The PCG hung its very existence on the argument that the Worldwide Church of God was no longer staying true to the founder’s teachings, especially those in his book Mystery of the Ages (MOA).
It might be worth a quick review of some history that the Philadelphia Church of God would like to sweep under the rug.
In January 1997, the PCG began printing and distributing Mystery of the Ages with an altered copyright, claiming fair use and religious freedom.
In February, the WCG sued the PCG.
In 2000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against the PCG, deciding that verbatim copying and distribution of the entire book did not qualify as fair use. PCG (of which I was a member at the time) preyed on the general ignorance of most of its members by glossing over the legal loss and reframed the eventual 2003 settlement as a spiritual victory! The settlement transferred the copyright of 19 of Armstrong’s works to the PCG for what was likely multiple millions of dollars.1
The PCG considered this legal battle and “victory” (court loss and settlement) so significant that the founder’s son, Stephen Flurry later wrote a massive tomb about it2, documenting all the insidious and carefully crafted “deception” by the WCG towards its members by changing core foundational doctrines and straying from the ideologies of Armstrong, which it essentially considered revelation from God. The book also calculated the amassed wealth of the WCG under Armstrong, and although it’s been ages since I’ve read it, I remember the number $1 billion coming to mind.3
Here’s the good part. You can’t make this shit up. Fast forward to 2026, and the PCG has: (drum roll!!!!)
- Rewritten and significantly altered Armstrong’s works
- Conducted the largest transfer of wealth in church history from the tithing members to the church headquarters4
- Build a massive campus in Edmond, Oklahoma
- Purchased a private jet5 that is only for use by church leaders and elite under the pretense that they were going to use it to bring a gospel message to leaders around the earth, which they never did
- Built a private dance studio for Edmond elites, bringing in world-class teachers for children of church leaders
- Created a roadshow circus of Irish dance performances they are calling “the work”6
And on top of it all–they CHARGE THE PUBLIC MONEY to view performances, in person and online.
In a nutshell, PCG leaders today are as corrupt, morally bankrupt, rich and increased with goods, and ineffectual as the 90’s leadership they so roundly criticized.
There’s literally nothing new under the sun.
By Logan (former PCG member)
January 21, 2026
Recommended Letters:
“Flurry Has Already Changed Mystery of the Ages!” (April 13, 2004)
“Gerald Flurry’s Changes in Mystery of the Ages” (April 17, 2004)
“PCG Did NOT Win a Victory in the WCG vs. PCG Court Case” (February 23, 2007 letter to ESN from Attorney at Law)
Celtic Throne Performances One of the Biggest Scams Ever (June 5, 2024)
Recommended Articles:
Allowing Herbert Armstrong’s Literature to be Republished (following this will be “Sold Copyright to Philadelphia Church of God”)
How Did PCG Justify Deleting and Changing Words in Mystery of the Ages?
Raising the Ruins – Selling the “Truth”? (letter mailed out to many PCG ministers and members)
Footnotes:
1 PCG said it was $2 million and WCG said it was $3 million. Read: Sold Copyrights to Philadelphia Church of God
2 Raising the Ruins by Stephen Flurry, 2006, 2019.
3 WCG was a multi-million cooperation but this “billion dollar” figure comes from Raising the Ruins by Stephen Flurry: On p. 183 SF says. “Tkachism’s five-year total amounted to $998 million. … They had about a billion dollars to work with in their first five years! … “Between Mr. Armstrong’s death and the year Transformed by Truth was released in 1997, Tkachism received nearly $2 billion of income. Ibid, p. 185.” They roundly criticized the WCG for misusing this wealth, and even suggested it may have been stolen by leadership.
4 Comments by author of this article: “The very fact that the church [PCG] has Edmond (which they are expanding), Edstone (which they are selling) and a private jet is evidence of that wealth transfer. They have siphoned wealth out of the membership over the years, and concentrated it into headquarters ‘projects’ which benefits only a few of the elite and their egos.”
5 “Gerald Flurry Has Plans to Buy a Private Plane” (2-24-17 letter) and “Gerald Flurry’s Jet Plane is Paid Off and More Money Received” (5-2-21 letter).
6 “Edmond Elite Youth Being Taught How to Riverdance (Irish Dancing)” (10-1-13 letter)