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
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