THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
Armstrong's Empire Exposed
by
John Tuit
(1981)
EPILOGUE
I. THE BROKEN CONTRACT
This book was written under contract to Andrews and McMeel,
Inc., a Universal Press Syndicate Company. The manuscript was
submitted in segments through the month of October 1979, with the
final pages being mailed on November 9, 1979.
The contract was negotiated and signed over a period of only
a few weeks in February and March of 1979. President Jim Andrews
and Editor Donna Martin were aware that I had never written
before, but based on a sample chapter were well satisfied that I
could write the book without using a ghost writer. Having
previously published a book called "The Real Jesus" by Garner Ted
Armstrong, they were familiar with the WCG, and anxious to have
my manuscript.
In negotiating my advance, they had to stay to the low side
as they felt legal expenses could be high, and thought they
should be prepared for a lawsuit. In fact, Donna Martin said that
if they were sued, it would even help sell more books.
After submitting the manuscript, I grew increasingly
concerned as I received various reasons and then finally obvious
excuses why it had not yet been approved by Jim Andrews. This
continued into March 1980, until Donna Martin began to be
unavailable, and seemed to forget to return my daily phone calls.
Finally, on April 19, 1980, 1 received my manuscript, with the
following letter form Jim Andrews, dated two days earlier.
Dear John:
After going over your manuscript carefully I must regretfully
inform you that I do not find it acceptable for publication.
While you do indeed have a fascinating story to tell about the
case against the Worldwide Church of God, I'm afraid that the
number of hours of editorial work that would be necessary to put
this manuscript into publishable form makes its publication
prohibitive. Add to this the additional legal fees that we would
incur to substantiate every allegation in your book so as to
preclude any support for the libel suits which would very likely
ensue, and you can well appreciate our problem. It is most
unfortunate that we do not feel this is a feasible project for
our book company, but we do feel we should release you to seek
another contract if possible. In any case, although we could
legitimately ask for the return of your advance since the
manuscript is unacceptable, we have decided not to do so.
Please accept my apologies for the long delay. It was in fact
only recently that I had the time to thoroughly review the
manuscript.
Sincerely yours, James F. Andrews President
I could not accept this letter at face value, as they were
automatically forfeiting $7,500 in advances already paid. This,
in spite of the fact that the contract called for my refund of
advances if I submitted an unpublishable or libelous manuscript.
It appeared that Andrews wanted to get out of the deal, and hoped
that the $7,500 would be enough of a sop to send me away quietly.
Obviously, it would not make sense for me to sue. It would be
better to seek another publisher or, failing that, to publish the
book myself.
I was told in a later phone conversation that they were no
longer interested in religious books. That, however, is no cause
to break a contract. Could there be another reason? Could it be
that they still had a book in print by Garner Ted, and thus be
concerned because he did not come off in my book as well as they
had hoped?
Or could there be another reason? Read Chapter 20 again.
Then consider the fact that in the summer of 1979, between
the signing of my contract, and the submittal of the manuscript,
that Time, Inc. bought an interest in Universal Press Syndicate.
Time, Inc. publishes Time Magazine, which is considered by many
to be part of the "Establishment press". At least seven officials
of Time, Inc. are reported to be members of the Council on
Foreign Relations, with Hedly Donovan, Editor in Chief and Sol
Linowitz, also being members of the Trilateral Commission.
As a result of the broken contract, many months were lost in
bringing this book to publication, but God always provides a way
for His will to be fulfilled.
It is said that books are often suppresed. The reader may
evaluate the facts and draw his own conclusions. My opinion as to
how the WCG leaders fit into the satanic conspiracy of one world
rule are more firm than ever.(
(Well Tuit was somewhat paranoid, as some others are, with this
"one world government" teaching - Keith Hunt)
II. WATCHDOGS OF THE SACRED TRUST
In September 1979, the formation of the Evangelical Council
for Financial Accountability was announced. This organization,
located at 1444 Wentworth Avenue, Pasadena, California, was
formed after nearly two years of effort on the part of several
Christian leaders. They felt that the repetition of scandal
regarding so many religious groups would bring about harsh
legislation unless certain standards were established and adhered
to.
Membership and a seal of approval is granted only to
organizations meeting their standards. Compliance with standards
must be supported by substantial documentation. A summary of
standards follows:
1. There shall be an active, responsible governing board, a
majority of whom together are not employees/staff, or immediate
family members which meets at least semi-annually, having policy
making authority.
2. Required annual audit by a public accounting firm performed in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards with the
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
3. Audited financial statements shall be available on request.
4. An active audit committee, a majority of whom are not
employees/staff shall be established by the governing board of
the organization.
5. The organization shall carry on its business with the highest
standards of integrity and avoid conflicts of interests.
6. The member organization shall have a clearly defined statement
of faith, consistent with the Evangelical Christian perspective.
7. All programs and activities of the organization shall be
consistent with its stated purposes and objectives and donated
funds shall be applied for the purposes for which they were
raised.
Had the WCG followed such standards, there would be no legal
problems now. In fact, Armstrong and Rader, had they been true to
God, would have been in the forefront in establishing such
standards for others to follow, as an example of proper Christian
stewardship.
ECFA executive director Olan Hendrix is, in one respect, in
full agreement with the California Attorney General, having
stated, "Every Christian charity must be fully ac countable to
its giving public. Each dollar must be regarded as a sacred
trust."
III. WCG TRAMPLES DAVID ROBINSON'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Rader has stated that the hearing for an ex parte
receivership was illegal. He has claimed that the ex parte action
was a result of dishonesty among the lawyers and judges.
Yet on June 2, 1980, WCG minister Sherwin McMichael, and
Henry Cornwall obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order,
which halted the release of David Robinson's book "Herbert
Armstrong's Tangled Web." The suit was filed in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
where Robinson lives, and now pastors an independent Church of
God.
(I had a copy of Robinson's book when first published. I borrowed
it to someone and for whatever reasons down the line as they say,
I never did get it back - Keith Hunt)
Testimony in later court hearings showed that the plaintiffs
were acting on behalf of the WCG, and that the WCG was paying the
legal fees.
The very same people who claim that the First Amendment is
being trampled by the State of California in its effort to
correct their alleged fraudulent activity in handling of Church
funds, felt no guilt in trampling Robinson's constitutional
rights to publish a book.
In the later hearings, the courts decided in favor of
Robinson, and his book was released.
Why such an effort to prevent release of Robinson's book?
In Chapter 19 is Robinson's account of his meetings with Arm-
strong. This was read by him to me over the phone, from what was
to later become part of his book. This account was copied and
distributed to many by Robinson in manuscript form. When Church
officials became aware of Robinson's plans to include such
accounts in a book, they moved against him.
Robinson's book is a devastating account of hypocrisy and
false leadership in the Worldwide Church. Most revealing is the
fact that Garner Ted is, as many have stated "truly his father's
son." He was not the first member of the family to engage in
sexual sins. His father had set quite an example. What could be
worse than a man engaging in incest with his daughter? According
to Robinson, this is one of the many things of which Herbert
Armstrong, the selfappointed apostle, is guilty. No wonder God
has turned his back on the Worldwide Church of God.
(And this was THE thing that Rader was holding over Armstrong,
the blackmail he held over HWA; when it was finally all out in
the open, Ted admitting it was true, and Ambassador Report
reporting on it [which was one of the times the WCG told
Ambassador Report they would sue them; AR answering "Please do,
we will see you in court" - and of course AR was never sued by
the Rader or the WCG] then HWA could tell Rader to "get lost" and
Rader was finally off HWA's back - Keith Hunt)
IV. GARNER TED AND THE CHURCH OF GOD INTERNATIONAL
What about Garner Ted and what he called the "new
beginning," the Church of God International? Were all the good
things that he was saying being said with sincerity, or did he,
like a politician, know what the people wanted to hear?
In July 1979, the CGI distributed copies of the Constitution
and By Laws. This document provided that "The Chairman and Pastor
(Garner Ted) shall hold office in perpetuity by virtue of having
been chosen by the divine authority of Jesus Christ..." "The
Chairman shall have power and authority to appoint and/or
dissolve any and all committees...
Constitutional amendments required a two-thirds majority of the
board and approval of the Chairman. In other words, Garner Ted
would have full veto power over all actions.
The provision for removal of the Chairman required a
unanimous Board decision. With the Chairman's wife and
brotherin-law on the Board, such an action would be highly
improbable, even under the most extreme cases of
irresponsibility. Would Shirley Armstrong vote her husband out of
a job paying over $40,000 per year, plus fringes such as free
restaurant meals nearly every night, expense account for the
Cessna 310 plane, and other percs?
Truly, it appeared to be a WCG rerun after all!
The Constitution created an uproar among the members. Had
Garner Ted forgotten that most of them were the thinking people
who had left the WCG?
Hastily, a constitutional committee was appointed. I was one
of several who were called to make suggestions. Special meetings
were held for the general membership. Slowly the furor died down,
and no affirmative action was ever taken.
In January 1980, Jack Martin, who had become the Publishing
Director of the CGI, was fired by Garner Ted. He was planning to
resign, but was fired first, as he had begun to publicly state:
"It remains to be seen whether this is going to be God's Church
or just Ted's Church."
Immediately following Martin's firing, Allan Heath, Editor
of CGI Publications, quit. At the same time, Wayne Cole, after
only a few months as Director of the Ministry, resigned. He was
true to his word. He had told me in June 1979 that he would never
be part of another spiritual fraud. He said that as soon as he
saw Garner Ted setting himself up as an authoritarian despot, he
would leave. He did just that. If only other ministers in many
other churches had the same courage of their convictions.
Also, at about the same time, Wesley Ward resigned from the
Board and left the CGI. He had been chairman of the
constitutional committee. Aware that he had been used, he left.
Ward said, "Ted thought he could use me as a rubber stamp. Well,
I was the only one on the Board who wouldn't be a rubber stamp.
Ted's no different than his father."
And Wayne Cole had something similar to say. He said, "Just
like his father, Ted uses and abuses people."
While following in the ways of his father, trying to
establish his own private religious business, Garner Ted appears
to have reverted back to other types of conduct. It appeared for
a while as though he had repented of his past sexual sins.
Perhaps for a time, he did.
More recently, he has been seen stumbling out of a bar
called the Foxy Lady. He was known to hang out in a place that
was raided for drugs. A young real estate saleswoman was asked to
meet him at a bar to discuss his real estate requirements. She
was shocked to find out that his true intention appeared to be
his desire to have an affair with her.
Garner Ted is known now as one who makes a fool of himself
in public places around Tyler, being loud and boisterous, seeking
to be the center of attention, and making a spectacle of himself.
Strangely, he accused his father of the very same thing.
Garner Ted and his establishment of the CGI started out so
well. Many of us were encourged, and thought that he was truly
yielding himself to Jesus Christ. Recent events have shown that
this was just a short lived deception. While the CGI still
exists, it is faltering. The thinking people have left, many
worshipping with independently formed Churches of God.
Income has dropped from a high of $25,000 per week to less
than $15,000 per week.
Garner Ted now has his own little group of idol worshippers,
taken from his father. They just happen to prefer bowing down
before a younger golden calf.
(The two little congregations [one near Toronto and the other in
Rochester, NY.] and I worked with the CGI for a few years,
actually the congregation near Toronto was not that pleased with
me, as I desired to give the CGI a try. It was Jesus Christ
stepping in that took us out of the orbit of the CGI into the
orbid of Fred Coulter and his Biblical Church of God. Then
within 1 and 1/2 years we were out of their orbit over the issue
of "church government" and we were from then on an "independant"
Church of God - Keith Hunt)
V. WILL RADER WIN?
On April 25, 1980, all employees of the Worldwide Church of
God were terminated. With their letters of termination, they
received a letter from another organization called "Herbert W.
Armstrong The Apostle of the Worldwide Church of God and His
Successor, a corporation sole." The terminated employees were
offered employment with the Armstrong corporation, conditioned on
strict loyalty to all rules, regulations, doctrines, teachings,
and beliefs of the Church (meaning Armstrong).
Further, part-time employment elsewhere was forbidden.
Termination could be with or without cause, without severance pay
or other benefits. An employee's spouse was also required to
agree with and sign the new employment agreement.
As a result of this maneuver, the WCG members were left
thinking that they were a member of one group, while in fact,
their ministers would now be in the direct personal employment of
Armstrong or his successor. It does not take much intelligence to
deduce who that would be. Most ministers and other employees have
now been compromised to the point where they have signed this
document.
Clearly, any minister signing such an agreement is unfit to
represent himself as a minister of Jesus Christ.
Through the summer of 1980, the Church leaders began a major
advertising campaign, taking their battle against the Attorney
General before the public. Full-page advertisements, at the rate
of two or three each month, were placed in major newspapers, such
as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and the Wall Street
Journal. Church members, through their tithes, were actually
paying a small fortune for Armstrong and Rader to engage in a
massive campaign of self-aggrandizement. As an example, the Wall
Street Journal full-page ad costs $42,000 per day.
While the legal battles continued, Rader succeeded in
enlisting the support of many California politicians to his
cause. Seeing the level of corruption in politics, it is easy to
see how Rader could gain the support of many politicians. Their
game is the same. They just play in different arenas.
With the added support of many church leaders of various
denominations, some deceived by him, and others fearful of
themselves being exposed, a bill was introduced to the California
legislature by Senator Nicholas Petris. The bill states. "Except
as the Attorney General is empowered to act in the enforcement of
the criminal laws of this state . . . (he) . . . shall have no
power with respect to religious corporations."
In effect, the bill, if it becomes law, will prohibit the
Attorney General from acting on behalf of a church in an action
against leaders who are suspected of misappropriating funds. The
Attorney General would no longer be able to seek recovery of
monies for a church. The only avenue would be criminal
prosecution, a much more difficult task.
In May, the Senate passed the bill and in August it was
passed by the Assembly. If Governor Brown does not veto the bill,
it will become law in June 1981. While it would not be
retroactive to a time prior to the current action, it would in
effect, many feel, neutralize any further attempts by the
Attorney General to continue in his actions against WCG leaders.
The tragedy of such a law going into effect is that
California would most likely become the home of anyone seeking to
perpetrate fraud in the guise of religion. Eventually, some of
these frauds may get so out of hand that the law will be
repealed. The backlash in such an event could in fact bring about
real religious oppression, which Rader has deceived many into
believing that this law is designed to prevent. In such a
backlash, one could expect laws of oppression to be enacted.
Can religious leaders perpetrate fraud, and get away with
it? It may seem like they can, perhaps for a time. But they will
always live in fear of being caught.
In Isaiah 33, the prophet was inspired by God to write that
the sinners in Zion (symbolically speaking, the Church) are
afraid, that fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. And in
verse 18, an astonishing statement: "Thine heart shall meditate
terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he
that counteth the towers?"
Study this, using a concordance, and you will see that the
sinful religious leader will be in constant fear of being caught.
He will fear having to give an accounting. And he will fear that
his pulpits, pride and honor (his banquets and speeches) are to
be counted and found to be worthless.
And what if we must continue to watch as Church leaders seem
to get away with fraud and deceit. We can only accept that God is
allowing it for a time, allowing people to be fully responsible
for their own actions, whether they will follow the truth of
Jesus Christ or the false ways and lies of certain men. Rader has
stated to David Robinson that it is a higher duty for men in
responsible positions to lie.
Not only false teachers, but also those who willingly follow
them, shall finally perish. If you are following such a false
leader, read what God inspired Peter to write.
"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and
shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive
the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to
riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with
covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the
right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the
son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was
rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water,
clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of
darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling
worlds of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh,
through much wantoness, those that were clean escaped from them
who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is lie brought in bondage.For if after they
have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the
way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn
from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened
unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his
own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in
the mire." - 2 Peter 2:12-22
"Come out of her, my people, that be not partakers of her sins,
and that ye receive not of her plagues. " (Rev.18:4)
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(John 8:32)
.........................
To be continued with "Postscript"
John Tuit finished and published his book before it all came to
an end.
Ambassador Report (on the Internet) will give you some of the
details of how it all finally played out. With the great sin of
Herbert Armstrong out in public domain, via Garner Ted and
Ambassador Report and David Robinson book "Herbert Armstrong's
Tangled Web" it was not possible for Rader to blackmail HWA any
more. Rader was finally cut loose from hanging over the head of
HWA, and was "history" as they say. Herbert Armstrong was able to
then take FULL control of the WCG, and the "dumb sheep" followed
believing HWA would live to take them to a place of safety from
the "great tribulation" and to the return of Christ.
Keith Hunt
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