STATEMENT OF TRUTH

April 29, 2000

By Cynthia Weatherly, Sarah Leslie, Nancy Flint, and Jewel van der Merwe

It has come to our attention over the past year that there are articles published on the Internet and in other communications regarding two conferences held in 1997.

The information we have received appears to be mistaken, distorted and not truthful. At first, we endeavored to respond in a charitable manner by following Matthew 5, verses 39 and 44: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

However, it has now come to our attention that innocent individuals are being harmed by the perpetuation of this false information. Therefore, after much prayerful consideration, we have determined that it is necessary that the light of truth shine forth, and we have issued this statement to correct the distortions, dispel the rumors, and protect the innocent.

The Lord warns against "a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:19).

We can stand on the promise that "every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him" (Prov. 30:5) and "it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man" (Ps. 118:8).

Early in the year of 1997 documentation had surfaced which indicated that the future transformation of the local church seemed to parallel the planned changes for local schools under education reform. There was the desire to bring together researchers who had not necessarily met each other face-to-face to compare notes, explore the latest research findings, discuss the implications, and pray about how best to share this information.

It was decided that a week-long retreat be held at a bed-and-breakfast near Athens, Georgia, an hour's drive from the Atlanta airport. Participants were invited who were known to the planners personally and who already possessed a substantial background in the issues of concern; researchers who had reputations for standing firm in the Lord against heresies.

Between 25 - 30 were invited, but a smaller number actually attended. During this retreat, held in March of 1997, each researcher presented historical research in his/her own field that pertained to the overall picture of education/religious reform.

The research was presented as preliminary findings. Participants were urged to critique, challenge, question, and give input based upon "in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Prov. 11:14).

At the conclusion of the retreat, there was mutual agreement that the latest research pointed to substantial concerns confronting believers and their families. When discussing the issues it was acknowledged that there were still many unresolved aspects to the initial presentations, for nearly everyone's research was still in its infancy.

It was determined that the best course would be to have a conference with a larger group of researchers and interested people. It was decided to invite those individuals known by reputation to be solid Christians who possessed a basic knowledge of:

1) the New Age movement;
2) education reform; and
3) religious reform issues.

Jewel van der Merwe graciously offered to arrange and coordinate such a conference in Michigan. Lynn and Sarah Leslie of The Christian Conscience agreed to co-sponsor this conference.

At this juncture, errors attributable to our human frailties may have influenced future events. Each individual from the Athens retreat was asked to develop a list of people to invite to the Lansing conference. Not everyone turned in a list and several people offered incomplete lists. There were, therefore, some individuals who were unintentionally left off the invitation list, as well as a few included inadvertently.

It was realized soon after the conference that this error caused some hurt feelings and misunderstandings. We apologize to anyone who was hurt by this failure on our part. One possible misconception this may have created was that the retreat and/or the conference were somehow "secret." That is not true. These two events were closed to the public, however, and were "by invitation only."

Another problem with which we grappled was the grouping of the issues themselves. Our research was beginning to reveal what appeared to be a planned transformation taking place across denomination lines for the ultimate purpose of setting up a "shadow," international church structure.

It was surmised that ALL existing denominations and churches were to be systematically deconstructed, voided of any orthodoxy or tradition that still contained any shred of the Gospel in order to reconstruct a new, inclusive church framework. Therefore, the decision was made to hold a conference that was NOT exclusive denominationally.

The conference in Lansing was well attended. In opening and closing remarks, the attendees were challenged to "examine the Scriptures" (Acts 17:11). They were asked to take the research presented and weigh it against their own research. Further, they were asked to challenge the speakers if there was error, or if he/she seemed off course. Each attendee was exhorted to research, publish, and continue this work.

We realized that there was no way a small handful of researchers could manage the huge flood of information that was pouring in to document the initial findings. A decision was made to videotape the Lansing conference presentations in order to pass along the information to the widest possible audience. The taping was indeed done, at great expense to the individual who volunteered to do this. In a rapid-and peculiar-series of events immediately after the conference, this man was severely harassed by the INS and threatened with immediate expulsion from the United States, resulting in a two-year legal battle which consumed all of his time, money and energy. The videotapes were, unfortunately, never produced. Therefore, every effort was made to get information out by other means.

There were several informal get-togethers after the conference was officially concluded, held by those who were staying overnight before meeting departure schedules. At one of these sessions a man named Anthony Buzzard made some alarming statements about his doctrinal beliefs. This did not come as a complete surprise to some of the researchers who had met him when he dropped off Jewel and her friend at the Athens retreat; several of us had real questions about him.

With regard to this incident, a statement from Jewel van der Merwe regarding her knowledge and association with this man is included to "clear the air" about this situation. Jewel's statement follows:

Anthony Buzzard called our home while my husband [Travers Van Der Merwe] was still alive. His inquiry was regarding Kingdom Now teachings. My husband spoke to him, initially, and then I spoke to him several times on the telephone-always in relation to Kingdom Now matters. He did send me some of his materials, which I do admit I did not read as it was around the time of my husband's death. They got buried in the piles that had accumulated during my husband's prolonged battle with cancer.

Anthony Buzzard still would call occasionally just to order materials. I didn't have the slightest idea about him in any other regard other than someone who called "Discernment" for information. We have many such calls and it is impossible to have a bio on each such person.

On one such call I mentioned that I would be traveling to Atlanta with a friend for a mini-conference. He offered to pick us up and deliver us to wherever we needed to go. He and his wife graciously picked us up at the airport and took us to the meeting place some distance away. Our conversation was not unusual; however, I did learn that he had formerly been with the Worldwide Church of God (H.W. Armstrong). He said that they were no longer with that organization. He and his wife dropped us at our destination, were introduced to those who had already arrived, and left immediately.

He expressed a desire to attend a conference some time. It was for this reason, alone, that he happened to attend the Lansing meeting; as a favor in return for his hospitality in giving us a ride from Atlanta. I honestly had no idea of any of his theology and thought that if he were "off" in any way, the people that were there would be mature enough to recognize it and know how to deal with it. Obviously, that was not entirely the case.

We earnestly beg other ministries to use extreme caution and carefully check all of the facts before they "link" good Christians, including the many wonderful people who attended these two conferences, with men such as Buzzard. We sincerely hope that the misinformation regarding our supposed "association" with this man-that is running amuck on the Internet and elsewhere-will be corrected and that amends will be made in Christian love.

("Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" - Matthew 5:23-24.)

We apologize to fellow Christians everywhere for our failure to correct this false information earlier, before it got out of hand. We ask your forgiveness for our neglect ("Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" - James 5:16a).

Finally, we should share that after the Lansing conference many of us experienced long-lasting and hard trials in our lives-including major health problems, moves, family crises, and other stressful events. We are thankful for God's grace and sufficiency in meeting these challenges. ("Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation,." - 2 Cor. 1:3,4a.) Many of these troubles have been on-going and thwarted us from actively sharing further research on the topics presented at Lansing.

These include the painful loss of good relationships with many fellow researchers over the interpretation of some of these issues and the circulation of untrue rumors concerning falsely perceived associations. This last is particularly painful, knowing that it is so important to support fellow Christians as the world begins to exhibit marked hostility toward God's Word and His Truth.

We have also accepted the hard fact that there may be deep doctrinal and belief differences among the researchers involved. May our experience serve as an example to us all to be more considerate of each other and faithful to God's encouragement to approach each other in love if we question a behavior we do not understand. May we all learn to correct each other in love toward restoration to a right relationship before the Lord.

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col. 3:12-17)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." (2 Cor. 13:14)