The Mike Royal letter (link) from 1985 describes the beginnings an essential sectarianism, divisiveness and authoritarianism still alive and well in Great Commission and still a threat to the spiritual health of some young adults in particular.
One of the fascinating things about GC history is that - although GC leaders claim it has nothing to do with the modern movement - so much of GC's past has influenced what they are today. McCotter's discipleship, dating, leadership and slander beliefs are all still being taught. I still remember the first time I read the 1991 church error statement, being shocked at how similar the "past abuses" described in it applied to my GC experience in the mid 2000's. Here we have even older documents, the Mike Royal letter from 1985, Paul Martin and Larry Pile's letters from 1978, all laying out a case that on many points could be leveled towards modern day GCM/GCC/GCAC.
A quote from the Mike Royal letter I found especially relevant to today's GC was this:
In fact, recent teaching by leaders who work directly under McCotter in Maryland asserts that the Bible is authoritative over only 40% of a person's life (i.e., is black and white on certain issues, like adultery, etc.) but in anything not specifically spelled out in Scriptures, it is the leaders' perogative to interpret, direct and counsel specifically and authoritatively. This concept (in more general terms) has been around in the movement for a long time, and has resulted in much harmful meddling by leaders in the private lives of group members in such areas as: the choice of marriage partners; the purchase of cars, homes, etc.; pursuit or non-pursuit of higher education; location of residence; choice of occupation; use or non-use of birth-control methods; adoption of children: child-raising; and much else. Much damage has been done by the simplistic, uninformed, and plain wrong advice and dictates of inexperienced and arrogant young men, posing as wise counselors, who must be obeyed.
This describes much of my experiences in the movement to a T - and yet this was written
over 20 years ago!