5 September 1994

Dear Mr Gamble

I write to you as a concerned son and parent.  I am the son of two recently excommunicated members of the religious organization for which you have local responsibility and I am the father of two children who currently attend meetings of this organization.  I should like you to respond to a number of questions which have gravely concerned me in recent months.

As a child, I and others known to me were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a 'worker' in your organization - Noel Tanner.  When confronted with details of these assaults by my father and one other parent, the senior workers of the day, Willie Wilkin, Irvine Pearson, and Hugh Breen, chose to either disbelieve the facts or to take no action.  (Until recently I took the charitable viewpoint that in their naivety, they did not understand the gravity of the offences - now I'm not so sure.)  For several years, as a professing member of your church, I had to suffer the indignity of seeing Mr Tanner's name appear on workers lists and to meet him at various gatherings.  After a few years he appeared to disappear from circulation when he allegedly reoffended.  Please let me know your views on the follows issues:

1.        Is homosexual activity tolerated within your organization?

2.        If it is not tolerated, why was Noel Tanner's deviant homosexual behaviour ignored?

3.        Do you believe that the gentlemen who dealt with this very serious matter were divinely inspired in their judgement?

4.        Despite the facts that (a) it is now abundantly apparent that Noel Tanner was a deviant homosexual child molester, (b) I attempted to continue fellowship within your organization for approximately ten years after the attacks and (c) I have had the good grace to not press charges against Noel Tanner or the organization which sent him, no one from your organization has written or spoken to me about these matters during the past twenty years.  Why was this serious matter 'swept under the carpet'?

5.        In view of the mishandling of the 'Noel Tanner Affair', is it not reasonable to assume that some cognizant individuals may question the judgement of the wider body of 'workers'?

6.        Furthermore, do you believe that 'workers' have the authority to demand unquestioning obedience from these individuals?

7.        Do you believe that eternal salvation can only be attained by a profession through one of the 'workers'?

8.        If eternal life is exclusively available to converts of the 'workers' of your organization, what is the position of those souls who professed through the ministry of Noel Tanner while he was a practising homosexual child molester?

As a matter of record, I wish to inform you that I personally was the victim of a further homosexual assault by another 'highly respected' member of your organization many years after Noel Tanner's attacks.

In addition to my questions relating to the  'Noel Tanner affair' and the competence of the senior workers who dealt with it, I should be pleased if you would answer the following questions which relate to my concern for my parents.  In the days following their excommunication, my parents have undergone great distress and appear to have been abandoned in a way similar to that of Noel Tanner's victims.

9.        Do you believe that 'workers' have the authority to make judgements on the moral standing of their converts and to excommunicate at will?         

10.      Do you believe that 'workers' are always divinely inspired in these judgements?

11.      If they are divinely inspired,  are they infallible?

12.      Do you believe that the consequence of judgement and excommunication by 'workers' is eternal damnation?

13.      Do you believe that ownership of a television is intrinsically wrong, or do you believe that it can lead to a degradation of moral standards?

14.      If it is the latter, in what respect does ownership of a television differ from a visit to any major city, reading the Sun newspaper, etc.?

15.      As a teenager, I remember that ownership of radios was banned by your organization - car radios were disconnected and taped over.  Recently I note that the majority of converts who attend your conventions possess car radios and do not make any effort to conceal this fact.  What is the current policy on radios?

16.      Is it true that wrist watches, ladies wedding rings and the colour of ladies stockings were similar bones of contention many years ago?

17.      Regarding the position of my mother, is it true that she was excommunicated because she would not say to the 'workers' who sat in judgement that she disapproved of my father having a television in their home?

18.      How do you propose to deal with the other countless converts who live in homes or accommodation where partners or friends possess televisions?

19.      What is the potential future standing of my own two children, who are growing up in a home where a television, etc. will always be available, but viewing will be controlled with wisdom and discretion?

I have two further general questions which relate to issues which concern me as a parent of two children who are exposed to the teachings of your workers and converts.

20.      As a child I was led to believe that 'the testimony' had first century origins and had derived from the ministries of the apostles.  This origin was implied on numerous occasions in missions and at conventions. Recently I have read an account of the life of Edward Cooney and a history of 'The Secret Sect' by Doug and Helen Parker.  Both books assert that 'the testimony'  was started approximately in the year 1900 by William Irvine of Kilsyth and Edward Cooney of Enniskillen.  According to these accounts of the early days of the church, both Irvine and Cooney were later excluded from the church, along with many of their converts.  What is the true origin of 'the testimony' ?

21.      If it is true that Irvine and Cooney were excluded, why were they excluded?

I should like to encourage you not to regard my questions as those of a 'bitter crank'.  I demand a full and reasoned response as otherwise I will circulate/publish this letter or alternatively I will address the above points to the platform in a public forum, i.e. mission or convention.  I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Dr Robert Kee