I will review recent events and blog posts briefly.
The word I'm getting from people who are in touch with me--and from Dr. Richardson's own video--is that ERC mountaintoppers presented a new Strategic Plan plan to the Conference at its 2017 sessions in spite of the fact that it had presented a new Strategic Plan to the Conference in 2015, and with great fanfare!
As part of the explanation, I'm told, very reliably by sources on the scene, that the people who sold the new Strategic Plan to the assembled masses repeatedly admitted that previous Strategic Plans were merely words on paper, or words on a page.
Even beforehand, I'd have said the same thing, that anything ERC mountaintoppers say they will do is merely words, because on the CGGC mountaintop talk is walk.
Still, since 2015, I was watching for signs that ERC mountaintoppers would do what they said they would do, BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO INFURIATED ME BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO WAS THEOLOGICALLY BANKRUPT!
But, as they've now confessed, they didn't do any of it.
AND, THEY'VE ALSO CONFESSED, if I understand my sources correctly, THAT THEY NEVER INTENDED TO DO IT.
From the beginning, they were simply putting words on paper.
They were promising that they would put plans into action, but the only action they intended was putting words on a page.
And, and there's no more direct way of saying it: When they did that, they were lying to the Conference.
And, more importantly, they were lying to the Lord.
The question I have for the people of the Conference is, why did they, why DO they, lie to us and the Lord?
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I'll suggest some possible answers but I want to make it clear that my suggested answers are not prophetic.
However, I do believe that the question: Why did they/do they lie, is prophetic.
If the ERC is to have a future in the Lord's blessing, that question must be addressed.
And, from what I hear, the mountaintoppers admitted to just putting words on a page but they didn't own up to why they did/do it.
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Here are some possible answers:
1. The mountaintoppers are evil.
2. The mountaintoppers blindly and mindlessly embrace a system whose values are evil.
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We know that to lie is to sin.
For ERC mountaintoppers to put together a highly detailed Strategic Plan, as they did two years ago, and to present it with the fanfare they created in order to convince Conference delegates to adopt it as a plan that promised to DO what the plan describes...
...and, then to come back to the Conference two years later only to confess that they didn't actually do any of it and that they never really intended to because...
...IT WAS ONLY EVER WORDS ON A PAGE...
...is sin.
It breaks one of the Ten Commandments!
It is evil.
And then, as seems to have happened...
...for those same people to have the gall to say, "But, we do mean it this time, so, please approve this next plan...
...WITH US IN CHARGE...
...heightens the evil and suggests that the mountaintoppers have no regret or sorrow over the fact that they lied and even got caught in the lie!
This strikes me as being intense evil.
And, if the people of the Conference accept this plan with this unshamed leadership, I believe that the Conference will be joining the mountaintoppers in the evil.
The Lord of all authority and power and grace and mercy and blessing is not blessing the ERC and the CGGC.
Can anyone even begin to ask why!
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I'll repeat what I have said. My suggested answers to the question are not, in my opinion, prophetic.
But the question: Why did/do they lie, is.
They lied. They confessed their lie. They merely put words on paper.
Why? What allowed them to do it and feel justified?
Why did/do the mountaintoppers lie?
I don't think you are understanding what was said fully correctly. Which is understandable, having not been there.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who was present, I didn't perceive that statement to be any sort of admission previous 'plans' weren't intended to be followed.
I believe that such plans were intended / desired to be accomplished.
The larger context for such statements is that
1. In the past, we've not done much to be willing change the structure to accomplish stated goals and had accountability to that end.
2. The boldest part of the challenge was that if the priorities shared by conference leadership wasn't embraced by the leaders and all those in the local churches, any plan would end up being 'just words on paper.'
That being said, the accusation of lying does not ring true to me.
Thanks for the correction, Dan.
ReplyDeleteThat being the case, what steps are being taken to make this one different?
Back in the Rosenberry days, a document was printed very professionally and many Q & A sessions were held across the Conference and staffing and Commissions were restructured as a part of the plan.
And, cynicism being what it is, the whole plan was merely words on paper as far as most pastors and congregations were anyway.
And, from what I can see, there's more cynicism today.
It's fruit of "the boy who cried wolf" with past Strategic Plans.