November 22, 1999
Dear Brethren:
From time to time, Christians must do what is commanded by God concerning
those whose behavior shows them to be an enemy of God. While this
duty and responsibility is quite unpleasant we are required to do it.
This letter concerns a problem with a minister who is sowing discord among
the brethren. So let us first look at what Jesus Christ told us concerning
such a matter. He said in Mat 18:
vv. 15-17 (NKJV) "Moreover if your brother
sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother. {16} "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.' {17} "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if
he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
Notice that there are no exceptions here as to who your brother is.
Nor is there an exception where we are told how to deal with an errant
elder or minister. Notice what is said in 1 Tim 5:
vv. 19-21 (NKJV) “Do not receive an accusation
against an elder except from two or three witnesses. {20} Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence
of all, that the rest also may fear. {21} I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the
elect angels that you observe these things without
prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”
[emphasis ours]
We see where Paul had to deal with a similar problem in 2 Cor. 11:
vv. 14-15 (NKJV) “And no wonder! For
Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. {15}
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose nd will be according to their works.”
Because God’s commands (Mat 18:15-17 & 1 Tim 5:19-21) were not always
followed in the recent past, we have wolves among the flock. In light
of the prophecy in Dan 12:7, which talks about the power of the holy people
being shattered, we see that we (ministers and members alike) are partly
responsible for this shattering in that God’s instructions were not followed
correctly, if at all. This is in spite of what Jesus Christ told
us in Mat 10:28 (NKJV) "And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul
and body in hell.” The ministry, within the various corporations,
has been afraid of lawsuits and therefore did not do as we were commanded.
This problem apparently started with the mishandling of a situation in
the sixties, which resulted in a lawsuit for slander, libel, and defamation
of character. The end result is we now have problems with wolves
that can and do attack the flock with impunity.
Because we are determined to do what God says, regardless of the physical
consequences, we must warn you about a wolf that has entered into our midst.
We tell you this because this “minister” has been sowing discord among
the brethren. And by his own admission, before several witnesses,
is not a minister of Jesus Christ, nor meets the qualifications given in
1 Tim 3 or Titus 1.
This letter concerns
Mr. David C. Pack and has not been done
lightly. While we are not ordained, we understand the implications
of James 4:17. Therefore, we have proceeded slowly and cautiously,
obtaining counsel because we did not wish to act precipitously, and because
we did not want to do as Korah did. It is because of his [Mr. Pack]
conduct
and behaviors, that an investigation was done, and it was found that on
May 3rd 1999, Mr. Pack had been terminated for cause from Global, disfellowshipped
and removed from the ministry (“defrocked”)! Mr. Pack did not disclose
this to his congregation (Akron OH), but instead covered the truth.
Global had taken their actions
because he [Mr. Pack] was
found to be sowing discord among the brethren. Unfortunately, Global
did NOT make this public.
[Subsequent to the writing of this letter it was discovered that Global
HAD made this public, although no one in this area has seen a copy of the
letters of termination/disfellowshipment written to the brethren. If we
obtain copies of these letters, we will post them for confirmation.]
On October 11, 1999, Mr. Pack was approached, at his insistence, by
those people who had been employees, volunteers, and/or, contractors of
the Restored Church of God, and was confronted with further explicit evidence
of his sowing discord. He told us that he was sorry and would repent.
We withdrew from him to give him time to show fruits of repentance.
The result was, rather than admitting before the church that he had been
the one causing all the problems presented to him, he has decided to attack
those who have confronted him over his conduct.
Per the admonitions within The Bible, as stated above, we must tell
you and explain what we showed him to be doing (conduct) and the results.
Note that these problems are ones of conduct and some of the applicable
verses are listed with each item:
-
Mr. Pack has stated that he is not held to The Law (biblical) as members
are – not that he is held to a higher standard, but that these things don’t
apply to him (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-15, John 14:15, 1 Tim 5:19-21)
-
Mr. Pack stated in the first office staff meeting, as Restored was being
formed, that he would not look at tithe/contribution records. He
decided he could not be held to that promise and began looking at these
records immediately prior to the Feast of Trumpets 1999 (Ex 20:16, Mat
5:37)
-
Mr. Pack divulged, among the office staff, those who were the largest contributors,
and those who tithed once a year and/or quarterly (Lev 19:16)
-
Mr. Pack showed favoritism in duty assignments based on contributions (Lev
19:15, Jam 2:1-9)
-
Mr. Pack was divulging confidential information given him in counseling
sessions and used the information in an attempt to divide family members
or as a reason to sever people from their position(s) at RCG (employee,
contractor, or, volunteer) (Lev 19:11, 13, 16)
-
Mr. Pack was found to be a talebearer in that he was repeating stories
rather than putting a stop to them (Lev 19:16)
-
Mr. Pack “terminated for cause” one of the staff members of RCG because
he had not paid tithes, even though he was self-employed and all during
the time he worked for RCG had incurred losses – therefore had no increase
to tithe on (Lev 19:11, 13, 15)
-
Mr. Pack claimed that certain people embezzled funds after his having approved
of the expenditure and or reimbursement (Lev 19:11)
-
Mr. Pack demanded people work for the church for free, while being paid
their severance from their prior employer (e.g., if a person was being
paid for two weeks of accrued vacation after resigning, Mr. Pack required
them to work for RCG for two weeks without accruing pay) (Lev 19:13)
-
Mr. Pack was sowing discord within families and between husband and wife
(Lev 19:16)
-
Mr. Pack was sowing discord between the various groups he was trying to
get to join RCG (Lev 19:16)
-
Mr. Pack on a regular basis exaggerated figures as to income and/or attendance
(Lev 19:11, Ex 20:16, Col 3:9)
-
Mr. Pack quickly and easily trampled on brethren who even slightly opposed
or held a different viewpoint or opinion. Many times this precipitated
inconceivable schemes by him. This was found to be a pattern throughout
much of his ministry. (2 Cor 1:24 John 7:24)
-
Mr. Pack stated that one of the persons bringing the problems to him had
gone public with that information. He [Mr. Pack] was challenged on
this, and could provide no proof, yet continued to make similar statements.
(Ex 20:16, 23:1-2, Lev 19:11, 16, Deu 16:19-20)
(This is a short list, because to go over any more, or give specific
details would be to invade the privacy of other individuals.)
These things were brought to his attention in explicit detail, with
and before witnesses, and taken to the ministry (in explicit detail with
witnesses) within Restored Church of God. Those documents presented
to the ministry of RCG have not been publicly or privately circulated due
to the nature of those documents [see the last bullet above].
Meanwhile, Mr. Pack ultimately refused to accept his responsibility
in these matters and then began attacking those bringing the problems to
his attention. Part of that attack was to attempt to discredit the
persons bringing the Mat 18 situation, and the witnesses, with the ministers
within RCG. In doing this, he was telling those ministers to ignore
what was brought before them, whereby he interfered with judgment – a violation
of those principles found in Ex. 23 and Deut. 16 concerning interfering
with the giving of judgment:
Ex 23:1-2, 7 (NKJV) "You shall not
circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. {2} "You shall not
follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert
justice. {7} "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not
kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not
justify the wicked.” [emphasis ours]
Deu 16:19-20 (NKJV) "You shall not
pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and
twists the words of the righteous. {20} "You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live
and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
[emphasis ours]
He even went so far as to “disfellowship” and “mark” one of the ministers
who questioned him [Mr. Pack] on his conduct and his [Mr. Pack] sowing
of discord.
These things show that Mr. David C. Pack has not only been guilty of
sowing discord among the brethren but continues to do so with impunity.
Again, we let God speak via The Bible from Titus 3:
vv. 10-11 (NKJV) “Reject a divisive man
after the first and second admonition, {11} knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”
As a result, we unfortunately have had to write this letter to finish
what was commanded in Mat 18:17, of announcing it before the church and
I Tim 5:20, to publicly rebuke those elders that sin. Therefore,
we humbly submit to you all (regardless of corporate affiliation) that
David C. Pack has disqualified himself by his actions and behavior as a
minister and should be considered the same as “a heathen man and a publican”
(Mat 18:17 KJV).
Your humble servants in Christ,
/s/
William Ambrose
/s/
Leah Sheppard
/s/
Daryl Ambrose
/s/
William Sheppard Jr.
/s/
Darrell Gaug
/s/
Nancy Sheppard
/s/
Brenda Gaug
/s/
Joan Thompson
/s/
Tim Mobley
/s/
Steve Thompson
