CLOSE TO THE EDGE - ISSUE 2 Close To The Edge is published by TOLC - a group of former members of the London, Birmingham, Manchester and International Churches of Christ TOLC, PO Box 348, Morden, Surrey SM4 6ZD Tel: 081-646-7477 Fax: 081-646-8151 December 1993 Issue 2 Inside this issue EXCLUSIVE: LCC membership crisis page 1 London leader taped page 1 Editorial page 2 THES dismisses LCC complaint page 2 Open letter to the LCC leaders pages 3-4 EXCLUSIVE: SENIOR LCC SOURCE REVEALS MEMBERSHIP HAS FALLEN TO 579 A senior member of the London Church of Christ has revealed that membership has fallen from more than 1000 at the start of the year to less than 600 in October. Further evidence that the LCC is losing members is the revelation that collections are failing to reach their target by up to œ700 per sector. The information about the large drop in church membership and their financial problems has not come as a surprise to the ever-growing number of people monitoring the LCC. Observers have commented on the drop in attendance at London services, and the more frequent appearance of groups from Birmingham, Oxford and Bristol being ferried-in to keep congregation numbers up. Many believe the LCC is desperate to keep congregation numbers high to ensure the hype and excitement that normally accompany such meetings. The drop in membership does not appear to be a problem just for the London-based church. Rick & Sarah Bauer's series of articles The Boston Movement: Analysis, Commentary and Media Reports goes into graphical detail about the discrepancies between official church estimates and accurate calculations of membership. 1993 has been a year of public relations disasters for The London Church of Christ. For example, the BBC2 NewsNight report, the National Union of Students ban, as well as the continuing investigations by the Charities Commission and the Inland Revenue. Commentators believe that it may not take long before Kip McKean at the Church of Christs Los Angeles headquarters loses patience with the current London leadership and orders a change, be it in personnel or in strategy. Background: The source in the LCC first contacted the offices of TOLC in September following months of bad publicity and media investigations into the church's activities. He is a senior member of the London Church of Christ and has been a member for some years. Fearful of being marked as a dissenter the source has asked not to be named, and is known in TOLC circles only by his pseudonym, Garbo. Reports suggest that Garbo has become disillusioned with the direction the church has moved in over the last couple of years. 99% of LCC members are well-intentioned, charming, good hearted people who entered the church with honourable intentions. Close To The Edge feels they would be desperately upset if they knew the extent to which the LCC was exploiting their lives, their time, and their money. If you feel the LCC might not be telling you the whole story please feel free to contact TOLC at the address above. LCCs 3rd-in-command in tape scandal The Independent newspaper (Monday 27 September) has uncovered a recording of the LCCs lead evangelist for north-west London telling a fellow member of plans to divert funds from Third World missions to fund its British operations. LCC leaders denied that cash from a œ180,000 foreign missions appeal would be spent illegally in the UK. But Dr Tommy Chan was taped saying that some of the money would be spent on missions in Edinburgh, Oxford and Bristol. If this were to happen then it would be a breach of the 1993 Charities Act and the Charities Commission would be obliged to investigate. The Charities Commission are currently already investigating the London Church of Christs activities. The allegation is that the LCCs funding, pyramid-selling techniques, and discipling methods are contrary to the public good (ie. generally accepted standards of morals or behaviour) - an important element of the Act. Dr Chan was recorded as saying: "It [the money] is for churches in and around the UK like Edinburgh, Bristol, the little ones, Oxford... So the special contribution is purely for mission work, here, but mainly abroad." Church administrator John Partington said later that Dr Chan had been mistaken. LCC press complaint dismissed The London Church of Christ sent a complaint to the Times Higher Education Supplement regarding an article they printed on September 10, 1993. The article by journalist Claire Sanders reported that Graham Baldwin, the former chaplin at the University of London, intends to sue the church for defamation of character. The article continued to describe how approximately 30 former members of the LCC are intending to sue the church for financial impropriety. A complaint by the LCC to the Times Higher Education Supplement fell on deaf ears as the newspaper produced evidence and statements from the Charities Commission and Graham Baldwin. Graham Baldwin said: "The LCC says that I am a liar and a kidnapper who deprogrammes people not to believe in the church. I am concerned to counter these accusations as it is important that people listen to what I have to say with an open mind." Another subject picked up in the report (and also reported by The Voice, 7th September 1993) is the accusation that the LCC is attempting to recruit more white members, rather than black. One former member of the London Church of Christ claimed that the LCC had a policy in recent years of recruiting wealthy white, rather than Afro-Caribbean, members: "They want people with healthy bank accounts" he said. EDITORIAL Close To The Edge #2 TOLC, PO Box 348 Morden, Surrey SM4 6ZD Telephone: 081-646-7477 Editor John Drake Executive Editor Ayman Akshar Subscription Manager Harriet Bentham Only our second issue and already weve doubled our number of pages. News about the London Church of Christ floods into our offices every day, and not just from the UK. In the last week we have heard from contacts as far afield as Hong Kong, Berlin, and Tucson, Arizona. Calls to the TOLC offices tend to fall into one of three categories: Current members of the London Church of Christ asking questions and requesting information on the church. Relatives, loved ones, and friends of LCC members concerned about their well-being, or disturbed by their change in character. Television, radio, and newspaper journalists researching the LCC. If we can help you in anyway at all please dont hesitate to contact us at the address above. At TOLC we dont want to force anyone into leaving the LCC. We believe in assisting others to resolve their position within the London Church of Christ, and will assist them - if they wish - to leave. Pressure of space has caught up with us once again, and a number of articles and news reports didn't quite manage to squeeze their way inside. In the next issue of Close To The Edge we hope to bring you a series of articles describing one couple's experiences of the LCC, how they informed church leaders of wrong-doing, and were eventually thrown out of the church for being divisive. Another article we couldnt quite fit in this issue was a review of some of the many books by ex-members and observers of the London Church of Christ and its sister churches around the globe. Anyone who would like to access to this literature should contact the TOLC address for a price list (Videos and audio-tapes are also available). This is the last issue of Close To The Edge for this year. To those of you who I wont see beforehand, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. JOHN Close To The Edge Issue 2 is Copyright (c) 1993 TOLC All Rights Reserved. Published December 1993. Close To The Edge welcomes contributions from readers and writers, but unsolicited mail is sent at the senders risk. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: To ensure you dont miss an issue of Close To The Edge send a stamped addressed envelope to Subscriptions, TOLC, PO BOX 348, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6ZD for further details. NEWS IN BRIEF: WEST ZONE LEADER SPONGING OFF STUDENTS A.K, the leader of the West London Zone has told a young student that they have to give an additional œ140 to the church. The student, who is struggling on a student grant, originally pledged œ250 under duress but was only able to give œ110. A church insider has told Close To The Edge (29-Nov-93) that the young student is under immense pressure to pay money that they just do not have. LCC FAILS TO RAISE MONEY FOR MISSION Church insiders have suggested that Fred Scott's call on UK London Church of Christ members to raise œ180,000 for a Third World mission missed its intended target. Despite organizing a large sponsored walk in Epping Forest on the August Bank Holiday and a series of social events in recent months the LCC is now asking that weekly donations by members be increased. MORE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES In recent weeks as the financial pressure has been increased on young people in the LCC a number have begun to feel the strain. One young married couple known to Close To The Edge (and married for less than one year) were asked to give so much time to the church that their own relationship began to suffer, not helped by the increasing amount of time they were expected to spend involved in LCC activities. When they were told that their weekly donations to church funds would have to increase once more the wife realised that they could not possibly afford it. Her husband went to his discipler for advice but was told in no uncertain terms that his wife must be subservient. The couples marriage was put through enormous pressure at this point, but they eventually made the very difficult decision to refuse to give more money. The couple have now elected to stop attending church services, and are receiving counselling. LCC TIGHTENS THE GRIP In a disturbing trend LCC observers have noticed that for the last three weeks rather than passing round a basket to collect contributions, members are being given envelopes to fill up with their offering. Because the envelopes have each individuals name on them (contrary to Biblical teaching) this would appear to be a method by which church leaders can tell how much each member is giving. This would seem to be an attempt by the church leadership to save face, as on previous occasions they were embarrassed to ask members a second or third time to make additional contributions. USHERS CENSOR MEMBERSHIP Sources within the London Church of Christ have contacted TOLC disturbed that church ushers have been confiscating their copies of Close To The Edge upon entering services (28-Nov-93). This would appear to have been a directive put down by the church leadership threatened by the views expressed by many current and former members of the LCC. [ED. - If the ushers, or anyone else, would like their own copies of Close To The Edge they need only contact the TOLC offices at the address at the top of the Editorial column. Alternatively copies are frequently available free of charge outside church services!] Some good news! We dont want it to be all doom and gloom in Close To The Edge - our mission is to print both the bad and the good about the London Church of Christ. So we were encouraged to hear that church elder John Partington is flying to Philadelphia to learn about drug rehabilitation. We trust this knowledge will be put to good, positive use. Open letter to the leaders of the London Church of Christ: The following letter was sent to Fred Scott (UK co-leader of the London Church of Christ) and a number of senior members of the LCC at the beginning of December 1993. 1 December 1993 Fred Scott 3 ECCLES ROAD BATTERSEA SW11 1LY CC: Douglas Arthur, Washington DC Kip McKean, Los Angeles Al Baird, Los Angeles Steve Johnson, New York Roger Lamb, Chicago Randy McKean, Boston Gordon Ferguson, Boston And all the evangelists of the Multiplying Movement around the world Dear Fred Earlier this year, you expressed a desire to meet and discuss the areas of disagreement between us, and you promised a fair and frank atmosphere in which these issues and concerns could be presented and discussed. I wish to challenge you to make good upon your word and that promise. In the interest of promoting Christian unity, and in trying to resolve what I have concluded to be serious doctrinal heresies in the London Church of Christ, I hereby invite you to a discussion structured around the following guidelines: Participants The London Church of Christ will be able to select any four individuals to participate in the discussion (yourself and three other men of your choosing - for your information many of your staff have already expressed an interest in attending this meeting as one of the representative of the London Church of Christ). I will be selecting three individuals of my own choice as well. The unpleasant experiences of other individuals who have been intimidated and outnumbered by yourself and other LCC Movement leaders in attempts to reconcile similar concerns leads me to believe that this is the only solution that guarantees fairness to all participants, and that the positions of each side on these matters will be accurately represented and defended. Since we have already addressed these matters personally in the spirit of Matthew 18, and since you yourself have already suggested a group meeting (again true to the "second step" of Matthew 18), that is precisely what I wish for as well. Such a meeting to discuss doctrinal issues is not unknown in both biblical and early church history. Format Each "side" will be allowed a 30-minute opening statement, clarifying the issues at hand, and representing their current thinking and practice. Following these statements, three hours each will be devoted to a discussion (with a structured and timed statement/response period for clarification maintained to insure that all parties present have ample opportunity to communicate clearly and without interruption their positions on these matters) for the following subjects: Conversion and baptism, as taught and practised by the London Church of Christ and the New Testament; Local church leadership and the hierarchical organisation of the LCC movement; The use and abuse of authority in the LCC movement and in the New Testament; The practice of one-over-one discipling as taught and practised by the LCC and the Boston Movement Each "side" will be given adequate opportunity to present and defend their current teaching and practices in these matters, and to correct any misunderstandings or false doctrines that may have been taught in the past. Each will be accountable for only those positions that they have taught or otherwise published on the subjects addressed. More specific structures for each of the three - hour segments will be developed upon mutual agreement once more concrete arrangements are in place. At no time will the discussion become focused primarily upon the character, shortcomings, or sins of the individuals (as we believe that each of us is a sinner before God (Romans 3:23) whose righteousness is guaranteed only by Christ), but rather upon the four major issues identified in this document. Believing in the necessity of an open atmosphere, and also having a conviction that we are responsible before both men and God for what we say and teach, it is our intention to record these discussions and to distribute them freely and without charge to whomever requests them, as they would represent the current practices of both ourselves and the leaders of the Boston Movement. We feel this to be a unique opportunity to rectify any misrepresentations made in the past by any of the parties involved, or to correct any false doctrines that may no longer be taught by the Boston Movement. Date & Location We are prepared to meet with you at any time, at any location, for as long as is necessary to adequately discuss these matters. Admittedly, a site that is "neutral" and within easy travel distance for all participants is difficult; I offer the Wimbledon YMCA as a suggested possibility, but am certainly willing to accommodate any reasonably suitable alternatives. I would imagine that the meetings and discussions would last for a minimum of two days. "Open heart, open Bible, open mind" used to be the theme of the London Church of Christ leadership. It was that kind of restoration-like spirit that prompted each of us to previously respect and support the LCC Movement, at times at great personal and career cost. Recently, however, there appears to be a great reluctance to discuss any and all doctrinal matters with any but those are already in agreement with LCC and Boston Movement teachings on these issues. We feel this spirit contrary to Kip's own statements and claims to "openness" and "teachability"." As Boston Movement evangelist Mike Taliaferro wrote in the Boston Bulletin: "We have got so much to learn, I hope all my life I'm a learner. But pride will cause me to be open to learning only from smaller and smaller group of people. That's wrong I want to always be a learner and for my disciples to be a learners, and if I stop being a learner I pray God will take me out of the way".(3 September 1989 p.93) We know that you have labelled several of us "enemies" and have forbade members of the LCC & International CC Movement to speak with us (at times without ever discussing your reasons with us prior to that decision). If enemies indeed we are, then Fred, I am calling on you to live up to the way you and your discipler and his discipler Kip himself spoke of treating one's enemies: "The key to getting people to accept the gut-wrenching challenges of Jesus is love. Jesus teaches us that we must even love our enemies. It is so hard to love your enemies, but we must be the dreamers who believe that even our enemies can become Christians" (Boston Bulletin, September 3,1989, p.92) Fred, how can you call these men your enemies and refuse to meet with them in a fair and frank discussion of our differences? Is this the openness that the LCC & Boston Movement was built upon? The "gut-wrenching challenge" before you is to be a man of your word. I am sending this letter to Christian leaders worldwide (both inside and outside the LCC and Boston Movement) in an attempt to have them plead for your willingness to meet with us. As Al Baird said about the critics of the Boston Movement: "We are still in the process of changing. Our critics look at us and say, 'You blow it here and you blow it there.' I listen to that and often say 'Amen, but give us a little time and we won't be there any more.' A lot of our critics criticize us about things that happened several years ago, and we aren't there any more. They are fighting our dust" (Boston Bulletin, September 3,1989, p92) We wish neither to be your enemies nor to fight your dust, only to fully and frankly discuss where we believe the LCC and Boston Movement to have departed from the teachings of the New Testament. If indeed we are in error and convinced by the word of God to be so, we will publish our corrected positions and teachings as broadly as is possible. We want to truly resolve these matters so that the good works and plans of the LCC Movement can be encouraged, applauded, and even assisted by a wider fellowship than at present, and we wish to provide a forum for discussion of issues that believe will eventually, if uncorrected, constitute the undoing of your movement. On behalf of the several former evangelists, and numerous zone leaders, house church leaders, and women's counsellors, as well as the untold thousands who have left the LCC Movement, we urge you to not disregard this historic opportunity. If a peace conference can be broken in the middle East by secular means, then surely our meeting is possible. If the Soviet Union can be brought to the conference table to disarm our world of terrifying weapons of mass annihilation, then surely we can meet and discuss our differences. The preservation of our union as Christians and our mutual plea for this world's salvation is such we should go anywhere, do anything, give up everything, and pay any price to see it attained. Your rejection of this offer leaves us no choice but to conclude that you and the Movement that you represent has no interest in clarifying or defending your doctrinal positions. Fred, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, please do no disregard this opportunity. I pray that you will respond in writing at the earliest possible opportunity. Yours in the cause of Christ Ayman Akshar Close To The Edge hopes to publish the London Church of Christ's response to this letter in its next edition. THIS NEWSLETTER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF A LARGE GROUP OF CURRENT & FORMER MEMBERS OF THE LONDON CHURCH OF CHRIST. NEXT ISSUE: TOLC plans first anniversary activities. Financial pressure on LCC married couples. Media reports and books review. CATALYST seminar report. Distress of the family of a London LCC leader. PLUS All the latest news. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those solely of the writers and are not meant to be indicative of editorial policy or TOLC as a whole. Close To The Edge is a non-commercial venture, produced for current and former members of the LCC by current and former members of the LCC. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct, but we welcome notification of change in case of inaccuracies. STOP PRESS: =========== Contacts within the LCC suggest that a senior member will be leaving the church in the near future. More details next issue.