Like a lot of other churches, the LW has had plenty of pastors & elders abusing their authority over a person for sex. It has happened both male-elder to female-sheep and male-elder to male-sheep. Lives were really messed up by this. People were hurt deeply. LR, I won’t mention names, out of respect for the victims. But these things did indeed happen. And JRS and G&M worked hard to keep it secret. They didn’t want to blemish the reputation of the LW leadership.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2018 12:03AM by puddington.

puddington Wrote:
"JRS and G&M worked hard to keep it secret. They didn’t want to
blemish the reputation of the LW leadership."

Yes--the reputation of LW leadership trumps everything else.
Once you realize that uncomfortable truth, it becomes much easier to leave the place.

Thanks puddington. While I don't know who the woman and her son are, I do believe what most of you have suggested that at the time she was a victim. She probably was quite young at the time and JRS was probably 20-35 years older than her. However, today she would be in her 60's or 70's. A few years ago during a conversation with Apostle Dog, I referred him to a conversation on FactNet in which a male member from South Gate posted that he asked JRS about having affairs to which JRS responded that he was impotent. I think at the time of that conversation with Apostle Dog I believed it. I'm not so sure now given JRS's track record of lying to members. Also, I learned that the woman and her son are no longer members of TLWF. Going public can be a way for some victims to reclaim what they believe they lost. I think we are seeing that today in the ME TOO movement. However, during that time when the woman gave birth, I wasn't suggesting that JRS tell the congregation her name. I was suggesting that JRS should have confessed his abuse of power and then resigned. That said, I would not judge or cast anyone in a negative light who would come forward today with the name of the woman so as to provide evidence. After all these years she has obviously moved on and reclaimed her life.

lily rose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Going public can be a way for some victims
> to reclaim what they believe they lost. I think we
> are seeing that today in the ME TOO movement.
> However, during that time when the woman gave
> birth, I wasn't suggesting that JRS tell the
> congregation her name. I was suggesting that JRS
> should have confessed his abuse of power and then
> resigned.

I know you weren't suggesting that the identity of the woman and love child should have been revealed back then. Just ignore him. I found value in your last two posts. Thank you for sharing.

12/13/2011 this was posted

Strand Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No I haven't found the ones on Factnet, because
> those links just point to the main page. If you
> have a better link that would be great. In any
> case it is true that Michael Buckingham is JRS's
> son. I won't tell you how I know, but lets just
> say Ive seen the legal documents to prove it.
> Just an interesting story in the entire scheme of
> things. One of these days I will write a book
> about it.

This was posted 1/8/2012

larry bobo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Strand,
> You mentioned considering writing a book in a
> recent post about JRS having a son out of wedlock,
> and seeing legal documents to prove it. I would
> hope your goal would be to bring freedom to those
> in TLWF. You might start with this web site to
> see if your information seems credible to those
> who would be helpful to you, prior to releasing it
> to those who would try to discredit you. I've
> heard the same rumors for many years, from many
> sources, and still am not convinced it is true.
> If it really is true, it may break some illusions.
> If it is not true, it will only further entrench
> the belief that anything spoken against TLWF must
> be from Satan.
>
>

lily rose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This conversation is needed. I don't think it's
> Pharisaical to go public with scandals. Spiritual
> and sexual abuse can occur anywhere there is a
> hierarchy of power that can be exploited. IMO
> openness about this scandal helps to dispel the
> final unchecked adoration, idolization and worship
> of JRS as the all knowing man of God and Apostle
> to the Kingdom who allowed sexual abuse to take
> place and then cover it up. That may be one reason
> why GoingRogue found it disgusting. If JRS truly
> was a man of God, he would have openly confessed
> to the members and resigned. Of course the
> apologist will say he wasn't perfect and should be
> forgiven. That's true. But he covered it up and
> continued his phony charade of being the door
> opener to the Kingdom that harmed so many and all
> the while fed off of the adoration of the members
> who served him with all of their hearts. I hope
> this conversation is just the beginning of people
> coming forward with what they know.

Yes, we naively followed this man and adored him. That's why it still hurts so much to find out that we were following a con man who covered up his own gross sin and abuse of power. It's very sad.

Ignore me? That seems harsh. I like to think we're all on the same side here. I meant no disrespect, @lily Rose, and I apologize if I was condescending. I didn't mean to accuse you of trying to out the boy and his mother I simply felt it was prudent to express the argument for their privacy as a general disclaimer based on where the conversation seemed to be going.

I like Puddington's approach of keeping that in PMs. They were not leadership and therefore not involved in the corruption, unless we have concrete proof that goes beyond word of mouth and they are willing to share it I think exploiting their names could be divisive, and certainly something that many would use against us to paint us all as "vindictive blowouts making up unfair lies and slander, etc."

We are definately on the same side here. I think those old posts quoted above are accurate. The names are out there. There are other victims that were hurt much more deeply that I’d rather not name in public. I’d rather not be someone who increases their pain. Perhaps those victims (when they are ready) would join this conversation and give their testimony. I’m pretty sure some of them are reading this forum.

Any of you remember Jim Stewart. I know you do. He married Susan Boyd in the 70's. He was one of John's darlings. He can't be trusted. I was slandered by him. John thought it was funny. Jim is no longer in fellowship. In Christian terms he would be considered to be a reprobate.