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June 04, 2025, 07:52:33 pm *
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Author Topic: GCM changing its name to Reliant.  (Read 9089 times)
h2oOrlandoWarning
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« on: April 01, 2015, 10:45:00 am »

GCM is changing its name:

http://reliant.gcmweb.org/

There is also a link on  the main website here: http://www.gcmweb.org.

This needs to be added to the wikipedia article soon....

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Janet Easson Martin
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« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2015, 07:04:07 pm »

H2oOrlandoWarning,

Thank you sooo much for letting us know about RELIANT (Mission), yet another organization name change for GCx, the group founded and strongly influenced by Jim McCotter (also known as James D. McCotter or James McCotter).

I would reasonably imagine that this is being done because of the effective warning and impact this site has had through it's testimonies of so many former members. As one of several former leaders posting here, put it:  'All is not well in Oz' (top leadership of GCx).

I believe they are quite fearful for their reputation because of the truth being revealed about their current and past practices and their real history. The "new look" seems to be a last ditch effort at rescuing their idol. Here is a scripture I believe God gave me some time ago about how they deal with their problem:


"The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble.

They approach and come forward; each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!"

The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil.

He says of the welding, "It is good."  He nails down the idol so it will not topple. ."

Isaiah 41:5-7



« Last Edit: April 02, 2015, 11:28:26 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
araignee19
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« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2015, 09:02:19 pm »

From the website:

"Are you still related to Great Commission movement of churches?
'Yes, we remain friends with many of the groups we share a history with, though we are not governed by them or vice versa. The Great Commission name has a shared history that has grown into a number of independently operated ministries. GCM, now becoming Reliant, was one of those independently governed groups. We believe our new name, Reliant, gives us a new opportunity to explain our role as a non-denominational mission organization serving liked-minded evangelical networks in the wider body of Christ. We do retain affiliation with the Collegiate Church Network—another group with shared origins in the Great Commission name—as an "integrated auxiliary" This is a non-profit designation that allows us certain protections under the law which are necessary for our religious mission and purpose (for instance, using Christian doctrinal beliefs in our missionary hiring criteria). We have further detail on our main website."


Maybe they are not trying to hide their association with GC churches. Maybe they really do want to change.
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Linda
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« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2015, 06:51:59 am »

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
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h2oOrlandoWarning
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« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2015, 02:02:27 pm »

@araignee19

Quote
Maybe they are not trying to hide their association with GC churches. Maybe they really do want to change.

I can believe this. And I also agree its time for a name change for a number of reasons...So, even if they are NOT trying to hide and this is a "sincere" name change. Ok, so what?

I think its important for people to understand that though the name might be changing the beliefs and practices may not be. The bigger issue is who they are in their polity and practice. Has that changed? One of the churches in the Collegiate Church Network (of which Reliant is a direct affiliate with) had many of the same issues listed in the Apology Letter up until at least 2005. I left around then, so I don't know 100% if it is continuing. Probably why the Apology Letter was awkwardly passed around at at least one small group as late as 2004/2005. That is the bigger concern and its why we need to make sure every name is recorded and updated so people are not confused.

And on another note (which may or may not be relevant to this thread), I argue that this separation from the administrative portion of the ministry and the actual ministry is misleading, arbitrary and odd. The reality is that Reliant/GCM is just the administrative team WITHIN the Collegiate Church Network/GCM and I'm guessing it makes up 97% of their work.

Perhaps a fair analogy would be to that of a large church. Large churches (i.e. 5000 plus) have administrative teams (i.e. people who do books, take care of the facilities, handle events, etc. etc.), but you wouldn't call their admin teams a different name TO IMPLY its actual an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT organization NOT actually a direct part of the church, that just sorts of floats around helping Christians too and fro. That would be weird. I'm NOT saying its always this way with every organization (sometimes this kind of distinction can make sense), but with GCM I argue it is.

In the least it has the potential to be confusing and muddles things. Which will only make it more difficult to pinpoint where an issue comes from. Even if the motives are sincere, it will naturally create distance between the organization and its past. Which is fine -- for lack of a better way to put it -- AS LONG as that past has been dealt with well and, in that, the issues are not repeating themselves.

I guess I don't fully understand why they need to create a different name for the admin side of the ministry. Why not just stick with Collegiate Church Network and just refer to it as the admin side of the organization like other organizations do? I only think you need to do that if Reliant has ALREADY become that kind of organization where it serves 10% GCM, 20% Campus Crusade, 45% other ministries, etc. etc. Hmmmm, maybe I'm wrong on this but I'm having difficulty seeing it. Does, for example, Campus Crusade for Christ have a name for its ministry and a different name for the administrative side of the ministry?

Again, I say, even if the motives are sincere, it will naturally/organically create distance between the organization and its past...and makes it difficult for people to fully understand what they might be sending their children too.

Ok I'm rambling here =)

 

« Last Edit: April 02, 2015, 02:08:33 pm by h2oOrlandoWarning » Logged
BTDT
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« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2015, 04:35:33 pm »

I'm actually pretty happy with the name change - it could be a sign that they are finally starting to cut those final olde-tyme GC cords. Time will tell, and I'm content to wait and watch.

I'm not a law or accounting expert at all -- I'm pretty much clueless in that arena -- but others have told me that there are some rather strange and restrictive rules about religion-based non-profits. So I don't necessarily see their CCN association as ominous.

I'll reserve judgment until they have had sufficient time to show whether this is a real change / full departure from the past, or a bucket of whitewash. I hope and pray for the former. I love it when people change for the better, and I suspect God does, too.

-Ed-
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