"This use of logic when it suits Vik Kubik and the COE is appalling."

A reader on Malm's blog commented on the Zambia cattle situation and compared it to UCG taking a building from the Houston members for their own use when COGWA split. 

UCG would do well to stop all of it's silliness in this stupid cattle fiasco and move on.  Instead they are digging the hole deeper and making total asses of themselves.

It is interesting that the Houston Church Building which was paid for by the brethren in Houston had to be relinquished to UCG because of the “law.” That building was an outcome of the Houston brethren’s, donations and labor contributions (there are many that are involved in the construction field). The building was turned over to UCG (100% paid). The brethren there thought that the documents prepared by UCG’s attorney would protect them. Alas, they did not. With about 95% of the Houston members leaving UCG, they would have the same claim as Vik is making here in this case. The members that contributed the majority of the funds left with COGWA. It came down to the Houston COGwa congregation taking the high road and not wanting to take UCG to court.

This use of logic when it suits Vik Kubik and the COE is appalling. This letter also demonstrates what has been the continual problem with this management team. Half truths and in some cases flat out lies.

As far as the name changes, one would have to be familiar with the laws in these countries as to the ease of changing names. It might not be a simple matter as it would be in the US.

Verdict: "GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY."

Prophet Thiel has made up a list of "charges" against Ron Weinland that "prove" he is a false prophet:

Some of these "charges" can be taken and inserted with Rod Meredith's name and thus would equally apply to him!  Shall we make our own list of failed false prophecies of Rod Meredith?

Charge 1: He falsely claimed that he was given power on April 17, 2008 as that was the start of the Great Tribulation, according to him, and that the real others could not see this is that the Great Tribulation at that time was supposed spiritual.  His own testimony convicted him as he later claimed that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 2: He claimed that his wife Laura was the second of God’s two witnesses effective on April 17, 2008, the supposed start of the 3 1/2 years of the two witnesses gaining power (cf. Revelation 11).  Neither Ronald Weinland nor his wife Laura have displayed any of the miraculous powers of God’s two witnesses.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 3: He wrote in his 2008 God’s Final Witness book that various leaders in the Living Church of God, United Church of God, and Philadelphia Church of God would die towards the beginning of his Great Tribulation.  None have, and since according to his own statements, the Great Tribulation is mostly over.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND CLAIMING TO BE ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 4: He falsely claimed that a little after April 2008, the US dollar would be worthless.  The US dollar is still valuable.  And apparently according to the IRS, so valuable to Ronald Weinland that he allegedly “did willfully attempt to evade and defeat the payment of a large part of the income tax due and owing by him to the United States of America for the calendar year 2008″ on “or about October 15, 2009″ according to federal documents.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 5: Ronald Weinland claimed that if the USA was not nuked by June 2008, he would resign, admit he was false, and never preach again.  The USA was not nuked, he did not resign, he continues to preach, and has not publicly admitted that he was false.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 6: He falsely claimed that the USA would not get a new president to take office in January 2009.  Yet, on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became USA’s 44th president.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 7: He claims to be part of the Church of God, yet instead has repeatedly denied the deity of Jesus.  The Bible teaches that Jesus is God.  Verdict: GUILTY OF HERESY AND APOSTASY.

Charge 8: On August 8, 2009 he falsely declared that 2008 was God’s final witness.  That is false.  By definition the two witnesses are supposed to give a witness.  His own words again convict him.  Furthermore, he and his wife Laura have not been effective witnesses.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 9:  On December 19, 2009 he falsely declared himself to be the final Elijah.  Yet that 1) contracts his own writing {Weinland R.  The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004, pp. 73, 75, 85, 89, 106, 108} and 2) that simply is not true.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 10: Ronald Weinland continues to preach and teach false information about the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ–which he now claims will be May 27, 2012.  This is not possible as certain biblically-required events have not occurred (see, for example, Matthew 24).   Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

"The Culling of the Flock"

Check out a well researched article by Jason about the demise of Armstrongism on A Cult In Decline – Armstrongism In The 21st Century

The Culling of the Flock 

Recruiting however, was only one side of the coin. Once the recruit was in place, great effort was made to keep them attending and to keep them loyal. The WCG was undeniably a very successful church in its day. If the numerous co-worker letters are to be believed, the WCG grew at a steady rate of 30% a year. It would be fantastic if these claims were verifiable, (especially turnover figures) sadly however, they are not.

What we do know is that during the entire course of Herbert Armstrong’s reign, there was never a shortage of members who became unhappy and left the cult. Whether it was because they took issue with doctrines like D&R and makeup, or because they became disillusioned with HWA’s heavy-handed leadership and his constant requests for money, people were always leaving. The never-ending battle waged by those in power was one of damage-control: a constant search for the disaffected, a race to find these “rotten apples” and stop the spread of their discontent before it could affect others.

In the end, the tactics of selective recruiting & culling the herd left the deck stacked highly in Armstrong’s favor. As the years progressed, the group grew to become something other than just a religion. Eventually, it became – at least to the vast majority – a Cult of Personality.