Just when you think Armstrngism can't get any crazier, along comes Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, and Gerald Flurry. This time it is Gerald Flurry and his deep-seated hatred of "gender reveal parties". Nothing is more disgusting than a family celebrating the upcoming birth of their child.
Remember, this is coming from a church that has damaged more children mentally and physically than most COG's out there. From legalistic doctrines and policies to forcing children to exercise in the heat and humidity in Oklahoma in the summer all because it is a test of the spiritual worthiness to follow governance.
Exit and Support Network reports:
PCG Bans Gender Reveal Parties:
June 3, 2022
The PCG has now banned gender reveal parties for expectant families. While Herbert Armstrong “approved” baby showers. Gender reveal parties are not allowed as they put the attention on the parents. (Yes, you read that correctly) Also stated, was that they originated in the 2000’s by social media and Hollywood and by putting the emphasis on the parents it is too much like a birthday party. Hmmmm. I don’t think so, but that’s besides the point.
For those scratching their heads in bewilderment at the news of this recent stupidity, this is done because it is another means of control. They like to flex their control muscle, show people who’s boss and also they don’t like get-togethers. While they always preach that the brethren should fellowship often, they want it done in controlled, supervised environments. They actually require a minister or a deacon to be at get-togethers over a certain number. Most members are actually oblivious to this rule. This is because they don’t want people having a party where people can celebrate–possibly with family and friends in the world–the exciting event of finding out if you will be welcoming a baby boy or girl into your family. –Former PCG member [name withheld]
22 comments:
I’m surprised pcg doesn’t have circumcision reveal parties.
Before and after.
But that really would be a ‘gender reveal’ would it not.
To those easily offended, these comments of mine are purely satire lol.
Majoring on the minors ignoring the rest, that’s pcg.
Armstrongism gets stupider by the day.
"Majoring on the minors ignoring the rest, that’s pcg."
Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 10:24:00 PM PDT
MY COMMENT: I think that describes this site as well.
I have been a member of the church(not the pcg) for many years. I don’t recognize nor agree with this controlling policy. We have a few bad actors giving Gods church a bad name. No worries. It will be corrected in due time. People don’t check your brain at the door. Like the bereans we must always test what is being said with the word of God. Yes there are cultic cogs out there. But not all. Remember Jesus is the head of the church and not some crafty slick man who thinks he is
They're trying to avoid people discussing on their own - withour ministerial oversight, since not all ministers are invited to these events - about topics not church sanctioned. These gatherings could prompt "dissident" subjects, and they're worried about what that might produce. If you're bleeding members and money, you want to hold tight what you can; in this case, members and members' tithes.
Plus, if you spend money on a party that's less you could be sending to headquarters!
I wonder if PCG and RCG members ever thought of attending a class on how to tell the Church/Pastor to mind their own business. I suppose being dis-membered by the Magisterium is an inhibiting factor.
All the high-control culty ACOG groups do this. LCG has doubled down on its unpopular new policy requiring pre-engagement counseling. The latest rule is that if the person you are dating does not want to come to counseling with you, you must go by yourself. Can you imagine any LCG counselor telling the person who comes that it's OK to get engaged to someone who is refusing ministerial counsel?
Unless, of course, you are Doug and Sherry Winnail, in which case the rules don't apply to you. LCG young people aren't blind. Most realize that this is about LCG control, not about the good of the prospective married couple. A few even recognize that this is a sleazy political play by Jeff Fall, who is undermining his boss Doug by establishing this new standard. Jeff covets more power in LCG, as he is now the longest-serving LCG elder, going back to the very start of Global. He has worked behind the scenes to undermine other long-serving elders, and now he has set his sights on Doug Winnail.
Join us here on BANNED for "Cult Reveal Parties" !
You people in the ACOGs: Do your leaders teach you the only way to wipe your butt after defecating? How many sheets of toilet tissue to use? Sheesh!
Anonymous said...
I have been a member of the church(not the pcg) for many years. I don’t recognize nor agree with this controlling policy. We have a few bad actors giving Gods church a bad name. No worries. It will be corrected in due time.
MY COMMENT: You don't RECOGNIZE?? Really? We've been waiting for fifty plus years for it to be corrected. All we have seen is "ministers" who desire to be the top dog who keep splintering in order to maintain their hierarchical control over others, especially the paying, praying, obeying, staying "laymen".
People don’t check your brain at the door. Like the bereans we must always test what is being said with the word of God. Yes there are cultic cogs out there. But not all. Remember Jesus is the head of the church and not some crafty slick man who thinks he is
MY COMMENT: So, which one is, or "ones", are the exception to the rule? Don't tell me! You're either in UCG, or it's counterfeit, COGWA!
Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 3:43:00 AM PDT
These so called ministers are some sick, sick men. What I don't understand is why the government can't do something more than just putting these groups on a federal watch list. That's important, obviously, but surely they can build some civil rights violation cases. This is a crystal clear example of prohibiting free association.
Sounds like LCG to me
Oh my god this is just hilarious. So glad we have the COG to give us some laughs!
I attend a very small COG because it's my wife's church. It is true they are not all cults. While I disagree with most of their doctrines (I'm Orthodox) their all great folks. BI isn't taught, triple tithing isn't taught. Messianic jews show up for holy days. Most importantly, there's no authoritarianism. I'm sure the minister would ask someone to leave if they were an a$$hole but that's about any organization.
I come to banned because there's relatives on both sides in ACOGs so I like to blow off some steam reading about the wacky world of armstrongism after I have a family interaction of "you don't understand! Everything is pagan!!! Lake of fire!!!!"
triple tithing isn't taught
The Jews (who, according to the ACOGs, have been given the oracles and who know their Bible intimately) recognize that if you don't have physical Levites running a physical Temple, you cannot legitimately collect physical tithes.
That's why so many Jewish synagogues adopted the fundraising practice of charging money for the best seats at High Holy Day services. That way, they can give generously without violating God's laws, without giving money improperly to blasphemous men claiming for themselves a station the Bible does not allow.
Any man who says he has a right to collect God's tithe is today a blasphemer. Your little COG may be warm and fuzzy and friendly in a way the big corporate COGs are not. And its leader may be a charismatic and empathetic and genuinely nice guy. But if he is collecting even one tithe, he is just as much a blasphemer as Gerald Flurry, claiming a divine prerogative that the Bible does not give him.
Nailed it.
That's why so many Jewish synagogues adopted the fundraising practice of charging money for the best seats at High Holy Day services.
Non-Jews should be made aware that while this practice does go on, and there are cases where the Jewish version of "Christmas/Easter Christians" show up only a couple of times a year and are seen sitting in the best seats, most synagogues that do this have also adopted practices to avoid Pharisaic excess. For example, in many synagogues, you buy a ticket but it is "festival seating" and you don't get to grab the best seat because you gave the most money. In those venues, it is common for wealthier attendees to purchase tickets for poorer attendees, so they can attend without charge. In other synagogues, you register for fixed-fee "membership" that guarantees you a seat, and your seating is based on your (or your family's) length of time in the congregation. A few groups, like Chabad, do other intense fundraising and consider it a matter of honor NOT to charge for Holy Day seats. But even they don't claim to be collecting tithes when they do their fundraising.
Sounds like they are putting down the hammer because they are spiralling out of control, losing people left and right.
I was thinking that they also had to ban these because they would be invited to gender reveal parties of “worldly” people and family too.
Maybe the lay members should ban 3rd tithe or refuse to participate in any fasts initiated by Gerald Flurry. I would bet he will be screaming for more donations with rising cost of jet fuel.
A comment further up describes this blog post as 'majoring in the minors'. I agree a little with that comment but the factual exposing of how gender reveal gatherings are banned by PCG is important.
It highlights how small minded PCG is behind closed doors. For all the magazine and booklet endorsement of the concept of families the church can be very anti-family at times.
The lack of PCG members’ ability to exercise personal judgement is astounding in the context that we were always told we were “kings and priests and should be getting ready to rule the world.” One would think that would necessitate a huge exercise in thinking, judgement and decision making.
But the rules are also arbitrary and not consistently enforced. Smart phones were banned (not tablets or computers), unless you needed one for work. Were smart phones less evil for those whose jobs required them? Or were those people gifted with a special strength of mind to not ‘misuse’ them?
The PCG is a group full hypocrisy and double standards. I have family there who will contact me to invite me to watch the Celtic Throne production, but then ignore all other polite inquiries.
On the other hand, I hear reports that some current members routinely talk to ex-members admitting they stay so they can keep family connections.
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