This truly has to be one of the most pathetic and appalling "marking" letters I have ever seen. The excuses Weston makes in it are childish, petty, and spiteful.
Weston claims that the leading men of the LCG and those on the church council are men of integrity who stood up against "rank apostasy" years ago and rightfully started 2 separate splinter churches. The thing about this is that these men are just like the men of United Church of God who while they were still employed by the Worldwide Church of God plotted and schemed in the background to start a new church in order to keep their income coming in, or waited quietly in WCG till Global and/or Living was established and THEN made the jump, ensuring their money was waiting for them.
Weston comes across like the pope bellowing in a fit of anger that he was challenged.
From an LCG source:
Weston marked Monson for giving that sermon on YouTube last week. So freakin predictable!
See below.
From: Living Church
Subject: Member Letter - August 19 2020
Reply-To: Living Church of God <media@lcg.org>
August 19, 2020
Dear Brethren,
God tells us that He hates the sowing of discord (Proverbs 6:14, 16-19). We are instructed in Romans 16:17, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” As most of you already know, Mr. Sheldon Monson has chosen to leave the Living Church of God ministry, walking contrary to the wisdom of the Council of Elders, which did their best in a loving manner to help him see he was on the wrong path.
The Council is made up of members who put their lives on the line—many times, literally. Some of them work and travel in some of the most dangerous parts of the earth, and they press on in faith, putting their health and lives at risk, to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom and serve the Body of Christ. The Council is filled with men who stood up in the face of rank apostasy when the Worldwide Church of God began to abandon the Sabbath and Holy Days; return to Sunday, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween; introduce old Catholic and Protestant ideas of the immortal soul, heaven as the reward of the saved, and an ever-burning hell; reject Christ’s commission to preach the true Gospel to the world; and so much more. There is no comparison to then and now. Does anyone seriously think men such as Mr. Richard Ames, Dr. Douglas Winnail, Messrs. Mario Hernandez, Rand Millich, Lambert Greer, Dan Hall, Rick Stafford, Peter Nathan, Rob Tyler, Dr. Jeffrey Fall, and many other long-time ministers, who stood up against the apostasy, would take the Church in that direction?
We do not deny that there are sometimes controversial issues, even about what measures Christ expects us to take during the Sabbath and Holy Days in showing love to our most vulnerable members in the light of this coronavirus (and even if for only a limited time of “present distress”). However, God gives clear instructions on how controversial issues are to be settled in the Church (Acts 15; Ephesians 4:11-16; Deuteronomy 17:8-13). And many scriptures warn us against self-will (Titus 1:7; Proverbs 3:5; 18:1-2; Judges 21:25).
There were other men, even during summer camp, who warned Mr. Monson that he was going down the wrong path. But, when he realized that not one of the Council members agreed with him, he chose to leave our ministry of the Living Church of God. Recent events indicate he has made the further decision to start his own work, effectively causing division within some families and congregations. We must therefore inform you that Mr. Sheldon Monson is, by his actions, causing division, and according to scripture, we are to take note of such individuals and avoid contact with them.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston
