*Critics of the Boston Church of Christ Call It a Cult and Accuse
Its Leaders of Dictatorship.*
An article in the May 18 issue of _Time_ magazine says that
exit counselors are seeking to pressure Boston church members to
quit; universities across the country are seeking to curb the
activities of its evangelists on their campuses; and critics are
mailing out booklets and tapes denouncing the group. Some church
defectors charge that "the church has done them psychological or
spiritual harm. Many are crying 'cult,' although dropout Rick
Bauer thinks 'authoritarian sect' is a better label."
Much of the current hostility focuses on the rigid control the
church hierarchy exercises over the lives of its members. "Each
baptized member is subject to a personal 'discipler,' who gives
advice not only on spiritual problems but also on daily life.
Dropouts complain that the advice, which members are expected to
obey, may include such details as where to live, whom and when to
date, what courses to take in school, even how often to have sex
with a spouse. One former convert says he was led through a
detailed financial inventory to ensure that he would contribute
heavily," _Time_ reports.
Church leaders have admitted that some disciplers have gone too
far and say the church will "re-adjust" its discipling practice. Al
Baird, a veteran Boston elder, says that "members were told to obey
leaders not only on specific biblical commands but also on matters
of 'opinion.' Now, he says, leaders may demand specific
evangelistic efforts but not dictate 'such things as choice of
food, car, clothes, [and the] exact amount of giving.' A
discipler's advice may be rejected 'without sinning' if a member is
convinced he is doing God's will," _Time_ reports. Defectors
predict, however, that the demands on church members will probably
change little.
The article notes that the control system in the church is
designed to focus the energies of members on proselytizing. "All
you think about is recruiting," said Mark Trahan, a former church
leader in New York. When Trahan left the church in 1990, he says
he was "marked" -- meaning that former church friends were
instructed not to contact him. Exit counselor Jeff Davis contends
that the biggest problem is that "the group identifies itself so
closely with God that people fear they must forsake God in order to
leave it."...
Source File: crn0046a.txt
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