As we've followed the Philadelphia Church of God's Irish Dance troupe touring globally with its Celtic Throne production, recently performing in Israel and the UK, one thing stands out: the lack of clarity about who is behind the production.
The Exit and Support Network recently highlighted the Philadelphia Church of God's deceptive practices in concealing the true organizers of the show. This mirrors the concerts at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, fully funded by the Worldwide Church of God but presented under the guise of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation to obscure its true backers.
Armstrongism has a history of employing "justified lying" in its public outreach efforts.
You would never know that there’s a “church” behind Celtic Throne production–in fact they go to great lengths to hide it. In media interviews, they never mention the name of the “church” which is Philadelphia Church of God. And in the play bills, they portray it as being backed by a “Cultural Foundation.” The website? Nary a mention of the “church” underwriting it or its intended religious purpose.
Philadelphia Church of God on X, PCG News, is FULL of activities:summer camps
acquisition of properties in other countries a global Irish dance production (which you have to BUY tickets to attend) construction of a massive new farm, including a huge barn and landscaping project in Edmond firewood and flower sales fundraisers
Lacking in all of these activities is anything related to the scriptural commands from Christ as in Matthew 25:34-41.
When I was a member, and to my knowledge still today, the PCG has never:helped communities that have faced a natural disaster provided meals, shelter, clothing for the poor in their community had any community outreach program that served prisoners (other than an incarcerated member or two)
served the non-members sick or elderly in the community they live in given away a single copy of the Bible, the living Word of God
In fact, the third tithe the PCG demands from its wrung-out members for ‘the fatherless and the widow’ was rarely doled out, and when it was, it was often given as a loan that had to be paid back, clearly violating the biblical instruction. (More than one headquarters employee has resigned or been asked to leave for their disagreement with how PCG was utilizing funds under their tax exempt status.)
Everything the PCG does essentially distills down to a self-aggrandizing agenda that transfers wealth from the general membership and concentrates it among a few privileged individuals and families at its “headquarters” locations, under the auspices of “the work.”
Today the PCG believes that its multi-million dollar, ego-driven Irish dance production literally IS “the work.” (Spoiler alert: church head, Gerald Flurry believes he’s the current Davidic King sitting on the throne portrayed in the show.)
How’s “the work” going? (By the way, you have to PAY to watch it, violating the command in Proverbs 23:23: “Buy the truth and sell it not…”)
PCG characterizes Celtic throne as a,”…trailblazing new show, a fusion of Irish dance, music, theater and cinema…” The PCG’s “Celtic Throne” is Falun Gong’s “Shen Yun”, a highly sanitized cultural experience that is more akin to a subtle recruiting and indoctrination tool.
Further, the Celtic Throne production is a colossal, “church” funded act of self-infatuation to allow a handful of elite “headquarters” families an opportunity to garner fame and massage their ever-growing egos on the international stage. Even the Jerusalem Post made this observation: “They really are family – well, five families, to be exact. It’s the Irish dance version of the Von Trapps.”
How effective have they been at their mission?
You would never know that there’s a “church” behind Celtic Throne production–in fact they go to great lengths to hide it. In media interviews, they never mention the name of the “church” which is Philadelphia Church of God. And in the play bills, they portray it as being backed by a “Cultural Foundation.” The website? Nary a mention of the “church” underwriting it or its intended religious purpose.
Philadelphia Church of God on X, PCG News, is FULL of activities:summer camps
acquisition of properties in other countries a global Irish dance production (which you have to BUY tickets to attend) construction of a massive new farm, including a huge barn and landscaping project in Edmond firewood and flower sales fundraisers
Lacking in all of these activities is anything related to the scriptural commands from Christ as in Matthew 25:34-41.
When I was a member, and to my knowledge still today, the PCG has never:helped communities that have faced a natural disaster provided meals, shelter, clothing for the poor in their community had any community outreach program that served prisoners (other than an incarcerated member or two)
served the non-members sick or elderly in the community they live in given away a single copy of the Bible, the living Word of God
In fact, the third tithe the PCG demands from its wrung-out members for ‘the fatherless and the widow’ was rarely doled out, and when it was, it was often given as a loan that had to be paid back, clearly violating the biblical instruction. (More than one headquarters employee has resigned or been asked to leave for their disagreement with how PCG was utilizing funds under their tax exempt status.)
Everything the PCG does essentially distills down to a self-aggrandizing agenda that transfers wealth from the general membership and concentrates it among a few privileged individuals and families at its “headquarters” locations, under the auspices of “the work.”
Today the PCG believes that its multi-million dollar, ego-driven Irish dance production literally IS “the work.” (Spoiler alert: church head, Gerald Flurry believes he’s the current Davidic King sitting on the throne portrayed in the show.)
How’s “the work” going? (By the way, you have to PAY to watch it, violating the command in Proverbs 23:23: “Buy the truth and sell it not…”)
PCG characterizes Celtic throne as a,”…trailblazing new show, a fusion of Irish dance, music, theater and cinema…” The PCG’s “Celtic Throne” is Falun Gong’s “Shen Yun”, a highly sanitized cultural experience that is more akin to a subtle recruiting and indoctrination tool.
Further, the Celtic Throne production is a colossal, “church” funded act of self-infatuation to allow a handful of elite “headquarters” families an opportunity to garner fame and massage their ever-growing egos on the international stage. Even the Jerusalem Post made this observation: “They really are family – well, five families, to be exact. It’s the Irish dance version of the Von Trapps.”
How effective have they been at their mission?
“The storyline may be tough to follow and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense – some ancient Irish guy going from Jerusalem to the Emerald Isle…”The cerebral self-stimulation they call “the work” hits home as nothing more than “two hours of high-octane dance.” Cited article: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-857316
The PCG today wouldn’t recognize itself from 20 years ago. At that time, their purported purpose was to deliver a “watchman’s warning message” and to restore the teachings of its spiritual founder, Herbert Armstrong, whom they considered “God’s apostle.” Today, the church has quite literally re-written those teachings, and transformed into yet one more secular “church” cloaked under a 501(c)(3), amassing concentrated wealth and bestowing privileged lifestyles to its elite members (fancy performance halls, exclusive coaching, private jet travel, ostentatious homes on a private compound), on the backs of the rank and file who are giving away up to 40% of their post-tax income.
Dig deeper and you’ll find stories of families ripped apart, suicides, broken marriages, preventable deaths and general confusion, depression, and disillusionment.
It’s questionable whether the Philadelphia Church of God has any of God’s presence in it at all.
By Ivan (former PCG member)
June 23, 2025
8 comments:
I was around early enough in the PCG, when GRF blasted Joe Sr. for making the college the "work". And what has PCG done? Made the college and now Celtic dancing the work.
Falun Gong is quite a good exercise therapy. I did not know it was turned into the dance show called Shen Yun.
PCG's Celtic dancing is nothing compared to Shen Yun.
And their Celtic dancing does nothing to promote the Gospel. It's a bit like a church running a bank to make lots of money and ignoring the whole gospel preaching thing.
This is a general thing, and not necessarily specific to Celtic Throne. I've always wondered how it is that in these grand productions, we never see anyone accidentally sneeze, belch, or blow a fart. Can you imagine the forces which build up in the human body and the contortions the dancers are going through? Karate class can't be that much different, and we certainly had our share of incidents in the dojo over the years. Nothing like the surprise of a sudden deep breath after that!
WCG set the example of pretending to "go them unto all the world" with any Biblical doctrines of Jesus. HWA played the "strong hand from somewhere" card all the time as a meaningless approach so he could claim he has "gone before kings". BS. He was ashamed of the Gospel and now PCG plays the same deceptive game. The COG's are barely and some like RCG and PCG are simply not even close to being a New Testament Gospel preaching church. The name "Jesus" gets stuck in their throats. "Christ" is used more often as a power word but again, meaningless in any context they think they are presenting.
The leadership of the various COGs have spent millions on pure foolishness to where members should seriously consider voting not only with their wallets but their feet. Sad to say, they don't and probably won't ever until it becomes so obvious the waste of their life time and resources it all has been and always will be.
The leadership and ministry of all the splinters is simply in a race to match income to their" non-retirement allowed and we don't have any funds for you anyway" Even if an employee or minister in these small cults finally woke up, they could not leave them unless poverty was something they didn't mind as well as when you get old and in need, it won't be there, so good luck with that .Need a hip or knee? Tough luck, You can limp around. Heart probs? Suck it up and drop dead because one is supposed to believe the day of their death is better than the day of their birth anyway. I can't imagine the concerns and insecurity, much less actual value, split, splinter and sliver ministry must feel.
In the hindsight of religious and theological history as practiced by the one man shows, WCG and all the debris that still smolders will prove to be how not to read the Bible, run a church or teach anyone about anything actually spiritually useful in one's life.
Time for Tithe 101, or 1st2nd3rd? My take................
The nation of Israel's 10% of the harvest of the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree and of animals in the herd or flock, at the end of the year - Ex 23:16 - every 3rd and 6th year in a 7 year cycle, was given to and stored up for the Levite and the Levitical Priesthood b/c they were 2% of the population - Num 31:30 - and to the stranger, fatherless, widow whose numbers were such that apparently the 10% was enough food and animals for all. Notice: the poor are not mentioned; they should be provided for all the time. Notice: tithes are not designated in the Bible as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and this tithe every 3rd year was the only tithe given to others! There was no "1st" tithe and the so-called 2nd tithe was collected by the owner and eaten and given to others including the Levite at the 3 festivals. Notice: there was never a commandment to tithe on monetary income.
I agree. But many churches, not just ACOG, teach tithing, as they prefer to rely on that for financial gain, rather than working voluntarily and relying on God to ensure their expenses are covered.
Well, this Flurry thing proves that these groups can obtain recognition. They just can't do it with the message they feel called upon to deliver..
I'm sure we all remember the biggest message Ron Weinland ever delivered. The one that you'd better pay your taxes!
BB
That is a very good point you make. A bunch of children are being paraded around as ‘Doing the work’. I guess the ministers or GF couldn’t do it , so send out the smiling children. Quite sad really.
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