Chapter 7 Renewed Enthusiasm and a New Crisis
(pg 81) Jack Martin, circulation manager of The Plain Truth, had been appointed publishing director of Quest and had moved into the Quest offices in New York City. He was a minister in the Church, and the members were told that he would actually oversee the affairs of Quest to make sure that the magazine content would not conflict with Church teachings. Jack Marin is an Englishman who had a background in business, having been at one time president of a company which manufactured eyeglass frames in England. Soon after his baptism, he left his job and attended Ambassador College in Britain. His business talents were soon recognized, and it wasn’t long after graduation that he began to rise into higher levels of responsibility in the Church.
As 1977 was drawing to a close, the Ambassador Report faded further into a distant memory, and I became more enthused about getting further involved in Church activities. Gordon Muir, who was still in Pasadena, called and asked me to help with a new program on distribution of returns of Quest magazine. His plan was to have me obtain all of the newsstand returns of back issues from the local distributor. Normally these returns would have their covers removed by the distributor. Then he would send them to the publisher for credit. The actual magazines would be shredded in a huge machine for sale as scrap. Gordon’s plan was to have me and other Plain Truth representatives around the country (pg 82) take these returns and stamp them with a rubber stamp indicating that they were free copies. They were then to be placed in stores, doctor’s offices, and other public places, in the hope that people would pick them up and perhaps subscribe, using one of the subscription cards that had been inserted in the magazines.
Only a few months earlier I had gone into a rage over the contents of Quest, and now I had become convinced that it was going to be a magazine acceptable to Church members that I was willing to actively engage in the promotion of the magazine.
Gordon Muir suggest that I introduce myself to Jack Martin on one of my trips to New York City, as he felt that it would be good for Jack to be acquainted with those who were volunteering their efforts for the Church. Near the end of the year I met with Jack in his office. A short man of about forty years of age, he had red hair which seemed to fit perfectly with his dynamic enthusiasm to make Quest into a magazine that could be helpful to the Church. He said, “We have talented people here at Quest. Some of the best in the business. All we have to do is give theme some direction and be in accordance with Church teaching. We have several ideas for other magazines, plus a book publishing division what we hope to start up soon. If done properly, this whole publishing operation will gain the Church a recognition that it has never had before. The people will be much more receptive to our main message as we try to bring the Gospel to the world.”
He went on further to say regarding the Church and its worldwide impact, “Right now the name of the Worldwide Church of God is almost a joke. Sure we have scattered Churches here and there around the world, but we’re almost unknown outside the United States. We’re not really worldwide yet, but we could be.” As we talked further we found we shared a mutual frustration because of the constant setbacks the Church was experiencing. We felt that with the world events moving as fast as they were that the world would find itself facing a total disaster within the next twenty years.
I said, “Jack we’re supposed to be God’s Church, and we have this job to do. We’re supposed to call the nations to repentance. We’re supposed to sound the warning of the great troubles that lie ahead. We’re supposed to tell the world the truth about Christ, that He is our Savior and that He will soon return to earth, save the whole world at the last moment and establish the Kingdom of God. Yet, we don’t seem to me making much impact, what’s wrong?” I just couldn’t understand how with approximately 65 million dollar annual income, the Church could not make a greater impact with its message.
Jack agreed that there were a lot of problems to overcome. He said there was a lot of turmoil and power plays were constantly going on at headquarters, and this certainly had to have a negative influence on the work of the Church. He said that he felt encouraged however, and tried to encourage me, as he felt that the coming minister’s conference in January 1978 would set a new forceful direction for the Church. He said that the Church had many good people with good ideas, but that the initiative tended to be stifled due to the hierarchical structure of the Church. He said further that this was one of the points of constant dissension between Herbert Armstrong and Garner Ted, with the father wanting to retain a tight iron-fisted control of the Church and Garner Ted wanting to have a less rigidly controlled organization.
(pg 84) After the ministerial conference in early January 1978 there was a renewed enthusiasm among the members. Announcements came through the local ministers and by way of Church publications that the Church was going to get into fighting trim and get the message out to the world as never before. Garner Ted Armstrong was to begin doing live radio broadcasts on the West Coast, with tapes of those broadcasts being played in other stations around the country only a few days later. In this way, it was explained, the prophetic message could be tied into current news events n order to heighten their topical interest.
(pg 85) As part of this new program Garner Ted Armstrong had made arrangements with Ed Libov Associates, Inc. of Los Angeles to become the new advertising agency buying all of the radio and TV time for the Church. We were told that this was one of the largest time-buying agencies in the country and that as a result they would be able to get us the best time slots at the most attractive rates. This meant, of course, that Worldwide Advertising would no longer be the time-buying agency of the Church. What few people had realized at this time was the fact that Garner Ted had been successful in his first step to dismantle Stanley Rader’s financial empire. Worldwide Adverting was a corporation controlled by Stanley Rader and his accounting associate Henry Cornwall. Cornwall was not a member of the Church, but wielded considerable influence.
It is a fact, however, that at the time Worldwide Adverting was established in partnership with Cornwall, Rader was an active partner officially in the accounting firm of Cornwall. Rader had found too many years ago where all the ripe plums were, and finally it appeared that Garner Ted’s was going to stop him from picking them.
(pg 86) Ministers were finally going to have their phone numbers listed in the phone book. Finally it appeared as though the Church was coming out into the open as it should have been all along. There was even talk of local evangelistic campaigns where the local minister would do the speaking and the lay members of the Church would have an opportunity to assist counseling with and talking to those who attended the meetings.
All this sounded very encouraging and the Church membership seemed to have a renewed zeal and enthusiasm. However, behind the scenes, Rader was not about to have his heavy influence over Herbert Armstrong undermined by Garner Ted. It wasn’t long before confusion was to reign supreme over the entire organization. After years of attempting to obtain accreditation for Ambassador College, the entire matter dropped. Herbert Armstrong, in letters to members, attacked the entire accreditation program as Garner Ted’s attempt to secularize the college. Even though he originally himself desired accreditation and authorized the accreditation program, he was now saying that such mixing with the world was satanic and referred to it as “the leavening of intellectualism.”
Herbert Armstrong said that the use of non-member instructors at the college was resulting in students being taught to lean to the own understanding, which was Satan’s way. According to Armstrong the only instructors qualified to teach at the college were those who had been personally trained by him or by those who had received their instruction from him. According him, only through this continuous chain could God’s revealed knowledge be passed down to the students.
Armstrong’s idea of a college was not one where students are taught to reason and sue their minds and to think, but rather a scheme of institutionalized programming.
On the coming weeks no one knew from one week to the next which campus of Ambassador College, it any, was to remain in operation. First it was announced that the campus at Pasadena was to be closed and the entire college operation being moved to Big Sandy, Texas. No longer were there to be two separate campuses. The (pg 87) Pasadena location was then to be used as just a Church headquarters operation.
Shortly after that announcement, Stanley Rader announced that the Big Sandy campus was to be closed and all Ambassador College operations would be conducted at the Pasadena campus. Then after another short period of time, Herbert Armstrong instructed Garner Ted by letter to reopen Big Sandy. Now there were again to be two campuses. A battle was in full swing. Garner Ted had begun to chip away at Rader’s influence and control, and Rader was retaliating. There was no way after twenty years that Rader was going to let go of the Worldwide Church of God.
Milton Scott, owner of Milton Scott Associates, an advertising agency in Los Angeles, remembers Rader’s beginnings very well. Over twenty years ago, Scott was handling the time-buying for the Church’s radio programs. Rader at that time was a junior accountant with the firm retained by Scott. It was actually Scott who introduced Rader to Herbert Armstrong. It didn’t take Rader long to recognize an opportunity and Scott recalls Rader saying to him, “There’s a gold mine out there. If you want to get rich, go into religion.”
In rapid order Rader managed to favorably impress Herbert Armstrong with his capabilities and came under retainer to the Church. Scott recalls with anger how quickly Rader moved in. Said Scott, “I trusted Rader to handle my books and prepare all my tax returns. Soon after eh began working for the Church I found myself involved in a heavy tax audit, which resulted in my having to pay several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes and penalties. Rader called this to Armstrong’s attention and told him that anyone who is in trouble the the IRS cannot be trusted in any way to represent the Church in time-buying. Actually, the tax problems were not my fault as I trusted Rader to handle those things for me. I believe that he set me up. Well, it wasn’t long after that and I found myself out and Rader and Cornwall had organized Worldwide Advertising to handle all of the Church’s time-buying.”
Rader had handled Milton Scott in the past and now he was going to take care of Garner Ted. The fact that he had supported Garner Ted on his return from exile in 1972 meant nothing. His (pg 88) support of Garner Ted at that time was only a practical consideration, since he realized that someone would have to be the front man for the organization and it may not be Herbert Armstrong for much longer. It was easy for him to support Garner Ted’s return at that time knowing of his weakness for women, as this would be a tool that he could use to manipulate and control Garner Ted. But, now things were different. Rader and Garner Ted had locked horns, and Rader was determined that this would be the last time.
On a Thursday, early in May 1978, Rader instructed Dr. Germano, the dean of Ambassador College, to call an emergency faculty and student meeting, complete with newspaper coverage. Garner Ted was never informed of this meeting. Germano then announced that the entire Ambassador College operations at both campuses would be closed. This was the final blockbuster. No board meeting had been called, no vote taken on this move. Yet Ambassador College, a separately incorporated non-profit organization, was being capriciously closed at the whim of one man. Student acceptances were canceled and faculty members were to be terminated.
The following day, unaware of all that was taking place, I called Mark Armstrong to discuss a new idea that I had to improve the Plain Truth newsstand program. He said, “John, I can’t even discuss that, I don’t know if we are going to be in business tomorrow. Everything is going crazy out here. Stan announced that the college is to be closed and my dad doesn’t know anything about it. There are rumors flying all over the place. The press seems to know more than we do.” Mark was nearly crying and was so upset he could hardly talk. I was shocked. Here we had been lifted to the height of enthusiasm only a few months earlier, only to descend into the despair of confusion with the on again, off again college announcements. And now this blockbuster.
Mark went on to say, “There are even rumors that Grandpa is going to take Dad off the air. Now that he’s recovered from his heart attack, he seems to think he can do a better job than my Dad. Mom and Dad are trying to figure out what’s going on and they just can’t get through to Grandpa. I think Stan is blocking off all contact. I just don’t know what’s going on. Oh, what’s going to happen, what’s going to happen? I just don’t know, I just don’t know.”
That evening Herbert Armstrong arrived in Pasadena. A large (pg 89) crowd gathered in the Auditorium to hear him speak at what was to be a Bible Study. Strangely, Armstrong did not even mention the closing of the college, nor did he mention anything about Garner Ted being taken off of radio and TV. He just went on and on incessantly about his world travels, his visits to world leaders, is planned trip to dedicate a children’s park in Jerusalem, but no mention of the college or his son.
Amidst all of this confusion an announcement was made that Garner Ted was being placed on a leave of absence. No reason was given and none could only speculate what was behind it all.
In a letter dated May 21, 1978, Herbert Armstrong wrote tot eh members, “God’s great Work to the whole world – is truly going ahead now as never before, with A NEW START!” He then went on reminding us of his greatness: “Soon you will hear NEW PROGRAMS from me, on both radio and television. Just as Moses, the man of God, had not abated in his strength of mind and spirit, in leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage into the Promised Land, after 80 years of age, so the SAME GOD has sustained my mind, energy and power for the completion of His work in this world.”
Herbert Armstrong always likes to compare himself to Moses. Of course, he tends to forget that while Moses did lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, God did not allow Moses to cross over, and he died in the wilderness. If a righteous man such as Moses was not permitted over into the Promised Land, one must wonder how a man like Armstrong could even begin to compare himself to him.
Finally, on he second page of the letter, Armstrong addressed (pg 90) himself to the matter regarding his son, Garner Ted. He said “There was not, and is not, any “power struggle” for control of God’s Church and His Work. JESUS CHRIST IS IN CHARGE!”
It was becoming more and more obvious that Herbert Armstrong’s ego problem did not allow for the sharing of the limelight with a son who had an ego just as large as his. Herbert Armstrong wanted his son to be a carbon copy of himself in all areas – except ego.
(pg 91) On the ecclesiastical side , there was the ridiculous picture of a father and son vying for position and authority, an on the administrative side, an even more ridiculous picture of the son vying for authority with the father’s chief aide, who in reality was the boss over the entire organization.
All this was taking place at a time when the movie Star Wars was tremendously popular. Perhaps in referring jokingly to Stanley Rader as Darth, as many had begun to do, after the evil character Darth Vader, they were speaking more truth than they realized.
In the same letter of May 21st, Armstrong did his best to impress everyone with his own greatness. He said, “July 8th, I am scheduled to co-host an important premier of a charity motion picture to raise funds for the handicapped children of Britain. Queen Elizabeth II has promised to co-host this premier and banquet – and in the event she is unable to be present, either Prince Charles (the next King) or Prince Philip will be there.” Such a statement served to impress the membership with the fact that God was opening many more doors before Herbert Armstrong so that he could take the message of Jesus Christ to world leaders. This announcement did not make many points with Queen Elizabeth II.
In an article in the London Sunday Times of July 2, 1978, reporter John Clare wrote, “Buckingham Palace has never heard of the man, 86-year-old Herbert Armstrong, head of the California based Worldwide Church of God. And the Queen will not even be at Thursday’s premier in London of the adventure film, The Wild Geese, Starring Roger Moore and Richard Harris.” The article went on to quote Evan Lloyd, producer of the film, who said, “Mr. (pg 92) Armstrong and Mr. Rader had been invited to attend the premier as representatives of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, a charity of which Mr. Armstrong, he’s chairman of. It was originally hoped that the Queen or Prince Philip would attend the premier. But there was never any question of either Mr. Armstrong or Mr. Rader co-hosting the event. They are just ordinary quests and will be treated in a normal way.
Millions of dollars of Church money are being spent to fly Armstrong and Rader around the world, allegedly to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to other nations. Yet the people conducting the events which he is attending have never heard of the Worldwide Church of God and only know of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, into which money from the Church has been funneled for what appears to be purposes quite contrary to that for which the Church was established.
With Herbert Armstrong spending millions of dollars to bring embarrassment upon the Church in this was, the problems were much more serious than just the power struggle taking place in Pasadena.
During his leave of absence, Garner Ted and his wife Shirley went into seclusion at the summer camp maintained for the youth of the Church at Orr, Minnesota. The situation continued to deteriorate as the behind-the-scenes battle for control of the Church continued.
Herbert Armstrong, in a classic attempt to rally support, wrote a letter on June 13, 1978 to the membership. In it he stated, “Stan has been doing his utmost to deceive and mislead God’s Church into (pg 93) SECULARISM – into material and worldly interest – into going as far as possible into THE EVIL WORLD’S WAYS, while we may still try to keep one foot in God’s Church so that we may make it into THE KINGDOM OF GOD. This Church has been IN MORTAL DANGER!” The same man who was writing this was the one responsible for the incredible lie about his pending meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. The same man who was criticizing Satan’s deception and misleading t=of the Church into secularism, was the one responsible for going around the world hiding behind the shield of a secular organization, the AICF. This very same man who had said he was embarrassed to present himself as a minister to the world leaders. Now all the troubles that he has brought upon the Church are being blamed on someone else. Herbert Armstrong, the apostle, would remain solidly before the people as their idol as he continued to manipulate their minds.
Then, further on in the letter, still claiming to be a special representative of Jesus Christ, Armstrong said, “Therefore in HIS NAME, as His apostle, I am calling for a day of FASTING AND PRAYER throughout the entire Worldwide Church of God on Sabbath, June 24th.” The calling of a fast by Herbert Armstrong was always an effective way to cause the Church membership to feel as though they were responsible for the problems in the Church. Armstrong, of course, never did anything wrong. The reasons for the problems were always, according to him, a result of God withdrawing his blessing from the Church due to their spiritual laxity on the part of the Church membership. Translated, spiritual laxity means inadequate financial support. Actually this entire matter of a fast was part of a conditioning process to prepare the membership for the next event soon to take place; it was all to set the stage for an announcement that would be made to the membership the following Sabbath which would cover the events of the intervening week.
On June 26th, Herbert Armstrong wrote to his son, “Need I say it is with a heavy heart and in deepest regret that you have forced me to send you this letter.
“In spite of your continual disagreements with the way the Living Christ has been building and conducting God’s Work through his chosen apostle, I have at all times done my best to hold up an protect your name.
“But you no longer permit me to shield you. You have: (pg 94)
Disobeyed my directive by going to Orr, Minnesota
Contacted members you were forbidden to contact
Contacted United States Postal authorities in the unethical and unscrupulous effort to intercept corporate mail and thus divert corporate funds illegally into your private, personal hands, and
Finally, giving the Los Angeles Times (and perhaps other media) distorted and false accusations against your father, God’s apostle.
What must a man think of himself when he feels that he can forbid his forty-eight year old son to be in contact with certain individuals, and then to accuse his son of attempting to intercept corporate mail, when in fact Garner Ted had merely written the Post Office asking that mail addressed to his personal attention be held for pick-up by someone on his behalf.
Then on June 28th, a letter from Herbert Armstrong was sent to the membership. He went onto say that he was setting the Work back on the right track and restoring harmony and peace in the Church, but that the members should be alert, as Satan was going to try and deceive the people of God. The letter continued to for several legal sized pages, where he wallowed in self –aggrandizement, reminding everyone as to how he built the church over the past many years. He then dragged his son through the recapitulation of the events covering 1972 through the 1974 Rebellion. Regarding the (pg 95) rumors that Stanley Rader was actually in charge of the Church, Armstrong said, “Brethren, I brand that as a Satan LIE!” And then referring to Quest magazine, he apparently had forgotten his statements of only a couple of years earlier where he had said that he needed such a magazine to represent the Church in a non-religious way. Now, Armstrong was saying, “I was never enthusiastic about the magazine, but I went along with it under the understanding that I was to write the LEADING ARTICLES in every issue. I said emphatically at the beginning that t magazine could not succeed otherwise. But men of SECULAR EXPERTISE hired to run it deceived Mr. Rader. This magazine now is showing a slight profit through advertising sales and subscription price, but I have given a firm order which Mr. Rader will at once follow: “SELL IT OR GET RID OF it.”
Finally after nearly seven legal-sized pages of mind conditioning, Herbert Armstrong came to the main point of the letter” “Yesterday, I sent to him the official letter, heartbreaking as it was to me, disfellowshipping him from the WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD.
“That means, brethren, that on pain of being themselves disfellowshipped and PUT OUT of God’s Church, you are all, according to CHRIST’S COMMAND, restrained from contact with, or conversation with, Garner Ted Armstrong – no longer a member of this Church!”
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