The Way's objectives and beliefs:

[pjroberge]

TWI's statement of beliefs from: APPEAL from the Board of Tax Appeals, No. 85-G-539.

January 16, 1990, Submitted

April 11, 1990, Decided

The Way's objectives and beliefs:

"I We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by God and perfect in the original writing; that they are of supreme, absolute and final authority for faith, life and godliness.

"II We believe in one God, the creator of the heavens and earth; in Christ Jesus His son and our savior, whom God raised from the dead; and we believe in the working of the Holy Spirit.

"III We believe that the virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit; that God was in Christ, and that Jesus Christ was true man.

"IV We believe that man was created in the image of God, spiritually, that he sinned and thereby brought upon himself immediate spiritual death, which is separation from God and also physical death which is the consequence of sin; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

"V We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitute for us; and that all who believe that God raised him from the dead are justified and made righteous, born again of the Spirit of God, receiving eternal life on the grounds of his eternal redemption; and thereby are sons of God.

"VI We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, his ascension into heaven and his seating at the right hand of God.

"VII We believe in the blessed hope of Christ's return, the personal return of our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our gathering together onto him.

"VIII We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust.

"IX We believe in the receiving of the fullness of the holy spirit, the power from on high, plus the corresponding nine manifestations of the holy spirit, for all born again believers.

"X We believe it is available to receive all that God promises us in His Word according to our believing faith. We believe we are free in Christ Jesus to receive all that he accomplished for us by his substitution.

"XI We believe the early Church flourished rapidly because they operated within a Root, Trunk, Limb, Branch and Twig setup (descent and in order)." [***2]

[Refiner]

Quote: "We believe the early Church flourished rapidly because they operated within a Root, Trunk, Limb, Branch and Twig setup"

Well, call it that, or call it:

"Quorums of the 70s"/"Quorum of the 12"/ "Quorum of the First presidency"/"Prophet"

I still call it a pyramid.

Theres nothing clever about a pyramid structured organization.

Theyre everywhere.

Of course, the governing heirachy of TWI might use a "tree" analogy to convey the impression its organization is structured counter to the totalitarian pyramid, but the flow of power is still from the governing heirachy down.

So a pyramid it is.

[Trefor Heywood]

But how many religious group/churches are not hierarchichal in structure?

[shazdancer]

True, Trefor, but when a system of checks and balances for those higher up in the organization is missing, there is always the temptation for fiscal and emotional abuse. Many businesses have self-destructed because of it.

TWI was set up for it.

Regards,

Shaz

[JustThinking]

Would a pyramid be the best metaphor? ALL power was centered in the BOT. It wasn't top down. It was top reaching directly into every situation. By the time TWI-2 was ending, ALL teaching themes and classes schedules were set by HQ. All Foundational classes, for example, ran concurrently across the US. All themes for every week were set by HQ. Even the regularity and types of activities were done in OH.

For example:

Meet twice per week

TC has to teach so many times per month

One outreach event per month run by an AC Grad.

Weekly theme from HQ tied to STS tapes

Specified times per month that a WayMag article would be "taught"

How about a hub and spoke model? All power comes from Rome, oops, New Knoxville.

Not poking fun at Roman Catholics. Just that I KNOW that TWI would hate to be compared to them. :-)

[Tom Strange]

Oh Refiner! ...but you've got it all wrong! ...it was an upside down pyramid... the leadership supported doncha know! ...sure... everyone remembers that! the root, and the trunk supported... that was their purpose!

[Trefor Heywood]

Very true Shaz.

They can say "trust us with the money, we will not have to account for how it is used but you know we will use it wisely."

They will also claim that only they can receive full revelation and inspiration - they are God's chosen and how therefore could they lead people astray?

Whether it's New Knoxville, or Rome, or Salt Lake City that is the case. The leadership is vested with a cloud of infalliblity and secrecy that the followers must not and should not question.

[Goey]

[oldiesman]

Looks like it's snowing outside.

[Trefor Heywood]

An excellent example of the principle of cascading.... ;)-->

[Refiner]

Based on Goeys post it was definitely a tree, not a pyramid.

[Mark Sanguinetti]

Refiner, were you ever in TWI? Because you are very wise about the abuse in power using a hierarchical church structure. This was the foundational and central evil of this little cult in Ohio that we refer to as TWI. If TWI's biblical and practical error in the use of their pyramid could have been corrected then other doctrinal and practical error could have been corrected also.

[washingtonweather]

Hey Goey---that should be the anniversary yearly theme poster HAHAHAHA

[houseisarockin]

Goey, LMAO! :D-->

[wyteduv58]

They beleive thier poop doesn't smell and our lives and money belong to them. Not anymore TWI we got our lives back and our money or tithe goes to someone else. And God has lead us into prosperity without you help.

[Trefor Heywood]

An interesting thought wyteduv:

We found power for abundant living despite TWI not because of it! :D-->