Changes for the Better

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

You may read and post, but some features are restricted to registered members. Please consider registering to gain full access! Registration is free and only takes a few moments to complete.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Have we ever discussed having a thread for improvements that GC has tried to make when confronted with issues?  I do think there have been a few instances of this.

I know that all of the problems are in the DNA, but God can perform miracles!  I have hope that the sincerity of the many good people in the movement can direct change from within.

I'd like for us to be able to focus on a few of the positive changes that the groups has made (if any!!) based on being confronted with their misdeeds.  Anyone?  Are there any?

[Angry]

No improvements that we have seen since our dismissal.  In fact, as we run into people still "inside", it sounds like several areas have become even more circumspect.

Angry

[EverAStudent]

The only "improvement" we have noticed since our departure is that modern apostleship is no longer taught openly. 

[theresearchpersona]

If it is merely going under a different name, however, (I don't know, but is the national leadership just doing the same and going by a different name? or does anybody know of actual repudiation and dismissal of such things?), then that's no improvement, but worse.

If actually repudiated, and the positions and function(s) the "apostles" were originally carrying out in GC have been eliminated, then great.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I think that the move by many GC churches to partner with AWANA is a good thing.  This shows at least a desire to be under the direction (even in a teeny tiny way) of a trusted Christian organization.  The kids receive non-denominational, Protestant teaching including lots of doctrine, scriptural interpretations, definitions, and scripture memory.  I would say this is a positive thing, and one I think the entire movement would benefit from.  If the children were to receive this education, it would help them in the long run to not buy into the faulty GC teachings that are still perpetuated by some.

So, I would say the list of improvements so far would be:

1.  Modern day apostleship is no longer taught (still looking for evidence of repudiation, but that it is no longer taught AT ALL is good!)
2.  Churches are joining with AWANA in teaching the children.  This will give EVERYONE more of a framework of Protestant teaching.

Any others? I would just like to make a good faith effort to say that we aren't saying they can NEVER change, and that no matter what they do it won't be good enough.  There are things that they can do as a movement that will improve everything as a whole.  So if they make REAL changes, I'd like to celebrate that.

[puff of purple smoke]

I think that the move by many GC churches to partner with AWANA is a good thing.  This shows at least a desire to be under the direction (even in a teeny tiny way) of a trusted Christian organization.  The kids receive non-denominational, Protestant teaching including lots of doctrine, scriptural interpretations, definitions, and scripture memory.  I would say this is a positive thing, and one I think the entire movement would benefit from.  If the children were to receive this education, it would help them in the long run to not buy into the faulty GC teachings that are still perpetuated by some.

So, I would say the list of improvements so far would be:

1.  Modern day apostleship is no longer taught (still looking for evidence of repudiation, but that it is no longer taught AT ALL is good!)
2.  Churches are joining with AWANA in teaching the children.  This will give EVERYONE more of a framework of Protestant teaching.

Any others? I would just like to make a good faith effort to say that we aren't saying they can NEVER change, and that no matter what they do it won't be good enough.  There are things that they can do as a movement that will improve everything as a whole.  So if they make REAL changes, I'd like to celebrate that.

Which GC churches are using Awana, and since when? My old one uses a GC-version of a kids program.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I think there are at least two Iowa churches who do... New Life and Walnut Creek?  There may be more, I just noticed this after perusing sights looking for Faithwalkers podcasts!  When are they going to be out???

https://www.newlifecr.com/AWANA.html

http://www.walnutcreekcc.org/index.php/ministries/awana/

http://www.summitview.com/index.cfm/page/cmrevised.cfm#awana

http://www.lscckc.org/wfn.asp

This is as far as I've gotten in finding the GCC churches involved with AWANA.  If I have more time later, I'll check the rest of the list!

[puff of purple smoke]

I think there are at least two Iowa churches who do... New Life and Walnut Creek?  There may be more, I just noticed this after perusing sights looking for Faithwalkers podcasts!  When are they going to be out???

Is the Awana run by GCers? I wonder if it's a "GC-ized" version of Awana.

[AgathaL'Orange]

It is, but there is doctrine that MUST be memorized for kids to be able to complete the books, etc.  The leaders also memorize these things too.  I'm just thinking that at least it is material put out by another organization, you have to sign on to their beliefs, AND you have to run things the way they like.  So, I think that's good for them to be TRYING to become more mainstream.   And if they do that, it's just that much closer to partnering with other churches, sending pastors to seminary, and getting their collective head out of their collect little private GCx corner.   That's a great step in the right direction!  It shows that SOME are willing to submit to outside authority at least on some level!

[boboso]

Very sad to report that the franchise we left seems to be even more heavy handed. Stones on necks all over the place.

Extremely stubborn kids as "leaders" with their beaten down and worn out wives "trying to serve".

[exshep]

Grace Community Church was nominally involved  in GC.  It was mentioned in the New Members class in passing and that was it.

I was one of the more iconoclastic members.  They did not seem to mind.  The senior pastor could not be more transparent.  What you saw was you got.  I was able to bring concerns forward and the feedback was accepted with appreciation.  Being a former cult member, I had my antennae on high alert but never found anything.  If I used Robert Jay Lifton's criteria for pontential cult involvement, Grace would pass muster. 

The seeker format was starting to wear  on me.  I was happy to get into  a bible church with more substance. When I moved back to Ohio,  I locked in on  a  church with a Christian Reform orientation.   

It was two years well spent. 

[AgathaL'Orange]

I'm trying to resurrect the thread of positive changes in the movement.  Has anyone seen anything GOOD lately?

I've noticed some outreach in the community through various methods from our local GCx church beyond just proselytizing.  I don't want to go into specifics, but I really think that there have been several instances lately of working with other organizations and churches. 

I still think though that my local church were "victims" more of the high pressure tactics rather than perpetrators. 

I would feel better if they distanced themselves from the "plant your flag and die for life" stuff though.  That would be the right direction.

I think any time that they try to work together with other churches and organizations, this is GOOD.  It can breathe new life in. 

Any other things like this?  I really DO want them to succeed.  I think getting out of the insular GC way of thinking would be good.  I'm not sure we're going to have seminary any time in the near future, but who knows?