My Experience With Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) Control:
Told Not to Discuss Diet and Nutrition
My wife and I both struggled with obesity. Then she died suddenly from a brain aneurysm.
A few weeks after her death, our first grandchild was born. My wife had been so excited about becoming a grandmother. Holding that baby for the first time was bittersweet. I was filled with joy, but deeply saddened that she was not there to share that moment with me.
As I held my grandchild, I knew I needed to make changes. I wanted to improve my health so I could be there for my family.
I began researching diet and nutrition and changing the way I ate. Over the next two years, I lost 160 pounds.
At the time, I attended the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG). The organization provided an online forum where members could communicate with one another. Other members saw my weight loss and wanted to know how I had done it.
So I shared what I had been reading and the changes I had made.
One idea I had become convinced of was that eliminating wheat could help with weight loss. I encouraged interested members to read Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. That was my understanding at the time, based on my reading and personal experience.
I also learned that the church leader’s daughter was teaching bread-baking classes at PCG headquarters in Edmond, Oklahoma. I do not know whether those classes had anything to do with what happened next.
Head minister, Steven Flurry, the leader’s son, told me not to discuss health, diet, or nutrition again. He said those subjects were the ministers’ responsibility.
I had been answering questions from people who wanted to know how I had lost weight. Yet I was told that I should no longer discuss the subject.
Rather than continue participating under that restriction, I left the members’ online forum.
To me, this was another example of PCG leadership extending its authority into ordinary personal conversations. Members should be able to share their experiences, ask questions, and evaluate information for themselves.
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| Members asked me how I lost 160 pounds. The PCG minister told me not to talk about it. Told me "that is the ministers job" |
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I made a song for this. If you can't laugh, you cry.
[Verse 1]
After losing my wife, I held that little one,
Thought, “Grandpa’s got some living left to get done.”
Changed my eating, took it day by day,
A hundred sixty pounds went away!
[Verse 2]
Folks in the members’ chat said, “Dan, tell us how!”
I said, “I’ve been changing what goes in my mouth!”
Shared what I’d read, said, “Here’s what I tried.”
Then Steven Flurry pulled the brakes on my ride!
[Chorus]
“That’s the minister’s job!”
Well, butter my corn on the cob!
I can lose the weight, but I can’t explain?
Does every conversation need a chain?
Health and nutrition—better shut that door!
What do we need permission for?
I thought we were having a friendly chat—
But the minister’s in charge of that!
[Verse 3]
I mentioned Wheat Belly, a book I had read,
While somebody at headquarters was teaching bread.
Were those things connected? I couldn’t say—
But my little food discussion got put away!
[Spoken]
“I lost a hundred sixty pounds…
Apparently, I hadn’t lost my need for supervision!”
[Chorus]
“That’s the minister’s job!”
Well, butter my corn on the cob!
Members asked a question; I gave my reply—
Didn’t know my dinner needed oversight!
Health and nutrition—better shut that door!
What do we need permission for?
I thought we were having a friendly chat—
But the minister’s in charge of that!
[Bridge]
I wasn’t seeking a throne or a title,
Just sharing something folks thought vital.
So I left that forum, closed the screen—
Simplest diet for a chat I’d seen!
[Outro]
Lost the pounds, then left the chat…
Wonder who needs to approve of that?
[Spoken]
“Pass the vegetables.
I’ll take responsibility.”
Sounds unbelievable however I was present in the congregation during this time and remember the reports.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of staying out of organized “religion” and hierarchical church meetings. We are responsible for how, when and why we interact with Yahweh. We shall answer for our choices.
Yes, anyone who read the text knows it.
ReplyDeleteMANY members were chatting with me and saw what the Flurry said.