It is worthy to note that when the major WCG doctrinal changes did come in 1995, they were instigated with much confusion, shouting and blame placed on the members. Read excerpts from: Video Sermon by Joseph Tkach Sr. to Worldwide Church of God January 1995.

UPDATE: Worldwide Church of God changed its name in April 2009 in the United States to Grace Communion International.

3-29-94

Dear Sir,

You have published several statements recently implying that the WCG has undergone a number of encouraging doctrinal changes and that many of Armstrong's teachings have been questioned or completely abandoned.

As a, current member of the WCG (but planning on exiting) I would like you to know what we have recently heard at the WCG church in [my area].

Even though the WCG has told the media we don't claim to be the only true church, we were told recently such statements as "God is in total control of his church"; "the Laodicean church (which is the church of God) will go through a 2nd refinery--the tribulation"; "Do we really see that this is God's church and these holy days are from God? That there is government in his church and he is behind it?" "Have we proved this is God's church or is there still doubts?" "If we stay on the team and continue to grow, He will spare us."

They have told us the O.T. Feast days are commanded we show our loyalty to God by obeying Him and staying in His church.

I recently heard from Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center that they heard from a former member of the WCG "who believes that a lot of the talk regarding doctrinal changes is just that, because they are using this as a front and are really not changing internally."

Even though you say we now teach the personality of the Holy Spirit, we haven't heard this in our congregations. In a sermon on God we were told, "God has three functions. They are each distinct, but not separate."

One elder told us that "We don't keep the Sabbath to be saved, as we are saved by Christ," yet in the same sermon he said "If we spiritually profane the Sabbath, we will begin to be put in a spiritual death that will eventually put us outside the body of Christ."

So you may want to check into this more to see how much they are really changing on certain longstanding beliefs.

Sincerely,

Following will be the reply from WF, but first is included words from a sheet that was enclosed with WF's letter [all emphasis ours]:

Dear Inquirer,

We have no way of knowing whether you are a follower of "Armstrongism" or are sending some general information outlining changes and errors of Armstrong. …

Never allow a leader of the Worldwide Church of God (or any church) persuade you not to honestly question or examine these issues. Someone once said, "The only thing wrong with the only true church that has all the answers is that they won't let you ask any questions."

[Here was placed a list of "Armstrong's fatal errors."]

It appears, and let me stress the word appears, that the new leadership is trying to change Armstrong's dictatorial edicts and faulty doctrine but they face a real dilemma. If they change too directly, they are admitting that their founder wasn't inspired and called by God – God's apostle and their whole foundation was built on a house of cards. So, they are acting in a duplicitous way – removing all of Armstrong's books, replacing and revising, telling the scholarly Christian community one thing, while painting a different picture to their own membership. If anyone objects, they are summarily excommunicated and put off.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Watchman Fellowship

Comment: 

Did that make it right for the WCG to act in a "duplicitous way" after all those years of preaching to their members that they must be honest? How were they showing "love" by disfellowshipping those who objected to the changes, making it easy for them to run to newly formed splinter groups where they wouldn't have a chance to undo the old teachings of the Law and start understanding about grace? Or was this all part of a deceptive agenda all along? Some of these offshoots; i. e., United Church of God-AIA, certainly seemed to be waiting in the wings for the Armstrong fallout from WCG.

Worldwide Church of God History Revision

Following is the official notice from the May 3, 1995 Pastor General's Report which severed spiritual and social contacts with many ministers now in UCG. The statement bases disfellowshipping on "tradition":

Disfellowship Notice

It is with deep and sincere regret that we find it necessary to inform you that the following named persons, former ministers of the Worldwide Church of God, have been disfellowshipped from the Worldwide Church of God, and their ministerial credentials have been revoked. Such men have either been notified of this change in their status or are in the process of being notified. To prevent further confusion among the congregation arising from the lack of knowledge regarding their status, we are advising you of their names at this time:

Read the names of ministers that were disfellowshipped from WCG by spring of 1996.

You should not read the entire list to your congregation. You need only inform your congregation of the name of the particular disfellowshipped minister that has, or is, causing division among, or in the area of, your congregation. The announcement should be made in the following form:

"In accordance with the biblical commands, the doctrine and long-standing practices of the Church, we are sometimes required to announce that certain people have been disfellowshipped.

"It is our unpleasant duty to notify you that Mr. [and Mrs., if appropriate] ____________ has [have] been disfellowshipped, that Mr. _____________'s ministerial credentials have been revoked and that he has been removed from the ministry. The Church does not, and you should not, bear any ill will toward Mr. [and Mrs.] ___________. rather, you should pray that God will grant him [them] repentance."

Letter from Watchman Fellowship in reply to above letter [all emphasis ours]:

WATCHMAN FELLOWSHIP, INC.
P.O. Box 13340 • Arlington, TX 76094-0340
Phone: (817) 277-0023 • Fax: (817) 277-8098

April 8, 1994

Dear ...,

I appreciate the information you provided us concerning comments made by area ministers at the recent feast. We are aware that much of what is now presented as "new truth" by Tkach & Tkach is not reaching the members. We receive photocopies of some of the PGR articles which inform the ministers of doctrinal statements and policy changes. The pastors are not preaching the new positions of the church. The question could be asked, "If no one is following, is Tkach really leading?" Only a handful of ministers are teaching their people the changes.

What we are attempting to do is report on the dichotomy. Joe Jr. and Feazell really believe the Bible teaches the new positions and that most of what HWA taught was wrong. But, doctrine is only half of the story. The other half concerns the manipulation of the members through fear and guilt. The leadership knows that the Sabbath and the Feasts were "command" for the Jews and are not binding on New Testament Christians (Acts 15). They also know that the Jews never practiced the kind of tithing system they have enforced for so long. They have rejected the Identity doctrine that US & BC are lost Israel.

It will be interesting to see if the new Evangelism Support Services department has been established to prepare videos containing the new teaching which will be mandatory-viewing for all congregation. They could then bypass the reluctant field ministry. Time will tell.

Thanks again for writing.

Phillip Arnn

Comment:

The WCG indeed did come out with videos in 1995--confusing videos which placed the blame on the members for believing all they did all those years. Looking back, did the videos do the job? Why did the WCG created disunity among their members by letting part of their congregations observe the Feast of Tabernacles as "their tradition" and letting the rest not observe it, yet telling each side not to make the other side feel guilty for what they decide to do?! Were they not still controlling the members minds in a duplicitous and contradictory manner?

What in the World is Worldwide Church of God Doing Now?

Letter to Tkach Sr. [all emphasis ours]:

May 2, 1994

Joseph Tkach
Pastor General
Worldwide Church of God
Pasadena, CA 91123

Dear Mr. Tkach,

I would like to ask you some straight-forward questions that I would appreciate an answer to.

Why is the Worldwide Church of God telling the media it has changed certain doctrines, yet the members have not yet received this information?

A few examples:

The leadership of the WCG no longer makes the claim to be the only true church. However, why did you, in a video address distributed to all WCG churches, make the statement that, "I believe with all my heart that this is the one and only true Church of God." (video of 4-3-93)

I have also heard from Watchman Fellowship that the leadership of the WCG knows the Sabbath and the Feasts were "command" for the Jews and are not binding on N.T. Christians. (Acts 15) And that you know the Jews never practiced the kind of tithing system the WCG has enforced for so long.

If these are the church's new positions, then why aren't they being taught to the members yet? Must the changes come in stages over a period of years?

The ministers in this area are still teaching this is God's one and only true Church, the Feast days are commanded by God, and if you don't tithe, you are stealing from God.

Why don't you announce that HWA was wrong on everything, apologize to the membership for the abuses of the past, change things to the right and correct the wrong, let the chips fall where they may, and trust God to bring more people into the church to make up for the ones that will leave?

If you don't want the WCG to be considered a cult anymore, why not even change the name of the church? Even though the WCG changes its doctrines to more mainstream Christianity, there is still a stigma in many people's mind when they hear the name, "Worldwide Church of God."

I know I am not the only one in the church that has questions. I would appreciate an honest answer to this letter.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

NOTES

Christian Research Journal, winter '92 ("Special Report: WCG in Transition.)

David Hulme, letter to James Walker of Watchman Fellowship, 7-26-93.

Michael Snyder, interview on radio station WMUZ, Detroit, 12-13-90. [tape available]  

UPDATE: In November 2004 the Worldwide Church of God moved its headquarters from Pasadena to Glendora, California. (Pasadena Star-News, October 25, 2004) By May 2006 all their offices were moved to Glendora. (Together, May-June 2006).

Answer from WCG: (Notice Headquarters' confusing answer to put WCG in a good light and how he says they are "not hiding information from the brethren." All emphasis ESN's)  

WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91123
JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

May 17, 1994

Dear D:

I am writing in response to your letter of May 2. It is a pleasure to be of service.

You mentioned that you wanted to ask some straightforward questions about the teachings of the Worldwide Church of God because others claim changes have been made about which the brethren do not have information.

Mr. Joseph Tkach has been explaining the Church's doctrinal changes through his articles in The Worldwide News. He is not leaving anything out or hiding information from the brethren. If what you have heard from the Watchman Fellowship was accurately related in your letter, then they are mistaken on some points.

First of all, you asked about Mr. Tkach's statement that this is the "one and only true Church of God." This is a statement that he doesn't make anymore. Mr. Tkach firmly believes that this is God's Church, but to call ourselves "the one and only true Church" implies that only people on the membership role of the Worldwide Church of God can have God's Holy Spirit. It implies that there can be no other assemblies of true Christians anywhere in the world, but that is not what we believe witness the groups we have been in contact with in the Ukraine.

The late Herbert Armstrong often referred to the Church as "the one and only true Church," but even he did not mean what many have assumed. He taught that the Church is a spiritual organism composed of all those who have God's Spirit. He spoke of the Church of God (Seventh Day) as true Christians, for instance. He even invited their ministers to speak at the Feast of Tabernacles up until 1945. While he was Pastor General, other groups were discovered in the Philippines and also in South America with whom we felt a spiritual kinship, and they became part of our fellowship. So using expressions like "one and only true Church" gives people the wrong impression about what we believe.

I really don't understand how there could be any misunderstanding about the Church's teaching on the Sabbath, the Holy Days and tithing because our beliefs are clearly explained in Statement of Beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God. A new booklet on the Sabbath has just been produced called Day of Renewal. We came out with a new booklet on tithing in 1993, and one on God's festivals and Holy Days in 1992. So the Church's "new" position is being taught.

We teach that tithing is God's system for financing his Work. It is an act of worship between the individual and God. The Holy Days show that Jesus Christ is the center of God's plan of salvation being worked out for mankind. The Sabbath was kept by Jesus Christ and the apostles, and the Church today continues to follow their example. We do not believe that doing these things is what saves us. We do good works because we are saved (Ephesians 3:10).

Thank you for writing. Please let us know whenever we may be of further service.

Sincerely,

Richard L. Leimbach
Personal Correspondence Department

Comment: 

How many members really understood or even knew about any "changes" as far back as 1992 and 1993, or even 1994? It appears only those WCG contacted in the media knew. Also notice how WCG says Herbert Armstrong "didn't mean what many assumed." Assumed? Or were taught? He also says "If what you have heard from the Watchman Fellowship was accurately related in your letter, then they are mistaken on some points." Yet HQ furnished the info to WF. Then he goes on to say "the 'new' position is being taught." The above letter is an example of spin control and double talk.

NOTE: Watchman Fellowship is an affiliate organization to EMNR. Evangelical Ministry to Cultists changed its name in 1984 to "Evangelical Ministries to New Religions" (EMNR). EMNR is a Lausanne-covenanted organization and has, in fact, been instrumental in mainstreaming the Mormon religion as a Christian denomination. For more information, read the following report: Evangelical Ministries to New Religions.

WCG has given their approval to the Lausanne Movement, calling it a work of God. (History of Mission Spokane - as of 2-13-00, "What is God Doing?" / "What on Earth is God Doing?" by Gary Roberto.)

Footnote:

¹ Michael Snyder and Ruth Tucker radio interview, Dec. 1990, WMUZ; "Unprecedented Changes Affect Worldwide Church of God," Christian Research Journal, News Watch, Spring 1991; Watchman Expositor, Vol. 8, No. 5, 1991, "Doctrinal Changes at the Worldwide Church of God"

Letters to Watchman Fellowship by ESN about WCG duplicities and abusive methods used on membership

Back to Research Letters Concerning Worldwide Church of God Changes

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