Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

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Friday, March 4, 2016

Letter from the Scarboroughs



I received this today:



To Whom It May Concern

Patrick and I have decided to take down the Go Fund Me account this morning. It seems it has called into question our integrity which makes us feel badly. While much of the scrutiny is baseless (our lawyer isn’t working on contingency and we do not have millions of dollars in our bank account), it is still upsetting to be accused of “going back to court for a second helping” and other untrue statements which have been made to paint us in a negative light.

We tried for over a year to do everything possible to avoid this situation. We would have greatly preferred not to go to court but they left us with no other options because they were unwilling to even speak to us and we were unwilling to let our name be tarnished without basis.

Last Spring LCG put this whole ordeal into the realm of “worldly courts” when they sent us the attached release letter. The last paragraph is appalling. It was them, not us, which drew first (and second) blood and elevated this situation to this point. They not only wanted us to agree to their untruths but there was absolutely no indication that doing so would facilitate the initiation of the peace making process.

I would also like to take this opportunity to let people know that we had our lawyer write Mr. Meredith and Rod McNair a letter last summer stating that we had no desire to take this matter to court. We beseeched them to contact us within 7 business days to schedule a meeting to talk things out but they let the deadline come and go. We have made it clear that we do not desire to be reinstated as LCG members but that we just wanted to walk in peace, have our names cleared, and be able to openly love our few remaining LCG friends without them risking getting in trouble themselves.

From the beginning of this horrible ordeal with LCG, we have tried to do everything as rightly as we possibly could. The point of the lawsuit is to recover the sterling names passed down from two of God’s most devoted servants, Ralph and Patricia Scarborough. We want everything on the level in honor of their memory. We realize that at some point, everything we have done and said will possibly be made public. For that reason, we have strived especially hard to do everything with the best character we possible could.

We greatly appreciate the help of those who contributed to the Go Fund Me account in the short time it was activated. We have already paid over $10,000 in legal fees related to this lawsuit so every little bit helps.

Sincerely,
 Patrick and Elizabeth Scarborough
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31 comments:

  1. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 3:07:00 PM PST

    What I find appalling is how regular Church of God members are smearing the Scarborough family for attempting to seek justice. They have all witnessed the heavy handedness of Meredith and most likely have suffered too, yet they defend the bastard. Sick behind belief.

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  2. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 3:41:00 PM PST

    We saw this before when United decided to help defend the stalker in the court hearing instead of helping the victims.

    It's all the same.

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  3. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 4:13:00 PM PST

    Well, they took down the GoFundMe account because they only collected $125 in 4 days...

    And the Scarborough case is really laughable, because if they did not make it public, only the Charlotte congregation was aware of the problem. But because they publish it on Facebook and in other places, the wider COG started to know it!

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  4. MickeyFriday, March 4, 2016 at 5:19:00 PM PST

    I admit to curiosity about the "attached release letter". Is this a letter sent by lcg to the Scarboroughs?

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  5. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 5:19:00 PM PST

    4:13 are you not even a little concerned that your leaders have put your church in this situation? Do you not think it would have been better for them to talk things out than to spend untold amounts of tithe payer money to finance this lawsuit? do you see nothing wrong with claiming to be a Christian but refusing to make peace with people who are earnestly requesting it?

    I guarantee Rod Meredith is the one freaking out that this is public because it makes his "problem" that was only known in Charlotte, now known to the greater COG. Not to mention the questionable use of tithe money to fund his personal vendettas.

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  6. NO2HWAFriday, March 4, 2016 at 5:23:00 PM PST

    This letter was sent to me today by Elizabeth Scarborough.

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  7. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 5:34:00 PM PST

    Only the guilty try to hide the truth (Meredith). The fact that the Scarborough's are not trying to hide anything makes them more credible in my view.

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  8. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 6:00:00 PM PST


    One of the problems with the splinter groups is that you could waste so much of your life trying to help and support these evil organizations, just to get kicked out and slandered all over the place by the perverts in them, and then end up wasting the rest of your life fighting against the splinter groups and the perverts in them.

    What a colossal waste of time, energy, and money at both ends of the experience. What a waste of your life. The only ones who profit from any of it are those who get the money.

    There are no real friends in any of the splinter groups anyway, just fake friends, and predators pretending to be friends for their own reasons.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 6:15:00 PM PST

    Oh, well, the Passover is a little over a month away, so Meredith will keep it and all will be forgiven.

    Of course, we're not certain he'll actually wash anyone else's feet, but if he does, you can be sure it won't be some lowly member's.

    And for the alcoholics, the wine's all good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 6:45:00 PM PST

    I was a member of WCG for 4 yrs, attended and graduated from AC in 73, and left the church a year later. I sometimes feel sorry for those who remain members of the offshoots. Other times I don't. Perhaps they deserve what they get. At what point do we not consider them victims? My word, what does it take to convince some that they are in a destructive cult? People have suffered medically and died and been impoverished by the teachings of these cults (avoiding doctors and giving their money since the end is coming soon. And yet, they stay in these churches. Should I feel pity for them? Or should I feel indifferent? If members have been impoverished and seen their families suffer for lack of medical care by the teachings of a groups that didn't hold their leadership to the same standards they imposed upon their members. . . . What should we thing?
    I was married to my wife by Pastor Eugene Noel. A good man. I believe that he took the equity from his house to send to the church after another letter from HWA arrived begging for money. Eugene died of cancer. Did he receive proper medical treatment? Did he die broke? I don't know. But he was a good man, who gave more than the leadership was willing to give. He was one of many good people who wanted to serve God. With RCM and others . . . . When he needed medical care for a detached retina . . . he got it. When others needed medical care . . . they denied themselves it. When the top brass lived high on Waverly Drive, a block or so away from the Pasadena campus, others lived from paycheck to paycheck. How many of you remember Waverly Drive? David Jon Hill, RCM, (across the street from GTA), Raymond McNair next door all lived there. Dwight Armstrong, lived around the corner. Come on people, wake up. HWA was a salesman who sold us a bill of goods during a time when all of us were afraid of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. He was the "right man at the right time" to sell his message of fear.

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  11. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 7:44:00 PM PST

    Hoping the Scarboroughs read these comments.
    I'm hoping that you are seeking justice to prevent RCM and LCG from destroying others.
    Sometimes the good people need to stand on principal and fight for what's right.
    You've been blessed with the strength to do that - also fight for the weak who don't have the resources or energy to fight against the destructive, un-Christian RCM.
    Thank you and may God bless you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 8:40:00 PM PST

    Sad to say, but this entire thing is like watching a circus sideshow. The fact is, years ago, Rod Meredith frequently sung the high praises of Ralph and Patricia Scarborough from the pulpit. They were good family friends, you see - and the Scarborough family did commit untold amounts of money, time, and equipment to (what has become) Rod's little church project. Somewhere along the way, the Scarborough clan fell out of favor with Rod - and who could really say why. My guess is that it has something to do with massive egos. And now, the rest of us get to bear witness to the fallout. But stating that Ralph and Patricia Scarborough left a sterling reputation as God's most devoted servants is almost as difficult to swallow as Rod Meredith stating (over and over and over and over and over again) that he's not committed a "single serious sin since baptism." There are no perfect people, people. And the funny thing is that both of these families share common issues - which are publically known. By God's mercy all things can be overcome. But, arrogance and pride are no route to humility. My unsolicited advise to Patrick and Elizabeth - drop the lawsuit. Try for a restraining order instead. It could be much easier to accomplish, and would have far more reaching impact toward regaining the peace in your life. Start a new life, find new friends, and know that you will never be bothered by Rod and his minions again. Pray for those who do wrong against you.

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  13. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 9:41:00 PM PST

    I'm confused. Admin, where is the "attached release letter"?

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  14. Byker BobFriday, March 4, 2016 at 9:47:00 PM PST

    If the news and rumour mill can be trusted, similar situations to this develop in many of the other splinters. There was an article recently that reached the major media on the growth of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The main platform on which they built the church was their high rate of retaining members. Apparently this was one of the factors that the church seriously worked on improving, and it has paid off hugely. This is certainly something that the Armstrong movement would do well to investigate. Unfortunately, the top heavy authority structure, and the doctrine on church eras reinforce the "my way or the highway" business as usual status of the ACOGs. It's difficult to cultivate a regular tithe payer. Every time they disfellowship someone, that person's tithes are no longer part of the church income. These days, they seem to be disfellowshipping intelligent people who have significant earning power. They can't continue that indefinitely.

    BB

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  15. RalphFriday, March 4, 2016 at 10:36:00 PM PST

    on March 4, 2016 at 8:40 PM
    Anonymous wrote:

    "Start a new life, find new friends, and know that you will never be bothered by Rod and his minions again. Pray for those who do wrong against you."

    Amen to that!

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  16. AnonymousFriday, March 4, 2016 at 11:10:00 PM PST

    I said it raises suspicion of going to court for a second helping. There's a difference. If the Scarborough's invested heavily in the church financially, in good works, and in building friendships, they deserve restitution if unjustly disfellowshipped. I believe suspension rather than being disfellowshipped would give them access to their church friends. The principle is that everyone has a right to be treated justly, something the 'don't sue' opinion here ignores. This reminds me of the book by Christopher Andersen called the 'Popo principle.' Popo stands for pissed on and passed over. It's about how people work hard in the workplace, but end up being defrauded by their company by not being given the promised pay rises and promotions. So the phenomenon that the Scarborough's complain about is hardly new. Perhaps they should read the book and use it as evidence.

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  17. AnonymousSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 12:17:00 AM PST

    It's the living members tithe money that will pay for a lawsuit. I think we can be certain of that. It was, after all, wWCG that paid the first time RCM got in trouble.
    I don't see anything positive from a suit. What will it change?
    The church will pay the fine and move along, just as it always has.
    It will say this is persecution just as they did during the receivership in California.
    Will they let them back into the church after that? No, of course not.
    Will their reputation be renewed and restored?
    Don't be silly. They will be talked about and called persecutors of the church of God.
    Thousands were unjustly expelled from WWCG back in the early 90's.
    We all put our passion and money into the church. We were all wrong to do so.
    Live and learn.

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  18. AnonymousSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 5:23:00 AM PST

    Paul didn't didn't always turn the other cheek. And why do people ignore the many prayers of David for vengeance in Psalms?

    Act 16:37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

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  19. AnonymousSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 7:16:00 AM PST

    well I'm glad to hear that they don't want to go back to LCG...there are small groups out there that do not idolize HWA, they simply obey God....hopefully God will guide them to one.

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  20. AnonymousSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 7:24:00 AM PST

    NOOOO!!! If you are reading this, DO NOT STOP THE LAW SUIT! If you stop, they will just continue to slander you even more and act righteous about being "right" all along. I know you. I know what you've been through. I know you are not guilty of the penalty Dr. Meredith doled out to you. I have heard you be slandered with my own ears and so have 250 other people. Get the un-edited version of church services that day and you will have all you need to prove your case. Deposition church members. It doesn't even matter who. If they are honest, what they have to say will support your case and not the church. Stay strong. Stand firm. You will win in the end. It will be difficult at times but standing up for what's right and true is the best thing to do. I have watched my church get more and more out of control. More and more off the focus of what they are supposed to be doing. Doctrinal changes. Upgrades. The emphasis on trust and obedience in the ministry instead of instruction of the Word of God. They have sown these seeds. Now it's time to reap. Even those of us who love this way of life and love God's law feel there needs to be a major correction in the course the Meredith family is taking LCG in. Maybe you will facilitate the correction to a more loving, thoughtful, merciful, honest organization.

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  21. AnonymousSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 8:30:00 AM PST

    Anon 7:24 what a disgrace! What a hypocritical thing to do. You don't like it? Leave! Take your tithe money to the Scarbouroughs. Get the unedited sermon and your honest buddies with you. As the Bible says. Don't wish the needy to "be warm"! Give what you have!

    What a SHAME!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 2:40:00 PM PST

      Want to try that again? That didn't make a lot of sense... looks like you attempted to delete a sentence and ended up with a mismatched pair of phrases.

      Delete
  22. Byker BobSaturday, March 5, 2016 at 3:14:00 PM PST

    It would behoove LCG to settle this quickly, and equitably. Class action lawsuits have been known to happen. At that point, things could really spin out of control. People might actually think that they were entitled to the return of their tithes and offerings.

    BB

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  23. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 6:48:00 AM PST

    Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress has a 3 year statute of limitations. There is most assuredly a host of LCG victims that would qualify for that complaint if a class action were pursued.

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  24. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 6:53:00 AM PST

    Bob said, "It would behoove LCG to settle this quickly, and equitably. Class action lawsuits have been known to happen. At that point, things could really spin out of control. People might actually think that they were entitled to the return of their tithes and offerings."

    You are right. A normal person would meet with these people who seem reasonable. But Rod Meredith is not a normal person.

    He would rather pay two expensive lawyers and suffer horrible PR than to concede in any way. He is among the most prideful, stubborn men I have ever encountered.

    Plus, it's other people's money he's spending so he doesn't really have to feel the pinch.

    Also, a large number of LCG members are so brainwashed to believe that he is divinely inspired that they will blindly go along with anything RCM says like obedient minions.

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  25. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 6:56:00 AM PST

    LCG income was already down.

    I bet a percentage will start holding tithes all together because of this lawsuit. Something LCG can not afford to happen.

    I wonder how they will bury their lawsuit expenses in the audit report. I'd love to see it on that little pie graph!

    One thing's for sure, I'm not counting on honesty.

    Smoke and mirrors....

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  26. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 7:00:00 AM PST

    If the Scarborough's have already spent $10,000 and I'm assuming they have only one attorney... just think how much LCG is paying for two at that fancy law firm. Plus, lawyers usually charge corporations more than individuals.

    Why would Meredith be so stupid? He is being so short sighted. He's risking the long game (still having a church full of people to control and fleece for money) over settling and making this problem go away.

    Maybe dementia has set in.

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousSunday, March 6, 2016 at 7:00:00 AM PST

    Can LCG members write "not for use in the lawsuit" on their tithe/offering checks?

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  28. AnonymousTuesday, March 8, 2016 at 5:47:00 AM PST

    Mikey says:
    "Oh, well, the Passover is a little over a month away, so Meredith will keep it and all will be forgiven. Of course, we're not certain he'll actually wash anyone else's feet, but if he does, you can be sure it won't be some lowly member's."

    Thinking back on those footwashings cracks me up!
    I mean, isn't footwashing about the humility of cleaning feet that need to be cleaned?

    But from what I remember, like 98% of congregants scrubbed their feet (probably getting them the cleanest they'd been all year) before getting them 'washed'.
    Some people even bleached and/or perfumed their feet beforehand. I knew an Italian guy who used to shave his feet and then spray Hai Karate aftershave on them.
    Maybe his modern-day COG counterparts now use Axe spray, since Hai Karate is no longer available.

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  29. AnonymousThursday, March 10, 2016 at 10:14:00 PM PST

    anon:"Thinking back on those footwashings cracks me up! I mean, isn't footwashing about the humility of cleaning feet that need to be cleaned?"

    LOL you're right! It seems so funny now. If I could go back in time, I would make sure I had showed up with the most foul-smelling shit on my feet. I can only imagine what the response would have been.

    W.W.J.D."Hey fellow foot-washers, I'm gonna need some help with this one. Let's have some fun and get to work and I'll show you how to truly 'giterdone!" Not likely.

    More likely, "I ain't touching that shit! Someone ELSE will HAVE to do it! Where's my underlings!"

    DBP

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousTuesday, March 15, 2016 at 2:52:00 PM PDT

    RCM's logic goes this way. "Jesus is the head of the church. He can remove anyone any time He wants. He can remove the head of editorial. He can remove the head of the ministry. He can remove me. But He hasn't. That means, as imperfect as I am, that imperfection has not risen to the point where Jesus has chosen to remove me. So, if Jesus hasn't removed me, who do you think you are to reject my leadership? You are actually judging Jesus Christ."

    Answer- King Saul was ordained into his office by God's servant Samuel. Then, King Saul was rejected completely by God. Yet, He remained in office. If you think you must obey God's anointed until God removes him from office, would you have killed the 80 priests? Similarly, did you shun those that were wrongly disfellowshipped in WCG? Will you shun those that Meredith has kicked out unjustly? Who is your God?

    ReplyDelete