JIM McCOTTER'S APOSTLESHIP RE-EXAMINED
by E. Ray Moore, Jr. Th.M.
(Written in response to the Leadership Manual)
I. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is not to examine fully the recent book, LEADERSHIP: Apostles and Elders, published by GREAT COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL (hereafter GCI) and authored by Jim McCotter, but rather to highlight several major salient features from the book as they impact on the GCI movement and how Jim McCotter's recent teaching on apostleship is actually being executed in the movement. As a recent participant in GCI I am somewhat qualified to address the recent changes. Further I have also noted with increasing distress for several years variance between what is taught publicly and what is actually practiced, especially with regard to the style of leadership in GCI.
II. A METHOD IN SEARCH OF A DOCTRINE
Approximately one year ago LEADERSHIP by McCotter was published by GCI. Prior to
that a preliminary manual had been circulated to some elders for comments. I declined
to comment as I had a growing sense that my comments would not be seriously considered
and further out of deference to Jim. I was still trying to keep an open mind on
his new teaching and approach with "apostles". While there are some mainstream
evangelicals who accept that apostles are valid for today, it is only in the sense
of missionaries or church-planters who are the "apostles of the churches"
and in no sense do they have the authority of the Twelve and Paul. Many scholars
see Eph. 2:20 as an indication that "Apostles" were foundational only.
Jim, in LEADERSHIP, (pp. 88-51) tries to make a case for this last group - "apostles
of the churches" but in fact he has greatly confused the 3 different orders
of apostles mentioned in the New Testament. The 3 N.T. orders of apostles seem to
be 1) Apostle of the Father - Jesus Christ 2) Apostles of the Son - The Twelve &
Paul, 3) Apostles of the Spirit - (of the church Barnabas, Timothy, et al.[)] Jim
has blended features of all 3 into the last order, apostles of the churches, which
he feels are valid for today. This now gives him the theological-doctrinal justification
for a strongly authoritarian style of leadership.
In past years Jim has exercised a major control over many of the churches (and elders)
that have affiliated with GCI, particularly the several dozen he had personally
begun or ones begun by his closest co-workers. This control or authority was largely
on a personal basis and until recently did not have a doctrinal sanction. It has,
however, been learned that some elders with GCI have taught privately that Jim is
an Apostle on par with the Apostle Paul for several years but this has not been
completely accepted by all GCI groups until this past year. Now the acceptance of
Jim McCotter as "the Apostle" is an actual criteria for affiliation with
any GCI group. This acceptance includes personal obedience and an apparent acceptance
of Jim as the unquestioned leader and dispenser of doctrine, guidance and leadership.
While many new initiates into GCI are not aware of this development, no one in the
future will be appointed an elder or even a small group or team leader without acknowledgment
of his authority. This is now generally true in most groups.
Control has been Jim's personal style of leadership for many years. He really has
no peers in the GCI groups. Dennis Clark, who is frequently called an apostle by
some, is clearly in a subordinate role and does not appear even to question or challenge
any belief or action of Jim's. Dennis serves as a buffer to the criticism that only
Jim makes decisions and rules GCI. There used to be a triumvirate (Jim, Dennis and
Terry Bartley) but Terry's name suddenly was no longer mentioned. These types of
decisions so characteristic of GCI are arbitrary and without any reasons given or
known except to Jim McCotter.
Now Jim has theological sanction as "the Apostle" and it is believed that
he has had for years "a method in search of a doctrine" to theologically
justify his authoritarian rule. It is incredible to observe the recent outworking
of this teaching with GCI elders, how they have ceased to be free moral agents answerable
to God and have come more totally under Jim's domination. Many are fine servants
of the Lord who probably have no idea of the deeper problems with GCI on the national
level. True reciprocity and mutuality among the elders has disappeared in GCI which
is neither beneficial to the rulers nor to the ruled.
III. MAIN FEATURES OF McCOTTER'S APOSTLESHIP
A. Hierarchical Apostles
B. New Light doctrine
C. Deception doctrine
A. Hierarchical Apostles
It has become clear that GCI has become a pure hierarchy. The system of mutual checks
and balances and spiritual protection for leaders inherent within the plurality
of elders in a local church (Act. 20:28) is not practiced on the national level.
In the past Jim has tried several features, as the recent experiment with a "triumvirate",
to deflect criticism of his hierarchical approach to leadership. He seems now to
have abandoned all pretense. The entire spirit of the New and Old Testaments reflects
the sentiment of Lord Acton's famous axiom; "power tends to corrupt and absolute
power corrupts absolutely". In the several GCI related organizations such as
US PRESS (recently suspended), THE CAUSE a true board of directors is lacking. There
are no real by-laws to govern the many associated organizations and while Jim will
have several 'elders' listed in any legal documents, he and Dennis are always listed
as board members and usually there will be the minimal number required by a law
to insure control. Never is someone included on a board from outside GCI, totally
unlike the regular practice of other evangelical organizations, who desire the input
and wisdom of other Christian lenders as well as desiring to express a practical
unity with the Body of Christ and demonstrating that they do not consider their
organization the only good or correct one.
While many Christian organizations today do have a limited hierarchy usually the
director or president is subject to a board of directors and is governed by a constitution
or by-laws. The director is not above his own organization and himself must be subject
to its rules and the board.
While there is a denial of such, a kind of "apostolic infallibility" is
implied concerning the role of Jim Mccotter in GCI, if not for the Christian world
at large. Since Jim has become an "Apostle" above the elders there is
much less danger that they will question him or his actions. This kind of Apostleship
did not even exist in the Testament concerning the Twelve (Gal. 2:11-14). This contention
would be denied by many within GCI but few former associates of Jim McCotter can
recall his admission of any error. This in itself is incredible in light of all
the many poor administrative decisions made in recent years, the starting and stopping
of publications, etc. This is all done in the name of "change" or the
excuse "we're young and still learning". This is a far cry from doctrines
of repentance, confession and restitution.
One of the most shocking examples of the tendency towards inordinate adulation of
Jim was the "Honduran slide-tape Show" shown at the FALL '84 Regional
Conferences. The film was not even factually accurate, failing even to mention the
name of the founder of the Honduran work, Daniel Sierra. The impression given was
that Jim McCotter had been the major contributor in Honduras. More frightening,
however, were the accolades and effusive praise of Jim and "manipulative"
poses and shots of him compared to similar ones of our Lord Jesus Christ. One was
reminded of Acts 12:21-26 concerning Herod when the people said "This is the
voice of a god, not of a man". The Honduran film has been brought to the attention
of Jim and GCI elders and it has been defended as proper. This film on Honduras
evidenced not only a lack of integrity by its omission of Daniel Sierra but demonstrated
that a borderline deification of Jim is taking place in GCI and shows the role of
leading elders in this. At the 1984 elders conference, in D.C. many elders testimonies
had shifted away from "what the Lord as done in my life" to the "blessings
of obedience to Jim Mccotter".
Another problem with the new doctrine on hierarchical Apostles is the lack of any
definition of the terms and limits of Biblical authority within GCI. Jim, himself,
is careful to be imprecise on a definition and the nature of authority and will
only say things like "we shouldn't be afraid of authority if we love one another"
or "evangelicals don't have a proper concept of authority" or "we're
young and still learning". There seems to be no understanding that servants
of the Lord only exercised delegated authority and that they themselves are men
under the authority of the Word the same as their flocks. The authority of "the
Apostle" to move elders around the USA at random without any acceptance or
agreement by the flock his an abuse of authority. Any churches, involved in such
a move, would probably say they agreed, although they're not consulted. While it
can not be proven as intentional there seems to be an effort to relocate founding
church elders and move into their churches more definitely committed GCI elders.
Further in some cases such as Daniel Sierra in Honduras founding elders have been
asked to step down due to alleged problems in their lives or families. This has
happened numerous times in recent years.
B. New Light Doctrine
In the GCI videos on "apostles" Jim talks about receiving new light that
the church has heretofore missed since the early church. This same theme that GCI
will reach the world because Jim has recovered this lost teaching is a central theme
in LEADERSHIP as well as in general public teaching. Statedly, the only way to 'reach
the world" is through hierarchical apostles over the churches. By implication
anyone who wants to "reach the world" will necessarily join with GCI under
McCotter's apostleship. Up to this point GCI has stayed within the parameters of
evangelical orthodoxy at least in terms of major doctrines if not in their style
of leadership and practice, but it has become clear that one of the perogatives
[sic] of an apostle is to receive the new light, to chart heretofore uncharted theological
- Biblical sea or at least recover the lost purity of the early church. Jim must
be obeyed further by GCI elders and members because he is the one as an apostle
who receives the "new light".
C. Deception Doctrine
This individual has personally experienced little of the GCI teaching on deception
that was clearly laid out in Ames in the late 1970's. McCotter's teaching seems
somewhat parallel to Jesuit casuistry where the end justifies the means. Using Matt.
10:16 as a proof text McCotter lays out that being "wise like a serpent"
means to practice deception in certain cases. One's conscience must undoubtedly
be defiled by such repeated deceptions as are so frequently practiced by GCI currently.
This approach is common in working with the "Gentiles" but also a lack
of openness and integrity seems to be a policy between GCI and some actually involved
in the movement itself. 1 Timothy 1:19,20 shows the critical danger to ones doctrine-theology
by violating his conscience. It is axiomatic that ones doctrine effects his life
as well as ones life effects his doctrine. A constant practice and a theology of
deception cannot but have a corrupting influence on GCI particularly the leadership
and the doctrine. (John 7:18)
CONCLUSION
There seems to be a triad in McCotter's new apostleship: 1) Apostolic hierarchicalism,
2) New Light doctrine, 3) Deception doctrine. These three features make for a tight
system of theology and "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken"
(Eccles. 4:12b). Also the theological mixture of these three elements portend potential
increasing problems for GCI in the future. The problems will be compounded by the
added dimension that few elders may be remaining who will question the doctrine
or the practice of GCI. With this the problems become more entrenched and incapable
of an organizational remedy. While there are many other questions and issues involved
with an analysis of GCI attention needs to be given to McCotter's triad of hierarchicalism,
new light and deception. If anyone of these areas can be successfully challenged
in the minds of GCI elders and members hope remains that individuals can be recovered
to spiritual health and the "freedom we have in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 2:4,
5:1).
E. Ray Moore, Jr. Th.M.
Campus Pastor
May 17, 1985