More ICC Leader B.S.
Some former members wrote Andy Fleming (who was rumored at one point to become Kip McKean II) about the Cecil Wooten letter. Fleming responded below.
Then, WOOTEN responded ... to Fleming.
Background Info
Andy Fleming's Response
Dear Lolina and Bert,
I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to respond to your emails -- I have been
very busy with issues in the Middle East and West Region, as well as being away
for a week with my family on a camping trip. I had also been hoping that
resolution could come through your personal discussions with people in the
Central Region, but apparently those efforts are not leading you to
satisfactory results.
After listening to the discussions during the peace talks with the Fuquas, Neylands
and Wootens, I can share with you my simple understanding. The family issues
that the Wootens were facing in April 2002 led to their stepping down from the
elder position and taking a mini-Sabbatical, and then in response to
'unproductive' and 'unsatisfactory' interactions with members of the Northern
Federation D-group in the summer, that group came to a consensus that the other
'positions' within the World Sector should be retracted as well. I understand
that the termination came in the early fall and was the consensus of the NF
D-group. Since 'global' roles such as Kingdom Teacher, World Sector Leader,
Geographic Sector Leader, etc., are not explicitly biblical and were part
of an expedient, temporary structure created to help fulfill our plan for world
missions, the Wooten's disqualification in serving in those other roles was a
result of their failure in working peaceably together with other members of the team.
I did feel that all parties expressed genuine sorrow for their sins and asked
forgiveness of each other -- and forgiveness was given. Cecil told me during
those meetings that he would be satisfied with whatever decision the
peacemakers came to -- that he wasn't going to pursue these issues any further
-- because of those words I was very surprised to see his letter. I honestly do
not see the clear application of Matthew 18 to this situation since the
sin was confessed and forgiven. The ongoing issues seem much more to be in
keeping with Romans 14 where if one person believes differently than another
about a certain issue, they should be quiet and keep it between themselves and
God.
I am presently on the road and will not be back until August 13. Please
pray for me as I seek to encourage and strengthen churches in Middle
East, Scandinavia
and the former Soviet Union.
In Him,
Andy Fleming
Cecil Wooten's Response to Fleming
To: Andy Fleming, Peacemaker 07/29/2003
From: Cecil Wooten
Re: Your Letter, July 11, 2003, “ My Concerns on Central Region” sent to Lolina Porter and
Bert Rodriguez
Dear Andy,
Having read the July 11, 2003 letter, I am writing to you to correct some of the statements in your letter. Most of my corrections can be verified by reviewing the following three documents: 1) Marty Wooten letter, dated May 20, 2003, to the church; 2) Peacemaker Response letter, dated May 28, 2003; 3) My letter, dated June 6, 2003, to the church. Since you signed the Peacemaker response letter and I personally gave you a copy of my June 6 letter, I assume you have copies of all three documents. If not, they are available at:
Your letter of July 11, 2003 included the following information:
“After listening to the discussions during the peace talks with the Fuquas, Neylands and Wootens, I can share with you my simple understanding. The family issues that the Wootens were facing in April 2002 led to their stepping down from the elder position and taking a mini-Sabbatical, and then in response to ‘unproductive’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ interactions with members of the Northern Federation D-group in the summer, that group came to a consensus that the other ‘positions’ within the World Sector should be retracted as well. I understand that the termination came in the early fall and was the consensus of the NF D-group. Since ‘global’ roles such as Kingdom Teacher, World Sector Leader, Geographic Sector Leader, etc., are not explicitly biblical and were part of an expedient, temporary structure created to help fulfill our plan for world missions. The Wooten’s disqualification in serving in those other roles was a result of their failure in working peaceably together with other members of the team.”
A
“stepping down from the elder position”
Marty Wooten never stepped “down from the elder position” for “family issues” or any other reason. The Peacemaker Response, May 28, 2003, letter, which you signed, states, “Marty Wooten ‘was resistant to step down from the position voluntarily”. In June 2002, Marty Wooten offered to step down from the eldership but his offer was not accepted (See Point 2 of my June 6, 2003 letter). Marty Wooten offered to resign in the September 6, 2002 meeting provided he was shown the biblical basis for his disqualification (See Attachment 3 to Marty Wooten’s letter May 20, 2003). Marty Wooten did not “step down” or resign, but was considered disqualified and terminated in September, 2002. Since employment by the church is not a qualification requirement to serve as an elder, termination does not automatically remove an elder from the position. Thus far, Northern Federation or the Peacemakers have not identified the specific scriptural basis for the disqualification. If an elder is caught in sin, with two or more witnesses, is he not to be rebuked publicly as a warning to others? Should the removal of an elder from the position for a scriptural infraction be done publicly with the infraction named and the accused given the opportunity to speak?
B
“in response to ‘unproductive’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ interactions”
Other than the July 2002 meeting with Mike Leatherwood, there were no discussions with the Fuquas or the Neylands over the summer. On August 31, 2002, Marty Wooten asked the Fuquas to meet with Marty and Cathy prior to the scheduled September 6, 2003 meeting. Marty Fuqua declined, saying such a
1
meeting would be pointless. The next day Marty Wooten asked Reese Neyland to meet with Cathy and him. Reese also declined, saying he considered Marty Wooten to be his enemy.
In May 2003, the Fuquas removed Marty Wooten from the GSL position with the explanation by Chris Fuqua that “We have the authority to put you in and to take you out”. Since neither John Mannel nor Tom McCurry, who were in the meeting, knew in advance that the GSL position was to be removed, the decision was obviously made on the basis of authority and not consensus. I spoke to both men about this and know this statement is true.
Prior to the September 5, 2002 Northern Federation D-group meeting (Marty and Cathy not included), Gregg Marutsky phoned Marty Wooten to advise that he intended to speak the truth in the September 6, 2002 meeting. When Marty Fuqua announced in the September 6, 2002 meeting that the D-group had already “unanimously” decided Marty Wooten was no longer qualified for the positions of elder, teacher, and GSL, Marty Wooten asked if there was anyone in the room that felt differently. Marty Fuqua answered, “I said it was unanimous”. After the meeting, Gregg commented to Marty Wooten, “I’m sorry, I’m a coward”. Later in the March 2003 meeting, Gregg apologized for his cowardice.
Before the April 2003 Peacemaker meeting, a brother in the Dallas church phoned Marty Wooten to relate a conversation the brother had with Gregg in Dallas. Gregg stated that he(Gregg) had strongly suggested that Marty Wooten could remain a teacher or could hold some other ministry position but no one else in the September 5, 2002 meeting agreed. After talking to the brother in Dallas to verify his conversation with Marty Wooten, I called Gregg and he said the brother had accurately stated Gregg’s position in the September 5 meeting. I then asked when did he become a part of the “unanimous decision?” He replied, “after receiving Marty Wooten’s divisive email dated 09/06/02 11:47PM (Attachment 3, May 20, 2003 letter). Gregg then said that he was not comfortable discussing this over the phone and would prefer to wait until the Peacemaker meetings. Since Gregg did not join in the “unanimous decision” until receipt of the 11:47 PM email, how was Marty Fuqua able to state the “unanimous decision” twelve hours earlier (Attachment 2 May 20, 2003 letter)?
In the April 18, 2003 meeting Gregg reiterated his position that Marty Wooten was still qualified to teach. In response, Tom McCurry said it was a mistake to have stated in his September 6, 2003 email that the disqualification applied to the roles of teacher and GSL. Because Tom denied that the Northern Federation D-group had, in fact, disqualified Marty Wooten from all three roles simultaneously, Marty Wooten asked Bruce Williams and Reese Neyland if he could teach in the Central Region. Both said they did not trust him to teach.
In May 2002, Marty Fuqua told Marty Wooten that he (MF) had removed him (MW) as GSL because he (MF) did not trust him (MW) and did not want him (MW) to have a place to land. Bruce Williams asked Marty Fuqua if he had any trust issues with Marty Wooten before April 2002. Marty Fuqua replied, “Yes.” Bruce then asked Marty Fuqua if he had, prior to the May 2002 meeting, ever discussed his (MF) distrust issues with Marty Wooten. Marty Fuqua said he had not discussed the distrust issues directly with Marty Wooten until after the May 15, 2002 meeting. Read the transcript of Tom McCurry and John Mannel’s November 2002 conversation with Marty and Cathy Wooten as covered by Point 1 of my June 6, 2003 letter. This taped conversation provides strong evidence that Marty Fuqua had unfounded fears and resentment toward Marty Wooten and Catherine, which led to Marty and Cathy’s termination and Catherine’s mistreatment..
The evidence clearly points to these decisions having been made by Marty Fuqua in the spring of 2002 and not by consensus reached after the summer of 2002. Al Baird informed me in the April 23, 2003 meeting that Marty Fuqua was acting within ICOC policy at the time Marty Wooten was disqualified as an elder, teacher and GSL, as the ICOC qualification requirements for these positions were the same as for an elder. I reminded Al that, after the Kriete letter, the ICOC leadership apologized for flawed and unbiblical policies and practices. Does the application of a flawed policy make the action right? John Mannel also informed me in 2002 that Marty Wooten had been disqualified per “ICOC policy”.
2
C
“failure in working peaceably together”
It appears that the Peacemakers had separate meetings with the Fuquas and the Neylands when the Wootens were not present. The Wootens, on the other hand, presented our information to the Peacemakers in writing for distribution to the Northern Federation participants or orally in the meetings when the Northern Federation D-group was present. Steve Staten, in his letters to brother Garber in Atlanta, stated that after deep and “probing” questions in discussions with the Northern Federation members, he believed their version of events and found much of our information to be “disinformation” and “corrupt”. To date, as far as I know, nothing we have presented has been proven false. We have not been presented with the Northern Federation version. Why did the Peacemakers choose to meet privately with Northern Federation? The Peacemakers were to arbitrate the discussions between the parties with both parties present.
I believe Marty Wooten’s confrontation, as an elder, to the Northern Federation “lord it over” leadership style (See pages 8,9, and 10 of May 20, 2003 letter) was the reason for his dismissal, not a “failure in working peaceably together.” I have never heard any “probing” questions or any discussions regarding Marty Wooten’s “failure to work peaceably together” in the meetings when I was present..
D
Conclusion
The information presented by the Wootens to the Peacemakers and to the church has been challenged, but has yet to be proven false or inaccurate. Marty and Cathy are in agreement with this letter. If you find the information in this letter is in error, please let me know.
I am sure you will recall that several days prior to my reading your July 11, 2003 letter, I had a phone conversation with you when you were in Canada. I asked you if you had received and read, prior to your attending the Peacemaker Meetings, all of the documentation which I had previously sent to Al Baird for distribution to all participants in the Peacemaker Meetings. You said you thought you had received the documentation and that you had hurriedly read through the material because you were asked into the meetings late in the game. The Peacemaker Response letter, Steve Staten”s letter, and your July 11, 2003 letter all make me wonder if I was in the same meetings as the Peacemakers.
I hope your visit to the Russian churches is an encouragement both to you and the churches. When you return to Los Angeles next month perhaps we could get together and talk..
Your brother in Christ,
Cecil
posted by icc at 7:15 PM
|
0 comments
