10 Years Ago

In January 2002, Samuel Chang-Woo Lee (co-founder of UBF) died in a fire in Chicago. After that, I felt the need to be a public witness to UBF ministry, and to take a stand against the “r-group” criticisms.

I soon realized however that I didn’t know what I was doing. My “testimony” here flip-flopped as I had to constantly adjust my words to be “just right”. I knew just enough about certain events that I could not dismiss them entirely. I ended up attempting to reconcile facts with honoring Lee and UBF.

My Repentance – Publicly

In the process, I ended up pouring salt on the wounds of many former UBF members. This website became one of the enablers that helped justify UBF leaders and their extreme, authoritative actions.

For example, I didn’t even realize the 3rd major reform movement had just taken place, in 2001. As I argued against critics and defended UBF, I found that the critics were making more and more sense of the strange experiences I had in UBF. Even as I worked with Sarah Barry and other Chicago UBF people to remove criticism from the UBF entry in Wikipedia, I could not deny my need to repent– repent of my lack of compassion for people who left UBF, repent of my covering up sins of leaders when they should be exposed, and repent of claiming such things were God’s work.

Website Snapshots

Here is a look back at some snapshots, courtesy of the Wayback Time machine.

2002 – My first plans. When I first setup my own website and email address, I was thinking mainly of sharing the Bible and some things I had learned. But I wasn’t quite sure how to present the material. Mainly, I just wanted to tell the world that I support UBF and was a “priestly nation”. I was also trying to work out God’s plan for my family. Would we be missionaries to Russia? Would we go out as a UBF house church?

2003 – Pictures and Weddings.  At first I didn’t have much to publish and wasn’t really sure what to do with a website. And I was so busy with UBF activities, I didn’t have much time. So I started publishing pictures.

2004 – Defending UBF.  After going out as a house church in 2003 to Detroit, I suddenly had a lot more time. The UBF lifestyle when from 30 to 40 hours per week, on top of a full-time job plus family and school, down to 1 hour on Sunday.  In reality, I left UBF at this time. But my mind kept the KOPHN fantasy going. I spent hours and hours, day and night, arguing with “r-group” people online and trying to defend the religious system I had already devoted my life to.

2007 – Defending UBF, again. As time passed, we were left alone in Detroit. Life got hard; really, really hard. We experienced hell in Detroit. My website became an outlet where I could express the beauty I longed for as my faith entered a “dark night of soul”.

2011 – Hoping for better things. In 2009 I read the public letters from James and Rebekah Kim about the “1990 incident”. In 2010 I watched the Passion of Christ movie. I suddenly realized I could no longer defend UBF. I could no longer pretend to live in a KOPHN fantasy. I had to face the facts of reality. In January 2011, I decided to be a “man of integrity” and be “salt and light” for Jesus. These events restored my faith. I began removing all of my UBF defense material from this website. I hoped UBF could change, get better, or at least acknowledge facts about our reality…

The Public Image Problem

In the eyes of the public, UBF is a very small, fringe Korean-based religious group labelled as a cult by at least eight organizations around the world.

Hundreds of testimonies of former UBF members are posted all over the internet. My blog is highlighting events and ideas that reveal problem after problem. The ubfriends blog is raising question after question, providing a safe place UBF people from around the world to begin discussing issues and Christian doctrine openly. At best, UBF is labeled as a “mixed bag” or “highly-authoritarian” repeatedly in books and in online material.

Because of the UBF 50th Anniversary celebrations and the desire to pass on UBF heritage to their children, UBF has started to publish some of their own internal teaching material, which has allowed UBF members to see what UBF leaders really believe and teach.

UBF’s Public Image Strategy

1. Dismiss the cult label by mitigating the value of cult-watching groups
Many UBF leaders actually see the cult label as a “badge of honor”. They like to say “See, we must be doing something right if we are persecuted so much!”

2. Wait for the old reformers to die off
For example, I am one of the few people alive who can recall the events of 1990.

3. Downplay, cover-up and deny anything seen as a problem
UBF leaders will almost never initiate a discussion about their own problems. They will simply react to whatever you bring up or point out your problems, focusing you on your own failings.

4. Appease current members with internal changes
UBF leaders are making many changes these days internally, as they always did after each of the three other reform movements. This fourth movement may be gaining more traction than ever before.

5. Impress a few Korean Christian agencies, especially with numbers
UBF leaders like to point out numbers. They like to say, “See, look how many missionaries we have sent! We have accomplished so much in only 50 years!”

6. Protect and promote leaders who fail
The doctrines of “covering theology” coupled with “covenant theology” provide a robust authority system in UBF that allows fallen leaders to gain more power, honor, authority and influence.

7. Accuse critics of UBF as being self-righteous sinners
“Take the plank out of your own eye!” is one of the typical Bible verses thrown at UBF critics. UBF leaders like to say “We are all sinners. We all sin.”

8. Hide behind American “stamps of approval”
For example, in the USA, around 2007, UBF did just enough to win the approval of the ECFA, avoid a large IRS fine and be re-admitted to the NAE.

Sweeping Problems Under the Rug

This week I will be blogging about a major incident that took place a while ago in UBF. The incident involved lawyers, television, newspapers and much drama. But I knew nothing of the event at the time, even though I was a leader in UBF.  When former UBF members tried to tell me about this event (and many more) I dismissed it at the time.

I will no longer dismiss such events. Since I publicly dismissed this event, as my public repentance, I will be sharing what I now know publicly.

This event has already been public knowledge, but since I didn’t know about it fully until after leaving UBF, my readers may not have seen the material.

I do not blog here out of my own pain, not out of things done to me, but out of the pain of what happened to others… and the pain of not speaking up when I could have. I blog for my public repentance. I blog to put a stop to the various kinds of abuse that have happened in various UBF chapters around the world.

Former Bonn UBF: “So that these problems may be solved absolutely”

A testimony of what has gone on behind closed doors in one of the power centers of UBF…
http://exubf.blogspot.com/2007/04/susanna-p.html

The children are the crown of the father and a gift from God. Jesus also let the children come to him. In order to bear this blessing from God the parents have to bring up their children according to the will of God and with great care. The unnatural and violent bringing up of children by M. Peter reveals his goal of training children to become puppets on a string which move only on his orders.

Dear coworkers! I have testified by listing some examples of what actually happens behind closed doors in the ministry of Bonn UBF, which unfortunately is misjudged [by the UBF director, Samuel Lee] to be an exemplary ministry. I have done this so that these problems may be solved absolutely.

Former Hamilton UBF: “I began to feel crushed”

…and a friend to whom I must apologize greatly, and publicly. If you read this Robert, please contact me. I should have spoken up when you visited…
http://exubf.blogspot.com/2007/04/robert-j-p-former-hamilton-and-toledo.html

My family left Hamilton UBF (at McMaster U.) on November 1, 2001 after I had been in UBF for over 10 years. The words of Micah scrolled onto the front of Erskine Church in Hamilton helped me to make the final decision. It was not easy to leave because of my attachments to UBF co-workers and friends. I had fond memories of many missionaries and was especially fond of co-workers in Montreal UBF even though I could only fellowship with them for a couple of days each year. I was very heavily involved in my chapter as a fellowship leader and a presider, a role which I carried out for 10 years. Through Bible study I met Jesus personally and confessed my faith publically. I learned to love the Bible and I experienced God’s calling (Mk 10:45).

However, over time (5-6 years), I began to feel crushed by this same ministry in every aspect of my life. I witnessed so many Canadian students leave with out any explanation. Some of these were Philip Styles in 1995 (Hamilton), Sandor Szulc (1997), Ryan Collins and Steve Nagy in 1996 (Waterloo)and Dean Fleming (1997). In 1999, my personal Bible reading revealed to me many of the “internal contradictions” mentioned in other RSQUBF postings and my conscience was bothered by many wierd directions. When Missionary Tim Hwang (Montreal UBF) left UBF to become a Presbyterian minister I rejoiced that God had blessed him to serve the Lord. However, Hamilton missionaries to a man condemned him and said that he only became a minister because he loved money and wanted a salary. This stunk really bad to me. It stunk because I know that as an RN, I make more money than the minister in my mom’s church (Knox Burlington)which has over 500 attendant. I valued Tim Hwang’s decision as a godly one. They didn’t think so.

Former Toledo UBF: “I wanted to build a better UBF”

James Kim… a friend who passed away not too long ago. But someone who’s family I owe a huge debt and apology to…
http://exubf.blogspot.com/2007/04/james-j-k-former-toledo-ubf.html 

Eventually, at the end of 1993, our names were not printed in the Daily Bread of Korea and USA. In fact, we reached the point of being expelled from UBF. I could not understand these things at all, since I wanted to build a better UBF through proposing the problems that should be absolutely changed in UBF. At first, I wanted to retreat without a word and to live a life serving Jesus quietly, since I did not like causing trouble and meeting with darkness. I dared to take up my pen like this, thinking how many co-workers would be sacrificed in the future and that it was not right to cover the truth and to leave the history distorted, if I went away silently like ex-UBFers in the same boat in the past. Here, I outlined the problems which M. —– [formerly of Columbus, OHIO USA] and I proposed. I cordially ask your objective judgment, advice and prayer.

SUMMARY REBUKE OF KOREAN AUTHORITY IN UBF

8/14/2011

SOURCE OF REBUKE:

2 Peter 2:16

“16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey–a beast without speech–who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”

For 24 years, from 1987 to 2011, Brian Karcher has treated Korean leaders in UBF with double-honor. He has obeyed absolutely at every turn, treating them as prophets of the LORD and acknowledging the glorious work of God done through Korean leaders. Surely the LORD God has poured out His blessings abundantly through the sacrifice, integrity and hard work of Korean leaders in UBF.  For 50 years, God has used the vessel made by Korean missionaries sent from UBF to many countries. It has been said that Brian Karcher is an exemplary fruit of UBF ministry–a model of obedience, faithfulness and thoughtfulness.  His testimony has already been reported around the world among thousands of UBF coworkers.  And many have rejoiced.

Brian Karcher is a man of few words. For all practical purposes, he has been like a donkey who cannot speak. Since being alone in Detroit for 8 years, God has now given Brian Karcher a voice to speak and to restrain the madness that has also been created by the Korean leaders in UBF.  Along with the many, many blessings, Korean leaders have intentionally and unintentionally exerted excessive demands to obedience, placing heavy burdens on American shepherds and shepherdesses. This has caused many American families much sorrow, anguish and confusion.  This open rebuke from Brian Karcher is to address this excessive authority issue in an attempt to prevent the pattern of pain from re-occurring in the next 50 years of UBF ministry.

BASIS OF REBUKE:

To rebuke is to criticize sharply; to reprimand, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. God’s command for Christians to rebuke is clear in Scripture.

Leviticus 19:17

“Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.”

Psalms 50:21

“These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.”

Proverbs 27:5

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

Matthew 18:15-17

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’  17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

1 Timothy 5:17-21

“17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.  18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”  19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.  21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.”

2 Timothy 4:1-3

“1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.  3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

DESCRIPTION OF THE SIN COMMITTED:

American leaders have been like donkeys, carrying Korean leaders in humble obedience on their backs for nearly 40 years.

Korean leaders have beaten down the American leaders and refused to turn over leadership to them. Korean leaders have refused to obey the vision God gave to the UBF founders, Sarah Barry and Dr.Samuel Lee. Their vision and prayer was for 561 American campus shepherds to be raised.

The story of Balaam and his donkey being confronted by the angel of the LORD is a Biblical metaphor that describes the sin of Korean leaders in UBF. In this metaphor, Balaam (the prophet of the LORD) represents Korean leaders. Balaam’s donkey represents American shepherds and shepherdesses. It is time for American leaders in UBF to take a stand in hopes that God may spare His wrath and pour out his blessings once again upon UBF.

Numbers 22:20-33

20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”  21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.  22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.  24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.  25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again.  26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.  27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff.  28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”  29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”  30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.  31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.  32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.  33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”

EVIDENCE OF THE SIN:

Brian Karcher has observed the excessive authority of Korean leaders for 24 years, since 1987.  He has stored up many things in his heart, but not knowing what to do about the sin. As Brian Karcher prepared his 2011 Key Verse testimony, no word of God came to him.  Then he read Sarah Barry’s New Year’s letter.  In it she prayed this prayer: “I pray for the UBF ministry worldwide to be salt and light in the world. I pray that our lay missionaries, who live and work in every area of society, may be men and women of integrity, with unashamed gospel faith. May they penetrate society like salt and light with godly influence that changes the world. May each of us dig deep into the Scriptures, grow in the image of Jesus and be Bible teachers. May God make us a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Based on this prayer, Brian Karcher took Matthew 5:13-16 as his key verse, not knowing how God would use this word.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

After attending the 2011 Easter Bible Conference with Toledo UBF, Brian Karcher was introduced to the Holy Spirit through a presentation on the Holy Spirit prepared by Tuf Francis. At that conference, Brian Karcher suddenly became an instrument in the hands of the Spirit of Truth (John 16:7-14).

The Holy Spirit of God prompted Brian Karcher to open a dialogue with Korean and American leaders in Toledo UBF on April 20^th, 2011.  He opened this dialogue by sending a conference report that contained an explanation of things that troubled him and also things he learned from the conference.

From that day until now, August 14^th, 2011, Brian Karcher has intentionally kept the dialogue open, refusing to quickly reconcile matters with Toledo UBF. The Spirit has worked in new and remarkable ways. Korean and Americans began talking to each other like never before. Instead of vertical-only conversations with shepherds, Brian Karcher’s dialogues opened up many horizontal-conversations, sparking debates and dialogues among numerous groups of coworkers, both in Toledo UBF and in other chapters around America. This dialogue has now run its course. This document serves as the closing reminder of this dialogue.

DEMANDS OF THIS REBUKE:

Leave no family alone in the mission field and send coworkers to every lone house church in America.

Create a plan for 561 American campus shepherds to plant 561 UBF chapters so that each chapter is fully supported by a regional chapter.

Request a succession plan from every Korean director to establish American leadership as ordained pastors by the central chapter

Draft a collaborative UBF Constitution, UBF Core Value Statement and UBF Mission Statement.

SUMMARY REBUKE OF KOREAN AUTHORITY IN UBF 2011.08.14

The Unity Committee

UBF used to have a “Public Relations Committee”. I have their reports. But now the same guy who led the PR Committee is heading a new committee…wait for it… the Unity Committee! And how is he leading this committee? Isaiah 45:21 is his direction. Just “declare what is to be”. Just coerce people into unity. Be united! Just command it, and it will be so…that’s what the 2012 UBF Newsletter says, in essence, on page 35 (see screenshot above). The goal of this Unity Committee is the same as the old Public Relations committee, which was also led by Jacob Lee. The goal is to create a good public face for UBF.

God quieted all critical people

Unity, in UBF terms can be described as “shouting slogans all together”. Ready… “Praise God for declaring what is to be in 2011. God quieted all critical people to UBF so that UBF may be used as God’s instrument for the world mission.” (2012 UBF Newsletter, page 35).

Apparently, God cannot work if there are critical people. Apparently God won’t bless people who think for themselves or ask questions or try to reform or improve things. Apparently God’s arm really is too short…

I will not be silent!

So according to the Director of Unity in UBF, God quieted all critical people in 2011? Really… so I guess Jacob Lee didn’t read my emails. I guess he didn’t read all the ubfriends articles or my priestlynation articles, and the world-wide discussions that ensued in the USA, Russia and China? I guess he didn’t read the recent Wikipedia entry or the Freedom of Mind entry? I guess the inclusion of UBF on 8 cult-watching groups world-wide doesn’t count as criticism?

Criticism of UBF in 2010, 2011 and 2012

In case you missed it…

Undocumented beliefs in UBF

UBF Spiritual Heritage

UBF Business Mission

UBF Official Teaching Material

Mission/Legalism/Tradition Hinders Spiritual Growth

Racism in the Church

Rethinking Genesis: Man Equals Mission

Shepherds or Sheep: Who Sacrifices More?

Sexual Sin and Church Leadership

Spiritual Abuse: Shape Up or Ship Out

An Explanation of the Excessive Control in UBF

The Myth of Multiplication, Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

The 1976 allegations are extremely serious and must be analyzed. Even a secular organization should be prompted to investigate such allegations and make public statements (or at least internal findings and actions). It is unfathomable to me now, to think that an organization that claims to be Christian and obedient to the Word of God would dismiss all the 1976 allegations outright. And it is further astounding to consider that I have heard several leaders in UBF say that such allegations are some sort of “badge of honor” or “persecution that proves UBF is God’s ministry.”

But back to the analysis at hand. Objectively speaking, it does not matter whether I or anyone else believes that the 1976 allegations are true or false. What matters is logic. What matters is that the allegations were made by Koreans 36 years ago.  In tonight’s reflection, I will use the five allegations from 1976 as a basis to discern the state of UBF over the past 24 years of my involvement as a shepherd, a leader and a Director.

If any of the 1976 claims are false, then we should see no evidence of their claims in the past 24 years.  If any of the 1976 claims are true, then we would hope to see evidence that the abuses ended in my 24 years. In fact, one would expect that the 11 years from 1976 (reform movement) to 1987 (when I joined UBF) would have been more than sufficient time to correct such abuses. So logically, during my time in UBF, I should not have seen any evidence of the abuses.

One fact to note is that the allegations cannot be dismissed as just “Korean culture”. Why? The reason is because Koreans started the reform movement in 1976. Also, the same abuses have been reported around the world in a consistent manner: Hong Kong, India, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, America and Germany have been most vocal in these matters. Unfortunately, and to my shame, America (the land of freedom) is one of the last countries to become vocal about the abuses in UBF.

Here is my analysis:

Did UBF change the past 24 years? If UBF did change, how did it change? Did UBF get better or worse after the 1976 reform movement? How effective and valid were the 1976 suggestions for ministry direction?

1976 Allegation #1 – Offering Abuses

Misappropriation of offering money

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that the $20,000 dollars offered for Bangladesh was not fully offered to Bangladesh. The offering money was raised by students selling wedding rings, textbooks and even donating blood for money. The UBF members in Korea took this offering seriously. The money should have been handled, then, with utmost care. The claim is that only $1,000 (from a different offering) was actually sent to Bangladesh and that the $20,000 sacrifice was used to buy the Kwan-Ak building (UBF center) in 1975.

FACTS: Indeed, the main ubf.org website in 2012 now claims to have sent $1,100 to Bangladesh: “In 1971, we sent $1,100 to Bangladesh refugees after the flood in that country. In 1976, $11,000 was sent to World Vision and the Christian Charity Institution in Bangladesh. In 1985, $22,000 was sent to Mexican refugees after the earthquake.” And in fact, Kwan-Ak was pioneered in 1975.

COMMENT: Do you see how infuriated you would feel in this situation? In 1976, the Koreans who made these claims were excommunicated by UBF. Yet, now UBF uses the misappropriation of offering as a “statement of glory” to show how sacrificial they are!

Concealment of an accounting book in UBF headquarters

CLAIM: The 1976 claim was that Samuel Lee and a small number of people were the only people who could see the UBF accounting book. There was no external audit and no financial accountability. Nobody knew how the offerings were actually used.

FACTS: In 2002, Samuel Lee died in a fire in Chicago, Illinois. It was only then that UBF started to consider financial accountability.  In October 8, 2007, UBF joined the ECFA as part of the bid to be reinstated into the NAE. It was then revealed that UBF (at least the American headquarters) has nearly $13 million.

COMMENT: Some chapters outside Chicago kept, and continue to keep, detailed offering records. But only a select few leaders are privy to such information. Even with the ECFA information, many questions need to be raised. How will the $13 million be spent? Does the ECFA accounting reflect UBF worldwide or just America? Is the Korean UBF offering separate? How did UBF avoid a major, multi-million dollar fine from the IRS in America in 2007?

Obscure expenses and expenditures

CLAIM: The 1976 claims were that Samuel Lee did a lot of obscure spending of money, such as buying a lot of real estate without discussion, spending more than his salary of $100, and bribing Korean religious leaders who were criticizing him.

FACTS: I simply don’t have any facts here. Some would say it doesn’t matter what Samuel Lee did because he is now dead. It matters tremendously however, because his influence was everything up until 2002.

COMMENTS: The 1976 letter has an intriguing comment: “You show us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).”

2012 Allegation #1 – Offering Abuses

Lack of financial accountability in satellite and international chapters

I claim that the 1976 allegations of offering abuse exist in 2012. Although the Chicago UBF headquarters has taken steps toward financial accountability by joining the ECFA and avoiding a large IRS fine, the satellite UBF chapters remain unaccountable. Each UBF staff conference has a morning “financial” session, quickly thrown together and often not in the program. Offering accountability is still left to a small number of people, who try to do a good job, but simply cannot enforce any valid accountability in satellite chapters. Chapters outside Chicago UBF in the USA are left to their own accounting methods, although they are asked to submit a form (yes a single form) to the UBF headquarters on a yearly basis. The typical non-profit accountability methods are not employed in UBF in the US. And who knows what the accounting is like in other countries and especially in Korea?

Obscure expenses and expenditures

In spite of the ECFA membership, obscure expenses still exist. Random and odd expenses have routinely occurred in my experience the past 24 years.  Often, the various UBF committees do not even know exactly where some satellite chapters are! It took many years for my contact information to become correct in the UBF daily bread booklet, even though we’ve had the same address since 2006. I repeatedly gave the same contact info every staff conference since then. Examples of obscure expenses: A UBF director calls the chapter bookkeeper at 4:30 am in the morning demanding cash. A UBF director is offered something called “UBF insurance” for things like car accidents. A student gets a parking ticket while on a UBF conference trip, and UBF pays for the ticket. When proper accounting controls are in place, people feel confident that their offering money will be used as stated. In 2012 in UBF, such confidence does not yet exist.

Some claim, as I used to, that UBF has changed and is changing, and is no longer cult-like, or never was cult-like. This is partially true, but such conclusions are made by those with blind eyes who are in denial of historical fact. Such people are those who praise God, but ignore division.

Indeed, internal changes are constantly happening in UBF. After every reform movement the past 50 years, UBF leaders adopt new and better language such as “theology” or “grace” or “Holy Spirit”, but these are nothing more than internal adjustments. The fundamental doctrines of UBF (i.e. the Spiritual Hertiage of God’s ways from Samuel Lee) remain unchanged. From time to time, I see small glimmers of the Spirit working, but see little evidence of the abundant, transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, I see a constant re-writing of UBF history by UBF people.

In the past two years, UBF’s headquarters in Chicago has made much effort to keep a good public face to the larger Christian community. While this is unprecedented, given UBF’s absolutely closed past and severe criticism of Western Christianity, such public-facing activities have not made an impact outside Chicago. Indeed, from both an inside and an outside perspective, such attempts at being loosely connected with Western Christianity seem to be only a way of covering up the problems that have led UBF to be on cult-watching groups.

Yes, in 2012, there are six groups that list UBF as “being watched” or as “abherrant”.

1. Apologetics Index
2. Rick Ross Institute
3. New England Institute of Religious Research
4. Cult Information Services of Northeast Ohio, Inc.
5. CARM
6. Freedom of Mind

The Apologetics Index says this:

“In short, we have seen nothing that suggests University Bible Fellowship’s teachings and practices should not — at the very least — be cause of concern for Christians. In our opinion, the UBF is an unhealthy organization whose teachings and practices provide a breeding ground for spiritual elitism and spiritual abuse.

Theologically, we consider the University Bible Fellowship to be at best an aberrant movement. In Christian theology, aberrant means, “Off-center or in error in some important way, such that the doctrine or practice should be rejected and those who accept it held to be sinning, even though they may very well be Christian.” (source)

In 2004, UBF was expelled from the NAE. What the public probably doesn’t know is that only the Chicago chapter was a member, and not as a denomination but only as an organization. In 2008, UBF re-applied, more officially, and persuaded the new NAE board members to accept them, partly because of the new UBF public relations activities.

But has UBF changed?

To answer that, I look back at the three reform movements and note the ongoing 2011 independence movement (called a crisis by the UBF 50th Anniversary Book). After reviewing the reform material, I’ve decided to focus on the 1976 reform movement and see what reforms, if any, suggested by the Korean staff shepherds in 1976 have been implemented as of 2012.

Below are the highlights of the Korean-drafted 1976 UBF reform letters. In follow-up comments to this article, I will share my observations as an American Director shepherd who was “Mr.UBF” and defended UBF for 24 years, from 1987 to 2011. I would hope others would share their observations (minus the emotion and focusing on facts).

The 1976 reform movement:

– Led by seven Korean UBF staff shepherds

– Reform letter was sent April 17, 1976 before Easter to Samuel Lee

– Their allegations are based on factual, eye-witness accounts, most of which are well-documented

– Allegations of Offering Abuses:

• Misappropriation of offering money
• Concealment of an accounting book in UBF headquarters
• Obscure expenses and expenditures

– Allegations of Human Rights Abuses:

• Examples of violence
• Forced arranged marriage

– Allegations of Illegal Activity:

• Theft
• Forged documents and bribe
• Destruction of family

– Allegations of Non-Biblical Education:

• Forced repentance
• Forced testimony sharing
• Infusion of personal philosophy
• Inhumane training

– Allegations of Ministry centered on Samuel Lee:

• Committees unable to operate freely
• Dictatorship style meetings

1976 Reform Direction

Ministry directions of UBF

UBF should be the ministry that God may use after solving the problems mentioned above. We suggest the following ministry directions based on the Bible. We want to change the regulations of UBF based on the following directions.

Main direction: The Holy Spirit instead of one person should lead ministry. The agenda should be discussed and determined together.

1. System

(1) Identical man-made system should be changed to creative and independent system that respects the ministry of local chapters (Ephesians 2:21,22).

(2) Each chapter is led under each chapter director’s responsibility. UBF discussion committee should be organized.

(3) Abroad chapters are independently administrated. Offering money for missionaries’ education and training should be sent to the main accounting department (Romans 15:25,26). Missionary sends offering to his home chapter by his own will.

2. Enforcement of committee

The function of committees should be reinforced to establish budget, audit, inspect accounting, and administer personnel (Acts 20:28).

3. Separation of administration

Administration personnel will control budget, accounting and auditing. (Currently, the president of leaders has controlled accounting even though he should concentrate on the
prayer and the ministry of the word.) (Acts 6:3-6)

4. Education of shepherds and missionaries

Impersonal physical training should be stopped and education should concentrate on spiritual inspiration. (1 Timothy 4:7,8)

5. Administration of personnel

Personnel administration committee should maintain the administration of personnel. (Currently, the president of leaders decides and maintains the administration of
personnel.) (Acts 1:15-26)

6. Protection of private life

The family of shepherds and laymen should not be inhibited by anybody for any reason.

So again I ask, did UBF change after the 1976 reform movement?

I present the letter from the 2000 UBF reform movement, again led by Korean staff shepherds, as evidence that nothing fundamentally changed in UBF from 1976 to 2000. The “change” was nothing more than internal adjustments and appeasements.

The 2000 reform movement:

God established UBF 39 years ago and has blessed her to send out over 1,500 missionaries to 87 countries. Being convinced that we need the mentality of reform, open-mindedness and an embracing attitude in order to grow and progress further, we declare the following in this beginning year of a new millennium:

First, the Lordship of Jesus Christ should be restored in UBF. It is God who established our fellowship. But in the last 39 years, everything has been decided and ruled by one man and many people have been hurt in the process. This ill must stop now. We need to accept Jesus Christ as the King of our fellowship. UBF should be guided by the Holy Spirit and grow and develop by the free consultations and cooperation of coworkers.

Second, our fellowship should become a Christ-centered community of love. Thus far, due to authoritarianism and number-emphasis in our fellowship, the personal relationships among coworkers has been jeopardized. Love and trust have been sorely missing. Now we need to get back to our Lord’s command, “Love one another.” Our fellowship needs to become a mature fellowship built around love and service.

Third, we need to embark on educating staff shepherds as spiritual experts in order to have spiritual quality.

It is our sincere desire to pursue the above goals in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation. We do not want UBF to be divided. We will keep the spirit of dialogue in the Holy Spirit to the end.

May 23, 2000

Initiating members of the committee for UBF reform:

MyungRoon UBF
DaeJeon UBF
MohkPoh UBF
JeonJoo UBF
SooWon UBF
DaeGoo UBF
InCheon UBF
KyoungHeemoon UBF
Pusan UBF
KyoungJoo UBF
ChungJoo UBF

(source)

Can you believe it? I actually reached the point in 2010 that I thought maybe I had no need to repent. I was clearly wrong! Here is a brief summary of my stop/start repentance topics from 2011:

Stop pretending everything is wonderful in UBF.
Stop defending organizations of men as if they were God’s kingdom.
Stop dictating my ideas about truth.
Stop demanding other people adhere to my standard of piety.
Stop thinking that my piety is the highest and best in the world.
Stop inventing glorious reports about the work of God.
Stop taking direction from doubled-minded people.
Stop spinning facts into perceptions that fit my ideals.
Stop proof-texting my religious claims.
Stop sitting by idly while my friends are suffering.

Start speaking up about things that disturb me.
Start publicly and vocally discussing actions that are wrong.
Start reaching out to other Christians.
Start reading about Christian doctrines.
Start expressing myself through blogging.
Start holding accountable those who have been unaccountable.
Start listening for the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Start understanding humanity.
Start studying the Old Testament from the viewpoint of Jesus.
Start realizing, accepting and extending the grace of God.

What stood out to me is the statement that UBF missionaries have been doing “stuff that would be punished”. Now, I’m not sure why sin would be mitigated to “stuff”, but still this is a shocking (and rather positive) statement to read from a visiting missionary. I long for the day when the “stuff” may be fully brought into the light of Jesus.

Missionaries, who are warriors of faith and soldiers of Christ, are struggling to pioneer with much challenge. They are given the fullness of love and training from the great God. I know the only one work God is doing: He is considering, “Today, on whom shall I grant the blessing?”, “On whom shall I grant the blessing?” However, we are doing stuff that would be punished, not the kind of stuff that would be blessed. I pray that we would confess our past sins, and become the Lord’s angels, warriors of faith, and soldiers of Christ, so that we can do the kind of stuff that would be blessed, not the kind of stuff that would be punished. In 2011, I pray that I would become a faithful servant of God who serves the Lord and the servants of the Lord to the end with all my heart.

(source)

For example, there is a lecture entitled “Independent Mindset”, which explains some reasons why UBF kept separated from mainline churches (and apparently will continue to do so). That lecture also documents the creation of a “culture of mature actions”, which includes actions such as “marriage by faith”. The “mature actions” are not defined, just documented partially.

Back to my original reason for today’s post: more quotes from the concluding lecture of this book. As I read this lecture several times, I just could not believe what I was reading. I had heard the criticisms against UBF for many years. But I always dismissed one of the biggest criticisms: replacing grace with works in regard to salvation. I thought, even up to yesterday, that this criticism had no basis. Well, we can now judge for ourselves whether this criticism has any merit.

“From the 1990s, we made every effort to find better ways and alternatives to serve this generation.”

Every effort? I was there. I saw no effort, other than a few appeasing actions, such as allowing some modern songs instead of demanding only hymn songs at Sunday worship service.

“However, we have not found alternatives better than one-to-one Bible study, Daily Bread, testimony writing, a life giving spirit with five loaves and two fish, a pioneering spirit, a community spirit, and a self-supporting spirit that we have had from the beginning of UBF history. Nobody can deny that those works are the best ways to raise disciples and missionaries who can preach the gospel.”

Nobody can deny this? So the mass exodus in various major chapters around the world this year is because these “best ways” worked so well? Oh wait, they are the people mentioned in part 1 of this lecture: “Co-workers who were once great in their faith fall into the temptations of sin. Some became tempters to knock down the faith of others.”

The lecture goes on to bind the works of UBF to God’s work. Then, after tying these “best ways” to “the eternal truth of God’s words”, we have this rather amazing statement:

“When we continue to stand firm on the truth of the Bible without being swayed in this changing generation, what great hope and blessing will be given to us through the Bible? First, the holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation. Look at verse 15 “…and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Wisdom for salvation!”

Do you see the binding going on? Surely, the Scriptures do make us wise for salvation. But how does UBF say we should find such wisdom? It is through the “best ways” described above. According to UBF, we are to be bound to their “best ways” because the “best ways” are bound to the Holy Scriptures. And in fact, there is no alternative since UBF leaders have not found anything better. Well, in one Bible study at my new church, I found something better: the grace of God.

To make this plain and simple, and to remove all the Christianized wordings: UBF teaches salvation by works. The blue book is proof.

Today I’m publicly repenting of having Bible study with a stuffed animal! This is quite embarrassing, but alas, I did follow this direction in 2004. I actually bought a stuffed bear from the campus shop. I had two Bible studies with it. And I reported these as real Bible studies, as if they were college students.

I used to defend my prior organization by saying that kind of weird stuff happened only in the 1970’s. All the while I was denying the fact that I was propagating the same flawed ideas. But I had to produce numbers somehow, and that was one solution I was given.

Some of my favorite Keith Green songs are “Make My Life A Prayer To You” and “Run to The End of the Highway”.

But did you know Keith Green led an authoritarian discipleship movement? Music was Keith’s gift, but pastoring was not.

Despite the intimidating effect of the Shepherding hierarchical structure on lower level members, confrontations between shepherds and sheep do occur. In February, 1981, 15 former members of Last Days Ministries of Lindale, Texas, sent an open letter to their pastor, 29-year-old Keith Green, expressing distress over the “hurt, bitterness, often utter devastation through condemnation and unnecessary fears” they said had been suffered by members as a result of some of Green’s policies. They felt that Green had become a pastor too soon after being “saved,” and reminded him that “good intentions can, in the process of time, almost be cancelled by violating wise Biblical commands and principles.” Specifically, Green was accused of:

– Causing members to live in “constant dread and fear,” mostly over the prospect of punishment or expulsion. Those who expressed a wish to leave were accused of being in rebellion against God, and predictions of dire consequences, such as miscarriage, and even cancer, were made.

– Encouraging some members “to disregard our parents’ wishes…and even to sever our relationship with them at times

– Enforcing 12-14 hour work days with frequent 48 hour “burns” (work without stopping.)

– Requiring that new members of the community “sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Green was accused of sometimes living “in a totally different standard than the others in the ministry…for example…owning property while others must sell all of theirs…”

– Exercising undue control of members’ lives: “Because of the structure of the ministry it is necessary to give up our will to you to make important decisions for us that we ourselves should have been allowed to make…”

– Interfering in the relationship between husband and wife “to the point that your word was law….” Green was reminded that “the fruit of the ministry should not be marital strife, separation, and even divorce.”

– Confusing his “sheep” by vacillating between various shepherding bodies, so that no one knew what his source of authority was. They felt “like people on a small sailboat in a storm and you are the main sail, being blown about here and there with the latest, heaviest disciplinary doctrine.”

How did Keith respond to such allegations? He repented. He acknowledged the things he was accused of were true. And he made policy changes.

Green wrote in reply that “all the things you shared about me lording it over the sheep are very true,” and he promised to discontinue the following practices that had been criticized:

– New members would now retain complete control of their own property.

– Workers would be financially compensated.

– There would be no restrictions on letters, phone calls and relationships except for continuation of a one-year “no dating” policy for community members.

– No one would be asked to “clear” personal decisions with Green.

– No one would be disparaged or accused of “rebellion” for leaving.

Green also expressed his intention to add more personnel so that the work week could be cut to a more normal length. And finally, he promised to be more open to suggestions and willing to make changes in the future. Tragically for Green, the future proved to be very short. The young pastor was killed in the crash of his private plane in July of 1982. (source)

That Voy post actually helped me recently. Being called the “Tom Cruise of UBF” reminded me earlier this year of one of my favorite Tom Cruise movies, A Few Good Men. After watching this movie again this year, I decided to repent of defending UBF and learn from Tom Cruise’s character in that movie, Lt. Daniel Kaffee.

The tagline of the movie became a real-life inspiration to me: “In the heart of the nation’s capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government, one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth.” The dialogue in the movie regarding honor vs. truth opened my mind to see how wrong it is to ignore truth for the sake of honor. I pray that God’s people may be people of truth, asking questions and untwisting flawed theology.

Here is my favorite clip. Perhaps I am the Tom Cruise of UBF afterall.

Ending Part 1:

Ending Part 2:

Evasion of facts

Double-talk

Baghdad Brian

Treated differently

Salt in wounds

Not thinking

Not shocked

Original Links:

http://www.voy.com/60734/8688.html
http://www.voy.com/60734/8658.html
http://www.voy.com/60734/8660.html
http://www.voy.com/60734/8509.html
http://www.voy.com/60734/8119.html
http://www.voy.com/60734/7341.html

On his web page Karcher says:

“By reading some of the criticims of UBF, it would appear that they would have me denounce UBF and join the bandwagon of criticism.”

No, you should demand a Biblical response from UBF leadership to confess and repent.

“They paint a dark picture, as if UBF is a corrupt, unethical or evil organization with malicious intent.”

Stick to the specifics. What things has UBF done and would should the response be? The worst thing is not the abortions, beatings, or misuse of money or the fact that UBF has really hurt many people. The worst thing is the refusal to acknowledge even a little bit that it has done anything wrong or that it is willing to correct anything, or that many people deserve an apology and to be told, “It’s not you, it was UBF!” UBF deeply hurt me by violating the trust I had in it to respond in a Biblical way to the abuse I an others encountered. That hurt still hurts because I loved doing what I was doing with the people I was doing it with. Besides leaving, the only option was to do what you and others have been doing that is to deny the reality of those who were hurt and abused. Thus it continues. Nothing has been resolved.

“What should I say? Should I deny all that I’ve known and investigated and experienced to be true and in accordance with Scripture? Should I deny the genuine work of God that I’ve witnessed firsthand for so many years? Should I suddenly “open my eyes” and start interpretting the words and actions of people in UBF as if they had malicious, hidden, selfish motives? Should I suddenly feel all alone and as if all of UBF is against me, secretly out to destroy me? ”

You should demand that UBF answer the allegations against it, confess, repent, make a constitution to deal with abuse, and also face those who were hurt or left UBF because of these incidents and tell them, “We are sorry, we were wrong, please forgive me.”

Should I be shocked at the events mentioned? Should I leave UBF because it is banned by some religious organizations? Should I be angry that UBF is not part of a human organization like the NAE (which by the way has its own problems)? I think not!

YES! YOU SHOULD BE SHOCKED!

If UBF does not repent, then yes, you should leave it. Rather than blaming the NAE, which UBF boasted about for so long, you should ask, “What did UBF do to deserve being expelled?”

(source)

How did this elder reply? Eventually he calmed down and we reached an “agree-to-disagree” type state. But his first reply back was this:

I am sorry, but change what? Admitting that we broke into a house 20 years ago and won’t do it again? Admitting all of our sins? Really, what will that do? You really want all my sins or just certain ones? Okay, we broke into a house illegally 20 years ago. I didn’t know about it, but I suppose it is true. Now what?

We really have to cover one another’s sins. This is love too, don’t you think? Do we have to let everyone know all the sins committed by all the members of UBF around the world? Where does it stop?

Honestly, I have too much to worry about in my daily life of trying to serve Jesus where I am to worry about that.

Aside from the obvious points about how a Christian elder should react, this response reveals something else troubling to me. I see a clear lack of respect for the Fourth Amendment and the law of the land in America. His reference above to an illegal breakin is because I recently revealed my role in a breaking and entering situation (My Confession). I don’t want “all people’s sins” to be confessed publicly. What I want is one sin confessed publicly; the sin of how James and Rebecca Kim were treated in 1990 in Toledo. How could an elder American Christian brush off an illegal act so lightly? If the police had been called in 1990, they would not have taken things so lightly.

Soon it will be Constitution Day here in the US. I plan to blog about this amazing document to remind myself and others that we who are living on American soil must abide by American laws. The Ohio breaking and entering law is based on the Fourth Amendment.

The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution states that people in America have the right to be secure in their own homes. All their belongings belong to them. No on has a right to enter another person’s house, search through their stuff and pack it into a truck.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

(source)

The Toledo UBF messenger does not discuss Jesus’ love and sacrifice to give his people spiritual rest from the heavy burdens of this world. The Toledo UBF messenger does not even discuss Jesus giving us rest for our souls through his death of the cross for our sins and resurrection from the grave. In fact, the messenger’s focus is that people must find spiritual rest through works rather than Jesus. The messenger writes “Practically, we can find rest through Christian fellowship that reflect the real presence of Christ Jesus.”

It seems that the Toledo author uses the Bible passage just to pick an idea to get his/her thinking rolling. In this case, the Toledo author picks “rest”. But after s/he picks an idea, “rest”, his/her thinkig takes off like an unrestrained wild roller-coaster ride. Once s/he picks the idea of “rest” from the passage, the rest of his/her thinking or analysis of “rest” has nothing to do with the Bible passage. The Toledo author is thinking very hard about “rest” but his/her thinking lacks biblical foundation.

I actually taught that rest in Jesus is to do more work! I even implied that the more “spiritual” you are, the more work you will do, and thus the more rest you will find.

For this I am deeply sorry. I publicly repent of such horrid teachings. I am so thankful for those who were willing to speak honest words regarding what I was doing.

The original critique of my message from 2006 is here: http://rsqubf.livejournal.com/86003.html

And here are some honest observations that someone made after reading my message:

Here are some examples of UBF’s “true rest” and its “therapeutic” effects from a previous discussion:

* Andrew and his elder brother Ivan were down with influenza and temperature above 39C. Yet, they were commanded to attend a meeting. Ivan did not attend the meeting, therefore his wedding was postponed. Andrew – being younger and not so courageous to decline – attended the meeting that lasted after midnight when there was scarce public transport. After that, he got a sever pneumonia and later bronchitis, which healed completely only after leaving UBF, because in UBF he had never enough time to rest and recover.

* Before conferences, they had 15 different meetings a week in Kiev (in Heidelberg, it was similar, by the way) where they had to come to the center

* Those who wanted to visit their parents in the summer holidays were publicly dispraised

* Those members who attended other churches in Kiev were considered “lost sheep” [must not be “true rest” if you “keep the Sabbath holy” in a different church]

* You could not be in a good standing with UBF without attending *all* meetings

* One shepherdess was told to come to a meeting, although she had fever and her infant at home

* When the wife of the leader left the hospital in order to attend a UBF meeting, though she was on a drip, this was presented as exemplary behavior

* If you leave Kiev and visit another church in another town, you are denounced by the leader [Again, the “true Sabbath rest” must only be in UBF.]

Only after you leave UBF do you learn that “rest” in the Bible may actually means rest and “freedom” may actually mean freedom.

A reputable teacher knows and teaches that Jesus himself is a Christians’ true Sabbath rest. But in UBF, with the holy importance given to the Sunday meeting(s) and equating it (and only it) with “keeping the Sabbath holy,” I did not once hear that Jesus is our true Sabbath rest, in my decades spent there. UBF effectively turned Jesus’ teaching on its head and made Sunday my least favorite day: Man was made for the Sabbath, not the Sabbath for Man.