I knew most of the members from the Buffalo, NY congregation. There is a dear elderly widow, formerly of that congregation who was treated horribly by the so called ministry, under the direction of Cal (Diotrophes) Culpepper, then kicked to the curb and cut off from all of the members there, except for me and my husband. I was not about to abandon her, and shame on those who did! How dare Calvin Culpepper and Aaron Eagle1 treat her the way they did! She is so thankful that we didn’t cut her off while we were still in the Philadelphia Church of God. She was so depressed and distraught over all that happened to her. It just sickens me!
That is just one small example of the control and abuse in PCG, especially by Cal Culpepper (Regional Director of Northeast U.S). He has a very long list of victims, from the Southeastern U.S, to the Northeast and the Midwest. I was very fooled by him when he first came to the Northeast. He appeared so righteous, at first. But as time went on, God revealed to us many things about him that most members are blind to. The self-righteousness, pride, vanity, lack of agape love, mercy and compassion of this man became very apparent. The way he mocked and smirked when I answered him with things straight from the Word of God helped us to see that he didn’t know the Scriptures very well because he didn’t recognize these things. He would assume, jump to conclusions and falsely accuse, and when you answered him with the truth, he still insisted that what he thought was true! It was mind-blowing to us! Why we didn’t stand up to him more strongly and allowed him to persecute and abuse us for 3 1/2 years is now beyond me.2
We had swallowed the whole “this is church government” garbage. Gerald Flurry and Cal Culpepper both claim that every word out of their mouth comes directly from Jesus Christ.3 That is not true of any man! Jesus Christ does not lie or falsely accuse, so there is no way that is true! These men have deceived the members into believing that they have to obey their every word. They are looking to men rather than God! These men are not the Master Potter. We belong to God, He knows those who are His and no one can snatch them out of His hand. [John 10:28]
Too many members in PCG are looking to men who are twisting the Scriptures and preventing them from being led by the Spirit! No human comes between us and Christ, unless you allow them to! Gerald Flurry is not “That Prophet” and “The Lawgiver” as He claims. Those names belong to Jesus Christ. [Luke 24:19 and Isaiah 33:22] Flurry has taken on many names that belong only to God.
If we had succumbed to Culpepper’s deceit instead of looking to God, we would still be there, very deceived and having not grown. All things certainly do work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He brought about much growth and learning through all that Culpepper and his wife Tammy did to me. I guess I should really thank them because if it were not for their evil attacks, I would probably still be there.
Tammy Culpepper cut off her elderly parents (whom I think were in United Church of God) per Flurry’s orders. Then when her father died, their family flew to Oklahoma to show everyone how righteous and wonderful they were. Culpepper had the nerve to stand there at Sabbath services and tell us how one man told him what a beautiful family he has, with so much pride it wasn’t funny! Did he really think people thought he and Tammy were righteous for not honoring her parents, not having love and just showing up after her father’s death?? That is how the PCG is. Cut off your family and show up looking so righteous and see what inheritance belongs to you when they die. This way Flurry gets more money.
I can’t go into all the horrible things Culpepper did to us, widows, disabled people, or the ministers. I am cut off from family that are still in the PCG and who are being controlled by Flurry and Diotrophes Culpepper, but I pray for them always. Salvation comes through no man, only through Jesus Christ!
I felt I needed to speak up!
By Janette
January 15, 2013
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” ~Proverbs 29:2
Update: As of 2017 Cal Culpepper was pastor and regional director for the Northeast United States; Congregations: Kentucky, sections of Ohio and Indiana. As of 2020, he was Western United States regional director.
Recommended Material:
Profile on a Sociopath (A number of abusive, religious leaders may exhibit many of these behavioral characteristics)
Related Testimonies / Letters:
PCG Not a “God Family” but More Like the Mafia (6-16-22 testimony that covers of accusation and abuse by Culpepper)
Why I’m Ex-PCG (8-28-14 testimony; cruel and cold-hearted abuse by Culpepper)
Cal Culpepper Continues to Threaten and Intimate Members (5-14-14 letter to ESN)
Calvin Culpepper Very Abusive to the Elderly (4-11-14 letter to ESN)
Abuses I Was Aware of in Philadelphia Church of God (6-13-13 testimony; includes abuses of minor teens by Cal Culpepper)
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)
Control and Abuse by Cal Culpepper (January 14, 2013)
Related Article:
An Open Letter to Gerald Flurry and the PCG Ministers by Dan De Gennaro where Cal Culpepper is one of the ones held responsible for the suicide of his daughter Janet De Gennaro.
Footnotes by ESN:
1 Update: Aaron Eagle was later disfellowshipped from PCG and Cal Culpepper was given his duties. In 2014 the replacement for Aaron Eagle was a new “minister in training” named Joshua Wainwright. In 2015 it was rumored that Aaron Eagle started his own splinter group.
2 Most members do not stand up to oppressive, abusive leaders because of the fear that has been programmed into their minds (i.e., “God is speaking through His ministers and you must obey them” or you will die in the Great Tribulation.”).
3 Read: Leaders of Totalistic Groups Have These Traits in Common (which mentions more on this)
Back to Testimonies by Those Impacted by Philadelphia Church of God