20 February 1981

Mr. Jack Croucher
c/- Worldwide Church of God
P.O. Box 2709
Auckland 1

Dear Jack

A few comments I'd like to throw in for what they're worth. In this form because many people, including myself, tend to feel intimidated in your presence. This reflects perhaps a lack of pastoral emphasis in the church at large. Please understand, though, that this letter is not meant to be insulting or overly critical, but simply honest...

I've been troubled in recent times to hear members being exhorted to abdicate their Christian responsibilities, to suppress individuality, and some would say intelligence. We've been told that members have no right to their own opinions...

Question: Having convinced this group of people of their inadequacy... how can you help them develop as mature Christian individuals? ... Jesus' words recorded in Mt.20: 25-28 indicate that he had something else in mind for his Church...

Given an increasing tendency toward intolerance, a shallow approach toward scripture and the re-emergence of legalism I find I cannot support many areas of church teaching without considerable reservation. I have never believed that God requires us to sacrifice either intellect or conscience on His altar in order to prove our loyalty to some human being. 1 Samuel 22:17 relates how the king's guards defied the order of "God's anointed". Were they wrong in doing so?

...this is not a letter of resignation... Rather it is a protest, if you like, at a growing neglect of some pretty fundamental Christian principles. I would be disappointed if it provoked a paranoid reaction...

Sincerely

Gavin Rumney