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.
if more than seven members gathered together at any time, a minister had to be present
ReplyDeleteSports 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!
ReplyDeleteThese rules are NOT Biblical. They sound like a bunch of Jews, making rules about everything. Control, control, control.
ReplyDeleteSad, 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.
ReplyDeleteHow 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?
ReplyDeleteA few weeks before TNTBMO, there is a sign up sheet, and you and your family would put your name on it if you were not hosting or immediately invited. Then, if you were not invited to a home within a week or so, you were “assigned” by a minister or a deacon with the minister’s approval to a Host’s home, that had room, or who’s guest list was short. For many, because of cliques and the lack of Agape,- had to drive hours in traffic away from a closer host because that host nearby had a full house (again cliques) which gave the host their numbers of approved guests. A lot of those people sadly were the elderly, single parents with children, the disabled, poorer brethren and large families with babies and toddlers. So much for godly love and concern. It didn’t matter to them. Brethren don’t matter. Agape doesn’t matter. Numbers do.
DeleteQuite 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.
ReplyDeleteBe fair- the minister was probably only trying to cadge a meal😳🤡
ReplyDeleteBe fair—the minister was probably only trying to cadge a meal 🤡
ReplyDeleteIt'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.
ReplyDeleteI'm a member of LCG, and have been for many, many years. I've never heard of that. We often get together with more than 7 for dinner after church, and sometimes that many or more at the Feast. No minister has ever told us we had to have a minister present at dinner. Are you sure the minister wasn't invited by one of the many attending the dinner? I have heard rumors about not having Bible studies without a minister present, but I don't know anything about that for sure.
DeleteOh dear.......my son and wife with 7 children don't PCg qualify.
ReplyDeleteI am so so glad that I left the PCG. When I look back on it they are ALL about control. Always making rules to protect their money and lifestyle. Gotta keep those blinders on the members. So sad they do this in the name of religion. I remember rule of 7 well.
ReplyDeleteSad reading some of the comments above, about the control these groups exercise. No wonder they are dying. Cannot come quick enough. Feel sorry for those still trapped within these cults. I had a Rabbi tell me never let a Rabbi tell you how to live. I was surprised. He had insight there that many leaders within Christian and Jewish communities miss. Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly, not control. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteOf course Rabbi and other ministers can't tell members how to live. They've never had real jobs and next to no training regarding marriage problems and similar. My imposed "counseling sessions" took the form of the sky is blue and water is wet. The ministers got their jollies by pretending that I was a village idiot. At the time I felt I was talking to a teenager, and believed that I should be the one doing the counseling. My ministers were knuckleheads.
DeleteI've been consistently amazed by experiences that normal people have, and how they differ from my imprisonment in the old Armstrong concentration camps. Years ago, I was invited to a party at one of my female coworkers homes. When I walked in, I was kind of blown away to see that she had invited the nuns from her church. They turned out to be the life of the party!
ReplyDeleteDuring my tenure in the WCG, I believed and practiced the doctrines. But I avoided the ministers like the plague. I don't believe God created us to respond well to micro-supervision or arbitrary authority. It was like having an extra layer of cops in one's life.
Thatall followed the rule is the most telling thing of all. Did the rule envisage children being present?
ReplyDeleteSounds like the rules in the "Postman" movie. Except law 7 - anyone can challenge for the leadership of the clan. But then again maybe it's in the perfect place .
ReplyDeleteAnnouncing the death of a member at services is not appropriate because it's the Sabbath, BUT going out to a restaurant is????? I always knew Flurry et al was messed up, but sheesh....
ReplyDeleteThat's another thing, 9:15! These idiots have a history of using the Sabbath as excuse, or cover for their most unChristisn acts! Like the parents who make their children hate ice cream, they fomented hatred for the Sabbath. They are f*@€ing up their own stuff, and then blaming those who take a few steps away!
DeleteMaybe this rule shows how liberal PCG really is.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, Jesus said: "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
Hey, In the business world, the executive picks up the tab for the lunch or business meeting over which he presides, Are we to assume that the minister picked up the tab for these meals from his expense account, or did Flurry make the brethren pay for the miniter's tab???7 Uh, the minister he ordered?
ReplyDeleteNo need to answer. We all know the answer to this rhetorical question.