Close To The Edge #6 TOLC, PO Box 348, Morden, Surrey SM4 6ZD Tel: 081-646-7477 Fax: 081-646-8151 April 1994 Issue 6 Triumphing Over London Cults is a group of former members of the London Church of Christ, Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Tokyo, and International Churches of Christ THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE: Ayman Akshar looks back on the year's events It is with great pleasure I am able to write the article for this month. It is wonderful to see that what we have done in the last 12 months, we have actually achieved something, more than what we have ever dreamed of. We have seen the programmes on LWT and BBC2 Newsnight. What a great job they have done in reporting the facts. Let's look at some of the events of the last year: -The on-going investigations by the Inland Revenue and the Charities Commission - The Illinois State Education Hearings into the Church of Christ, the Moonies and the Scientologists. - The drop in membership down to 579 by the end of October 1993 and still falling - Evangelist John Louis' expulsion by the Singapore government for deception in the obtaining of his visa. The subsequent decision by his second in command Tan-Chio Chang to leave - The Touche Ross fiasco, when the church asked all their members to bring their families and friends for an accounts presentation and at the last minute Touche Ross decided not to appear. (12 December 1993) - The tape-recording of Dr Tommy Chan, accusing former members of talking about the LCC for money, and his statement that money collected for a third world mission would be spent in the UK. He also accused Graham Baldwin of kidnapping for huge sums of money. Again a lie. - Al Baird's statement that the Church of Christ was prepared to lie and break the law to enter foreign countries. - The evangelist Alex Presenza leaving with half the Milan Church of Christ - The decision by Touche Ross not to sign the end of year accounts until the investigations are resolved - The investigations into the LCC by NewsNight, Face the Facts, Beam & DaSilva, The London Programme, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The People, and many local newspapers around the UK, etc etc - John Partington, an administrator of the LCC admits in writing that he is unaware of a cash advance of 13,000ukp made to James Lloyd. However, this is recorded in the public accounts of the church held by the Charities Commission - A member of Birmingham Church of Christ was publicly warned for sins she did not commit. - The use of different names, to cause maximum confusion with respectable religious groups. - The refusal of the Fred Scott the church leader to reply to TOLC's open letter requesting a meeting. - Keeping secret the location of the church meetings in order to prevent members for reading anything that presents the other side of the story. I leave it for you to decide whether this is how God's church behaves. Finally I would like to express my appreciation to the numerous unpaid helpers at TOLC. To all current and former members, families and friends and all our readers. Thank you for your effort, time and the information supplied, we could not do it without you. Ayman Akshar, TOLC Tel: 081 646 7477 Hotline: 0860 579211 Email: aakshar@cix.compulink.co.uk EDITORIAL Close To The Edge #6 TOLC, PO Box 348, Morden, Surrey SM4 6ZD Telephone: 081-646-7477 Hotline: 0860 579211 Email: aakshar@cix.compulink.co.uk Editor John Drake Executive Editor Ayman Akshar Subscription Manager Harriet Bentham This month sees the first anniversary of TOLC's formation, and the sixth edition of Close To The Edge. TOLC was formed in April 1993 by a group of former members of the London Church of Christ. They had all experienced financial and psychological abuses at the hands of the church. Since then TOLC has grown to include former members of the Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester Churches of Christ, as well as many more overseas. The London Church of Christ has accused TOLC of being many things. It has accused TOLC of being kidnappers, of members being sexually immoral, of members being mentally disturbed. If TOLC has been guilty of anything, it has been guilty of trying to find out the truth. Any member of the London Church of Christ who enquires or questions the finances and practices of the Church is fobbed off with lies or told they have a "bad heart" for doubting the integrity of the leadership. Is this really the way for a Christian organization to run itself? Is it really right for a Church to keep its congregation in the dark as to what they do with the colossal amounts of money they collect each year? Is it really right for a Christian organization to "publicly mark" ex-members and describe them as "Judas"? The LCC leaders claim they "walk like Christ". Would Christ have behaved like this? Somehow I don't think so. JOHN Close To The Edge Issue 6 is Copyright (c) 1994 TOLC All Rights Reserved. Published April 1994. Close To The Edge welcomes contributions from readers and writers, but unsolicited mail is sent at the sender's risk. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: To ensure you don't miss an issue of Close To The Edge send a stamped addressed envelope to Subscriptions, TOLC, PO BOX 348, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6ZD, United Kingdom for further details. SCOTT BRYDEN AND JOHN PARTINGTON IN SEPARATE INVESTIGATIONS On 23 January London Church of Christ trustee Scott Bryden met members of TOLC in Birmingham. Scott listened attentively to TOLC's allegations and evidence regarding financial mismanagement and promised to investigate the matters and report back. So far nothing has been heard from Bryden or his "investigation". On 6 March LCC administrator John Partington met former LCC fresher David Vaz and promised to investigate fully his allegations. We look forward to reading Partington's investigation with interest. LCC marriages in difficulty More married couples have approached Close To The Edge describing the pressures and problems they faced from the LCC. A former evangelist from the Chicago Church of Christ, who has encountered many couples with difficulties, told TOLC: "Over and over again marriages are being blown to utmost among London Church of Christ couples". Cat-and-mouse The LCC appears to have adopted a new atmosphere of paranoia, as Church meetings are failing to be announced until mere hours before they occur. Typically the time and location of Church meetings are being kept confidential until 48 or 24 hours before they are due to commence. Observers have suggested this is a deliberate move to avoid Church visitors coming into contact with Close To The Edge distributors. For example, the LCC published that meetings would be taking place at Battersea Town Hall at 3pm every Sunday, January - March. Since this announcement the time has been brought forward to 9:30am at least twice at the last minute. Unfortunately this has the side-effect that visitors often don't know where they have been invited until it is too late! Cult storyline hits Brookside The Channel 4 soap opera Brookside has been applauded by former members of various religious cults, including the London Church of Christ. In a storyline that has been running since before Christmas a number of characters have joined an outwardly Christian group. Young teenager Katie Rogers was lonely after the death of her father and suddenly found a group of new friends. The friends took up more and more of her time, and after a couple of days began studying the Bible with her. Within weeks Katie was baptised into the group in her front living room by the charismatic leader Simon. Ex-members of the London Church of Christ have been in contact with Mersey Television, producers of Brookside, and suspect that many elements of the story have been strongly based upon the LCC’s practices of total control and totalitarian discipleship. Other elements of the cult's activities appear to mirror other dangerous destructive groups operating in this country. One former member of the LCC congratulated the soap opera on its sensitive and informed depiction of just how easy it is to get involved in a cult. Cyberspace As you'll see from the top of the editorial masthead TOLC have jumped onto the data highway, and are now communicating internationally by computer. Editions of Close To The Edge are now being distributed to literally thousands of companies and universities world-wide on their day of publication. If you'd like to contact us send email to the following address: aakshar@cix.compulink.co.uk A word to our subscribers The editor of Close To The Edge would like to apologise for the delay some subscribers have experienced in the delivery of their editions. It is simply a case that we have been overwhelmed by the demand for information. One weekend alone volunteers managed to distribute over 600 copies! We would also like to reaffirm that all subscriptions to Close To The Edge are completely confidential, and all material is sent under plain wrapping. If you would like to make sure you receive the latest news about the London Church of Christ please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the following address for details: Subscriptions, TOLC, PO Box 348, Morden, Surrey SM4 6ZD, United Kingdom. Birmingham to Disciple Bristol Sources from Birmingham Church of Christ have revealed that the Bristol Church of Christ would be discipled by Birmingham. The reason being that the Bristol church is struggling spiritually,and the leadership of the LCC have no time to waste on Bristol Church of Christ. LONDON CHURCH OF CHRIST BROUGHT INTO DISREPUTE BY ACTIONS OF TRUSTEE NEVIL LEE LCC trustee Nevil Lee first made the public eye on 12th December 1993 - the day of the Touche Ross fiasco - when he told the congregation that the Charities Commission had finished their investigation into the church. The next day TOLC members contacted the Charities Commission and learned that this was not true. However, this was just the start of a saga of one man's dishonesty and his farcical attempts to retain his own credibility in LCC circles. This is what happened: 3 February 1994: TOLC member John Farebrother wrote to Nevil Lee about his statement to the church on 12 December suggesting that he tell church members he had misled them. 8 February 1994: John met Nevil outside the church's meeting - when Fred Scott was deposed - at Battersea Town Hall. Nevil said he would reply to John's letter "in two or three days". He also denied that he told the church the Charities Commission had finished their investigation! However, he did say he had spoken to Philippa Holmes of the Charities Commission the day before who had told him that the investigation was now complete. He added that Touche Ross had now signed the church accounts for 1992 and had sent them off to the Charities Commission. 9 February 1994: John rang Philippa Holmes at the Charities Commission who told him she had said no such thing to the LCC, nor did she know who Nevil Lee was! John wrote to Nevil again asking for an explanation. 6 March 1994: John saw Nevil outside the church's meeting at Holland Park School, and asked him why he had not replied to either of his letters. Nevil said he had posted his reply "three or four days ago". 8 March 1994: John rang Nevil to let him know he had still not received a reply. Nevil said his wife had originally forgotten to post the letter, but that he had sent it himself the day before. 10 March 1994: John had still not received Nevil's letter and phoned him again. Finally, Nevil faxed John a copy of the letter. Nevil's letter said he did not tell the church the Charities Commission had finished their investigation, and made no mention of the points raised in John's second letter! The same day John learned from the CC that Touche Ross had NOT signed the church's accounts, and that they would not do so until the Charities Commission investigation was complete! John wrote to Nevil again, asking him once more for an explanation on the two points. 16 March 1994: John had still had no response from Nevil and rang him at work. Nevil said he had posted a reply the day before and had never received John's second letter! Nevil also denied that he had told John that the Charities Commission investigation was over, and that he had told him Touche Ross had signed the accounts! John was naturally dumbfounded and very disappointed to hear Nevil lie so blatantly, and told him so. However, Nevil was unmoved. John Farebrother has still not received Nevil's reply. There is now a great deal of speculation in LCC circles over Nevil Lee's future within the movement, and also concern that other trustees - who should be appointed by a church vote - may be equally economical with the truth. Many wonder if it is right for a proven liar to hold any position of responsibility within the church. There is also concern about the effect this unrepentant man may have on other church members in his day-to-day contact with them. We do hope he will receive plenty of encouragement to change his ways from ordinary members. Nevil works for respected City firm Morgan Grenfell, and has previously used their name to bolster his own credibility. However, he is not the first man within the organization to indulge with creative accounting. In October 1993 TOLC revealed how former teacher, preacher and youth leader John Partington was also less than truthful with the Inland Revenue, and in December of the same year church employee Dennis Obongonyinge lied to a TOLC member to avoid having to face uncomfortable questions about the church's financial activities. It seems they have all taken a leaf out of the world-sector leader Al Baird's book: "I'm not going to lie if there's any other way to do it". TOUCHE ROSS REFUSE TO SIGN LONDON CHURCH OF CHRIST ACCOUNTS CITY firm Touche Ross have refused to sign the latest (1992) accounts of the London Church of Christ. TOLC have found out that Touche Ross are unwilling to sign off the accounts until the ongoing investigations into the LCC are complete. In particular, Touche Ross are awaiting the results of the Charities Commission investigation. The Charities Commission is probing allegations of serious financial mismanagement, and testimonies that the "poor fund" has been misused by Church leaders. Last year it was revealed that less than 1% (one per cent) of the money raised each year by the London Church of Christ actually went to "benevolent causes". Meanwhile a church insider told TOLC that the accounts were in "a state of complete chaos". The Charities Commission address is: The Charities Commission, 57/60 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4QX, UK. If you write to the Charities Commission they are obliged to send you the full accounts (1985-1991) of the London Church of Christ. We believe you will be shocked by what you discover. ON A SCREEN NEAR YOU We look forward to see the very respected BBC1 religious series Everyman which scheduled to focus on the subject of the London Church of Christ. Viewers will watch as a group of former members of the London Church of Christ speak to current members about their experiences in the church, and the church's strict totalitarian methods were revealed. The programme is expected to be accompanied by an expose of the activities of the LCC leadership by The Sunday Times newspaper. INDIANAPOLIS CHURCH OF CHRIST VOTES TO LEAVE BOSTON MOVEMENT The entire Indianapolis Church of Christ has voted to leave the Boston Movement. Preacher Eddie Powers asked the congregation to vote. 6 abstained 1 voted to stay 693 voted to leave. Boston Church of Christ world leader Kip McKean held an emergency meeting on the night of Thursday 24 February. During the meeting he discussed with world sector leaders how best to handle the crisis in Indianapolis. The following Sunday Kip McKean met the Indianapolis congregation and asked them to return to the Boston Movement. It is believed McKean felt he would be able to undermine the congregation's desire to split with the controversial Boston Church of Christ, and that he felt few would be prepared to defy him. However, in a kindly and sincere Christian manner the Indianapolis Church of Christ unanimously rejected his offer. The crisis in Indianapolis mirrors the events in Milan where a large proportion of the congregation have followed leader Alex Presenza out of the movement. Also, as exclusively reported in last month's Close To The Edge Tan-Chio Chang of the Singapore Church of Christ decided to leave after the John Louis visa scandal. 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. Published April 1994. Close To The Edge welcomes contributions from readers and writers, but unsolicited mail is sent at the sender's risk. Copyright (c) TOLC 1994, All Rights Reserved. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: To ensure you don't miss an issue send a stamped addressed envelope to Subscriptions, TOLC, PO BOX 348, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6ZD, UK for further details. AVAILABLE LITERATURE: "A Diary": Why I left the Boston Movement; Susan McGunnigle Condon. "A Time to Speak": A Personal Journal of My Years in the Boston Movement; Sarah Bauer. The Boston Movement: Analysis, Commentary and Media Reports; Rick & Sarah Bauer. Churches that Abuse; Ronald M. Enroth. Combating Cult Mind Control; Steven Hassan. Cults: What Parents Should Know; Joan Ross & Dr Michael Langone. The Discipling Dilemma; Ed. Flavil R. Yeakley. What Does the Boston Movement Teach? (Volumes I - III); Dr Jerry Jones. To receive details on how to receive any of the above (as well as videos, transcripts, and audio tapes) please contact us.