Joe Sanchez: On the "...total and complete lack of transparency by the ministry. "

I received this today from Joe Sanchez.  He has a web site up that tries to take the leadership of the Churches of God to task for their behind the doors shenanigans where they "exonerate or condemn members" behind closed doors without the ekklesia having a say in the situations.  This has lead to situations like Rod Meredith giving all of his kids hall passes for adultery, drugs and other issues while kicking out regular members over the slightest infractions.

He writes:

Gentleman, this system that the Church of God has used for over 60 years, where in the leadership of the church has been able to either exonerate or condemn members of the Church in secret has accommodated an untold amount of evil and has systematically dissolved trust within the membership. 

He has written letters to COGWA and Living Church of God detailing his take on this situation.

So what led him to take on this issue?  It seems a lot to have to do with his mother.  According to Sanchez she was a serial adulterer who had countless affairs while maintaining a glowing reputation in the church for her good works.

My mother was killed in a car accident with my step father in November of 1989. At the time we were living in Eastern Oregon. She was a mother of 4, solid member of the church, attended regularly and served often in our congregation. There was only one small problem. She was a consistent and frequent adulterer. It wasn’t until later in life that I was able to piece all of the memories together to try and get a count. I estimate she had somewhere between 7-12 affairs that I could put a face to. No doubt there were many more. She was married 3 times and the last marriage took place just a couple months before the accident. And so the question I have is: how is it that someone who was so active in the church, was able to remain a member in good standing and live like she did? My mother definitely had her good qualities but turning a blind eye to her sins didn’t help her at all. I believe it destroyed her.

He also writes:

In the 40+ years I have been in the church of God I have seen multiple churches divide and split time after time- for the same reason. I have seen sexual predatorsgiven hall passes. I have seen good honest Christians, who are just trying to serve God, kicked to the curb like a piece of trash after decades of loyal service. I have seen decisions being made by the Ministry that greatly affected my family, done haphazardly that have affected me still to this day. 

Reading his site gives the impression that he is looking for the membership to have a say in situations like this.  I can see it now, member courts who decide who and how members get punished.  This  creates an entire new set of issues that open the doors for more abuse.  Many members are as vindictive and abusive as the leadership.  This is quit apparent in the PCG, LCG and RCG where members will turn in fellow members for the slightest received indiscretion all to ingratiate themselves with the minister/leader.

This is an issue that will never be corrected in a Church of God.

You can read his site here along with study papers and responses form COGWA:  To the Ekklesia 

Richard Ames On What True Leaders Should Be In The Living Church of God

Richard Ames recently lectured Living Church of God members on what Godly service  and leadership is.  Apparently he has blinders on, since what he describes is not anything close to what LCG and his boss does.

The greatest is one who is a true servant—one who truly cares for and helps others! Notice that it was the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, who took little children up in His arms and who stooped over to wash the feet of His disciples. You can read about that foot-washing service in John 13. It was Jesus who sacrificed His life for us all! As the Apostle Paul wrote: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

Jesus’ example was one of service, sacrifice and love. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). 

Whatever position we may hold in this life, we will never find true success unless we have an attitude of godly service toward others. One of the measures of true success is the degree of godly service one is willing to give. False success depends on the get principle, the standard carnal condition—or “default characteristic”—of human nature.

When has Rod Meredith or any of the leadership in the Living Church of God ever been a true servant leader?  They certainly practice none of the things that are exemplary of Jesus as mentioned in the first paragraph.

What has the leadership of the LCG ever sacrificed?  From Rod Meredith, down through all of his children, to the leaders in Charlotte, none of them have scarfed anything.  Its the membership that is expected to sacrifice.  to sell their homes, refinance their businesses, cash in retirement funds and send it in for the "final push."  A "final push" that Meredith has been declare for 60 years now.

Will Richard Ames, Rod Meredith, Jim Meredith, Rod McNair and other leaders in Charlotte sell their fancy homes and sacrifice for once in their lives?  Will they actually become servants of the brethren?  We all know the answer to that.  Its a resounding NO!

The Battling Aviv Barley Watchers

Various COG's that have splintered off over the decades have returned to deeper Jewish roots and traditions instead of freedom in Christ.  As a result, new moons and the first sighting off barley is of extreme importance.  As usual, in all things like this, there is NO commonality when it comes to determining the correct dates and times.

The Assemblies of Yahweh  and Yahweh's Obedient Servants have decided their interpretation are best and have decreed that the barley is far enough along that the next new moon will be the start of the new year (Jewish).

It is my judgment that there is significant and verified evidence that the season is well-advanced in Eretz Israel. In my opinion, there is sufficient fully mature grain, in both thewild and agricultural crops that a first of the first-fruits sheaf would be available to wave on the evening after the Sabbath of March 26, 2016 and that there would be sufficient grain (parched or raw) to be ground into the required meal offering at that time. Therefore, it is my expressed conclusion that the New Moon crescent we seek on the evening of March 9, 2016 will be the first of the New Year, and begin the month of Abib. YOSR

Yahweh's Assembly in Messiah has other version.  They say that the new year begins March 24-30 (based on the sighting of the new moon in the USA). 

Then there are the Karite Jews, of which some COG groups identity with. They have this to say:

Nehemiah Gordon and other Karaite Jews (who continue to adhere to the Second Temple Calendar), have posted both of their ‘aviv barley’ reports: 

“On Wednesday March 9, 2016 we examined barley in the Judean Desert and Jordan Valley. Despite finding some lone stalks of Aviv barley, we did not find any fields that had significant amounts of Aviv barley. In one sampling of the most advanced barley at Ein Mabua in the Judean Desert we found 10% of the stalks were Aviv, not nearly enough to harvest with a sickle as per Deut.16:9.”

Thursday, March 10th: “After scouring the Land of Israel for Aviv Barley, the Aviv Search Team has concluded beyond any doubt that the time of the Aviv has not yet arrived. We found individual stalks of Aviv barley in the Judean Desert and northern Negev. However, we did not find any fields with substantial quantities of Aviv Barley. 

The answer is clear. The new moon sighted on March 10, 2016 is the beginning of the 13th Hebrew Month. The First Hebrew Month, Chodesh Ha-Aviv, will begin on April 8, 2016 (barring clouds). The festival of Passover (Chag HaMatzot) will begin April 22 at sunset and Shavuot will fall out on Sunday June 12, 2016.

We sighted the new moon of the 13th Hebrew Month on March 10, 2016 from Jerusalem. The new moon was first sighted by Keith Johnson followed shortly thereafter by Nehemia Gordon, Yoel Halevi, Devorah Gordon, and Gil Ashendorf. Photos of the new moon are on Facebook” 

Then there is is the Abib of God group:

Brian and Linda Convery’s ‘aviv’ reports, with pictures, for March 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th are all on their Abib of God website.

And then we have God's most highly favored Pharisee, James Malm, weighing in on the correct date.  As usual, only he is correct.

NEW YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT:   Brian inspected the crops in the south yesterday even going as far south as Sderot in the Gaza belt.  No barley was found anywhere near the required  maturing stage anywhere.  Not even the fig trees were leafing out yet.  He will inspect in the  north of the country tomorrow.  

Nevertheless it is clear that absolutely no advanced growth barley exists in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem and the temple; which is required for the first month of the new year to be declared.  

If the New Moon is seen as expected after sunset Thursday night, it will make March 11 the first day of the 13th Biblical month.  As expected the New Year and Passover will be in April. 

All of this needless speculation brings to mind this scripture: Isaiah 1:13

New International VersionStop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
New Living TranslationStop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting--they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
English Standard VersionBring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
New American Standard Bible "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
King James BibleBring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Holman Christian Standard BibleStop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies-- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 
International Standard VersionStop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly.
NET BibleDo not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! 
GOD'S WORD® TranslationDon't bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me, so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I can't stand your evil assemblies.
JPS Tanakh 1917Bring no more vain oblations; It is an offering of abomination unto Me; New moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly. 

Then there is Isaiah 1:14:

I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.…

It always amazes me how so many in the Church of God seek to have burdens laid upon themselves.  Because Armstrong weighed down the membership with countless rules, needless demands and foolish burdens, people assume they still need to do so.

With Jesus always out of the picture, its no wonder they ignore this:

Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sources:  7thDay Sabbath News and Shining Light (James Malm)