Word is slowly leaking out that Shedlon Munson removed Jason Fritts from his roles in Church of God Assembly. Munson and Fritts were both kicked out of Living Church of God by Gerald Wesrton in August of 2020 reportedly over the requirement that members wear them to church and that they should also be singing hymns during COVID. Weston, being more concerned about looking good in the eyes of the world clamped down all the COVID restrictions when they came into place.
As we get more edetails about this latest church splintering, we will let you know.
August 7, 2020
Dear Brethren,
It is with a sad heart that I must announce that Sheldon Monson and Jason Fritts are no longer in the ministry of the Living Church of God. We spent four and a half hours on Monday of this week with both of them discussing differences over masks, singing, how faith is exercised, and a few other issues. Then we held a Council of Elders meeting yesterday with Mr. Monson and 16 other members and advisors of the Council for another four and a half hours. Today Dr. Douglas Winnail and I talked with Mr. Monson on the phone and he agreed that we have come to a parting of ways. We also spent more than two hours with Mr. Fritts and could not reach an agreement on these subjects.
We do not have personal animosity toward either of these men. Mr. Monson has been a faithful minister for many years and Mr. Fritts, though younger, has also served faithfully for a number of years. We want to make this breach between us as painless and amicable as possible, but it is impossible as an ordained minister to hold different views of how to conduct services during this temporary time of stress and not cause division, no matter how sincerely held those views may be. Even without intending to do so, this causes confusion and fragmentation among members of the Church. It is important to understand the reasons for some of the decisions the Church has made and that were confirmed by 16 longtime ministers yesterday in the Council. And let me assure you that these are not all “yes men,” as those of you who know them can attest. We truly wanted to find a way to work through our differences so that we all speak the same thing, as Paul admonished in 1 Corinthians 1:10
. We will explain the doctrinal issues and biblical principles in the services livestreamed from Charlotte this Sabbath to North America and believe that the overwhelming majority of you will understand. The Bible is replete with admonitions concerning how God views division and those who cause division, and is just as clear about the wisdom of avoiding such individuals. This does not mean that we see each other as enemies. If anything, we should pray for one another with a sincere heart, that they may be able to walk with us in unity in the near future. But for now, we are left with no other choice but to agree to disagree. Brethren, we must be unified as one body doing the Work God has given us to do. Christ warns us that a “house divided against itself will not stand” (
We will explain the doctrinal issues and biblical principles in the services livestreamed from Charlotte this Sabbath to North America and believe that the overwhelming majority of you will understand. The Bible is replete with admonitions concerning how God views division and those who cause division, and is just as clear about the wisdom of avoiding such individuals. This does not mean that we see each other as enemies. If anything, we should pray for one another with a sincere heart, that they may be able to walk with us in unity in the near future. But for now, we are left with no other choice but to agree to disagree.
Brethren, we must be unified as one body doing the Work God has given us to do. Christ warns us that a “house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25
Brethren, please do not get caught up in the politics of this world and issues such as whether to wear a mask or not. Here is a letter from one of our members and what she sees:
Thank you for the work you are doing. Life today in this world is so different than I ever thought it would be, although I knew that these things would happen.
I am praying for you, please continue to pray for all of us in the work. This is truly a difficult time, and it may be a time when God is sifting the wheat from the tares again.
I am beginning to see division in the Church because of the dumbest thing ever, “masks.” I pray that we all see the one behind all of this and realize that nothing, absolutely nothing happens without God’s permission. It is so sad.
This is a trying time for all of us. Pray that we don’t allow ourselves to fall into Satan’s trap.
I see how Satan is trying to separate us (me) from the love of God. He is astute and we (I) must keep crawling to God for deliverance from Satan, the world, and ourselves. My biggest problem is me!
Life today seems bleak, please pray fervently that we are able to celebrate the Feast together this year and focus on God’s Kingdom, coming to replace this world’s kingdom.
May God bless you, your wife, and all my beautiful family in Christ out at headquarters and around the world. Thank you all for giving all you have to do God’s work. The magazines, letters, sermons, programs, Viewpoints, Whiteboards, Living Education, and so much more freely offered to us all are incredibly helpful.
God gives us many passages of scripture on how to handle matters of controversy in the Church. To say that you believe Jesus is the Head of the Church and then reject all the scriptures proving how He guides His Church when there are matters of controversy is showing a lack of faith in His leadership. Why is it, my friends, that we believe Jesus is active as the Head of the Church and guides the servants He has appointed to lead His Church only so long as they agree with us? Walking by faith is essential, but, brethren, we need to ask ourselves: Is it up to each person individually to define “faith” in terms of wearing or not wearing a mask and singing or not singing during this “present distress” (1 Corinthians 7:26
Paul instructed the divided Corinthian congregation, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2
Some may wonder whether we will still have summer camps and the answer is an emphatic YES. We will have them as long as God permits us to do so! We have every intention to continue with our youth camps. I have spent 28 years working with our young people at our camps, and we have no intention of abandoning them.
Please be assured that, overwhelmingly, the membership is loyal and has faith in Christ to lead His Church. As all of us understand, it is our responsibility not to get caught up in disputes over masks and other matters, but to preach the Kingdom of God. Let us not walk in fear but in faith, boldly doing the Work set before us while there is still time.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston
30 comments:
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Anyone can say this and claim they are in such service. Armstrong signed off in similar terms for many years. Question: How is a believer to know they really are in His service?
"...and then reject all the scriptures proving how He guides His Church when there are matters of controversy is showing a lack of faith in His leadership."
Yes, most readers on Banned lack faith in the ACOGs leadership. This lack of faith is richly deserved because they have rejected the narrow gate and have embraced cult tactics instead.
If this is true...COGA has lost it's best speaker.
Church of God Assembly is now disassembled?
Is COG-ASS big enough to split into two small rival groups, or will Fritts need to go groveling to one of the other ACOG splinters for a paycheck in exchange for delivering a few new tithe-payers?
Yes this is true. Sheldon’s power trip has cost him a couple of hundred members and he terminated the one sane minister he had.
Just trust me bro :)
Isn't this the elder who had a demon-possessed son at summer camp last year?
Don't know if that has anything to do with this; I simply bring it up for background.
Clearly you don’t know the man to suggest such intentions.
Clearly you don’t know the man to suggest such intentions.
When Weston fired Fritts from the LCG ministry, Fritts didn't accept that; he went out and got another ministerial gig. Are you saying that Fritts now will accept Sheldon's actions and not find a way to keep on serving as a minister?
Clearly, somebody be havin' some fat thumbs while typin' the opening paragraphs of this blog entry!
Seriously, this Sheldon Monson thing has become just as scandalous as the Bob Thiel African mess! What ever was in the wine at Rod Meredith's Passover services throughout the years of LCG???
Yes, and we must also recall the Terry Ratzmann incident for historical context as well! This is part of a collection of internal happenings, regular evil, fruit of the poisoned tree events in one particular splinter group! It is equal to the badness we read of PCG and RCG!
That’s exactly what I am saying. You people think every minister is the same, and they do things out of selfish ambition rather than the genuine love of the brethren. So go ahead keyboard warrior, you clearly have God’s divine ability to judge the heart of a man.
COG Assembly started in August of 2020 with 500 members, most of which were the younger families due to Sheldon and Jason running the Living Youth Camps ( most members came from Living, a few elsewhere. ) Are you saying 200 of that 500 have already left to form other groups? What is the name of their fellowship?
This is a huge blow to COG Assembly organization, as essentially Sheldon and Jason were 1 and 1A. The others leaving aren't a bid deal as they are much older and not as dynamic speakers.
Don't forget, Jason would host the annual Winter family weekend in Murfreesboro. TENN. so I'd expect if he did start a splinter group he would have a large following.
In splinter COG world a large church is 200 members, such as Pacific (smaller now that their founder died), or others, most splinters are 40 - 50 members, with one congregation, or maybe two or three. Most have died out in the last 20 years, except for the Zombie website.
United and COGWA are growing as they have picked up some strays from dying splinter groups, and are still in most areas of the country.
Does anyone know where COG Assembly having the Feast this year? Gerald Weston is still in charge of Living, so I don't see Jason going back there. Old hurts die hard. Many are still upset about COGWA / United breakup, depending on where you sit, and that was 15 years ago.
Dear Brethren -
Last Tuesday I received an email from Mr. Jason Fritts giving us an ultimatum that we either allow him to preach his view regarding the gospel, or he would tender his resignation. After prayer and fasting I have accepted his resignation from the ministry and membership of the Church of God Assembly effective Friday May 15, 2026.
We cannot compromise the truth at the demands of others, regardless of the cost. We will continue to hold fast to that which we have been taught. Revelation 3:10-11.
Sadly and Sincerely,
Sheldon Monson
Monson publicly admitted he should have used the term “terminated” instead of ultimatum. Still a slap in the face to Fritts for the heart and soul he put into the letter he sent Monson voicing all his concerns with the direction CGA was heading preaching the gospel
Some have left the COG cults all together and some went to UCG and Cogwa.
Can you share with us where Monson publicly admitted this? Also, not following the distinguished difference between termination & ultimatum. Is he changing his narrative from resignation (Jason quit) to termination (Jason was fired)?
This is the letter Monson distributed publicly & widely to his membership. If he made an error in his wording, why did he not recirculate in writing his edits? Or was he trapped in another lie & had to correct it in a sermon?
Is there a copy of Jason’s letter you reference? I wonder if it in fact includes an ultimatum or if that also was a spin on what the letter actually said.
Assembly has been shedding members for years. Some have gone back to Living, some have gone to United or COGWA. No new churches formed as far as I’m aware.
I also highly doubt Fritts would go back to LCG but his dad was an elder in United before going with Assembly so I suppose it’s possible that’s what they do. What’s most shocking to me is rumor has it even Monson’s sons have gone with Fritts!
And Assembly’s Feast is at the Dells this year.
Thanks for response, much appreciated.
I grew up in the church, earliest memories of HWA and GTA. Left in 1995. Have been apart of splinters, and independent churches. Briefly in Assembly.
I liked Sheldon, going back to early '80s but his sons following Fritts is interesting. I am not sure someone as conservative as Jason would go to United, and COGWA has a top down structure. Philadelphia and Restored are too strict. Some of the larger splinters (200 to 2,000) such as David Hulmes group have long term members going back 40 years and wouldn't take to new members.
I wouldn't be surprised if he started his own group, and because he knew practically all the members personally, is a good speaker, and personable, he would have followers.
He cleared it up in his sermon by just saying he was terminated not resigned.
If you tell the truth the first time, there’s no need to “clear it up” later.
What do you call a liar who tells the truth?
You call him a stool pidgeon don't you?
I’ll try to recover from this devastating 1937 insult. At least spell *pigeon* right if you’re gonna insult someone. You seem really threatened by transparency!
I'm only really threatened by the holocaust. It was figuratively just yesterday.
"but it is impossible as an ordained minister to hold different views of how to conduct services during this temporary time of stress and not cause division, no matter how sincerely held those views may be."
This is the COG concept of unity in a nutshell. The only solution to "different views" is for the underling to abandon his views (no matter how sincere) and conform his views to the authority's official ones.
By the COG view, by definition, Christ faithfully leads the church authorities to all essential truths. But, it's done in a strictly hierarchical arrangement. Lower levels of the hierarchy aren't led to all truth, but each layer of the hierarchy is more correctly led than the layers below. The higher up you go, the more reliably truth is led. The duty of each person is to surrender his own views (no matter how sincere) to the next level up in the hierarchy.
This does leave the challenge for the layperson to discern which COG split is the one Christ is really leading this year. This has been an inconvenient necessity ever since Herbert Armstrong's definitely-led-by-Christ pick Joseph Tkach changed all the doctrines.
What you described, 12:51, wouldn't be a bad thing if the guy at the top of the hierarchy were truly the closest to God rather than being an imposter. Had HWA been truly led by Christ, and had the doctrines been restored truths which had not been preached in nearly 2,000 years, Joseph W. Tkach would not have been allowed to happen. That was the other shoe dropping for those who ignored the first dropping shoe in 1975. God was never behind HWA in the first place, the R/WCG was always a man-made affair. Now, the splinters have become the proverbial sound of "one hand clapping" Call it Laodicean if you must, but they are accomplishing absolutely nothing.
Not true, 8:23, the one at the top wasn't an imposter. Over a 50-plus year period of substantial growth? It still went on for another 7 years after his death but with JWT implementing necessary improvements, which HWA evidently acknowledged were needed to raise our righteousness from law-keeping to faith in Christ and a love for the brethren. But we failed so Christ split us up. Look at the WWN articles written by Tkach from the late 80s -- superior Christian material that emphasized the practice of our faith. It was still afloat until WCG went over the deep end after JWT was misadvised (by the younger men like Rehoboam) and tempted to deface the law, yet you can't have faith without law or a law without faith.
Since then, little has changed. The elders are still corrrupt, some are living in a fantasy land, coverups everywhere, everyone obsessing over money and property, lukewarmness, a lack of devotion, abysmal doctrinal ignorance, worship of men, the fear of men outpacing the fear of God, isolationism, respect of persons, constant disagreements, refusals to reconcile, bearing grudges, blacklisting and blackballing members on hearsay evidence, myopic views of faithful Christian behaviour, biases, inability to discern the Spirit with its gifts and fruits, obsession over power and control, entitlement for ministers to receive subjection (while not giving it in return), and the list goes on and on. That's why the COGs are "accomplishing nothing" right now. You can't add to a church if it is living in sin, can you? So you want more new members but you can't get along with the old members? Won't cut it.
You mean instead of "resigned". Fritts was apparently terminated rather than resigned.
Do you have that letter, I'd really like to understand Jason's view on these things, it seems most if not all of his sermons have been removed.
Post a Comment