The David C. Pack Tapes — #34 RCG Ministers: “Are they incompetent?”
November 10, 2022 | by Marc Cebrian
This third release of conversations between William H. Behrer, III, and David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God is a discussion planning a future ministerial lecture. Based on the content, this would have taken place between late 2012 to early 2014.
Dave had a pie-in-the-sky idea about training the men under his control to be “strong," like Herbert W. Armstrong of The Worldwide Church of God, by using video clips of him yelling. Because that is a sign of how right someone is. The louder they are, the truer they are. (Even my parents understood that.)
By all accounts, this lecture never happened. It was another “good idea” that did not survive the crawl to reality. Mr. Behrer was letting Dave vent, as do all the ministers at Headquarters unto this day. Let him spit it out, and then you can move on with the rest of your life.
For those who may find this hard to follow: LCG is The Living Church of God headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. UCG is The United Church of God. A “C.I.” is a church inquiry when someone contacts the church for more information or requests to talk with a minister.
Tape #34 is a pre-lunch two-and-a-half minutes long. The dialogue was already underway by the time Mr. Behrer hit the button.
This transcript has been cleaned up to make it more intelligible.
[Start]
DCP: “How many of you thought what I just said was tough? How many of you thought these those last six sentences were strong?” “Wow, Mr. Pack, you're never that strong.” “Here's some other things I want you to be aware.” Boom. Boom. Boom. “How many of you thought that was strong? I wanna show you how far we've come from Herbert Armstrong.” Because I just showed Jeff the strongest statements I've ever made since I have led, under Christ, The Restored Church of God.
“Let's now listen to Mr. Armstrong. Here's strong.” I wanna show him on the broadcast [The World Tomorrow]. Just that tenor voice blasting, blowing the chandeliers out.
WHB: We have him in the Philippines, too—
DCP: In the eighties. Yeah, I'd like to hear that.
WHB: At the Philippine campaign.
DCP: I'd like to hear a whole series of excerpts. 20, 30 seconds. No more. And just stop. “How many still think I'm strong after the first one? Let's hear another one.” Boom. In the middle of a sermon. It could be video and audio. It's gonna be a very special lecture. And say, “Now look, I'm going to get stronger. I've waited years and this is the place to do it.”
Our ministers need to get better. Are they mechanical? Are they incompetent? Are they neglectful? Are they arrogant? They just think they know better. "I know what it said, but I'm just kinda disobedient, you know?” What is the problem? Are they just incredibly weak? Because I'm finding, when I listen to [minister], I read that. I know it takes time to develop C.I.s. With [minister], New Zealand there.
WHB: Yes.
DCP: And that's one view. Wudden't that shocking? LCG just baptized him.
WHB: Very much. But, not surprising. Not surprising. I've seen it with UCG. Not surprisingly, and it varies from minister to minister. I'm not even convinced that they would endorse that in Charlotte, but ministers basically—
DCP: It's tolerated. Tolerated. And that might be part of our problem. We don't endorse a lot of stuff that's going on out there. We don't have field structure. Who are the guys? You know. I had fourteen things in the list.
WHB: Okay.
DCP: You know, Bill, I see the meals are arriving, but…
WHB: So, wanna stop?
DCP: Sure.
[End]
The man mentioned near the end has not been a member of RCG for several years. His name was redacted since he was not the focal point of the discussion.
“Wow, Mr. Pack, you're never that strong.”
When it was mentioned in the previous tape article about patterns emerging the more you listen to these recordings, I was not kidding. Dave loves to put his words in other people's mouths, especially when they speak highly of him. It is like he winds up a bunch of toy monkeys, places them in front of himself, and makes them all clap in his direction.
The world David C. Pack lives in is filled with people who admire and praise him. He is a human idol, after all, so that makes sense. His idea of what people think of him and what he says is clear, powerful, strong, electrifying, fascinating—vomit.
The reality is that Dave’s teachings are confusing, contradictory, repetitive, fleeting, and boring.
He shared with Mr. Behrer the back-and-forth interaction that would never come to pass. He knew how his audience would respond and be wowed because what he says is always super-duper important.
“Our ministers need to get better.”
This has been David C. Pack’s burden since The Worldwide Church of God crumbled. There were no strong and faithful ministers left, so Dave had to go it alone. All the weaklings he has been stuck with were nothing compared to the Golden Boys of WCG. It is the Laodicean age, don’t ya see?
Dave often spoke from the lectern about how he lamented no "good senior ministers" were left in the world. They had all compromised and softened by joining a splinter or staying home. Or just died.
Even when men like Mr. Behrer and Mr. Dale Schurter were brought into the RCG bullpen, they eventually soured in Dave's eyes. He got what he wanted, but they had flaws and were not good enough for him. So, back to going it alone. Boo hoo.
Every minister who drifts in and out of RCG Headquarters has had to sit and listen to how disappointed Dave has been with the fields he is forced to reap from. There is no quality grain left to make decent bread. You can only bake with the ingredient you have.
These same men have witnessed Dave tear apart the man sitting next to them, hoping he does not move one chair to the left or right. But, all those men get a turn in due course.
The ridicule and tear-downs do not end when you leave the room. Oh no. Chances are when you walk down the hallway after they close the door, it is your turn, too. Dave is famous for ripping into the man who is not present. It is an ever-revolving door of scorn.
David C. Pack is not afraid to verbally assault you to the point of tears in front of others, but his more "casual sniping" occurs when the target is not in sight.
No minister at The Restored Church of God can call me a liar on this. The accounts are too similar from too many for too long. Thus is the way of God’s apostle. The sometimes-Elijah. A man chock-full and running over with God’s Holy Spirit. Uh…sure.
The natural pattern of abuse begins on the third floor and works its way throughout the entire organization. Fear, confusion, and doubt are the spirits at work in RCG today.
“Are they incompetent? Neglectful? Arrogant? Disobedient? Incredibly weak?”
This is how David C. Pack sees the men around him. He is forced to work with this raw clay to make ministers out of it. No wonder he gets more and more pissy as we “go on for another year.”
Some think the brethren have it tough, but try being a minister at Headquarters, and you will get a taste of The Real Dave. These tape releases have yet to demonstrate his full behind-the-scenes fury.
What has become a boon for the entire Restored Church of God Whistleblowing industry is that what Dave would have said years ago only behind closed doors is now streamed to the whole church. That is one metric of how David C. Pack is losing control. His deterioration is being documented out in the open by the progressive madness of “The Greatest Unending Story!” Series that will finally come to a final end with the final Part 404 this Friday night. Finally.
No one can edit Dave anymore. I think even Brad has let go of the wheel, and if Dave takes the car off the cliff, so be it.
David C. Pack is far above the men who surround him.
They are the incompetent, arrogant ones. Not him.
They are the blaspheming murderous ones. Not him.
They are the hypocritical thieves. Not him.
When God does eventually intervene, I suspect the most surprised person on the planet will be Pester General David C. Pack.
