TITUS CHU APPOINTED 80 ELDERS SINCE WHISTLER

TITUS CHU APPOINTED 80 ELDERS SINCE WHISTLER - True or False Report?

The SPIN: Titus Chu appointed 80 elders since "Whistler"

During LSM’s International Elders' Training (ITERO), held in Whistler, B.C., Canada, the "blended brothers" issued a Letter of Warning (dated Oct. 1, 2006) recommending the quarantine of Brother Titus Chu. That quarantine pronouncement was presented to at least 800 brothers on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. The following month, at the Thanksgiving Conference in Washington, D.C. (November 2006), LSM President Benson Phillips alleged that Titus Chu responded to this quarantine by appointing 80 new elders.

The transcript of Benson’s speaking reads:

"You know what the opposition has done? We, we errr, put out a Letter of Warning concerning one brother and the co-workers with him that are spreading his divisive teachings and that are creating divisions among the churches. You know who they are. They know who they are. I don’t know who they are. But look at the dissention that’s been caused among the churches. We surely quarantine that kind of person. But we, we did speak about three persons definitely. And if you read the material that was spoken in Whistler you know who I’m talking about. Well, let me ask you this. One of them, he came back…Well, well, he didn’t…he wasn’t in Whistler…But anyhow…within two weeks after he was quarantined, he called a meeting of all his so-called co-workers and, listen to this--He appointed 80 elders in all those churches. I’d like to ask you: Do you have a brain? Why would they do that? Come on, you think about it. You think about it. I thought about it a lot. And those churches are going to have troubles. And they, they’ll try to bring in the loyalty to this way that’s been propagated by some. And they’ll have a lot of problems." [Message #6, Nov. 26, 2006, "Special fellowship"]

Summary of Benson’s assertions:

"One brother," the subject of the Warning Letter " appointed 80 elders in all those churches."
The 80 appointments occurred within 2 weeks after the "quarantine."
The motive of these appointments was to cultivate "the loyalty to this way that’s been propagated by some."

Titus Chu is the "one brother" mentioned by Benson. Titus Chu was not explicitly named as the Warning Letter's subject in Benson's speaking. However, it is clear that the "one brother" he was referring to is Titus Chu, since he is the only brother openly named in the Warning Letter.

The definitive manner of Benson’s assertion makes it seem like the appointment of 80 elders is a proven fact. But do the facts support Benson’s assertion?

The FACTS: Titus Chu appointed ZERO elders since "Whistler"

Brother Titus Chu has labored among the churches in the Great Lakes area for years. During this time he appointed elders in various churches, initially in fellowship with Brother Witness Lee. Later, when Brother Lee was occupied otherwise, Titus continued in this role.
To strengthen the leadership of three Midwest churches (Ann Arbor, Detroit and Mansfield), four new elders were added in each place. In all, 12 new elders were appointed by Titus in 2006.
The appointment of the Mansfield elders was confirmed at the Cleveland conference during the Labor Day weekend, a month before the Whistler conference in October. The other appointments for Ann Arbor and Detroit were also confirmed and announced before Whistler.
There are less than 80 local churches in the Midwest.
We checked with Titus Chu directly and also with leading brothers in the Great Lakes churches. A thorough investigation reveals that since the Whistler conference Titus Chu has not appointed any elders.

It is true that Titus Chu appointed elders in certain churches in the Midwest. However, the facts indicate he only appointed 4 elders in each of 3 churches for a total of 12 elders. That total is a far cry from Benson’s number of 80 elders. Elders were appointed in only 3 churches, but Benson stated that elders were appointed in "all those churches" giving the impression there were appointments in a large number (if not all) of the Midwest churches. While these appointments occurred in 2006, they were before the conference in Whistler in October, that is prior to the quarantine.

Benson alleged that Titus Chu appointed 80 elders within the 2 weeks post "quarantine" He also imputed to Titus the impure motive of trying to cultivate loyalty. Before hundreds of saints in Washington D.C., brother Benson Phillips levelled serious public accusations against brother Titus Chu. Through LSM’s webcast, DVD, video and audio productions, Benson’s allegations have been spread to thousands of saints around the globe. Now, Benson predicts "trouble" and "problems" for the affected churches.

However, upon investigation it is clear that brother Benson got his "facts" totally wrong.

Instead of "[thinking] about it a lot" and asking "Why would they do that?" Benson should have checked his "facts" with the elders and saints in the Midwest before rushing to judgment and making unfounded public accusations broadcast worldwide. Checking the facts through a few phone calls would have been the responsible thing to do.

Even taken at face value, Benson's assertions are incredible! There are less than 80 local churches in the Midwest; If true, Benson's claim would mean that Titus appointed more than one elder for every Midwest local church. This seems to be outside of the realm of reasonable possibilities!

Since the facts are untrue, the alleged motive of cultivating loyalty does not follow and is also unsubstantiated.

In addition, several things leave us unsettled. The first is the manner in which unfounded accusations were levelled against Titus Chu in a public forum. In the first part of the transcript, Benson indicates that "You know who they [the subjects of quarantine] are. They know who they are. I don’t know who they are." The fact is, Titus Chu is named in the Warning Letter and Benson’s signature appears on that letter. Yet Benson claimed "I don't know who they are!", Taken literally, Benson claimed that he is unaware of crucial points in the Warning Letter! If so it was irresponsible of him to have signed it. Alternatively, who is Benson trying to fool by saying "I don't know who they are!"?

More unsettling are the inconsistencies in Benson’s speaking. He denies knowing who the subjects of the Warning Letter are, but then admits that they spoke about "three persons definitely" and that "he [the "one brother"] wasn’t in Whistler." Benson’s manner of speaking is also disconcerting. He seems to trip over his words, claiming "One of them, he came back…Well, well, he didn’t…he wasn’t in Whistler…But anyhow…listen to this …" Plus, we feel he spoke in a gossipy tone (i.e. "…listen to this…"), as if trying to invoke a feeling of scandal in the listeners.

It seems that, in his zeal to cast aspersions on Titus Chu, Benson was unable to present a logical and factual case to his audience. We ask, is'nt it irresponsible of Benson to stand at the podium and subject the saints to uninvestigated allegations, false accusations and imagined motives under the guise of "fellowship"? Is it not also unfair to Titus Chu?

Does brother Benson Phillips now have the integrity and the resolve to admit that he was wrong, correct the public record (either verbally or better, in writing) and broadcast from the podium a public apology to Titus Chu? This would be the responsible and righteous thing to do.

Referenced Evidence

Benson's Speaking - 80 Elders appointed

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