Monday, June 20, 2016

PCG Drops Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Tithe Money and Over 6,000 Man Hours to Produce Song of Songs Sex Oratorio




From a PCG source:

A recently posted Philadelphia Church of God news item describes the latest amateur musical presentation of the PCG under Ryan Malone. The brief three paragraph article accompanied by a ten-minute video describes how Ryan and company put together this latest "masterpiece".

Naturally in the article we learn that the plum roles were of course reserved for quintessential self-promoter Ryan and his wife Paula.  However we also learn the very telling fact that this performance took around 6,000 man-hours to produce!  That's right, 6,000 man-hours, roughly the equivalent of three full-time workers engaged over the course of a year.

Obviously many would have contributed their time freely behind the scenes, however it would be safe to assume that the final cost of this production would have literally run into the tens of thousands, if not much, much more.  All this to put together a musical essentially preformed and attended solely by the Edmond PCG elite and their families.

No doubt the man-hour figure was quoted to impress, but what it unwittingly reveals is the extent to which music has to all intents and purposes taken over in the PCG.  It also reveals how casually member's tithes and offerings are being spent, especially when it comes to music and dancing. This kind of activity should be for organisations with oodles of cash, not aging churches currently experiencing a 25% drop in income.

The article can be found here: Armstrong Choral Union Presents Song of Songs

I wonder if Gerald Flurry ever thinks about what he is now doing with the church’s tithes and offerings in relation to what he originally wrote back in 1989 in Malachi's Message?

Page 123 “Will a Man Rob God?”
Here is a quote by David Hulme, from the Worldwide News, August 14, 1989: “The Ambassador Foundation, through the PRESENTATION OF A GRANT by Chairman Joseph W. Tkach, took a significant step forward in promoting international understanding here [London] July 18.  “Mr. Tkach established the foundation’s involvement in REBUILDING THE GLOBE THEATER, where many of William Shakespeare’s plays were first presented. 

“Far from being merely a performing arts facility, the new Globe Theater complex will include a cultural center and FACILITIES FOR LITERARY SCHOLARS TO STUDY SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS” (emphasis mine). 

WCG leaders say they can’t afford to print Mystery of the Ages, BUT THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY “LITERARY SCHOLARS TO STUDY SHAKESPEARE’S WORKS”?! The decision to help fund the Globe Theater was made shortly after it was decided the WCG couldn’t afford to continue THE MAJOR WORK OF GOD’S “ELIJAH”! God holds them accountable FOR SUCH TWISTED PRIORITIES!......I believe we can begin to get a feel for why God spews the Laodiceans out of His mouth with extreme disgust!"

How long are rank and file PCG members going to put up with this crap?  Clearly the leadership of the church have nothing but contempt for them.

2016 is shaping up to be an interesting year in terms of the PCG's long-term stability.


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Sunday, June 19, 2016

BREAKING: Living Church of God Depositions To Start This Week In Scarborough Lawsuit



Just in from LCG source:

Depositions were the hottest rumor on LCG streets this Sabbath. It seems that quite a few members and ministers have received subpoenas to be deposed  by the Scarborough's attorney in the next two weeks. I can't confirm exactly how many LCG members have received the call so far but based on the chatter this Sabbath, it's a lot. I was also told that it's not just people in the Charlotte congregation. I spoke to several women in the Charlotte LCG congregation who were either called themselves or who's husband's had been called for depositions later this week.

There are a range of emotions amongst LCG members. Some are angry that the Scarborough's are "dragging them into this mess". Some are angry that LCG won't "do the right thing". People talk in hushed voices so they don't get in trouble from the ever-present LCG spies. One person I spoke to bluntly stated that they were "glad to be given the opportunity to finally tell the truth" and seemed resigned to the fact that telling the truth might get them kicked out of church.

Mr. Ames likes to ask congregants for a show of hands during sermons so that he can come up with an estimated percentage. From my surveying since learning of this lawsuit, I would say that the majority in LCG sympathize with the Scarborough's and think they were treated unfairly/ slandered but those same people don't agree with filing a lawsuit to resolve the situation. I have thought about this myself many times. It's a difficult situation because I think I would want to defend myself against false accusations too but I'm not sure suing a brother is the right thing to do either. The best thing would have been for all parties involved to act like Christians and talk out their problems.

Knowing that such a large majority of brethren privately sympathize with the Scarborough's, it will be curious to see if they choose to tell the truth in the depositions (which will surely hang LCG) or if they will choose to lie to protect LCG. LCG feels like it's on the brink of destruction regardless of the outcome of this case but the case isn't helping. Among the LCG people that I have spoken to about this lawsuit almost ALL have a hard time understanding how Mr. Meredith could let the situation go this far; costing the church so much money and bad publicity. It seems the Scarborough's made repeated attempts to make peace prior to filing this suit but LCG has refused them (at least according to facebook posts I've seen - so take that for what it's worth). Everyone knows that Mr. Meredith and Mr. McNair are prideful men but it's hard for us to understand how they can allow their pride to cause so much damage to the church that so many people love.

There are more important things LCG could be doing with their time and our money. What a total disappointment.