News of Those Once Affiliated with the Global Church of God

Since the takeover of GCG by the board in the U.S., those once with GCG went to many places. Nearly 80% went with the Living Church of God (LCG), 8-15% went with the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship (CGCF) and smaller percentages went with David Pack's Restored Church of God (RCG), Harold Smith's Church of God Fellowship, Northwest (CGFnw), and other groups (at least one which is outside the U.S. uses the term Global Church of God). On July 1, 2001, eight ministers resigned from CGCF and formed the Church of the Eternal God (CEG), similar in name, but not related, to the Eternal Church of God (ECG--founded by a minister removed from the original GCG ministry for impropriety) about a month later CGCF (USA) dissolved and most still with it ended up in the United Church of God (UCG). One former GCG minister became pastor of the Wholeworld Church of God. One group that split from UCG (and never was part of GCG or LCG), then COGaic, called Church of God, Established in Modesto (COG-eim) has some former GCG members and maintains a relationship with the GCG Belgians (who had supported the original GCG takeover); in 2002, COG-eim split, and its leading minister formed a new group called COG-ff. In 2004, Raymond McNair, having been in GCG, CGCF, LCG, then went independent and formed Church of God, 21st Century (COG21).

04/24/05 a.m. The COGwriter site will no longer by updated at members.aol.com/cogwriter/ngnews.htm

The new URL for the News of those Once Affiliated with the Global Church of God page will be http://www.cogwriter.com/gnews.htm

I have been working with AOL for the past year to get them to stop placing ads on this page and have not gotten anyone who was able to resolve my concerns, so I switched URLs. This decision was made in December 2004, but finally it has happened.

LCG's Wayne Pyle reported, "Our new station in Houston, KHWB, drew 17 calls. Our new station in Memphis, KPTY, brought in seven. We received excellent news from England this morning. Fifty-one calls came in yesterday from Eurobird. Six of the calls were from the 6:30 am airing, and 43 calls from the 10 am airing. Our total count through yesterday is now up to 82. INI’s (Inspiration Network International) advertising is taking effect!"

LCG continues to add television stations. LCG had some difficulty getting on in the UK, but finally this has happened and seeds are being planted.

04/22/05 a.m. CGFNW announced, "NEW A U D I O CD PROGRAM If you would prefer to receive sermons on audio CDs instead of audio cassettes, please contact us as soon as possible. These CDs play in a standard audio CD player as well as a computer."

It also announced that its one sponsored FOT site will be in Tucson.

CEG reports, "Der Spiegel Online published an interesting article about the German popes -- pointing out that none of Ratzinger's predecessors were too fortunate on the Roman Catholic throne. Gregory V (996-999), the first German pope, had to flee from Rome naked and without financial means. Shortly after he returned, he died of Malaria. Clemens II (1046-1047) died of poisoning within a year. Damasus II (1048) died within 23 days of Malaria. Leo IX (1049-1054) was captured by the Normans, and under his rule, the Catholic Church split into the Eastern and Western Churches. Victor II (1055-1057) was compelled by the emperor to become pope, but he never gave up his office of bishop in Germany. Stephen IX (1057-1058) died within eight months, while traveling. Finally, Hadrian VI (1522-1523) was unable to prevent the Reformation under Martin Luther. The future will show how close we have now come to the return of Jesus Christ. Surely, tumultuous and frightening times are ahead of us."

04/15/05 a.m. CEG reports, "U.S. Trade Deficit at All-Time High The Associated Press reported on April 12, 2005, that "The U.S. trade deficit... soared to an all-time high of $61.04 billion in February... Trade deficits of this magnitude have raised worries among economists about America's ability to continue to attract the foreign financing needed to cover the shortfall between exports and imports.... Demand for foreign petroleum products shot up 10.3 percent to $18.2 billion, the second highest level on record, surpassed only by $19.6 billion in imports of petroleum last November. The February increase reflected higher prices as crude oil climbed to $36.85 per barrel, compared to $35.25 in January, offsetting a drop in the volume of oil imports. Analysts said America's foreign oil bill is likely to climb even further in months ahead, reflecting further increases in global oil prices.""

On other matters, I received what looks to be an open letter mainly regarding allegations about Ernest Owino from "Church of God Writer, Africa" with a return email address of cogwriter@yahoo.com

I should state that I do not know who this individual is, he or she has no affiliation with me, and should not be using the trademarked term 'cogwriter' (and was so informed). Since this individual is apparently sending this out to many, I feel I do need to clarify that that the public email has no connection to me.

03/22/05 a.m. Although I have seen nothing from him regarding the Wisconsin shooting, CG21's Raymond McNair wrote this about four weeks before the shooting, "We live in very sobering times! The Bible refers to these "perilous times" as the "GREAT TRIBULATION" (Mt. 24:21-22), which will be followed by the terrifying, dramatic events to occur during the "DAY OF THE LORD" (vv. 29-31; Joel 2:30-31). The GREAT TRIBULATION which constitutes Satan's wrath, whereas the "DAY OF THE LORD" is GOD'S PUNISHMENT which will fall on the heads of all of the wicked, God-defying peoples of this earth at the end of this evil age! Let us not be "ignorant of Satan's devices" (Cor. 2:11), or of his wicked, crafty plans concerning what he is seeking to accomplish toward the destruction of mankind, especially God's people, here on this earth: 1) Firstly, Satan wants to destroy God's Church (Rev. 12:7-17), which now constitutes the true "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16)—but, thankfully, he will miserably fail (Mt. 16:18; Heb. 2:14; 1 Cor. 15:24-28)!"

Just a few seconds before I learned of the Wisconsin shooting, I read a letter from a former WCG member who told me that Satan was going to try to kill as many of God's people as he could.

R. McNair also reported, "I wish to mention that I have been working with various ministers for some time. Two of these ministers are Messrs. Ronald Laughland and Daniel J. Cafeo. I have found them to be completely loyal to God and His Word, and both are determined to diligently serve God's brethren."

03/18/05 p.m. CEG reports, ""Aside from the mental and emotional impact of the accounts of the LCG killings [during a Church service of the Living Church of God in Wisconsin] and the realization that it could have been us, it is obvious that Satan is behind all of this, not only to destroy God's people one by one, but also to leave in his wake a very negative slant on any professing Churches of God. As we here in CEG become stronger in our commitment and ability to spread the truth, Satan is working harder in laying the groundwork for a very negative reception of that message, as evidenced even by the future efforts of the two witnesses to proclaim the gospel. It's easy to see how friends and relatives will soon 'turn us in' for our 'strange' beliefs, especially those who once knew the truth and turned away from it themselves. "In the meantime, we really need to bolster ourselves to continue to move forward as God provides the way, no matter the cost. These are very sobering times. "Our prayers are with all of God's people..."

03/17/05 a.m. In part 2 his sermon titled 21st Century Apostle, RCG's David Pack states, "All of this literature...I was literally driven to do what others would not...I was driven because I was sent...A miraculous energy was put in me...Vastly more {literature writing}than any servant that God has ever used before...I just know that God has done that...Why so much literature? And why no one else? The answer is that they were not sent...So nowhere else, other than this church, have all things been prepared for the church to go forward to fulfill the fullness of Matthew 29:19,20...So who is going to all nations?...Why would...listing apostles first not include me? Would Christ expect me to ignore that?...The responsibilities Christ expects me to do...While I have apostolic authority, I will still not change any restored doctrines, not one. Nothing changes...Mr. Armstrong was a watchman, he trained me to be a watchman...Mr. Armstrong was a messenger to the 6th era. And even revealed that there are such men, 7 of them. He trained me to do the same. Mr. Armstrong was a Apostle. Yes brethren I hold that office. I do...Either this work is fraudulent because an unauthorized man is doing things soley given to the highest office above him or something else has occurred. If it is a fraud, here's what it means, everything comes to an end...If the highest office in RCG is not an apostle...then I was not sent by Christ".

He also states that RCG has had a tremendous amount of miracles (healings, casting out of demons, receipt of $10,000). He also says that he thought a lot about what would happen to RCG if a HWA ordained evangelist joined RCG--this would cause a problem for D. Pack who was not so ordained, so apparently in David Pack's mind he had to hold a higher office.

Oddly, he suggests that Joseph Tkach claimed to have apostolic authority and was open about his changes and credited his open honesty. David Pack's recollections are different than mine.

I would also add that Herbert Armstrong ordained RC Meredith as an evangelist. RC Meredith is the only one of the first 'batch' of evangelists that HWA ordained that God has allowed to remain alive. RC Meredith has not taken any title flattering title. Although one in another group told me that it had circulated that RC Meredith called himself "Pastor General", that is simply inaccurate. RC Meredith has the spiritual title of evangelist, and the administrative title of presiding evangelist.

03/16/05 a.m. In his sermon titled 21st Century Apostle, RCG's David Pack states, "What is my office? What is my office?...What authority do I have to make administrative judgments different from Herbert Armstrong?...Who is permitted to bind and loose in this age?...Pastors are stationary...It really doesn't apply because I had my reasons...If you know who you are in the body, then it makes sense that the human leader of the church knows his place...of course he knows...now my rank...bad news, evangelists don't do this, they bring good news...Apostle...it means a delegate...with miraculous powers" (part 1).

He contradicts HWA's teachings twice here. The first that he was a pastor, but not stationary (also see the Mystery of the Ages, page 245). Hence, D. Pack exceeded his authority per HWA's teachings.

The second is that HWA clearly had evangelists give not only good news, but the warning message (see almost any issue of the old Plain Truth).

Also note what Paul wrote about an evangelist in 1 Corinthians 16:10, "Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do."

Both Paul and HWA had evangelists do the same work they were doing. Neither restricted their teachings or forbade them from giving the warning messages, which D. Pack referred to as the bad news.

Surely, those associated with RCG should start to see what is happening there.

03/15/05 a.m. This morning, I received two reports that RCG's David Pack is now claiming to be an apostle. After he took upon himself the titles of 'Watchman" and "Messenger" (see 2/15/05 a.m. update, this page), this seemed possible, but I really doubted that he would go this far (at least not this soon).

One report I received stated, "• New Sermon: "21st Century Apostle" ... 2 part sermon.. he posted on his web site this past Saturday ... First part is 2 hours 10 minutes and 40 seconds, long.. I am downloading the second part now, This is a very BAD sermon.. awful.. He has twisted Mr.Armstrong's words around to suit himself, and to bring his own Rank up as an Apostle now.. I don't know what is on the second part.. I will listen to it as soon as I get it downloaded".

The other report I received stated, "I feel the need to bring to your attention a recent sermon posted on RCG's site ("21st Century Apostle"), where Mr. Pack has given himself the role of an apostle. I kid you not. He has said that he is an apostle. A role that took Mr. Armstrong so many, many years to come to terms with, Mr. Pack has seized in only a few short years of leading RCG. His reasons for his apostleship range from website statistics of RCG's websites and the books/booklets RCG has written."

This saddens me. I have always felt that David Pack was a talented, but misguided, writer with potential. I continue to pray for his repentance.

03/13/05 a.m. LCG's Doug Winnail reported, "My recent trip to Kenya (following the departure of our minister there) was both informative and encouraging. It appears that a majority of the brethren in Kenya and Tanzania are determined to remain with the Living Church of God. Upon arrival in Nairobi I spent several days meeting with brethren and listening to their questions and concerns—in addition to dealing with various business and legal arrangements that needed attention. On the Sabbath I gave a sermon entitled “How to Avoid being Deceived”.

A timely topic for those recently exposed to RCG teachings.

When on 2/5/05 RCG posted, "RCG WELCOMES LCG PASTOR: We wish to welcome a pastor who has resigned from the Living Church of God (LCG). So far, over 300 in his pastorate have joined him in his decision", I knew that was inaccurate.

On this particular point, I do not believe that RCG or E. Owino were being intentionally deceptive, it just occurred to me that they were a bit like Dan Rather and CBS in that they were less interested in checking the facts than they were to get out a story they preferred to believe was true. Anyway, that inaccurate post is still at RCG's website (it took CBS a while before it decided to distance itself from the inaccurate reporting of "rathergate' as well).

Speaking of RCG inaccuracies, both David Pack and Ernest Owino must have known that their two posts last month, on LCG/RCG differences and the Open Letter respectively, were full of inaccuracies about LCG teachings.

As I mentioned in my 2/05/05 post on the previous news of this page, several of the alleged changes were not true and both David Pack and Ernest Owino must have both known this. While it is true that most of the people can be fooled most of the time, it is also true that the true Philadelphians cannot be fooled all of the time (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 3:10-11).

03/11/05 a.m. From CEG, "On March 10, 2005, www.wsws.org published a remarkable article, titled, "German Chancellor Schröder's business trip to the Gulf States." The article pointed out: "US President George W. Bush had hardly finished his four-day European tour when German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder began a seven-day tour of the Arabian peninsula. He travelled to seven Gulf States, five of which had never before received a visit from a German head of government. Schröder's journey casts into sharp relief the reasons for the INCREASING TENSIONS between the US and Germany, which were barely concealed during Bush's stop in Mainz. At stake are naked ECONOMIC and STRATEGIC interests -- not peace, stability, liberty or democracy, as the official propaganda of both sides would have one believe. "The Gulf possesses the world's largest supplies of oil, the most important strategic raw material for the economy of the twenty-first century. Moreover, thanks to the billions of dollars that flow into their coffers as a result of the high price of oil, those in power in the Gulf States are among the biggest international investors and purchasers of Western products. Schröder's journey was aimed at cashing in on German reservations towards the Iraq war and US policy in the Middle East. To some extent, the German chancellor was acting as a poacher in what is usually considered Washington's preserve -- a region that the US endeavours to keep firmly under its influence economically and politically. The billion-dollar contraccts for the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq went nearly exclusively to American companies and, to a lesser degree, British firms... According to Ulrich Schäfer, writing in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Schröder's message read: 'Our vacuum cleaner can do everything. The German economy sucks up everything.' "

03/04/05 a.m. In an ad in the Connections section of The Journal, CG21's RF McNair wrote, "Those who believe a “Temple [naos] of God” will be built in Jerusalem before Christ’s Return, often point to Revelation 11 and 2 Thessalonians 2 in support of their belief. But other students of Bible prophecy point out that the New Testament clearly refers to the true “CHURCH” as a “TEMPLE [naos],” according to Ephesians 2:20-22. Those who believe a literal “Temple [naos]” is implied is Revelation 11:1-2, seem not to have noticed that God sometimes uses a “measuring rod” in a symbolic sense, to indicate God’s spiritual judgment (or measurement) of humans (Heb. 3:16; 2 Cor. 10:12- 18). Some people believe Revelation 11:1-2 could indicate, symbolically, that God will “measure . . . those who worship” in “His spiritual Temple” (the “Church,” or “Body of Christ”), rather than implying a physical “Temple” will exist in Jerusalem during the 31/2-year ministry of God’s two “prophets,” called His “TWO WITNESSES” (Rev. 11:3). Apparently, those who believe the “TEMPLE [naos]” mentioned in 2 Thes. 2:3-4 is a literal “temple” have not considered that the “Man of Sin” (the “Son of Perdition”) who will sit in the “TEMPLE of God” could refer to some person who will claim to be a converted child of God, and like Simon Magus (Acts 8), will do his insidious, deceitful work inside the true Church of God, the very Body of Jesus Christ! If this “Man of Sin” refers to a great religious leader in Rome, as some have thought, then how can one conclude that this “son of perdition” could “fall away” (or “apostatize”) from the Truth—because the context of this text indicates that the Man of Sin will neither understand, nor obey, God’s Truth, as revealed in His Word!"

In another ad, CG-FF's Don Billingsley wrote, "Some few years ago we saw pictures in the Plain Truth of huge piles of wheat piled high in the streets of towns due to the elevators being full and running over. Recently, to my shocking surprise, I learned this huge reserve storage of grain no longer exists! Read it for yourself: The Western Times, Sharon Springs, Kansas, December 30, 2004: “Dear Editor, My jaw nearly hit to the floor when I examined a copy of the November 1, 2004 inventory list of U.S.D.A. Commodity Credit Corporation [C.C.C.] owned stocks. There is no doubt the levels are at AN ALL TIME LOW. “I find it difficult to imagine in a time of war, we would allow ourselves this vulnerability. The current C.C.C. inventory is as follows: corn—100,000 bushels, barley—100,000 bushels, oats—100,000 bushels, wheat . . . 2,300,000 bushels, non-fat dry milk . . . 3,700,000 pounds, cheese . . . 1,100,000 pounds. “The C.C.C. owned inventories are ZERO for the following commodities: butter, soybeans, sorghum, rice, honey, peanuts, canola, flax seed, sunflower oil and seed, dry peas and lentils. “Do the math! Total these figures and divide them by current U.S. Population [293,027,571 as of 7-1-04] and you discover our food reserves can be measured in ounces! Imagine less than one pound of commodity per citizen. ‘THE CUPBOARD IS BARE.’ “In fact, the entire nation’s non-committed C.C.C. grain stocks could be stored in Pawnee County, KS elevators utilizing less than 50% of storage capacity! . . . “There is no surplus of food in our world, or for that manner, in this country. Stocks of food and fiber must be viewed as an asset, not a liability. The fact of the matter is the United States now operates with ‘a trade deficit’ with regard to agriculture. So much for the old slogan, “we feed the world.” THE WORLD NOW FEEDS US!"

The US is setting itself up for a major fall with its financial house of cards and its agricultural policies. This is so well documented that it is hard to believe that most ignore it. I should probably add that Canada is in a similar predicament.

On a related note, today CEG reported, "The "Executive Intelligence Review" reported on February 25, that "A series of international conferences... has led to the open airing of panic within the international financial elite. Top on the agenda is concern over the U.S. dollar, which declined about 30% between early 2002 and early 2004, but, equally importantly, the debt-drowned condition of the U.S. economy, which an increasing number of bankers believe cannot be sustained.""

02/18/05 a.m. CEG reports, "As RFE/RL reported on February 14, 2005, "German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder surprised participants at an international security conference over the weekend by suggesting the NATO alliance is outdated. Speaking through Germany's defense minister [Peter Struck], Schroeder [who did not attend the meeting] told the meeting in the German city of Munich that NATO no longer is the main vehicle for setting trans-Atlantic strategy... '[NATO] is no longer the primary place where trans-Atlantic partners consult and coordinate their strategic ideas,' Struck said. 'The same goes for the dialogue between the European Union and the United States, which in its present form does not correspond with the growing weight of the alliance or the new challenges of trans-Atlantic cooperation.'"

There will be various strains in the military alliance between the US and the EU, probably right up until the US no longer is a military power.

02/15/05 a.m. David Pack wrote this about his sermon Foretold: Watchman to Israel—Messenger to Laodicea!, "This is the most important sermon that I have ever given. If you have never heard one of my sermons, start with this one. If you never hear another, listen to this one".

The following is from a partial transcript by Gary Scott of that RCG sermon:

"You can’t point to an ordination service [for authority.] That becomes a problem, doesn’t it? If there was an ordination service, and [...] the Watchman is ordained right there in front of everybody, then it would be real clear, as long as you knew the man over him was true and had the authority to do it...There will be people hopping mad when they hear me claim this. I believe I was selected as early as 1993. That’s why I was the first pastor in the world who was fired."

Apparently, David Pack is saying that he is the Watchman and Messenger because he was the first pastor to be fired. I do not believe he was the first pastor ever fired, so apparently he meant something else.

In the second part of that sermon (it was a two-parter) David Pack states, “We’ve got nowhere near fifteen years left...there was no way that the “Short Work” will last even ten years."

What is most astounding to me about the above comment is that in his open letter, Ernest Owino stated, "Then there is the prevailing, but ridiculous idea, promoted by LCG’s leader, that Christ could likely return in 2017!"

Actually, LCG teaches that it is likely that Christ will return by, not in, 2017. So why this is a reason he gave for supporting RCG (especially in the context of David Pack's comments) astounds me. Certainly, any with eyes to see and ears to hear can tell that nothing about the E. Owino departure seems right.

02/13/05 a.m. Apparently (according to one with affiliation with RCG as I do not receive RCG's co-worker letters) on February 7, 2005, RCG' David Pack sent out his co-worker letter containing these comments, "Obviously, as would be expected, Mr. Owino’s letter and the "LCG Changes" list have brought the beginning of what I think will be a rolling explosion. There is no question that it brought an initial explosion, and this included the very predictable personal attacks and innuendos against Mr. Owino, including carefully contrived outright lies about his actions from the "usual suspects" in these matters. People who professed sincere love for him just the day before are publicly slandering Mr. Owino as of yesterday. But such is the hypocrisy and deceit of our time."

As far as know, I was the only one to publicly address Ernest Owino's letter on February 6, 2005, thus I must assume this cowardly attack is to a major degree addressed to me.

So, let me state that because I knew about the accusations against Ernest Owino for perhaps a year prior to his departure, I never publicly defended him (hence did not publicly profess the type of sincere love that DP is alluding too). I did however, pray about his situation (and that demonstrating of sincere love was not public), but until last Sunday saw no reason to mention anything about him publicly. David Pack must have asked Ernest Owino by now what he was being investigated for (and he can ask Ernest Owino if he still has not done so), so there is no reason to go into that further here.

As Jesus taught, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (John 3:19-21).

Now, for the benefit of those who do not receive the Living Church News, let me quote from Ernest Owino's article on page 14 of the Jan-Feb 2005 edition, "The foundation that has so far been laid in East Africa appears firm enough to withstand any spiritual hurricane. During my ministerial visits with the congregations in East Africa, I have tried to help our brethren to be constantly on guard against spiritual onslaughts and innumerable false prophets...our prayers are with the Church leadership in Charlotte."

Note that Ernest Owino is stating that he is encouraging his flocks to support LCG's leadership in Charlotte. Any who wish to verify Ernest Owino's statement can go to www.cogl.org and call up the Living Church News and read it for themselves.

My question remains, what doctrinal change occurred since he wrote this (and the article itself shows that he wrote it after the Feast of Tabernacles 2004) that made Ernest Owino change his public opinion?

As far as I can tell, not one of the so-called changes his open letter referred to happened during that time frame.

I simply suspect that David Pack does not like light on his writings and actions, and hence the attacks.

Perhaps I should add here that on Friday I received emails from three unrelated people who were affiliated with RCG, who now tell me that they are leaning towards LCG. One of whom told me that David Pack specifically does not like RCG members going to the COGwriter website (I presume he does not care for the light shown here).

I urge those still with RCG to open their Bibles and read my recent article titled The Elijah Heresies as I believe they make clear that RCG is not being faithful to the word of God on this subject.

Click here for the previous news of those once affiliated with GCG

Bob Thiel, 2005