COG Members Have the Power, But Will Not Use It

Silenced had a very good post discussing why UCG and COGWA divided and are simply not going to reunite, despite the yearning of many lay members.

In this article are these enlightening words revealing that members in fact have the power over the ministers, but, alas, for various reasons the members simply do not try to exercise their power over the ministers.

Secondly, you do have some power in this situation, but you refuse to use it. If you want your leaders to listen, withhold your tithes. But the very idea of doing this is so vile and unheard of to the average COG member, this will never happen. They seem to forget that church members have withheld tithes many times in COG history, the WCG split and recent UCG/COGWA schism being predominant examples. There’s confusion among youth who don’t understand the difference between withholding a tithe until a later date and not tithing at all. They’ve been brainwashed into believing that not forwarding a monthly tithe check to the Home Office is a horrific sin against God. Such is the resounding success of the COG’s systemic, cultural and institutional indoctrination. But the reality is, the members do have the power. The moment they withhold their money, these men would suddenly be all ears and scramble to find a solution. If you want reunification, you have to be willing to take an action on your own. But we’re confident that because this would work, you would never, ever try it.

Bob Thiel Desperate to Appear Educated

I was reading Banned by HWA's post regarding Bob Thiel's sermon.

In this sermon he has readjusted his book case to make himself appear educated in the eyes of his tithes paying followers.

An anonymous commenter has most interesting words regard Thiel's obvious feelings of intellectual inferiority. (Emphasis mine.)

Oh my! Look at that book case!

This guy will go to any lengths to make himself look credible! It's really very amusing! If he really was confident on what he thinks he knows, he wouldn't go through so much to change the books in the bookshelf! Check out all his videos and look how the bookshelf changes. Why do you think he feels the need to do that? Because somehow, he has to have something to make himself look scholarly because, well, his words alone just aren't cutting it.

I need to hook up my camera, go to the local library, get a ton of textbooks, get that exact bookshelf, dress up in like "Q" in Star Trek, and
make a satire channel on Thiel. I could call it "The Continuum Church of God". LOL! That would be too much fun.

Someone needs to submit this stuff to one of those sites that make this stuff popular and watch the real critics and the real educated people begin their "evaluation" of the video.

His nervousness only further exposes how false prophet Thiel has taken on far more than he anticipated in striving to build up his own personality cult.

How pathetic this false prophet Thiel is.

False Prophet Thiel's New Message and New Letter

Bob Thiel has released another prophetic proclamation, The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South.

This time he is standing behind a lectern, just like Meredith used to in old episodes of Tomorrow's World. Thiel pretends he has the authority to preach. Actually he was never ordained. He uses an anointing by an LCG minister and pretends he was appointed by God as a Prophet.

Now onto the message:

The first few minutes are devoted to fear mongering about the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. He says they were banned until Mubarak's downfall. It is my understanding that it operated quite openly in Egypt, but it's politicians were never given a genuine chance to be elected to rule because of the authoritarian Mubarak regime.

Thiel notes they were founded to oppose secular influence caused by British colonial rule. Wait a minute, doesn't the COGs strive to prevent themselves from succumbing to secular influence? How were the Muslim Brotherhood's desire to have an independent Egypt any different from Americans rising up against British rule in the 1770s? Those men are often revered within the COGs as the founders of the United States.

Thiel makes no attempt to understand the Muslim Brotherhood from their perspective. He just wants you to be scared and give tithes to him.

He says the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are trying to re-establish the Muslim caliphate. Thiel accepts this rhetoric at face value because it supports his argument that Muslim fundamentalists are uniting the Arab world under a future King of the South.

But should he accept this rhetoric at face value? Is it rational to do so?

He never asks himself if they are actually serious. True, they say such things, but are they implementing it? Have they decided who should be the Caliph? Have they made laws to implement this? All this talk about the Muslim Brotherhood trying to create a Caliphate seem most outlandish to me. Who would the Egyptian people accept as a Caliph? Has Egypt called for other Muslim governments to recognize President Morsi or any other Egyptian as a Caliph, or as one deserving of religious respect by all Muslims?

Recently President Morsi tried to change some laws to grant himself with wider powers. In response many protesters came out on the streets resisting this perceived return to dictatorship. How could anyone claim to be the Caliph in such a polarized and uncertain atmosphere?

Thiel never asks questions of this nature. He just accepts a few words he saw on their website to make people afraid of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It also needs to be said that Thiel does not truly let the Muslim Brotherhood speak for themselves, but instead use a few words of theirs to subtly insert his own wacky ideas about a future King of the South. 

It also should be stated that many American rightists have tended to demonize the Muslim Brotherhood as some sort of conspiratorial organization that should be feared. I fear that Thiel might have let himself be influenced by such paranoid thinking.

His fear mongering comments about the Muslim Brotherhood and some Muslims' dreams of re-creating a Muslim caliphate remind me of a book I was lucky enough to read recently, The Vietnam Hearings, an account of the Fulbright hearings in early 1966. Back then much of the world was quite fearful of possible aggression from Communist powers. And one of the testifiers in these hearings talked about distinguishing between rhetoric and what one is willing to do.

They discussed how, if one took Communist rhetoric at face value, it meant that the USSR and China were striving to conquer the world. But then they noted, on the other hand, that China did not act like a government striving to conquer the world. They did invade a disputed border region with India, but the Chinese viewed this as reclaiming lost territory so even this invasion could not be assumed to be evidence of aggression.

And while talking about this one of them said that such Communist rhetoric of international solidarity with the workers, that the capitalist world will disintegrate, etc, should be viewed as simply pseudo-religious rhetoric which they at present cannot act upon, and therefore it should just be safely ignored as hot air. In olden times such rhetoric did have serious meaning but now it was simply relics of a bygone age that they did not back up with deeds.

Also closer to home, the COGs are filled to the brim with religious rhetoric that once made sense (a bit), but today just sound like obsolete nonsense. Like the COGs' claim that they are called to bear witness to the world by telling modern day Israelites that God will soon punish them for their sins by letting them be conquered by Germans and sent into exile as slaves. When only HWA did this it made sense. Today many COGs claim to be doing this but they completely fail to have any impact on the wider society. Most Americans and British people do not even know they exist. Thiel never asks himself if the Muslim Brotherhood's rhetoric should be understood in this way.

Tunisian Prime Minister views his election as like the beginning of a Caliphate. Then he mentions another Muslim wants to create a Caliphate with its Headquarters in Jerusalem. Thiel never bothers to mentions who. Was he from Hamas? Was he from some other organization?

Also why have a Caliph in Jerusalem? Traditionally the Caliphs were based in other cities, not Jerusalem.

As I said before, Thiel is not just a bad speaker, he is also very confusing.

Since at least 1967, if not earlier, Palestinian Arabs have been striving to create a Palestinian state. They have always yearned to have their capital in Jerusalem. Some of them are affiliated with religiously conservative organizations like Hamas, and naturally those people tend to express their longings for a national homeland in religious rhetoric.

At another point he mentions the Caliph and then he mentions the Mahdi. The Mahdi is completely different. He's a righteous religious figure who is said to be destined to come near the end of the age. Thiel tries to confuse his followers again.

Once again another very confusing, and very unenlightening message from this false prophet.

Also false prophet Thiel has also written a new members letter. He complains about how he has had trouble trying to upload his sermon to Youtube, and that his computer got a virus.

He has also been boasting again.

Did two radio interviews this past week.  And while no further ones are currently scheduled, based upon audience estimates as provided by the radio hosts, we of the Continuing Church of God have reached more people in our first few weeks of existence than any non-GTA group that was part of the old Worldwide Church of God or the old Global Church of God.
Since our first month is still not over (and while it may be for radio, it is not for the internet), God willing, I intend to provide statistics related to our reach in the letter next week.

(Notice how he did not mention LCG.)

As I explained in an earlier post this is rhetoric Thiel feels compel to used because the impact of one's work has always been used by Armstrongites to justify their activities.

This rhetoric is a total, vicious lie. But he does not care because he wants those tithes and he wants to prove himself worthy of leadership in the eyes of his followers. He knows that some will inevitably be lured into his grasp.

David Hulme: Twidling His Thumbs Since 1998

About a month ago Silenced reported that David Hulme's COG group appears to be imploding. Apparently he has started excommunicating members more.

This made me think that he must be one of the most useless COG leaders there is. I mean he had so much going for him. He was a very prominent minister within WCG, he was one of the three chosen to continue speaking in the World Tomorrow telecast after HWA's death, when UCG split from WCG he was elected the leader of UCG.

With the founding of UCG Hulme was the leader of the largest Armstrongite group in the world.

David Hulme did not have the one man rule that HWA used and abused, but he commanded more influence and power than any other Armstrongite minister.

And then he threw this away by getting into an argument with UCG elders. It was a struggle between King and Parliament. And so he left UCG, and set up his own COG, the Church of God - An International Community.

And then what?

For whatever reason Hulme and his group has been extremely tight lipped about, well, everything ever since 1998.

The Armstrongite Churches of God are a wasteland of megalomaniac despots and plunderers of peoples' tithes but at least they talk about what they are doing. A lot of what they do is quite despicable but at least they are trying to do something. Whether it is worthwhile is a different topic. (With the answer usually being no.)

But what has David Hulme done?

Nothing. Or at least nothing worth talking about. (Until now it seems. And even then we know very little.)

Clearly his decision to leave UCG must be regarded as the worst decision of his Armstrongite ministerial career. Without a robust group of like minded cohorts behind him which he had in UCG he has simply flailed in the winds, steering his ship with dull regularity, following the current without striving to reach any particular destination. 

The only impact Hulme's group had on me, if one could call it that, was that I often went to Pabco's Home Page, which appears to be maintained by a follower of Hulme. But this web site is merely one lone church member's doing. Many other Armstrongites have also provided the same information.

What is David Hulme doing?

Twiddling his thumbs?

Considering how little we know about what he is doing he might as well have done so.

Silenced well sums it up:

Still obscure

Nobody cares

Not even the blogs

Shirley Armstrong Returns from Hospital

According to the false prophet Bob Thiel (former LCG member), Shirley Armstrong, widowed wife of Garner Ted Armstrong, has returned home from hospital.

I hope she recovers well from this adversity.

HWA Condemns "Prophet" Bob Thiel's Usurping of Authority

Recently Banned by HWA analysed a post by Bob Thiel, How can a Christian discern a true Prophet?, which strives to convince people that Bob Thiel is a Prophet from God.

In this article Thiel quotes HWA in an attempt to back up his claim of prophethood.

Thiel fails to mention that HWA taught that New Testament Prophets had no administrative authority but merely revealed the will of God to the church because the Bible was not yet fully written.

I discussed this topic in a previous post.

In Mystery of the Ages, Chapter 6, under the heading, 'One Church with One Government', HWA wrote:

No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church.

(Note: In PCG's edition of Mystery of the Ages these words are deleted because PCG teaches that their leader, Gerald Flurry, is "That Prophet.")

This was the consistent teaching of HWA's WCG on this topic as early as 1952, as may be seen in Herman Hoeh's article in the August 1953 Good News, 'Government in our Church', pp. 3-4, 7-8. 

Even though evangelists were next in authority under the apostles, next in spiritual order and above the evangelists are listed the prophets (I Cor. 12:28). Often in the Bible, prophet means preacher or poet. But in the New Testament history there are several instances mentioned in which prophets-both men and women-were used to foretell by special and personal revelation from God (Acts 11: 27-30; 21: 9-10). They spoke and exhorted the brethren and, if men, sometimes preached, although not usually evangelistic for the purpose of raising up churches. 

Those who evangelized had authority over local churches, whereas the prophets had no government office or authority. Even in the Old Testament, where both men and women were used as prophets, none of the prophets had government authority unless they were also judges. In the New Testament, the only prophets with government authority were also apostles, evangelists, or elders (Acts 15:32; I Tim. 4:14).' (p.4).

Thiel claims to have been ordained a Prophet. According to HWA then, even if he was a Prophet, he has no right to start his own church.

Thiel signs himself off as a Pastor. But being ordained a Prophet gives him no right to be a Pastor.

HWA said so.

***

So now we know what HWA would think about Thiel's attempt to claim prophethood and to be pastor there are other matters about his article that needs to be stated.

Why is he citing Leroy Neff, who is now affiliated with UCG? Thiel condemned UCG for electing their leaders among themselves, contradicting HWA's doctrine of one man rule. Why is he relying on a man who accepted what Thiel appears to regard as heresy?

Thiel condemned UCG for (he says) lacking zeal in spreading 'the truth'. But UCG no doubt spreads Armstrongism far more widely and effectively than Thiel can hope to do with his own group.

Why hasn't Gaylyn Bonjour, the LCG minister who anointed him, not joined with Thiel?

A major reason he got as far as he did with his blog was that he supported one of the major COGs, namely Meredith's LCG. Now that he is on his own how is he any different from any other COG blogger out there claiming to continue the work of HWA? There are all too many of them and now Thiel is just as unimportant as them.

When I read his post announcing that he was starting his own COG personality cult I was offended that he complained that he had received a factually incorrect letter from Meredith.

People close to Meredith have often noted that he lies wherever necessary. He once lied about Raymond McNair's ex-wife and caused WCG to be sued by her and in 1992 it was forced to pay about $850,000 to her. Also in his telecasts Meredith often says 'you will get this information nowhere else' or words to that effect. How is that not lying?

I wish Thiel had learned that earlier. It would have saved me a lot of trouble. Or at least he would bear no responsibility for luring me into the legalistic abyss of Meredith's LCG.

But reading about Thiel's breaking away it appears what really offended Thiel was that LCG Headquarters refused to agree with Thiel's belief that he had been ordained by God as a Prophet and that they refused to listen to a mere lay member when he disagreed with at least one charge in doctrine.

What self serving, pompous madness.

What a loser he is.

(BTW, who is William H. Ellis and where is he affiliated now?)

Is Bob Thiel Learning from Dave Pack?

Bob Thiel's recent boasts make me compells me to wonder if Thiel is imitating Dave Pack.

Pack every now and then publishes statements claiming his group is the best COG and is the only true church. He often claims that he has remarkable results in spreading 'the truth' and gaining converts. No2HWA just recently noted one such boasting by Pack.

False Prophet Thiel's article on Dave Pack's RCG also notes how Pack boasts of having great impact in spreading 'the truth' and refutes his claims.

Thiel now tries to do exactly what Pack did.

Now I am no fan of Dave Pack. I would say he is more authoritarian (and therefore worst) than even Meredith. At least Meredith lets followers go to their doctors and lets women followers wear make up. I know Pack forbids women wearing make up. I am not sure about his position on doctors, but his claims to follow HWA precisely seems to indicate that he forbids doctors and medicine. I hope that is not the case.

Below are Thiel's words regarding Pack's boastings in his article about Dave Pack and the so-called Restored Church of God.

How similar are Pack's deeds with what Thiel is now doing?

Why is Bob Thiel now doing what he condemned when Pack did them?

Although it is unclear how RCG now spends its funds, it now seems to believe that its internet presence is proof that it has preached the gospel adequately...

LCG has reached over 200 nations/territories and accomplished that years before RCG did. Thus, by that standard, RCG should have been supporting LCG. FWIW, I know the COGwriter site has reached over 200 nations/territories too (and people from countries representing most people on the planet are reached pretty much every week at COGwriter).

Anyway, having one or more hits from each nation has been obtained by other COGs (I suspect that both UCG and Barnabas Ministries did this years ago too--as undoubtedly several of the other COG sites most likely have), hence RCG should have been a bit more careful on how it tried to spin this. It is not unique in this accomplishment....

RCG tends to temporarily brag about certain statistics for a while, then switch to others when the previous ones are not as impressive. It has done this repeatedly over its history, yet his followers seem not to have caught on to this game.... (This emphasis mine-Redfox712)

RCG has always been concerned about numbers. So much so, that it almost always had various statistics that it has selectively bragged about for years (it just tends to change which one it brags about once it does not appear as positive).

Furthermore, RCG's David Pack, after writing the previously mentioned booklet, posted a letter dated 1-13-12 titled An Open Letter to All WCG Splinters RCG Fruits—Obvious Fingerprints of God! where he brags about and emphasizes many RCG statistics--there are pages of statistics and numbers he tries to brag about. Additionally, is not mentioning that attendance was up 6.0% in March 2011 indicative that David Pack and RCG are concerned about numbers? The hypocrisy and contradictions in RCG should be obvious, yet its members overlook them (though some finally do end up opening their eyes and leaving).

I think Thiel's analysis of Pack's boasts provides a preview of what to expect when Bob Thiel boasts statistics to claim he has a more impactful work in spreading 'the truth' more than any other COG.

The facts do not support Thiel's boasts. He will have to make up his own facts, ignore the many things against his argument, and (misleadingly) insist that he has proved that he is the leader of the one true church.

Of course it is a lie. It is bearing false witness. And if he actually believed in God as he says, he should think very carefully what He would think about tricking people who trust him and exploiting them to gain tithes.

He is already beginning this deed of misinformation. Note what Thiel wrote in his latest members' letter:

Based upon statistics on the internet and radio estimates I have received, it appears we in the Continuing Church of God seem to be reaching more people with Christ’s gospel of the Kingdom on a per member basis than any other COG group.

Why on a per member basis? Did HWA boast his growth was impressive because it was on a per member basis?

This is a selective test Thiel has set for himself. He has fixed the question so he can say he has the fruits that prove his right to rule.

He is already fudging the question to deceive potential followers.

He will easily devise the statistics he needs from this question.

He is bearing false witness to his members. This is despicable and immoral behavior.

Why Bob Thiel Claims His COG is the Best Proclaimer of 'the Truth'

No2HWA has posted on Banned by HWA that Bob Thiel has been boasting that his group is spreading 'the truth' more effectively than any other COG group.

I am unsurprised he has made these boastings.

He had to boast that he has been reaching more people than anyone else. He is trying to imitate HWA and is claiming to have inherited his mantle and to bear HWA's signs of divine favor.

HWA taught that 'gaining fruit' (getting many converts) was a sign that God was with him. He constantly boasted that his sect expanded its membership by 30% constantly over 35 years (1934-1969). (He was never specific about when this time of expansion ended I must add.)

While Bob Thiel was a member of LCG (and only a lay member) he always, and I mean always, put down all the other COGs and his most common retort was that they failed to get the message of 'the truth' (Armstrongism) out to the world in a major way, unlike HWA's WCG. It was very easy for him to throw this argument at the vast majority of COG organizations which are much smaller than LCG, UCG and the other major ones.

(It was a bit harder to use this when discussing the other major COG groups but he had other arguments for them.)

He knows he had set 'ability to spread "the truth" (Armstrongism) widely' as a test to see where God is working now.

Before he said that LCG met this test and must be the true COG and must be supported.

Now that he has broken away from LCG, naturally he will say LCG has failed this test to justify his decision to leave.

And now that he has started his own 'one true church' he must say his group 'bears more fruit' (spread 'the truth' widely and effectively) than any other COG.

To those of us in the real world, including most COG members, his boastings are completely absurd and unrealistic.

But, alas, he is not talking to us, he is talking to those willing to follow him and pay tithes to him. He knows they expect this sign to follow those with God's favor. HWA claimed to bear this sign. Bob Thiel claimed Meredith bared this sign. Now Thiel claims this sign for himself.

I seriously doubt he really believes he is making a great impact in proclaiming 'the truth', but he has to say it to dupe and persuade potential followers.

That is why he says such false and deceiving things as claiming his group is having the greater impact, per capita or otherwise, among all other COGs.

Call for Dave Pack to be Cancelled from TWN and GraceTV

Last night I was minding my own business watching a music video and at the start I saw a Google ad for Dave Pack's cult, the so-called Restored Church of God. At the beginning and then the end. That was annoying.

It's ironic but in the music video the singer mentions being nervous at showing her face without make up to her beloved. As is well known Dave Pack forbids female members from wearing make up.

Now I've read at Banned by HWA that he's written a letter to other Armstrongites boasting that his cult is far better than all the other COGs out there.

But while reading it I noted that he boasted that his TV program would soon be appearing on two TV stations, The Word Network and GraceTV.

Most likely these two TV stations are unaware of the true nature of Dave Pack's RCG. Therefore I am sending them the following letter.

Also I encourage you to also send an email to them making clear that this group is contrary to the stated mission of these two TV stations and that they should immediately cancel any agreement they have with Dave Pack.If we speak up together as one one we will be speaking with a strong voice.

Here's where to send your letters.

http://gracetelevision.net/contact

http://www.thewordnetwork.org/contact

Here is the letter I sent them.

Feel free to cut and paste it to them.

Or maybe send in your own thoughts and comments to them.

To whom it may concern,

It has recently been brought to my attention that a religious organization called the Restored Church of God (RCG), which is led by one Dave Pack, is about to broadcast a TV show called The World to Come. I fear you may not be aware of the real nature of this organization.

Dave Pack is a follower of Herbert W. Armstrong, an infamous cult leader who founded and led the Worldwide Church of God and proclaimed himself to be an Apostle. He taught many doctrines contrary to what is traditionally understood by most Christians. He is labeled in Walter Martin's Kingdom of the Cults as a cult leader who taught many heresies. After his death in 1986 his successors renounced many of his heresies but numerous splinter groups have arisen striving to continue his heresies, including Dave Pack, who continues to teach many of Herbert W. Armstrong's heresies.

RCG is anti-trinitarian. Dave Pack teaches against the Trinity. Instead he teaches that God is a family of divine beings, currently composed of two members, God the Father and God the Son (Christ), with the Holy Spirit is taught to be merely an impersonal force, a thing) into which believers may be born into and become as fully God as God is God, though of a lower rank under God the Father and God the Son. This teaching comes from Herbert W. Armstrong.

RCG observes the seventh day Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) and the feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23. This teaching also comes from Herbert W. Armstrong.

RCG also teaches that Sunday keeping Christians are not real Christians but are heretics and that keeping Sunday is the Mark of the Beast mentioned in Revelation. This teaching also comes from Herbert W. Armstrong.

RCG says says that Grace is license to sin. RCG teaches grace to be a heretical teaching falsely used by Sunday keeping false Christians to do away with God's law and that the Old Testament covenant (aside from ritual sacrifices) is still to be followed. However they also teach that the ritual sacrifices of the Old Testament are abolished but insist that those sacrifices were part of a separate law they call the 'law of Moses'.  

RCG teaches the fallacy of British-Israelism, the false belief that the British and the Americans are descendants of the lost ten tribes of Israel. This teaching also comes from Herbert W. Armstrong.

RCG forces members to pay three tithes, doctrines created by Herbert W. Armstrong, causing all sorts of financial and social woes for its members. The second tithe is paid in order to fund members' observance of the feasts of Leviticus 23, especially the Feast of Tabernacles. The third tithe is paid every two years in seven, supposedly to care for poorer church members, but historically it has often been abused in Herbert W. Armstrong's sect and other related sects. These extra tithes are cunningly not revealed to prospective members until they are firmly convinced that this heretic Dave Pack must be followed. Most likely Pack will never mention these extra tithes in his TV show or even his magazine, The Real Truth.

RCG's women members are forbidden to wear make up.

RCG teach that Dave Pack is an Apostle. In a sermon on February 26, 2005 he proclaimed himself to be an Apostle just like Herbert W. Armstrong. All RCG members are required to believe this absurd belief. More information on this sermon may be seen at http://www.exitsupportnetwork.com/artcls/pack.htm.

Because of these facts I feel very strongly that Dave Pack should not be allowed to run his TV show on your network. He denigrates most Christians as being false and seeks to turn people against mainstream Christianity. Now that you are aware of these facts I appeal to you to not let him broadcast his TV station on your TV network.

Thank you for your kind consideration of this letter.

Regards,

Redfox712

Together we are strong. Let us disrupt his attempt to lure people into his clutches.

Bob Thiel's Wish to Hide His LCG Past

Saw this in the last post about former LCG apologist now self proclaimed prophet Bob Thiel, from Banned by HWA.

He starts his daily missal stating that he had to cease affiliation with the Living Church of God, of which, he will not name.  How stupid is that?

As most readers now know, it became necessary for me to cease my affiliation with a group based out of North Carolina and form the Continuing Church of God.

He is caught in an impossible position of his own devising. He wants to have his cake and eat it too.

On the one hand he wants to deny or minimize the link he has with LCG in order to be special in his followers' eyes.

But on the other he needs LCG to claim continuity with HWA and RCM. He needed the supposed 'anointing' by LCG's Gaylyn Bonjour to claim that he is a prophet.

He needs LCG to bolster his claim to be a Prophet, but clearly he wishes he did not need them. His refusal to name them in this instance demonstrates his desire to set himself up as a leader in need of no other Armstrongite leader.

To those of us in the real world his minimization of his involvement with LCG seems absurd, and it is, but he is trying to make his followers forget LCG and focus their attention on him.

It really is quite pathetic.

It reminds me of how HWA claimed he never joined the Church of God (Seventh Day) when he clearly did, and even was ordained a minister for them, until he had his license revoked in 1938, a detail of his life he never discussed to my knowledge.

Too bad for Thiel there is no way he can retcon his involvement with LCG away except in the minds of the few followers who are deceived into joining. 

And on another matter, why is it he always writes the name of his cult as Continuing Church of God, with the first word clearly italicized? He always write that way. Is this confusing speaker so desperate to make his cult's name stand out?