Below is a notice we received from Martha Edwards lawyers regrading taking down the site. I really do dislike how the site was misrepresented. Please pay close attention to how the wording in our About Us was changed to state we are a group of disgruntled former member who left in shame. That is not what our site says. We are not disgruntled. We did not leave Church of the Living God International in shame. If we left Church of the Living God International I in shame, the shame was a direct result the lies, deceit, and abuse suffered by the leadership and some members of Church of the Living God International . We have not lied or slandered the name of Church of the Living God International . However, the leadership of Church of the Living God International has slandered and outright murdered the character and reputations of many. This site only gives a place for the victims of such outrageous and egregious assaults by Church of the Living God International a place to warn others to steer clear of this dangerous organization. I, nor anyone else here wants anyone to suffer the abuse we endured while apart of this cult masking itself as a church.
I would force them to take you to court! You can’t take away that right which was established by the Bill of Rights 1689. This letter looks like nothing more than a threat from a law office paid for by that church and it’s member tithes and offerings. They should be using the money to helping the poor or better yet bettering the lives of its current members. They are still contacting and harassing former members of the church (Ppl have videos, phone records and text messages of such behavior). They don’t want an actual legal proceeding. They just want this to go away!!! They’re pitiful…
Yeah that’s a good thought. And, to go to court with about 5 others that have suffered the very physical and spiritual abuse we speak of would hurt their case of prosecution so easily. Its an extremely weak attempt to intimidate, and shouldn’t really go anywhere.
I like how this letter begins with a LIE! Church of the Living God International was NOT founded in 1903. “House of God, which is, the Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground of Truth” (CLG) was founded in 1903. “Church of the Living God International” was formed in 1994 after CLG stripped Joseph White of his bishopric (and MB and ME will tell you that it’s a lie). In 1994, Joseph White and crew was not affiliated with CLG when Church of the Living God International was started. But you won’t hear that. You’ll hear that CLG was jealous of JW because of the numbers he was bringing to conventions and so there was a board meeting to “kick” him out.
OK, so….first of all, the first sentence is a lie. The church of the living God, international was founded IN 1994 not ON 1903! He must’ve forgot to put the whole date because he put “ON” 1903. Second, apparently Martha didn’t show her lawyer the letter from Bishop Jesse White which shows it was called Great Lakes Diocese at the time (1994), and shows Joe White was sat down by Church of Living God board due to sexual improprieties. But we all know that he didn’t abide by this ruling and instead he rebelled (in 1994). I think you all should reinsert that letter here and fax that letter to her lawyer, or email it to him. He needs to know about this so he knows what’s really going on and not whatever untruths Martha told him. When he sees that letter then he’ll understand why some people are actually “disgruntled”. He really needs to see that letter, and once again it’ll be good to put it back up on the site so the newcomers and those thinking to join can see the truth about their leader(s). Another good thing to show him is the fact that Church of the Living God International isn’t a legitimate organization–which many of us found out during the lawsuit: Mary vs Pastor Rob. Lastly, it’s apparent that this lawyer is being deceived.
The letter is a lie. Church of the Living God International was not founded in 1903 and it was not due to outgrowth that Church of the Living God International was formed in 1994. If it was due to outgrowth then they would be considered an extension of CLG. There organizations have nothing to do with one another. Also saying that the church was founded in 1903 means the JW cannot be the founder. I couldn’t even get passed the first paragraph because of the lies.
LOL…This letter needed to go to somebody’s English department for proofreading before it was sent to try threaten someone. Quite representative of their client who referred to her late husband as “Emirates” (Emeritus, maybe?) on the announcement sent to the Church of the Living God International. Church of the Living God International founded ON 1903? At least send a PROPERLY written letter next time. Anyway, the Church of the Living God International (that was founded in 1903…NOT!!!) was an outgrowth in 1994 for international expansion? Now that’s laughable. Someone should send the letter that shows that good ol’ Bro Joe was defrocked from the CLG in 1994 because of sexual misconduct allegations and then preceded to anoint himself bishop again. Disgruntled? Over what? Leaving a CULT? Please!!!
Is this “letter” fraudulent!? Go to the law firm’s website. Their areas of practice are family and business disputes! Contract disputes and Landlord/Tenant disputes. There’s nothing on there about the practice of patent/trademark disputes! So, I wonder if this letter is even real!? ESPECIALLY with the grammar mistakes
I question the veracity of this letter for a couple of reasons:
1. Church of the Living God International’s headquarters is in Ohio. Unless they have a licensed Ohio attorney on their roster, why would a Georgia law firm represent an Ohio entity? No firm or attorney would risk representing an out of state entity because it’s illegal to do (practicing law without a state bar license). The law firm has only two attorneys and neither of them are listed in the Ohio bar as active attorneys. No attorney in their right minds would represent an out of state entity without an out of state license. You can be disbarred!
2. The letter is very disjointed. I can’t see any attorney drafting such an incoherent letter for it to be a “cease and desist” letter. Also, the formatting is a bit weird as if it’s been copied and pasted. Just odd, unprofessional and unpolished.
3. Defaming? The only true defense to defamation is if our stories and statements are true which I imagine they all are.
In my opinion, this letter is nothing more than a way to intimidate us. Admin, I think you should contact the attorney listed on the letter to see whether the letter was written by them and, if so, whether they are authorized and licensed to represent an Ohio entity? Because if not, then that’s a bigger issue and we should not lose our ability to have this website because they decided to hire a Georgia attorney representing an Ohio entity to take down the website (which might be illegal).