I'm glad that you will get to go to Portland for the conference. Thank you for doing all of this! I know your time is valuable - I really appreciate this very much. I hope it proves to be fruitful.

Can I ask a very sensitive question concerning Mr. Albrecht's generosity? Do you feel that there might be a "conflict of interest" by accepting his offer? I know that you will not be able to go to Portland otherwise and PLEASE, I am not accusing you of any impropriety. I know we are to "avoid all appearance of evil" so I was concerned about the WCG paying your way to Portland - that it may give people the wrong impression. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - I don't want to offend you in any way by what I said, (and if I did, please tell me!) I'm only concerned. (I used to be in the Air Force and later worked for a defense contractor. We were not even allowed to buy lunch for military personnel or accept anything from a defense contractor in order to avoid the appearance of "conflict of interest." So please try to understand where I'm coming from). Please be careful with them! I guess when I think of how corrupt the HWA regime was, I find it hard to believe that he would appoint an incorrupt regime to replace him. And PLEASE don't cancel your trip to Portland - you must go and see what's going on. I just hope that they don't try to pressure you later.

Do you really think it's possible that a cult can become Christian? Has any other cult in history ever become Christian? If not, what makes anyone think that this one is the exception? Can it actually adopt all the terminology and practices of mainstream Christianity but still remain cultish in practice? Is or will anyone keep checks on them to make sure they are actually Christian or continue to be Christian (seeing that Mr. Albrecht cannot make any guarantees)? Or will they go back to their cultish ways (but with acceptable mainstream practices) once the dust settles?

Now I have some more questions to Greg Albrecht's comments (I don't have my paper in front of me so I will comment on the others later (whenever I get my paper back from Mr. Bennett):

COMMENT TO QUESTION #1:

The question was not about WHAT the fellowship will preach 50-100 years from now (because if they are preaching the TRUE gospel, it will STILL be TRUE 50-100 years from now), but about WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM DO THEY HAVE IN PLACE NOW FOR CHOOSING THE FUTURE LEADERS) of the Worldwide Church of God? WHO will be next in line after Joe Jr's death? How will it be determined? Do the members have any say in the process? Or will the WCG upper-level hierarchy still remain in place?

  COMMENT TO QUESTION #5:

If tithing is a New Testament principle, why didn't Paul mention it after Christ's death? Yes, Jesus told the Pharisees that they should tithe and not leave the more important matters (justice, faith, and merry) undone. But Jesus and the Pharisees were under the law at that time (and the support of the Levitical priesthood was part of the theocratic government structure). But after His death, Paul is shown taking up a collection for the poor, and he says that one who preaches the gospel should be supported, but NOTHING is mentioned about TITHING! Paul could easily have said (as the WCG plainly does) that "If you love Jesus, then tithing to me is an appropriate response to Christian stewardship..." Excuse my boldness but Tithing IS UNNECESSARY for Christians, but GIVING is NOT! (Tithing does not build an attitude of "thankfulness" but one of "obligation." It does not instill the joy of giving but guilt if one falls short of the mark, and burden). We are to GIVE to the poor and help those in need (instead of sending it all to a central Headquarters). We are to SUPPORT those who preach the gospel, but PERCENTAGES are NOT given!! We are to give generously to those in need - help make a difference in our communities and in the lives of the people around us. If we're sending all our money to a Headquarters located in another state, and saving it up for Festivals and offerings (which go to Headquarters), then we don't have anything left to help anyone around us. When we attended Berean Fellowship, we KNEW where the money was going - we the members could enjoy the beautiful facilities (instead of the upper echelon at Headquarters having the ONLY beautiful facilities while the members meet in substandard rental halls). The Bereans also gave us a detailed financial report to show exactly where all the money was going.

Are we to tithe on our gross income or the net income? One week we were tithing on the gross. The next week we were told we could tithe on the net. Then the very next week we were told tithing wasn't required. Then a few months later, we find that tithing has now become "N.T. Christian stewardship." Nothing has been said about whether to tithe on net or gross. Could it be that maybe if they didn't say anything, we would continue to tithe on gross?

(10 Jan `95 Worldwide News, `Personal by Joseph W. Tkach: The new covenant changes our hearts" Section: Tithing) "...Tithing was not required in the days of Abraham ...(COERCION TACTIC COMING)-­>"...The hard-hearted Israelites were required to give 10 percent ...How much more willingly ought we to give in thankfulness for the eternal spiritual blessings we have in Christ Jesus?...(GUILT TACTIC NEXT)--> "...How much more joyfully should we give to God under the New covenant? We, who have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which does cleanse our conscience? Should we give less than a tithe, when the blessings we have are so much more glorious than those of the Israelites?" (NOW THEY WILL TELL US HERE TO GIVE OUR TITHES TACTIC)--> "...How much more are we to give freely and generously to God so his Work can be done in the world..." (Did you notice that word "Work" in capital letters?? They put it in capital letters for a purpose. That's a WCG buzzword "The Work." It's like saying "The Church." So now "The Work" which used to be defined as "preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, is now being defined as, "preaching the gospel, to declare the new covenant ministry..."). (Did you also notice that giving to the WCG is still equated to giving to God?) Let' continue: "...A person who has faith wants to give all he can to Christ ...Christians should give generously to the Church ...But shouldn't our attitude be willingness to give more than the minimum?" (emphasis in italics theirs).

So you see, this article was written to make us feel guilty about tithing. And when that didn't work, they had to come up with a definition and new identity to make people feel obligated to tithe. So now in order to be a "N.T. Christian with high moral standards" you will continue to practice tithing and more (which means you are still obligated to give holy day offerings and other offerings). You are to give "generously" to "The Church" so it can still do "The Work." All I see are the same terms, just substituted with New Testament terminology. Am I wrong in this observation? And once again, Mr. Albrecht continues to label people as "permissive" or "selfish" for questioning tithing.

Now compare these figures for an average WCG congregation:

I did not include extras to run activities because we have to do fundraisers to pay for them. We also had to send in a tithe of our fundraising profits. So as you can see, I was making an extremely conservative estimate on how much Headquarters makes per congregation. And what do the members have to show for all this money sent? There are no church buildings - they're all rented. The Plain Truth magazine distribution is down to less than 1 million. There isn't a TV "World Tomorrow" program - no more TV commercials, no more booklets or literature. The Toledo congregation meets in a decrepit school building (as is common in most congregations); it owns 100 chairs purchased by money raised from a garage sale held at my house, 10 fans (because there's no air conditioning), and half a sound system. After all these years - THAT'S IT!!!!! (The local area is also fundraising to save for a new building, so the members are raising money in their local areas to purchase buildings IN ADDITION TO paying tithes to Headquarters). So that's why I find it hard not to believe that money - not God - is the name of the game here. And now the game plan is HOW to keep that money coming in. just adopt mainstream Christianity, bring in people by the thousands, and teach them that "tithing" is "N.T. Christian stewardship" and viola! you've replaced lost membership and gain back all your income, but now you own real estate in the process.

COMMENT TO QUESTION #9:

Try the Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach. WE didn't make this saying up!!! That's why people are split up - Those that went into the UCG do so because they think they are "keeping the faith once delivered" and those that remain in the WCG do so because, "God chose HWA, and HWA chose JWT. And since HWA was God's Apostle, and he ordained JWT, that makes JWT God's Apostle, and we must follow that Apostle and not be guilty of rebelling against God's government." THEY said it - WE didn't. And now they are trying to pretend that "only a few believe this." Noooo Way, Jose!! I have a friend in Colorado who wants to go into the UCG, but her husband wants to stay in the WCG, all for these very reasons.

COMMENT TO QUESTION #10:

Disfellowshipping not the official teaching or practice - SINCE WHEN?!? (I would really like to know when they "officially" stopped this practice).

COMMENT TO QUESTION #11:

The "unprecedented and historical nature of the changes that have occurred in our fellowship" is being peddled to the members as "We've changed from being an old covenant Church to being a New Covenant Church." And we are told how the "Christian community is marveling at this." But what the Christian community is marveling at is a CULT trying to become CHRISTIAN. The members haven't a clue to this. Do you think they should? Aren't they misleading the members?

The only difference I see is the terminology. They now say "Christ" all the time instead of "God this" and "God that." It's no longer "God's Church" but "Christ's Church."

Janis, I'm not trying to be paranoid or critical. I am not in the "persecution" business or the "Woe is me - my life is ruined" business. They tell us about the "high moral standards" that Christians should live by, and yet they continue to mislead the members, using guilt and coercion. How can they preach "high moral standards" to us and then treat the members in such a fashion? Is this Christ-like? Does the end justify the means??

EXTRA QUESTIONS:

Does the WCG believe that the Resurrection was on Sunday, or Saturday? Don't you find it strange that in new booklet "He Has Risen" (1995), there is NOT ONE SINGLE Scripture quoted that Christ rose on the first day of the week (Sunday)?? None of these Scriptures appear in the booklet (Matt.28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, and John 20:1) and yet the title says "He Has Risen." Why weren't these Scriptures included? They were completely skipped over (The WCG believes that Christ was crucified on Wednesday and rose on Saturday - not Biblical). Why were none of these Scriptures included in the booklet??? Why is there an insert for readers to send away for a booklet called "God's Festivals and Holy Days" which introduces them to all the O.T. days that the WCG keeps? This booklet was issued right before April 1995 - AFTER all the "changes" were announced in January 1995. If they didn't have time to make changes adequately, why mail out the booklets at all??

It also states that Christians are to keep the "New Testament Passover" and do the "footwashing ceremony" as a direct commandment from Christ (see page 13). Does that mean that Christians who do not keep the N.T. Passover on the 14th of Nisan and do not do footwashing are disobeying Christ's commands? They also teach that we are to remember Christ's death - NOT his resurrection to life (see page 14), therefore Passover is biblical and Easter/Holy communion is not.

On page 18 is a chart detailing the day Christ died. This is also another clever WCG tactic. Don't you find it strange how they go into detail about every hour Christ spent before his death, but STOPS SHORT OF THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION (SUNDAY) - the most significant event in history????? They skip right over it and continue on to the Days of Unleavened Bread. This chart is an exact copy of the chart they used to prove that Christ was crucified on Wednesday and was raised on a Saturday. So when a WCGer reads this, he assumes Christ rose on Saturday. When an outsider Christian reads this, he assumes Christ rose on Sunday. It is an illusion to what the mind already believes and I can't help but feel this was done on purpose.

I also remember the minister reading a Pastor General's Report that was answering questions that members had about the new booklet. There was nothing in it that condemned people for keeping Easter and the response was, "Is it easier to attract flies with vinegar or with honey?" Can you imagine calling anyone "flies"?? Is that all people are to them? Just a bunch of stupid flies ready to eat their honey? Their doctrines may have changed, but their attitude hasn't.

Finally on page 47, you will find that the WCG believes in "soul sleep." We do not have eternal life UNTIL the resurrection, when Christ returns. Salvation to us is just a "guarantee" that we will have eternal life. Man is not an immortal soul, and people do not go to hell. I don't know if this makes any difference whether these beliefs make a church Christian or not, so if you have any further questions about this doctrine, I'll gladly answer them.

Does the WCG insist on telling the members that they are being revealed "NEW TRUTH" in order to change doctrines (like the Jehovah's Witnesses do)? Does Mr. Albrecht believe that it's okay to tell members that they're learning "New Truth"? (When you go to Portland, see how many ministers use the term "New Truth.") Please ask Mr. Albrecht if they are planning to apologize to all the ministers who were disfellowshipped or resigned in the `70's for preaching the same things they are preaching now as "New Truth."

Does Mr. Albrecht think that "change is the Hallmark of God's/Christ's Church"? (They drilled this phrase into us over and over again for over a year. Now they can make any change that they want to and the members will accept it as a sign of being in "the true Church"). Ask the ministers if they believe that "change is the sign of Christ's church" because "none of the other churches out there are changing."

Does Mr. Albrecht admit that the WCG is a cult or does he just insist that it is just an old covenant Church that has finally seen the error of its ways and is now trying to become a New Covenant Church? (Ask the ministers in Portland if they know what a cult is and if the WCG is one. Ask them if they have ever disfellowshipped members before and ask them if they can tell you how many. I'll say at least 2 people minimum per year per minister).

            Ask the ministers if they ever paid second and third tithe before. (Ministers do not). Ask them if they feel tithing is necessary and why and if members should give at least 10 percent or more. (The field ministry are very kind, concerned people. They are just as deceived as we were and they are not privy to inside information. They only preach what they're told to preach in the Pastor General's Reports). Ask them why they feel a Headquarters is necessary. Ask them if they believe that they are "God's" (now "Christ's) Church, but that other churches are Christian "in addition" to theirs.

Ask Mr. Albrecht who Stanley Rader was. Ask him if Mr. Rader is still on the church payroll. Ask him why or why not. Ask the Ministers who Stanley Rader is and if they know that Mr. Rader is still on the Church payroll until the year 2003. Ask them what happened in the `70's. [Read: Worldwide Church of God History by Kenneth Westby] Ask them who Herbert W. Armstrong was and who is Joseph Tkach Jr. Ask them how he got to be Pastor General.

That's it for now. Thanks again for everything!

Sincerely,

Kelly Marshall
Exit & Support Network™

P.S. The booklets are for you to read. Have you ever read The Incredible Human Potential and The United States and Britain in Prophecy or Mystery of the Ages? I have them if you would like to brush up on WCG terminology. Let me know.

Back to Kelly's first letter to Janis Hutchinson

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Read: Mystery of the Ages (a critical review) by Kelly Marshall

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Unavailable! The Worldwide News - Prior to September 1995 (shows the contradictory and confusing statements made during the changes; comments by ESN)

Is Worldwide Church of God Still Holding On to Some of Herbert W. Armstrong's Doctrines? (updated in 2005)

Back to Letters to Janis Hutchinson