LCG: Are the Decisions of God's "Elite" Church Leaders Above Common Wisdom?

From a reader:

Other organizations with three letter abbreviations are canceling their schedule, NBA, NHL, MLB , but apparently LCG is above doing that. This smacks a little bit of arrogance, or a kinda we are above the mass rabble, and the rules of the masses dont apply to us. Sort of like the way the ministry has always viewed things since their Gods chosen elite at Gods own West Point , Ambassador College days.

Note to Gerald Weston and LCG:  

The hotel chain with which LCG is holding its conference is now offering full refunds to anyone who cancels a reservation up to 24 hours before scheduled arrival. There is now no financial penalty to travelers if LCG cancels the conference in order to show its compliance with Romans 13. Please act quickly, Mr. Weston!

Living Church of God Continues On With Ministerial Conference While Other Churches Cancel Their Conferences

Gerald Weston and those all-wise boys in Charlotte are still refusing to cancel their ministerial conference that was/is expected to draw in 300 ministers. The potential for exposure to the virus is high for those flying in on planes from certain areas of the U.S. and the world.

Greetings from Charlotte,

Mr. Richard Ames recorded a Tomorrow’s World telecast this week titled “Just What Is ‘The Day of the Lord?’” We are making preparations for Council of Elders meetings this coming Thursday and Friday, and for the General Ministerial Conference the following week. This is the first conference of this size in six years. COVID-19 caused us to consider whether to cancel the conference, but after serious discussion and prayer, and looking at who is coming and from where, we decided to go ahead with it. There are certainly risks with something like this, but if the virus has spread much further than is being reported, which is almost a certainty, the actual mortality rate may be significantly lower. We have taken what we call a “layered approach,” involving decisions to be made at different levels of risk. For example, we have encouraged any of our ministers with underlying health issues to consider carefully whether to come. Also, if necessary, we will ask those people from a high risk part of the world not to come. Few if any currently fit into the latter category. Please do pray for the safety and health of everyone traveling to and from the conference.—Gerald Weston 

Ministerial Conference, March 16–18

As was mentioned in an e-mail this past week to all the ministers who have registered to attend the conference, after careful consultation, Mr. Weston has made the decision to continue with plans for the upcoming Ministerial Conference, but with caution. We are expecting over 300 attendees to the Ministerial Conference March 16–18. However, the international situation with the COVID-19 virus is very fluid, and we will be prepared to adjust plans as needed, with special concern for international travelers. We urge our ministry to be aware of the COVID-19 virus situation, and how it might impact their travels, particularly if they are coming from outside the United States. As mentioned in the e-mail, no one should travel to the U.S. if they are feeling ill or have been around people who are ill. All of us, especially the elderly, need to consider carefully whether or not to travel at this time. The Church has long practiced the biblical statute regarding quarantine (Leviticus 13:46 and others), and members should be especially alert and careful in these times (Proverbs 22:3). CAD is not requiring anyone to travel in these times if they would rather not. CAD will make arrangements regarding costs associated with cancelled flights, etc., on an individual basis. Concerning ministry from the U.S. and Canada, the quarantine statute should be carefully observed. If possible, drive instead of using air travel, and CAD will discuss the financial aspects with individual situations. In any case, you should not come if you are uncomfortable with travelling in the current conditions. 

Today, the Mormon church wisely canceled its annual conference in Salt Lake City and will do it as a telecast to its faithful. After consulting with health and government officials they decided to "be good global citizens" and do what they could to help control the spread of the virus.

Can you imagine LCG consulting with health officials?  Can you imagine LCG leadership telling its members to be "good global citizens?" They know more than the health officials in everything and besides, they claim to have a powerful god on their side that will prevent any minister or member from getting the disease.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that it will hold a major conference in April that features speeches by top leaders without any attendees because of the spread of the coronavirus.

It marks the first time in more than 60 years since the Utah-based faith has taken this extraordinary step of barring church members from attending in person.

The twice-yearly conference usually brings about 100,000 to Salt Lake City over two days, but instead the speeches will only be broadcast via television and the internet.

The only people allowed inside the church conference center on April 4-5 will be top leaders, their spouses, musicians, choir members and technicians, the faith widely known as the Mormon church said in a news release.

The decision was made after consulting with government and medical leaders, the church said. Church members are also being discouraged from gathering at local churches or buildings to watch the conference together in areas where the virus is a concern.

“We want to be good global citizens and do what we can to control this contagious illness,” the church said.  Mormons to hold major conference without attendees

If this virus continues to spread all of the COG's that hold Feast sites around the world are going to have major problems on their hands if they do not proactively act. Most of them are too self-centered and self-righteous to do so.  If they do, they know their money stream will have serious issues.

Restored Church of God On How Your Admittance To The Kingdom Is Dependent Upon Your Giving

This is a screenshot of an article in the Restored Church of God's member magazine The Pillar. It is an article written by Kenneth Orell on how superfantabulous the demands by Dave Pack upon church members to give is.

With Dave Pack's recent demand that the UK members set aside £1 each day and turn it in to their local RCG minister, this article is a deliberate justification of that demand. The demand for the UK members will most likely soon be made upon other church members, regardless of country.

Orell believes there is not enough emphasis on money in the church. He also says below that in order to be born into the Kingdom of God church members should not be wasting money on frivolous things. Hoarding money for a family's own use is also frowned upon.

He then stresses that God will raise up stones to take care of the church if the members do not. They, therefore, should be grateful for this experience of having their wallets drained.

Most important of all, members MUST keep the funds rolling in and must participate in fundraising activities for the church. After all, Dave and his little band of henchmen need their livelihoods sustained. God forbid if any of them ever did any manual labor.

The entire idea that one's salvation is dependent upon how much money they give Dave is appaling. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus ever make that demand. Salvation is not dependent upon zealotry, sabbath keeping, clean meat-eating, holy day keeping, or giving. Never has been and never will be.