Project Care: Celebrating 20 Years of Calling Others Slanderers

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[Linda]

Hadn't checked out the gcc site for a while. You might be interested to know they came up with a paper in September called "Project Care: Twenty Years Later".

Here is the link to the page. Scroll down. There is a link to the download just under the link to the "non-apology" "weakness" paper.

http://www.gccweb.org/about/history/chronology

I honestly don't think these people get how arrogant they sound when they write stuff like, "During [the] 1970's and 1980's, former members brought criticisms of our movement. Even though we believed that most of the criticisms were unfair, exaggerated, or based on false reports, blah, blah, blah."

It's astonishing that they can know things like the transcript of Bill Taylor's excommunication exist and wasn't taken back till this year ( http://www.gcxweb.org/Audio/ExcBillTaylor-12-09-1976.aspx ) and they still say they are a humble bunch and the people criticizing them 1) didn't get the apology memo in 1991, 2) have personal issues and are bitter and unforgiving, or 3) are unfriendly to the Gospel. Which one are you? Choose one because they are doing a bang up job as a movement so they couldn't possibly be teaching anything that is contrary to the Bible and their stated Protestant beliefs.

Sarcasm aside, they fail to understand that the problem is current false teaching. Jim McCotter may have been their guru, but they are doing a fine job of perpetuating his error.

Also, note to leaders, proof that you are not humble is when you go around telling others how humble you are.

[EverAStudent]

Evidence that a person or a group is likely conceited, arrogant, self-centered, and self-deceived is when they lump together all their critics and dismiss them as mistaken and bitter and in need of healing.  sigh.......

Of course an equally vain varient is when someone says, "Yes, I once had a problem in some area but all my critics have blown that way out of proportion and I was never as bad as they all say I was; they only make it sound that bad because they all have ongoing personal issues that they have not dealt with as I have."

In my past I have interacted with some of the truly humble.  Their usual personal self-assessment runs something like this, "I still cannot believe how awful I once was and how many people I have hurt; I am so sorry for having been that way and am thankful that God has allowed me to see it and has forgiven me."  It is always a fight not to slip back into the old ways once we have recognized them in ourselves and begun to address them.

[Linda]

In my past I have interacted with some of the truly humble. Their usual personal self-assessment runs something like this, "I still cannot believe how awful I once was and how many people I have hurt; I am so sorry for having been that way and am thankful that God has allowed me to see it and has forgiven me."

This has been my experience with those in leadership who have left, as well.

True humility never involves telling people you apologized, while clarifying to others that what you did wasn't as bad as it sounds. Also, if you have hurt someone, you don't have the right to tell them to "get over it". You need to make it right as much as you can for the rest of your life.

Also, this "Project Care" concept is ridiculous. We had never heard about the statement of error till 2005! And only then because things started sounding "off" so we Googled. As I've mentioned before, we asked our pastor for a copy of it. He didn't think it was an error/apology statement so much as a "clarification" statement and couldn't seem to come up with a copy for us. He sits on the current board of GCC! He didn't mention anything about "Project Care".

The 1991 Statement and the Project Care statement are perfect examples of words without action.

[exshep]

I remember when the  apology first came out.  It  never did down to the rank and file.    Curiously  I had  a  friend  who  was in the Columbus  church.    The person left  because of the apology.   She  was  upset that it was written in the first place. 

[Linda]

Hi exshep! Nice to hear from you. Hope you are doing well.

Interesting point about how "public" the apology way.

[Linda]

As believers seeking to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ and build churches, it is likely that these criticisms will continue. If they do disappear, it will only be because God, in His grace, has chosen other ways to conform us into the image of His Son. All circumstances are “Father filtered.” I am encouraged by the example of the Apostle Paul, who walked as a servant of God, “by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report” ( 2 Corinthians 6:8 ). As followers of Jesus, we should expect to be misrepresented. But that is a small price to pay considering all that He has done for us.

So, what is it, Mr. Hopler? (rhetorical question, btw) Are you saying you did bad stuff, fixed it, apologized for it, and people posting on this site are "misrepresenting" you? Giving an "evil report"? Criticizing without cause?

Might I point out that when you suggest publicly, without evidence, that those criticizing you are misrepresenting you and/or giving an "evil report" you are doing those very things.

The error being perpetuated by GC has been documented and made clear to you and all GCC pastors in writing on forums like this one and in person to some GC pastors sitting on the national board. Don't call us names, correct your error! If you still are confused as to what your error is, I would go as far as to say, "Read the 1991 Statement, you are still doing all that stuff that you apologized for and said you wouldn't do any more! So, stop already!"

[AgathaL'Orange]

Wow.  That is deceptive.  They say a different thing to two different groups of people.  I think they have chosen their path, and are determined to follow that path.   Hence the "warning" part on our end.  Whoever said they weren't going to change was right.  I was wrong because I still kept thinking they could/would change!    Comparing yourself to the Apostle Paul is misguided/proud/melodramatic to say the least.