Table Of ContentCRISIS OF
ALLEGIANCE
James A. Beverley
WELCH PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
To my Dad
George Beverley
with much love and admiration
ISBN: 0-920413-37-4
0 1986 by James A. Bwerley
Welch Publishing Company Ioc:
960 Gateway
Burlington, Ontario
L7L SK7 Canada
All righfs reserved. Nb part of this p u b l l c a t i ~ n ~ ~ &s$torde,d F,a e&iwal
system, or transmiitted in ady form orb? my. , , pnm pemmron of the
copyright owner.
Printed in Canada
Contents
Preface .............................................................................. 9
Introduction ......................................... .....,. ............. ...... 11
. .............................. ..., ..........
1 Threat of Divine Judgment 19
2. A Year of Ferment .................................................... 27
3 . A Family Tradition Ends ................................................ 39
4. Followers of a Man? ...................................................... 53
5. Reactions: Spiritual, Legal. and Intellectual ..................... 69
6. Myths and Reality ...................................................... 85
........................................................................
Conclusions 103
............................................................................
Appendix 109
..........................................................
Sources For Research 133
.......................................................
For Further Research 138
.
Preface
In the spring of 1978 Dr. Stuart E. Murray invited me to join the
faculty of Atlantic Baptist College. After acceptingh is offer, I agreed
to teach, among other things, a course dealing with the world of
denominations, sects, and cults. Despite an in4tial hesitation, that
was the beginning of my interest in groups as diverse as the Unifica-
tion Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Brethren, the Worldwide
Fhurch of God, the Lutheran Church, the Church of Christ, Chrts-
I tian Science, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,
Scientology, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
This book deals with the last group and attempts to outline and
interpret the drama of dissent that occurred several years ago among
Jehovah's Witnesses in Lethbridge, Alberta. In March 1981
Maclean's magazine drew national attention to the excommunica-
tion of Dr. James Penton, a professor at the University of Leth-
bridge and a well-known Jehovah's Witness. In April of 1981 I
roomed with Dr. Penton at a Toronto conference on new religious
movements, and his narration of the events in Lethbridge aroused
my interest for further investigation. This book is the result of my
subsequent research on the matter.
Though the introduction deals at length with the rationale and
methodology for this enquiry, there are some points to be made at
the very outset. First, the reader will have to look elsewhere if the
desire is for a book thg advocates a total, damning dismissal of
everything about Jehovah's Witnesses. In the complex of doctrinal
issues and historical conflict involved in the study of this group, a
simplistic outlook will only hinder proper interpretation. Second,
there is value to any book that helps in the on-going process of
reformation and renewal within religious groups. My hope, there
fore, is that Jehovah's Witnesses will listen to my perspective and be
willing to address the weaknesses and errors that persist in their
fellowship. Likewise, since this story demonstrates the damage done
when dissent and constructive criticism are squelched by centralized
and authoritarian leadership, orthodox Christians should note how
easily love is lost in the exercise of power.
For the sake of convenience I have outlined the structure, history
and unique beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses in the appendix. That
10 CRISIS OF ALLQGLANCE
material will be helpful to readers with little background on the
Introduction
group, Also provided is a chmnologml outline of the crucial events
in Leabridge and a listing of individuals and rbearch organizations
thar specialize in the study of Jehovah's Witnesses andother wntro-
venial groups. The bibliography d~cumentsth e most helpful an$
s&n6cant S~LI& of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, On the evening of Monday, October 4,1976, Canadian Jehovah's
A word of appreciation is in order to many. Bert Bell and Miguel Witnesses watched with pride as Dr. M. James Penton, one of their
Fairbanks helped on photographic items. Steve Harrison and Stan scholars, defended 'the Truth' on national television. As a result of
Big@ aid& with travel in Albert3 Bridie Callan$ Susilh Stos and his investigation of the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses by the
Brian Nemmet facilitated research at the Canadian Broadoasting government of Canada, Penton was aguest onFront Page Challenge,
Corporation in Toronto. Further, Gaw LeBlanc, Rnlph Richard- the long-running current affairs program of the Canadian Broad-
son, Bob Whon, and other colleagues aat Atlantic Baptisf College casting Corporation. The University of Lethbridge history professor
have beea a source of encouragement. This book was completed fared well, even under the skeptical questioning of Gordon Sinclair.
during doctoral study in Toronta, and Iam gratefuIto my professors Penton denied Sinclair's claims that heaven would be boring and
for their individual contributions to my understanding of that the Witnesses have been guilty of false prophecy. Penton confi-
scholarship. dently asserted that his fellow believers were "the only ones who
Richard Rawe helped with many research items, and Raymond really feel strongly enough" about the future life "to go preaching to
F m , f ormer member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Wit- others."
nesm, aided me in formulation of a balanced perspective on recent By the summer of 1979, three years later, things had changed
developments in the Watch Tower Society. His published work considerably for Penton. While most Jehovah's Witnesses were
Crisfs of Conscie~w(a vailable from Commentary Press, Box 43532* celebrating the centenary of publication of their well-known maga-
Atlanta, Georgia 30336) has also been extremely valuable. Bob zine The Watchtower, Penton and a few others in Lethbridge were
Beverley and Larry Matthews were my best critics on literary style worried about the spiritual health of the Watch Tower Blble and
and theological argument, and Kevin Quast trusted me with his Tract Society, the publishing and organization arm of Jehovah's
computer. Ian MdPhee and Ross Wilson wre most helpful at G. R. Witnesses. Over the next eighteen months the number of thoseupset
Welch Publishing Company. Thanks alao to Trevor Johnson at by Society doctrine and practice would increase dramatically, and
Trans Canada Graphics. the dissent would receive national and international attention.
This book owes a lot, of course, to the ex-Witnessesin Lethbridge, Some Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that there is nothing of signif-
Alberta, who opened their lives, their homes and their f ito my icance in the story of dissent in Lethbridge. They say that to deal
witid scrutiny. Their ability to recognize ambiguity and opposing with this issue is like "kicking a dead horse." There are several
perspeutives was noteworthy, and there was no attsmpt whatsoever reasons why such a verdict can be questioned. First, the controversy
to evade searching questions, Mast of all, I admire thk courage in centered around Penton, an elder in the Lakeview congregation in
clearly facing personal "aisis of alle&pceiJ in spire. of &e losof that small western city of 60,000. He was known in academic circles
reputation and status within the for the histor~casl tudy Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada, published by
Finally, and most Macmillan in 1976. In that book Penton called Witnesses "cham-
you to my wife Gloria pions of freedom of speech and worship," and he said that much of
patience and love over the political and theological attack on the Society has been grossly
a joy @ icll to dedi unfair. Just three years after the book's publication, the University
of Lethbridge professor was immersed in a controversy with his
fellow believers that would lead to his excommunication. What led
James A. Beverley
this Witness historian, a life-long member of the Society, to question
Mack 1986
CRISIS OF ALLEGIANCE
I
the faith he had so ably defended?
pressed for understanding and justice. This chapter also narrates the
Secondly, the story of dissent in Lethbridge is not simply one
response of his wife and children to the controversy. The fourth
man's story; rather, many left the organization, both young andold,
chapter tells the story of others who left the organization, while the
and the reasons for departure were numerous and cannot be
ffih recounts both the dramatic trial of Penton in February of 1981
explained simply by citing Penton's influence. The controversy was
and the different reactions to his departure from the Society.
not one dimensional. Intellectual, spiritual, and emotional issues
I Throughout these chapters there is some evaluation of the different
were all tied together in the struggle of devotion to once-cherished
interpretations and perspectives involved. For the most part, how-
faith. Further, the media recognized the significance of the dissent.
ever, I have tried to let the events and cast of characters stand on
Newspapers from Vancouver to Halifax reported on the story once
their own, though I make some defmite personal judgments in the
it became public knowledge. Two national television programs also
concluding chapter.
dealt with it, as did numerous radio stations.
The sixth chapter takes the reader beyond the local story to an
What happened in Lethbridge serves also as a microcosm of a
examination of the overall claims of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is
lsger conflict that has been going on in the Watch Tower Society in
impossible to evaluate properly the controversies in Lethbridge
the past decade. The stories of individual ex-Witnesses in the south-
without studying the doctrinal and intellectual views of the Watch
em Alberta city are replicated by thousands around the world. As
Tower Society. Therefore, I include a lengthy critique of five myths
well, the treatment of James Penton parallels what happened to
that dominate the Witness worldview, and issue a challenge to
Raymond Franz, Edward Dunlap and others in 1980 at the inter-
Jehovah's Witnesses to examine carefully the serious points raised
national Watch Tower headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Ex-
against the Society.
Witnesses who read this book will recognize their story and their
This book is also a partial defense for those who left the Society in
experiences in those of John Poole, Myrtle Kling, Lana Davies,
Lethbridge. Many of the ex-Witnesses have opened their lives to me,
Anne Penton and others.
and they are people of moral and intellectual integrity. Why does
Finally, what happened among Jehovah's Witnesses in Leth-
this need to be said? Most people fmd it difficult to realize what it
bridge illustrates the important theological and spiritual issues at
costs to leave the community of Jehovah's Witnesses. Society
stake in religious conflict. How are Christians to settle personal
members are instructed to avoideven saying hello to those who leave
disputes with one another? Who is to decide on true doctrine? How
the fold. The Lethbridge dissenters would be viewed by many Wit-
does one handle intellectual disagreements among believers? How
nesses as evil, apostate, and even demon-possessed.
should power and authority be expressed in the congregation? Why
When Raymond Franz resigned from the Governing Body of
is love so often ignored in the quest for orthodoxy? These are
Jehovah's Witnesses in 1980, he purposed not to speak about his
haunting questions raised by the story of dissent in Lethbridge.
experiences at the top of the organization. By 1982 he had changed
Crucial Watch Tower doctrines and views are involved, and what
his mind, and his reasons are important to note. Franz writes:
happened in this small city in Western Canada forces one to deter-
mine where ultimate alIe@ance lies in true Christian faith. During those two years, the motives, character and conduct of
The book has been written to teU what happened to create the persons who conscientiously disagreed with the organization have
conflict in the life of individuals and in a well-known religious been portrayed in the worst of terms. Their concern to put God's
organization. Chapter one puts the reader into the centre of the Word fust has been represented as the product of ambition, rebel-
controversy, with attention to a crucial speech by a Witness leader. lion, pride, as sin against God and Christ. No allowance is made for
the possibility that any of them acted out ofsincerity,l ove of truthor
The next four chapters present a ch~oaolo~coault line of the major
integity to God. No effort to distinguish is made, but all are
events before and after this sped. a q t e r two deals with the
'lumped' together. Any misconduct or wrong attitude on the part of
turmoil in 1979 that led to ecclesiastical discipline of Penton, and
some who have left the organization is attributed to all who have
chapter three traces his disillusionment with the Society as he
left. For those who do display a wrong attitude, no effort is made to
CUISIS OF ALLEGIANCE
apprsiate that the wrong attitude may be a resuIt of frustration, Jonsson, Duane Magnani, James Penton, Alan Rogerson, and
disappointment and hurt. An enornous amount ofrumor and even
Timothy White.
gutter-level gossip has ckwlated among Witnmes.
I have visited local Kingdom Halls, larger Society conventions,
Unfortunately, there is little m n to believe that the Witness and have made two visits to the international headquarters in Brook-
l e & bw ill learn from this book. Recent years have seen an increas- lyn, Ncw York. 1 visited Lethbridge in the winter of 1982, and again
ing paranoia at their headquarters in Brooklyn, and the polemic ih the summer of 1984. As well, throughout 1984 and 1985 there has
against open-minded investigation of Wim- claims has heightened been frequent contact, by mail and phone, with those who provided
considerably. Thus, a recent Wafchtowerm agaz.ine(nnarch 15,1986) the basic material for this book. Though a few ex-Witnesses decided
eon- I1 pages of diatribe and sloppy argument about literature not to cooperate, many others allowed me access to diaries, letters,
critical of Jehovah's Witnesses. This literatureis described as "prop legal documents, and other items that added some objectivity to the
aganda," and "deadly gangrene," and to read it is to engage in insights of memory.
"spiritual fornication." Numerous magazine and newspaper articles have been scrutin-
Even in the face of such careless rhetoric, I do hope that Witness ized critically. On the whole, media coveragehas been quiteaccurate
leaders will listen seriously to this account of the events in Leth- and balanced, and most of the mistakes have been minor in nature.
bridge and the serious theological and scholarly paints raised in A Toronro Stm article erroneously reported that Penton's trouble
chapter six. Further, on minimal ethical grounds, thesociety should with the Witnesses was simply over blood transfusion, and that is a
reconsider its harsh treatment towards the &fellowshipped and serious misunderstanding.
those who voluntarily l w e the Witness comnity. The Watch The openness of ex-Witnesses to critical enquiry has not been
Tower's policy on this point exacts an incredible price in family matched by members of the Society in Lethbridge. The leading
breakdown and individual psychological stress, both for Witnesses elders refused to talk about any of the events, saying that the facts are
and ex-members. available from the Canadian headquarters in Georgetown, Ontario.
This work may be an encouragement to those Jehovah's Wit- Personal letters to these elders and other key Witnesses have not
nesses who have grown tired of Watch Tower mwness and been answered. In June of 1985 I interviewed Walter Graham,
legalism, prophetic failure, and doctrinal wnfustons. There is spirit- public relations director for the Watch Tower Society in Canada.
ual life and true freedom beyond the Watch Tower, and there is no Mr. Graham was very pleasant and kind to me, but his response to
valid reason to think that the love of Jehovah and His Son Jesus questions on overall Society matters and the Lethbridge situation
ends when one leaves the organizationf romBroow This is saidin was disappointing. Mr. Graham said that although the Society had
full realization of the emotional and spiritual difEculty in leaving a
nothing to hide, there was no interest in going over the Lethbridge
rigid organization. I am reminded of a quotation Gom Whittaker story. Consequently he would not help put other Society leaders in
Chambers' WitnessSt he account of his departure from the Commu- touch with me. In September of 1985 I called Mr. Graham to get the
nist party: "How did you break with Communism? My answer is: addresses of two representatives of the Society who hada major part
SIowly, reluctantly, in agony" Fp. 15). in the controversy. Graham statedthat it was against Branch policy
A word is in order aboat nethWogg. 9mcb I.%&' Lhme read to give out this information. Then I asked simply for thename of the
widely in literaturef rom the Vdteh m*Sg&&y,noto~@intm
cities where these representatives live. Even that was not available.
of recent publieatim but & In keeping with these repeated efforts to get the Society's point of
view, I have tried carefully to give a balanced and fair presentation of
the events and issues involved, to ensure that my criticism of Jehov-
ah's Witnesses is not mined by overstatement or careless research.
This book is not written to offer a simplistic analysis of the wmpli-
cated picture surrounding Penton and others. Only the dtic
16 CRISIS OF ALLEGIANCE INTRODUCTION
mindset looks for the good guys in the white hats and the enemy all reminded me that Jehovah's Witnesses are ordinary human beings
dressed in black! sharing, with all of us, the joys and pains of everyday life.
Much of the attack on Jehovah's Witnesses is often unfair, overly I wonder, though, how different the events in Lethbridge might
picky, extreme, or sometimes simply untrue. A number of years ago have been or, indeed, how changed the history of Jehovah's Wit-
the Methodist Church of Australia published E. Keith Ditterich's nesses might have been, if those in authority in the Watch Tower
Some Disfortions of the Christian Faith. In the section on Jehovah's Society had recognized more clearly the humanity and dignity of
Witnesses we are told that the second President of the Society was those under attack by the Watch Tower.
"named by his mother, Judge Frederick Rutherford, and he foundit Increasingly over the past century, Jehovah's Witnesses have
convenient to use his fmt name in amanner that suggested he was a claimed to be the only organization on earth in harmony with God's
Judge, whereas he was never anything of the kind" (pp.8-9). In fact, will. The Governing Body at their Brooklyn headquarters is viewed
Rutherford was actually named Joseph Franklin and he did serve on as the ruling council of "the wise and faithful servant" (or "the
occasion as a stand-in judge in the Fourteenth Judicial District of faithful and discreet slave," New WorldTranslation)c hosen by God
Missouri. to give spiritual direction to true Christians (see Matthew 2445-51).
A more recent publication says of the Watch Tower Society: Witnesses believe that God has chosen the Governing Body to
"There is no good in it whatsoever. Any readers who still think so are dispense truth to the faithful. Only Jehovah's Witnesses are true
wilfully blind" (Dencher, Why I Left Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 11 1). Christians, and to them alone belongs correct Bible interpretation.
.
There is an earlier reference to afact that in itself "proves beyond the Jehovah's Witnesses do not want to be identified with any other
shadow of a doubt that it is not Christian in the slightest degree" (p. religious group, and the leadership in Brooklyn exercises full control
109). Unfortunately, such judgment does little more than duplicate in doctrine and practice for Witnesses all over the world. In light of
the narrowness and extremism of the very group being criticized! this, the dissent in Lethbridge was not just a matter of local church
What has been done in the course of research and writing to be fair politics. Witnesses there were facing a question of commitment to an
to the Society? Through correspondence and phone calls opportun- organization that claims sole possession of spiritual truth.
ity has been given for defense of specific actions andlor expressions
of regret. The only response, besides silence and one threat of legal
action, has been that the Society has done nothing wrong. This
contrasts dramatically with the willingness of ex-Witnesses to admit
ambiguity and weaknesses in the midst of conflict. I regret that the
Jehovah's Witnesses contacted in Lethbridge uniformly ignored my
requests for their input, whether to defend, qualify or express regrets
over certain actions.
In fairness to certain individuals, some personal details have been
kept off the record. Likewise, the tendency to assign sinister and
malicious motives has been resisted. The failings of the Society in
Lethbridge arose, for the most part, because decent, basically moral
people allowed allegiance to orgsulimtionto take precedence over
devotion to mercy, twth, and justice. Even at this point, however,
my criticism of Jehovah's Witnemes is rooted in a recognition of
their dignity and humanity. When I called one of the elders in
Lethbridge for his reaction to certain questions, his wife passed the
phone to him, stating: "Honev it's for you." That small incident
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