should start telling the truth to PCG members (for instance that Meredith has since reverted to one man rule) first instead of enjoying the privilege of one man rule over his ministers and his PCG members.

***

So we see that Flurry in this booklet uses Meredith different approach to church government to discredit Meredith. Curiously enough when this booklet was revised in 2001 the booklet is still written as though Meredith was still leading GCG and still promoting collegial government. PCG still publishes this booklet even though many events have changed since then. So this shows that PCG's leaders are not overly concerned with making sure they have their facts correct.

It must be said that this booklet failed to win over a large share of Meredith's followers into the fold of Gerald Flurry. This is clearly seen in the fact that PCG is still smaller than Meredith's LCG.