Not to downplay what you're saying, but I think John Townsend taught way tree and Donnie taught witnessing and undershepherding. They do both kinda go together.
I do remember Donnie teaching TWT, I also knew plenty of people in the 70's and some inthe early 80"s who were wc that honestly believed the higher up the way tree you were, the guaranteed yur retirement was.
In my not so humble opinion, I think the way tree was the structure that was the counterfeit to the true workings of the body of Christ and was the instrument that put people into bondage and gave control to the egomaniacs that ran twi.
...and yes, it was that snotty little Johnny Townsend who taught that seminar...the way tree was rotten from it's inception and was more like a corporate hierarchy than anything in the bible...a chain of command where Vic the grifter could seize control of people's lives without getting his own hands dirty...it was loathsome and it was decadent...
...nothing personal against you Y'Idon'tgotochurch...here, have a donut on me. :)
I forgot about that old way tree class. In hindsight it was alot like an Amwang pyramid scheme.
It's funny how we needed a class to talk about the corporate structure of TWI. Usually such a discussion would be reserved for those at a shareholders level.
While we are at it I am starting my own pyramid scheme. Here is how it works: just send your money to me. there is nothing to buy as I am not bothering with products which just get in the way anyhow. The more you send me the higher up on my list you become. Also the earlier you send me money the faster you can be high up on the list. I will accept money orders or major credit cards...
A few years on from what you experienced, I seem to remember that the Way Tree class was criticised because it wasn't taught in a way that demonstrated any sound scriptural basis for the ideas involved. But perhaps it had evolved at that stage from what you had previously seen (and may well have been good ideas at the beginning) to something much more corporate in it's application.
When I heard it I personally came to the conclusion that the Way Tree was essentially non-scriptural and more of a corporate structure set up by men. As I recall, it seemed to me that they had tried to bend at least one scripture that even the most hardened follower would find hard to swallow as a basis for a "Way Tree", as it had become at that time.
So, I suppose that they had no choice but to drop the class, although they continued to teach and operate the principles, nevertheless.
One argument that was given to support the Way Tree doctrine at that time: - "they are spiritual men, so don't you think that they know what they're doing?"
In fact, that seems to be the dividing line with organisations where contentious decisions are made: you're confronted because you should recognise that decisions made by the "leaders" are spiritual ones and therefore, if you are a spiritual person, you should agree with them, or else get out of the way of those who do. And if you do choose to cross the "dividing line" and go along with this, it may be very difficult for you to get back again if you're wrong.
Anyway, can I offer you another doughnut? It's on me. I like the custard ones. Mmmmmmmm.
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johniam
Not to downplay what you're saying, but I think John Townsend taught way tree and Donnie taught witnessing and undershepherding. They do both kinda go together.
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washingtonweather
I do remember Donnie teaching TWT, I also knew plenty of people in the 70's and some inthe early 80"s who were wc that honestly believed the higher up the way tree you were, the guaranteed yur retirement was.
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GrouchoMarxJr
In my not so humble opinion, I think the way tree was the structure that was the counterfeit to the true workings of the body of Christ and was the instrument that put people into bondage and gave control to the egomaniacs that ran twi.
...and yes, it was that snotty little Johnny Townsend who taught that seminar...the way tree was rotten from it's inception and was more like a corporate hierarchy than anything in the bible...a chain of command where Vic the grifter could seize control of people's lives without getting his own hands dirty...it was loathsome and it was decadent...
...nothing personal against you Y'Idon'tgotochurch...here, have a donut on me. :)
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polar bear
Yea-why the heck did we need a class on how to climb a tree?
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Out There
I forgot about that old way tree class. In hindsight it was alot like an Amwang pyramid scheme.
It's funny how we needed a class to talk about the corporate structure of TWI. Usually such a discussion would be reserved for those at a shareholders level.
While we are at it I am starting my own pyramid scheme. Here is how it works: just send your money to me. there is nothing to buy as I am not bothering with products which just get in the way anyhow. The more you send me the higher up on my list you become. Also the earlier you send me money the faster you can be high up on the list. I will accept money orders or major credit cards...
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excathedra
i hated that class
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Pete
YIdon'tgotochurch
A few years on from what you experienced, I seem to remember that the Way Tree class was criticised because it wasn't taught in a way that demonstrated any sound scriptural basis for the ideas involved. But perhaps it had evolved at that stage from what you had previously seen (and may well have been good ideas at the beginning) to something much more corporate in it's application.
When I heard it I personally came to the conclusion that the Way Tree was essentially non-scriptural and more of a corporate structure set up by men. As I recall, it seemed to me that they had tried to bend at least one scripture that even the most hardened follower would find hard to swallow as a basis for a "Way Tree", as it had become at that time.
So, I suppose that they had no choice but to drop the class, although they continued to teach and operate the principles, nevertheless.
One argument that was given to support the Way Tree doctrine at that time: - "they are spiritual men, so don't you think that they know what they're doing?"
In fact, that seems to be the dividing line with organisations where contentious decisions are made: you're confronted because you should recognise that decisions made by the "leaders" are spiritual ones and therefore, if you are a spiritual person, you should agree with them, or else get out of the way of those who do. And if you do choose to cross the "dividing line" and go along with this, it may be very difficult for you to get back again if you're wrong.
Anyway, can I offer you another doughnut? It's on me. I like the custard ones. Mmmmmmmm.
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