This happened to my family when Mr Cocomise was minister of the Philadelphia Church of God congregation in Lexington Kentucky..
The PCG’s “Rule of 7”: When Even Dinner Required Supervision
Dan Mofett
One thing we enjoyed during my years in the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) was eating together. Almost every Sabbath, many members of our congregation would meet at a local restaurant after services. It was an opportunity to visit, share a meal, and enjoy one another’s company.
Then something changed.
One Sabbath, someone asked which restaurant we were going to. I told them and went ahead to save some seats. My family of six sat down, expecting others to join us.
No one came.
I thought it was strange, but when the same thing happened the following week, I began asking why nobody was joining us anymore.
That was when I was told the church had implemented what they called “the rule of 7.” As it was explained to me, if more than seven members gathered together at any time, a minister had to be present.
I asked the minister about it, and he confirmed the ruling.
With six people in my family, just two other members joining us would put us over the limit. What had been an ordinary meal among friends now required ministerial supervision.
What troubled me was not simply missing dinner companions. It was realizing that the church’s control extended beyond services and into our personal friendships. Why should members need a minister present just to share a meal?
To me, this was another example of the controlling culture I experienced in the PCG. Even something as simple as eating together became subject to a rule.
9 comments:
if more than seven members gathered together at any time, a minister had to be present
Sports just got a lot more complicated for PCG members, both because of the numbers required for a game of basketball, baseball, soccer, or football, and because many of the PCG ministers aren't exactly the kind of manly men you would want on your sports team.
7 & a minister! I'll bet he'll want to inspect the cookies too!
These rules are NOT Biblical. They sound like a bunch of Jews, making rules about everything. Control, control, control.
Sad, but true. I think the PCG fear is that the brethren will begin to become close, start questioning doctrine, treatment, ministry, amongst themselves and leave- to fellowship and keep the Sabbath among themselves. Also, any events outside the church that are more than 7 required a minister’s knowledge and approval. We used go out in larger than 7 groups (Like minded friends) … no snitches invited and just not tell them. Glad to be away from that control.
How did they keep the Night to be Much Observed with this rule? Congregations only have so many ministers. Does PCG only have all-congregation dinners?
Quite bizarre. I surprised they didn’t pass a rule that you were only allowed 7 sheets of toilet paper per sitting, in that little room out the back lol. Dan I just wanted to vomit on reading this. Yes sir, it is all about control. The Law was still in effect in pcog, and ruled, damn grace and mercy and that inconvenient gospel of Jesus Christ. Sad reading. Cheers.
Be fair- the minister was probably only trying to cadge a meal😳🤡
Be fair—the minister was probably only trying to cadge a meal 🤡
It's the same here with the Living Church of God LCG. Whenever we had dinner parties at the FOT a minister always had to be there. One time it was Jeff Fall, another year it was Dexter Wakefield, and so on. If they just link up and join us informally for a nice evening then that's fine, but not as an oberleutnant or a gruppenführer. There was a nice lady here who had women in the community meet up in her home a few times a month, and they would have sisterly lunches and Bible studies, yes according to LCG teachings. Well now, the ministers told her she could not have her visits with the ladies without a minister being there and without their approval. So good for her she left LCG and attends another Church of God that is not controlling and insecure freaky type. I wonder what our LCG brothers and sisters and gauleiters think about that.
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