Dave Pack Says: "...that he is not held to The Law (biblical) as members are"

November 22, 1999
 
 
Dear Brethren:
From time to time, Christians must do what is commanded by God concerning those whose behavior shows them to be an enemy of God.  While this duty and responsibility is quite unpleasant we are required to do it.  This letter concerns a problem with a minister who is sowing discord among the brethren.  So let us first look at what Jesus Christ told us concerning such a matter.  He said in Mat 18:

     vv. 15-17 (NKJV)  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' {17} "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Notice that there are no exceptions here as to who your brother is.  Nor is there an exception where we are told how to deal with an errant elder or minister.  Notice what is said in 1 Tim 5:

     vv. 19-21 (NKJV)  “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. {20} Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. {21} I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without
     prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”  [emphasis ours]

We see where Paul had to deal with a similar problem in 2 Cor. 11:

     vv. 14-15 (NKJV)  “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15}
     Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose nd will be according to their works.”

Because God’s commands (Mat 18:15-17 & 1 Tim 5:19-21) were not always followed in the recent past, we have wolves among the flock.  In light of the prophecy in Dan 12:7, which talks about the power of the holy people being shattered, we see that we (ministers and members alike) are partly responsible for this shattering in that God’s instructions were not followed correctly, if at all.  This is in spite of what Jesus Christ told us in Mat 10:28 (NKJV)  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  The ministry, within the various corporations, has been afraid of lawsuits and therefore did not do as we were commanded.  This problem apparently started with the mishandling of a situation in the sixties, which resulted in a lawsuit for slander, libel, and defamation of character.  The end result is we now have problems with wolves that can and do attack the flock with impunity.

Because we are determined to do what God says, regardless of the physical  consequences, we must warn you about a wolf that has entered into our midst.  We tell you this because this “minister” has been sowing discord among the brethren.  And by his own admission, before several witnesses, is not a minister of Jesus Christ, nor meets the qualifications given in 1 Tim 3 or Titus 1.

This letter concerns Mr. David C. Pack and has not been done lightly.  While we are not ordained, we understand the implications of James 4:17.  Therefore, we have proceeded slowly and cautiously, obtaining counsel because we did not wish to act precipitously, and because we did not want to do as Korah did.  It is because of his [Mr. Pack] conduct and behaviors, that an investigation was done, and it was found that on May 3rd 1999, Mr. Pack had been terminated for cause from Global, disfellowshipped and removed from the ministry (“defrocked”)!  Mr. Pack did not disclose this to his congregation (Akron OH), but instead covered the truth.  Global had taken their actions because he [Mr. Pack] was found to be sowing discord among the brethren.  Unfortunately, Global did NOT make this public.

[Subsequent to the writing of this letter it was discovered that Global HAD made this public, although no one in this area has seen a copy of the letters of termination/disfellowshipment written to the brethren. If we obtain copies of these letters, we will post them for confirmation.]

On October 11, 1999, Mr. Pack was approached, at his insistence, by those people who had been employees, volunteers, and/or, contractors of the Restored Church of God, and was confronted with further explicit evidence of his sowing discord.  He told us that he was sorry and would repent.  We withdrew from him to give him time to show fruits of repentance.  The result was, rather than admitting before the church that he had been the one causing all the problems presented to him, he has decided to attack those who have confronted him over his conduct.

Per the admonitions within The Bible, as stated above, we must tell you and explain what we showed him to be doing (conduct) and the results.  Note that these problems are ones of conduct and some of the applicable verses are listed with each item:
 

• Mr. Pack has stated that he is not held to The Law (biblical) as members are – not that he is held to a higher standard, but that these things don’t apply to him (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-15, John 14:15, 1 Tim 5:19-21)
• Mr. Pack stated in the first office staff meeting, as Restored was being formed, that he would not look at tithe/contribution records.  He decided he could not be held to that promise and began looking at these records immediately prior to the Feast of Trumpets 1999 (Ex 20:16, Mat 5:37)
• Mr. Pack divulged, among the office staff, those who were the largest contributors, and those who tithed once a year and/or quarterly (Lev 19:16)
• Mr. Pack showed favoritism in duty assignments based on contributions (Lev 19:15, Jam 2:1-9)
• Mr. Pack was divulging confidential information given him in counseling sessions and used the information in an attempt to divide family members or as a reason to sever people from their position(s) at RCG (employee, contractor, or, volunteer) (Lev 19:11, 13, 16)
• Mr. Pack was found to be a talebearer in that he was repeating stories rather than putting a stop to them (Lev 19:16)
• Mr. Pack “terminated for cause” one of the staff members of RCG because he had not paid tithes, even though he was self-employed and all during the time he worked for RCG had incurred losses – therefore had no increase to tithe on (Lev 19:11, 13, 15)
• Mr. Pack claimed that certain people embezzled funds after his having approved of  the expenditure and or reimbursement (Lev 19:11)
• Mr. Pack demanded people work for the church for free, while being paid their severance from their prior employer (e.g., if a person was being paid for two weeks of accrued vacation after resigning, Mr. Pack required them to work for RCG for two weeks without accruing pay) (Lev 19:13)
• Mr. Pack was sowing discord within families and between husband and wife (Lev 19:16)
• Mr. Pack was sowing discord between the various groups he was trying to get to join RCG (Lev 19:16)
• Mr. Pack on a regular basis exaggerated figures as to income and/or attendance (Lev 19:11, Ex 20:16, Col 3:9)
• Mr. Pack quickly and easily trampled on brethren who even slightly opposed or held a different viewpoint or opinion.  Many times this precipitated inconceivable schemes by him.  This was found to be a pattern throughout much of his ministry.  (2 Cor 1:24 John 7:24)
• Mr. Pack stated that one of the persons bringing the problems to him had gone public with that information.  He [Mr. Pack] was challenged on this, and could provide no proof, yet continued to make similar statements.  (Ex 20:16, 23:1-2, Lev 19:11, 16, Deu 16:19-20)

(This is a short list, because to go over any more, or give specific details would be to invade the privacy of other individuals.)

These things were brought to his attention in explicit detail, with and before witnesses, and taken to the ministry (in explicit detail with witnesses) within Restored Church of God.  Those documents presented to the ministry of RCG have not been publicly or privately circulated due to the nature of those documents [see the last bullet above].

Meanwhile, Mr. Pack ultimately refused to accept his responsibility in these matters and then began attacking those bringing the problems to his attention.  Part of that attack was to attempt to discredit the persons bringing the Mat 18 situation, and the witnesses, with the ministers within RCG.  In doing this, he was telling those ministers to ignore what was brought before them, whereby he interfered with judgment – a violation of those principles found in Ex. 23 and Deut. 16 concerning interfering with the giving of judgment:

     Ex 23:1-2, 7 (NKJV)  "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. {2} "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so  as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. {7} "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.” [emphasis ours]
     Deu 16:19-20 (NKJV)  "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. {20} "You shall follow what is  altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
     [emphasis ours]

He even went so far as to “disfellowship” and “mark” one of the ministers who questioned him [Mr. Pack] on his conduct and his [Mr. Pack] sowing of discord.

These things show that Mr. David C. Pack has not only been guilty of sowing discord among the brethren but continues to do so with impunity.  Again, we let God speak via The Bible from Titus 3:

     vv. 10-11 (NKJV)  “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, {11} knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

As a result, we unfortunately have had to write this letter to finish what was commanded in Mat 18:17, of announcing it before the church and I Tim 5:20, to publicly rebuke those elders that sin.  Therefore, we humbly submit to you all (regardless of corporate affiliation) that David C. Pack has disqualified himself by his actions and behavior as a minister and should be considered the same as “a heathen man and a publican” (Mat 18:17 KJV).
 
Your humble servants in Christ,
/s/ William Ambrose                                                  /s/ Leah Sheppard
/s/ Daryl Ambrose                                                     /s/ William Sheppard Jr.
/s/ Darrell Gaug                                                         /s/ Nancy Sheppard
/s/ Brenda Gaug                                                        /s/ Joan Thompson
/s/ Tim Mobley                                                         /s/ Steve Thompson