Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: May 26, 2019 06:56AM
Onion Wrote:
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> A friend from Brazil sent me the report from their
> transition team. I don't know (yet) who was on
> the team but this report is encouraging. I wish we
> would get to see reports from the other churches
> because hopefully those reports as well as their
> MOUs would probably be encouraging too.
>
>
> Transition Group Public Letter, May 2019
> Translated from the original Portuguese
>
> We, the members of the transition group for Mount
> Zion wish to share our conclusions and suggestions
> related to the next steps for The Church of the
> Living Word, Niteroi. We would also like to share
> our suggestion of a basic timeline for the first
> year of functioning after the transition period.
>
> Our first conclusion is that we recognize that the
> spiritual structure of apostolic authority over
> the Church of the Living Word, Niteroi ended in
> October 2018 with a letter of resignation from the
> apostolic fathering ministry, Gary Hargrave, in
> which he declared the process of ending the
> centralized structure of the Churches of the
> Living Word (The Living Word Fellowship). The
> accusations of abuse of authority and/or
> molestation practiced by leaders of these churches
> involved scores of members during the recent
> decades. The absence of appropriate measures taken
> against those who practiced abuse led these
> churches to the collapse of their organizational
> structure and a grave crisis of confidence. It
> definitively ended the authority structure of
> these churches by the end of 2018. In March 2019,
> the ordinations of all the pastors established by
> the Living Word in the United States and in Brazil
> were terminated, ending any type of system of
> spiritual authority.
>
> Gary Hargrave recognized the existence of a
> culture that permitted such inappropriate behavior
> by the leaders and the need for detoxifying
> ourselves from an organized religious system and
> hierarchy when he stated “there are deep
> underlying flaws that have existed within the
> fellowship which permitted an environment where
> such things could occur without correction and
> discipline”, making it necessary to “lay the axe
> to the root”. He also stated, “Everything within
> this organization that is related to the
> structures and errors of the past must be washed
> away and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.”
> This culture of abuse and totally hierarchical
> authority created the control of the members.
> Likewise in a veiled manner, it sought to create
> uniformity of thought and blind agreement with the
> “spiritual” leadership of these churches.
>
> We see this type of abuse of authority, unhappily
> and somewhat systematically in various religious
> organizations that move the religious world today.
> This distances people from the simplicity of
> Christ and transforms churches into businesses,
> using mechanisms of control and power over
> people’s lives. In time this model of hierarchical
> government produces leaders with twisted
> personalities who put the focus on themselves
> instead of bringing people to a relationship with
> Christ, the Great and only Shepherd. This
> controlling culture creates an environment of
> immaturity within the brethren, and has been
> pointed out as a great concern by many Christian
> researchers. The transition group demonstrated
> their repentance related to the promotion of this
> structure and this way of carrying out the
> shepherding of The Church of the Living Word,
> Niteroi in an open letter to the congregation
> dated 8/12/2018, and recommended the necessity of
> detoxifying [cleansing] from this culture and the
> ways of thinking related to it. In light of this,
> the end of any type of personal shepherding or
> direction in The Church of the Living Word,
> Niteroi was declared at that moment. Also, the
> total dissatisfaction with this type of
> shepherding was recently noted in the majority of
> the congregants. For this reason, it is important
> that we counsel and direct against permitting any
> type of centralized restructuring of spiritual
> authority over people of this congregation’s lives
> in the coming years. The practice of creating
> relationships known as “Spiritual Father-Son
> Relationship”, “Elijah/Elisha”, “Designated
> Relationships” or any other names which were used
> to describe this type of relationship during the
> last decades in these churches has been ended. Our
> relationship of submission one to another should
> be based in our relationship as brothers in
> Christ, and by submitting voluntarily to His
> Lordship in one another. In this environment, each
> individual will choose their level of submission
> and dedication based on their individual walk with
> God, freely and without judgment.
>
> We would also like to share some principles that
> we consider to be healthy for the next steps in
> the Mount Zion community as an organization:
>
> 1. We believe in the Biblical principle of
> confirmation in the public assembly of all members
> as was carried out by the Early Church in Acts 15.
> This is the essential foundation of any community
> or Christian Church looking for the leading of the
> Holy Spirit. We recommend that the next directors
> continue to apply this principle, being in
> submission to the many prophets in Mount Zion, and
> submitting their important decisions in the
> assembly.
>
> We know that this model isn’t a completely
> democratic process of voting on decisions. We
> should still seek out more confirmation for
> implementing this. However, this system operates
> according to the Biblical principle of “in the
> multitude of counselors there is wisdom”.
> (Proverbs 11:14) By this, with the involvement of
> the whole congregation in prayer, we believe that
> we will together find the voice and guidance of
> the Holy Spirit for the important organizational
> decisions that we will make. We also suggest that
> the directors practice submission to one another
> and be in submission to established advisors, so
> as to prevent independent action that is not
> confirmed from being carried out in everyday
> decision-making.
>
> 2. We suggest seeking absolute transparency in the
> actions of the next directors and/or advisors of
> this organization. The beginning of transparency
> should be placed above the preservation and
> defense of the leader’s or institution’s image. It
> is imperative to avoid the creation of hidden
> agendas, behind the scenes conversations and/or
> the manipulation of information. In addition, we
> believe that transparency and inclusiveness as
> well as implementing the practice of accepting
> suggestions will lead to clarity of the
> information that any director or advisor gives to
> the community members regarding decisions of the
> board.
>
> 3. The main focus of this organization should be
> its members (the community) and not the pastor, or
> a group of pastors or leaders. If there are
> administrators or organizers within this
> institution, they should be only faithful stewards
> (deacons according to the Biblical pattern) to
> manage and care that which the Lord would give us
> and to lead in specific areas. (Matthew 20:26)
> This should be done without obligation and with
> respect of the free will of families and
> individuals. “Position” should not exist, but
> instead, action. The authority for operating in
> certain areas should be recognized and not
> imposed.
>
> 4. We suggest the creation of mechanisms for
> controlling the abuse of natural or spiritual
> power or authority. This could take the form of an
> independent system for receiving accusations and
> confirming actions. Processes for assessments
> could also be implemented as well as the
> application of good principles of governance. It
> is also important that we seek an atmosphere of
> honest relationships with the absence of human
> control over one another, so that the people will
> be whole.
>
> 5. Because of the strong hierarchical structure in
> which this community has lived, we suggest that
> the organization operate without an official
> structure of ministries for the foreseeable
> future. Because of the process of decontamination
> we are experiencing, we suggest that even the
> structure of collegial authority (which is
> preferred by researchers) not be established
> during these beginning stages until the Lord shows
> us the next steps more clearly. That being said,
> it also remains clear (according to researchers)
> that we should not have paid pastors or directors
> or even a principle pastor in the church which
> will definitely simplify our administrative and
> organizational processes. This will avoid the
> abuse of authority or looking for a position,
> since recognition sows division and strife among
> the brethren which is contrary to the teachings of
> Christ.
>
> 6. We also suggest that we seek an atmosphere of
> free will in our collective functioning. The
> voluntary services and actions carried out by
> members of the community should be considered as
> an act of worship to the Lord. The central focus
> of this community is the fact that each one have a
> personal relationship with God through their
> faith in Christ and not though the imposition of a
> framework of religious organization. In the same
> way, this organization will not be obliged to
> assume the burden of promoting or supervising any
> programs (for children, young people, parties,
> etc.) in a centralized format, but will seek to
> support the collective activities of the
> community.
>
> 7. Another factor that seems to be of general
> consensus is the central focus of the
> relationships amongst the brethren; taking care
> that they should be more important than the
> carrying out of a given institution’s projects.
> There are basic and biblical morals for
> relationships; however these should not be based
> on the customs of the current religious world.
> Since the family is essential to providing the
> next generation's relationship with God, we
> suggest that the families should be empowered and
> encouraged in the raising of their own children.
>
> 8. With regard to natural and legal items, we know
> that we should continue to do everything according
> to the law, with the goal of protecting our
> birthright; the land that we own. This will insure
> that they will be utilized for the good of this
> community to which we contributed for decades for
> the purpose of creating a framework for fellowship
> and relationship in the will of God. This
> organization’s financial support is used to look
> after the common property, and in turn gives each
> one freedom in their personal finances to express
> their faith and dedication to God. This freedom
> includes contributing their tithes and offerings,
> as well as developing other sources of income
> through the ingenuity and collaboration of the
> brethren. As administrators, we should commit
> ourselves to be faithful stewards to invest the
> money given at the altar of the Lord on behalf of
> the common good of the members of Mount Zion. Also
> in regard to legal aspects, we suggest that even
> the term “church” be discussed and revisited by
> the congregation during the next year so that the
> mission and bylaws of this community can be
> adjusted. It appears that the legal definition of
> a “Christian association” could be studied as one
> of the possibilities for better legal compliance
> to the concept of a Christian community with a
> common goal.
>
> From now through the next year, we suggest that
> church activities be simplified to a basic format
> agreed upon by the brethren. From the suggestions
> which have been received, we will post the
> suggestions that seem to have the most agreement
> below:
>
> • On Sundays we could continue having simple
> services with worship and communion, and possibly
> eventually add plain and simple Biblical
> teachings.
> • We understand that this next year will still be
> a time of healing for each individual and family.
> • For this reason, we recommend avoiding
> exhortations and theological preaching with
> doctrinal biases in our services.
> • Preparation for times of worship or teaching
> (biblical studies) will be implemented in
> submission one to another, carried out with the
> formation of groups or specific commissions to
> supervise these activities.
> • On Saturdays we propose a more flexible, free
> schedule, to support the groups working on
> projects and to devote ourselves to relating to
> one another.
> • For more important decisions, we suggest that
> the first board maintain public meetings scheduled
> every 30 to 60 days, where we may share and
> include the whole congregation in the important
> decisions and accountability.
>
> We would also like to give everyone the latest
> clarifications regarding Silas and Shuma Esteves’
> ministry as pastors of The Church of the Living
> Word, Niteroi. We would like to make clear that
> their contract for pastoral services in the church
> has completely ended. The remaining promised
> payments to Silas for his sabbatical period have
> been made, a period during which it was agreed
> that they would be completely removed from the
> ministerial activities of the church.
>
> One of the two reasons for this removal was the
> necessity of caring for his [Silas’] health. He
> has now completely recovered from his illness.
> However, the sabbatical period also coincided with
> the events surrounding the closing down of the
> churches of the Living Word, (The Living Word
> Fellowship, TLWF). Due to the complaints raised
> in the suggestion box and the evaluations carried
> out in The Church of the Living Word, Niteroi,
> they [Silas and Shuma] would no longer be in
> authority or acting as ministries in this church,
> or exercising influence over this transition
> period. The objective of this sabbatical period
> was to open the door that other brethren in the
> local body would carry out a change in direction
> toward a different form of governance, breaking
> the strong hierarchical leadership framework in
> Mount Zion.
>
> For all these reasons and for the clarity which
> this transition period brought us regarding the
> next steps, we, the transition group (including
> the current board) would like to announce the
> final disconnection of Silas and Shuma Esteves in
> regards to ministry and/or a position of
> leadership in the Church of the Living Word,
> Niteroi. There is no expectation of return or
> ministerial functioning or leadership after the
> close of the sabbatical period. They have acted as
> apostolic ministries of TLWF and principle leaders
> of the Church of the Living Word, Niteroi in
> recent decades, and as leaders and promoters of
> this hierarchical system of governance which has
> been terminated. For these reasons, our suggestion
> is that during the next few years, they not be
> involved or attempt to influence the next steps
> and decisions of Mount Zion. This will avoid the
> creation of division and contention among the
> brethren because of their influence as ex-leaders
> along with members of this community.
>
> We would like to close with this statement about
> the level of waste [wearing out] which took place
> during this period which was not healthy for our
> relationships. This final disconnecting of Silas
> and Shuma from any position or leadership is
> necessary so that everyone may have the liberty to
> seek the Lord and make their choices freely, not
> based on emotional bonds or the wounds of the
> past. This will also help us to preserve our
> relationship with them as brothers in Christ. Just
> as all other members of the Mount Zion community,
> they are welcome to participate in the collective
> relationships and activities as members of this
> community. We are not suggesting the substitution
> of certain ministries for others. The suggestion
> is that the natural and spiritual covering of our
> communal activities should be simplified and only
> happen through our collective counsel, until we
> have clarity for the next steps in which the Lord
> will lead us.
>
> In closing, we realize from the last months of
> conversations, meetings and research that the
> majority of congregants of Mount Zion wish to
> return to the simplicity of a walk with God, to
> relate to one another, to live by Biblical
> principles and have worship as the center of our
> lives. This seems to be the confirmed leading by
> the Holy Spirit in our midst.
>
> We feel that with the ending of this transition
> period, and owing to the agenda which we are
> proposing, we should also end discussions about
> past leaders, past practices and formats which
> have been used in the services, and theological
> discussions which are no longer helpful. We feel
> that this is the time to put aside our differences
> and arguments, with the goal of moving forward
> together, however basic and simple this time may
> be. We believe that Jesus Christ will show us the
> next steps in His time.
>
> Finally, we suggest that the next board members
> remain in a state of reflection. This will enable
> them to continue to leave behind old paradigms
> which were associated with the hierarchical
> religious system in which we have lived. Let us
> return to the simplicity of the Biblical teachings
> and all that it means to be a community of
> Christians. Let this time period that we start
> today begin something new that is born out of
> God’s heart. Let it not be a process of
> reconstruction of another man-made religious
> framework. We pray that the simplicity of this
> timeline during the next year will lead us into a
> new covenant, when “all shall know Him” (Jeremiah
> 31:31-34) without obligation, without human
> pressure, without religious structure. Let us have
> an atmosphere of peace and joy in which we live
> together with those who want to worship God and
> grow in His knowledge.
>
> Mount Zion Transition Group
Thanks Onion for sharing. M-m-m? Interesting how the word Christian is interjected since tlw strayed so far.
After I left the walk I was not afraid to go visit other churches for safe Christian fellowship. As a child in knew the Bible, so, when I decided to join a neighborhood mainstream church I had to take classes on beliefs of that particular Christian denomination.
I always behooved me to understand why the influx of Shiloh residents or kingdom business employees - well, just showed up- but there were expectations of an introduction to what we as Christian believed? Or am I wrong?
So with this transition plan for that Mount Zion community will there be any expectations that clearly define that standards of believes as mainstream denominations expect for membership? ( I don't expect you to have the answer. But, the thing is, the rules of church/ cult were always changing like "god" couldn't make up 'her' mind.)
I guess the plan sounds good, but, will they have background checks and references for church leaders? ( I feel a twinge of guilt for asking since I'm not involved there...oops- my fleeting guilt feeling is gone.) Words on paper mean squat.