In 2004, DCP told the US government (IRS) that its "primary…purpose" is "providing objective research and analysis of various religious and secular teachings and practices."
DCP claims to provide"the general public with valuable information and analysis that promotes…a peaceful and harmonious society."
DCP’s "service accomplishments" reported to the US government include "Fostering discussion of various worldwide religions by creating a clearinghouse for interaction and debate in which persons can exchange views..."
The FACTS
Since December 31, 2001 DCP has been involved in litigation on behalf of LSM and 93 local churches against Harvest House Publishers and the authors of the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. Millions of dollars have been spent. After 5 years of litigation, the Texas Supreme Court refused to hear LSM’s appeal. DCP’s tax filings make no mention of litigation or legal expenses as current activities.
DCP’s "Program Expenses" have ballooned from $226,000 in 2002 (the first year of litigation) to $610,000 in 2003 and $756,000 in 2004 as the legal case ramped up. In the 3 years with publicly-available records, DCP spent $1.6 million. Most of this probably involves the legal expenses of litigation. These figures probably pale compared to the 2005-6 legal expenses incurred in the Texas Appeals Court and Supreme Court, at the height of the litigation.
DCP’s total receipts for 2002-4 approached $2 million. Total revenue for 2002 was $303,000. This grew to $745,000 in 2003 and jumped to $927,000 in 2004. How much of DCP’s $2M funds were used for goals stated to the US Government—"objective research," "fostering discussion of world religions," "creating a clearinghouse"? What portion of DCP revenues was used for litigation?
Since March 2006, DCP’s President, Dan Towle and Assistant Treasurer, Dan Sady have created and maintained the website, AFaithfulWord.org. Rather than DCP’s stated goals of "creating a clearinghouse for interaction and debate in which persons can exchange views," this is a forum for attacking persons deemed to be "dissenters" and promoting the quarantine of Titus Chu and his co-workers.
The footer on www.afaithfulword.org does not match the primary purpose indicated to the IRS. It reads: DCP is a project to defend and confirm the New Testament ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and the practice of the local churches.
In reports to the US government, DCP claims to be conducting objective research and analysis in order to provide the general public with valuable information promoting a peaceful and harmonious society. DCP claims to be fostering discussion of various worldwide religions. However, among the local churches, DCP’s main role is perceived to be financing and managing litigation for LSM and its affiliates.
"Discussion" and "debate" implies a two-way dialogue, but currently, DCP’s resources and websites are being employed in a one-sided manner to stamp out alleged "dissent" within the local churches and promote the exclusion of Titus Chu and his fellow-workers, and provide information about ongoing litigation. Rather than providing objective research and analysis of various religions and secular teachings and practices, DCP’s resources and websites have been used to promote its own teachings and practices and to denigrate others. Rather than focusing on its stated purposes, in fact, DCP has been used as a vehicle for LSM and affiliated churches to sue Christian publishers for libel in the law courts. Is this how DCP promotes peace and harmony in the "Lord’s recovery" and in society?