The LCS Factor

[Hope]

BlessD,

I am so sorry for that sad episode. But I have absolutely no recollection of it. I am not doubting your word but I have no rememberance of it and it sounds very very odd to me. May I assume you were from Houston, where Jane was from? I never, never got involved in Houston affairs if there was any way possible. I do not think I was ever there after 1976. The less contact I had with Ray Graver the better.

If you were from OK City, after James Barber moved there, he made it clear to all the elders that I was not welcomed. I had previously labored there quite a bit but when he moved he declared he was drawing a line at the Red River and that he was going to stop Don Rutledge. What a joke!! Well anyway, if you were from OK City there is no way I would have been in any meeting regarding a saint from that church.

Sorry again for your suffering and I am happy that you are fine today. May the Lord continue to keep you and bless you.

In Christ Jesus,

Don Rutledge

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Hope

it sounds very very odd to me. May I assume you were from Houston, where Jane was from? I never, never got involved in Houston affairs if there was any way possible.

OK wait.

This sounds very very odd to me.

Hope?

Are you saying that there was a practice of handling Houston issues in Dallas?

I would understand if you would try to avoid it but what in the world were all these men from multiple jurisdictions doing gathered thick as thieves in the first place? Or rather, what did they even think they were doing?

[djohnson(XLCmember)]

YP obviously a girl kissing a boy is an extra parental and extra local matter! It's a major crisis man. C'mon. Here...have another drink of Lee to get your head cleared up.

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by djohnson

YP obviously a girl kissing a boy is an extra parental and extra local matter! It's a major crisis man. C'mon. Here...have another drink of Lee to get your head cleared up.

I've said before that my small outpost experience was much different but this just doesn't even make sense, does it?

Is this really the case?

These guys got together in big regional groups like this and addressed things of this sort?

That's beyond the realm of bad practices.

That's just nuttier than a box of Cracker Jacks!

I must have misunderstood what Hope meant.

[Hope]

Originally Posted by YP0534

I've said before that my small outpost experience was much different but this just doesn't even make sense, does it?

Is this really the case?

These guys got together in big regional groups like this and addressed things of this sort?

That's beyond the realm of bad practices.

That's just nuttier than a box of Cracker Jacks!

I must have misunderstood what Hope meant.

As I said, this made no sense to me either. I would have been pretty hot if I had been called aside to be in such a gathering. I had almost no relationship with anyone from Houston. Elders from several churches to address kissing?

I am curious if anyone knows, what was the date. I think I can ask since I have been placed, perhaps but not for sure, there.

Don Rutledge

[Hope]

Originally Posted by YP0534

OK wait.

This sounds very very odd to me.

Hope?

Are you saying that there was a practice of handling Houston issues in Dallas?

I would understand if you would try to avoid it but what in the world were all these men from multiple jurisdictions doing gathered thick as thieves in the first place? Or rather, what did they even think they were doing?

There were three things going. There was the church in Dallas and the small sister churches such as Arlington and Denton. Then there was the Texas region under bishop Benson Phillips. Then there was the Work, the Ministry under WL.

Because Benson came to live in Dallas and the Dallas church had the largest meeting hall, Texas region affairs would often be addressed there. After Irving, all Texas region affairs were addressed there.

Sometimes local issues would come up in a Texas region meeting. Quite often due to our close friendship, Don Looper and I would compare notes. But I never even participated in a Houston discussion even if it was brought up at a Texas region meeting.

I can only assume the confrontation referred to must have happened during a Texas area conference. Otherwise why would the parents and the young sister have been in Dallas. Conference times were very busy for me as the host church. I am about as certain as I can be that I was not at that meeting. Also it does not sound right. I cannot ever recall the elders of multiple churches being called in to handle a case as described. Two high schooler kissing in a car? Our practice in Dallas would have been something like alert the parents and if they desired some counsel fine. If they wanted to handle it fine.

By the way, I have not heard anything about the boy. Sounds a little like John 12.

In Christ Jesus there is hope for us all,

Hope, Don Rutledge


By the way forum, I was not the PM writer who warned John

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Hope

the Texas region under bishop Benson Phillips

ah.

NOW it makes sense.

Wasn't aware that y'all had an episcopal system over there in the Lone Star state.


But sure. Of course local issues would come up from time to time in the meetings about "region affairs."

Just didn't really understand that there was such a thing as "region affairs."

But there would be if you had consolidated your localities into an archdiocese, wouldn't there?


Huh.


I had no idea.

[Hope]

Originally Posted by YP0534

ah.

NOW it makes sense.

Wasn't aware that y'all had an episcopal system over there in the Lone Star state.


But sure. Of course local issues would come up from time to time in the meetings about "region affairs."

Just didn't really understand that there was such a thing as "region affairs."

But there would be if you had consolidated your localities into an archdiocese, wouldn't there?


Huh.


I had no idea.

It was a tongue in cheek joke I wondered if anyone would pick up on it. Nice going YPO.

Only James Barber referred to Benson as a bishop and he did so with much spite and jealousy. Region affairs would be conferences and related to the relationship with Anaheim. Benson wanted the Texas churches to have a united front when dealing with Anaheim. Really not a bad idea as it gave us much more leverage than other churches.

Local affairs were just that. They were handled by the local elders, deacons and brothers and sisters. I had no interest how Houston cleaned their hall or organized the children's meetings or if they were printing books for the LSM or is sister Smith was at outs with sister Jones. And for sure I had no interest if two high schoolers were caught kissing. I would have never agreed to attend such a confrontation nor approved its occurance. The whole thing is beyond my brain.

Don Rutledge

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Hope

It was a tongue in cheek joke I wondered if anyone would pick up on it. Nice going YPO.

Brother, on this side of the Sabine, we just agree that y'all are a whole other country.

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Hope

Benson wanted the Texas churches to have a united front when dealing with Anaheim. Really not a bad idea as it gave us much more leverage than other churches.

Leverage?

Dealing with Anaheim?

United front?

What manner of operation are you describing?


I just don't understand what any of this has to do with Jesus, for some reason.

[Hope]

Originally Posted by YP0534

Leverage?

Dealing with Anaheim?

United front?

What manner of operation are you describing?


I just don't understand what any of this has to do with Jesus, for some reason.

Nothing to do with Jesus. Everything to do with rank, position, honor etc. The bogus teaching of "Deputy Authority" could never have developed if there was not competition among churches and regions for rank and status in the so called "Work."

Sorry to pop your bubble YPO!

Don Rutledge

[blessD]

Originally Posted by Hope

BlessD,

I am so sorry for that sad episode. But I have absolutely no recollection of it. I am not doubting your word but I have no rememberance of it and it sounds very very odd to me. May I assume you were from Houston, where Jane was from? I never, never got involved in Houston affairs if there was any way possible. I do not think I was ever there after 1976. The less contact I had with Ray Graver the better.

If you were from OK City, after James Barber moved there, he made it clear to all the elders that I was not welcomed. I had previously labored there quite a bit but when he moved he declared he was drawing a line at the Red River and that he was going to stop Don Rutledge. What a joke!! Well anyway, if you were from OK City there is no way I would have been in any meeting regarding a saint from that church.

Sorry again for your suffering and I am happy that you are fine today. May the Lord continue to keep you and bless you.

In Christ Jesus,

Don Rutledge

Dear Hope,
Well, thanks for the apology. Here is the scenario - I was from Houston where I lived in a house with other girls and a family. My parents lived in OKC. This instance occurred at a conference in Dallas at which time someone told me I needed to go next door after one of the meetings. Maybe it seemed like a good idea since we were all gathered in Dallas??? Neither my parents, nor I were aware what it was about - no one bothered telling us before hand. It was a harsh way to deal with anything, at best. It is funny to me that some members in this forum are talking about how they could never see that happening. Is that called denial?

A member also asked about my boyfriend at the time. His father did not attend meetings, was considered negative, and did not get involved in any activities related to the group in Houston. This put him out of jurisdiction for such discipline methods. Good for him - lol ;-).

I made a choice many years ago to move on. I don't like to use old sectarian terms, bring up these experiences, or talk about the people in that time of my life (except for my real friends that I still hold dear to my heart). I am very happy and think I have done much better by leaving it where it belongs... in the past. This is really old stuff. Instead, let's spend our moments and days praising God - our God is a wonderful God! I would much rather talk about Him :-).