Horrible abuses are going on in PCG. I am most familiar with the cases where Cal Culpepper and Aaron Eagle carried out most of the abuse.
Three PCG families were forced to give up their minor aged, unbaptized children under the direct orders of Cal Culpepper. The information on his forcing members to give up their 15 and 16 year old teens is accurate because I spoke to these people first hand.
Case #1:
This lady is from the Cincinnati/Dayton area. She is a widow and all her family left the PCG and her husband died around 10 years ago. Her granddaughter was being abused by her son and daughter in-law so she petitioned the courts for full custody. She got it and she got the girl out of the abusive environment. This happened around the time of the “Campbell/Culpepper square dance” (the time when Cal Culpepper was in charge, then Marvin Campbell, then Culpepper, etc.). So in that confusion, she was not questioned for getting custody. However, when Culpepper won the power struggle in the North East, he was much displeased with her doing that. Apparently, she was told that “the church does not approve of adoption.” Also this young girl was in public school and getting good grades. However, she was going to school dances and such things with a “worldly boy.” Culpepper disapproved of that. The girl had enough and stopped going to services. This woman got a call from Aaron Eagle disfellowshipping this girl and was told to “put her in the car and drive her to the Juvenile Center (forget the exact name of the facility) and drop her off.” When she explained that she had full custody and was legally responsible for the child and could face criminal/civil charges, she was told by Aaron Eagle, “That is a chance you have to take–have faith.” She was threatened with disfellowshipment if she did not comply.
The lady told me that after she was told by Aaron Eagle to get rid of her granddaughter she went to the Feast some time later and waited in line to see Gerald Flurry. She begged him to intervene for her granddaughter. He told her, “That sounds like a legal issue–you tell Mr. Culpepper to call me.” She then told Culpepper on the phone that she appealed to Gerald Flurry. Culpepper then said, “What? You talked to Mr. Flurry?!” He backed off and nothing was done to her.
Case #2:
This couple was from another area (they asked me not to reveal the state). They had a 16 year old teen that did not want to go to services anymore. Apparently the child was getting “an attitude” and made some comments during the Feast of Tabernacles that were inappropriate. She was sent home from the Feast. They were told to get rid of the teen. They were forced under pain of suspension/disfellowshipment to take her to another state and drop her off at a relative’s house and leave her. They were also instructed not to have any contact with her at all. No phone, email, letters. This was under the direction of Cal Culpepper. This couple was so afraid of being put out of “the church” that they followed Culpepper’s directions to the letter.
Case #3:
This concerns a member from Louisville, KY. This man was a loyal servant of the congregation. He went to all of the PCG activities. He did the garage sale for the building fund, was in Spokesman’s Club, went to the cookouts, picnics, etc. He had joint custody of his 15 year old daughter. The girl was torn between her dad and mom. Cal Culpepper verbally abused the girl at a PCG activity in Ohio. The girl was then condemned by Culpepper and told to not come to services. The father was told not to have any contact with the girl (15 years old) at all. The man refused and was disfellowshipped.
There are many more cases like this but these three will suffice to give a picture of the unbiblical and illegal practice of abandoning your minor teens.
In a recent PCG sermon it was stated how the non-PCG performers who do the Concert Series at God’s House [Armstrong Auditorium] gush and rave telling the HQ people how they were “treated like Kings” with fine dining and accommodations while they stayed at the Auditorium. I wonder if these people were told how minor age children were being tossed out in the street by orders from PCG ministry? Would they still be willing to perform for the Philadelphia Church of God?
I have witnessed much suffering amongst the youth in PCG. One girl in the congregation was told by Wayne Turgeon she could not go to the college because she was “too fat” and did not “fit the proper image of the church.” Many of the youth are leaving PCG.
There are a lot of people with drinking problems in the PCG. One “contact person” in a Kentucky congregation sometimes comes to services high. But he attends Spokesman’s Club and is in good with the regime.
There are ministerial scandals (especially in the North West region) going on. One minister was carrying on a two year affair with a woman in a congregation! He tried to get his wife to leave him. When that did not happen, he tried to convince the PCG that she was “crazy or demon possessed.” He took it to HQ and they suspended the wife. Then it came out about the affair and they kicked him out and let her back.
Also, J. C., a member, was doing security detail at a HQ function in Edmond, OK a few years ago. Grant Turgeon1 (son of Wayne Turgeon) came into an area off limits to people. When confronted by J. C., the little Turgeon said, “Do you know who I am? My father is Wayne Turgeon.” Later, this member was accosted verbally by Wayne Turgeon for telling his son where to go and was suspended not long after.
Whenever I walked into services, there would be no warmth at all; no encouragement from the podium, no mention even once that God loves us–just law, judgment, threats, and doom.
Again, all this shows how evil the whole system is.
By Chris (former member of PCG)
June 19, 2013
Recommended Material:
Profile on a Sociopath (A number of abusive, religious leaders may exhibit many of these behavioral characteristics)
Grant Turgeon Has an Attitude (2013 letter to ESN)
Crazy statement by Wayne Turgeon (What Wayne Turgeon once said)
Recommended Section:
Healing From Emotional & Spiritual Abuse
Related Testimonies & Letters:
Why I’m Ex-PCG (8-28-14 testimony; cruel and cold-hearted abuse by Cal Culpepper)
Cal Culpepper Continues to Threaten and Intimate Members (5-14-14 letter to ESN)
Fear and Dread in PCG (5-24-13 letter to ESN that covers Culpepper)
Frightening Incident With Cal Culpepper (4-29-13 letter to ESN)
True Love Lacking in PCG Members (3-6-07 letter to ESN)
Footnote by ESN:
1 Read: Grant Turgeon Has an Attitude (1-3-13 email to ESN) Update: Grant Turgeon was ordained a local elder in Edmond on October 11, 2022.