Monday, October 12, 2015; Federal Judge, The Honorable Martin Reidinger, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of North Carolina delivered a methodical presentation on “The Nuremberg Trial: Legacy and Impact In Our Generation.” The event was held at the Mildred H. Keeter Auditorium at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, NC. Karel Reynolds, Holocaust Instructor for the College, Principal of the Word of Faith Fellowship Christian School and according to her recent court testimony, head of the video ministry at Word of Faith Fellowship hosted the event.
The calendar for Cleveland Community College specified 200 as the seating limit. Even before, I made it to the building; this clearly was a Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) event with possibly two-thirds or more of the audience consisting of leadership, youth, young adults and children. At first, Jane Whaley was sitting with her class, near the front, beside Brock. However, shortly before the event began, Jane received a text, looked over her left should and then her right. Right then, she heard God to give her seat to someone else. I don’t know if she sat in the back or left the gathering all together. I did not see her after she left her seat.
Let me apologize for stepping on Dr. Jerry Gross’ shoe when I passed in the aisle. Oh, clumsy me. I took a seat right behind Gerald and Linda Southerland and Gloria and Larry King. No, there were no handshakes or warm greetings. Looks of surprise, shock and disgust were more common. Expected. My main purpose was to consume what I believed would be overwhelming delicious irony while sitting among WOFF members listening to a presentation on the Nuremberg Trial. The whole scene was too inviting and I was willing to take the stares and grumpy faces just to witness what promised to be a night of unforgettable remarks. I did not have to wait long for the appetizers to be served.
Karel Reynolds led off the evening setting the stage by reminding us all that seventy years ago on October 12, 1945- the Nazi party was dissolved. She went on to admonish us from the Holocaust, we know what human beings are capable of… yes, that was just a foretaste of the ironic offerings for the night. She went on to point out that ‘education is not the only answer; the crimes we are talking about were committed by the educated!’ She then quoted Herman Goring, “I have no conscience. My conscience is called Adolf Hitler.”
Friends, can you see where this is going? For many, their conscience and direct connection to God has just left the room a few minutes earlier. Karel asked the NC Bar members to stand, I glanced back and there were maybe a dozen or so. So far, the room was full of lawyers, at least two doctors, a judge, adjunct professor Reynolds, an author of four books and who knows how many other degreed listeners. So, we start with a room full of many educated folks who have just been reminded their education would not keep them from possibly pushing the limits “of what human beings are capable of…” Anyone else grasp the connection here? Which faithful WOFF member could deny the requirement to lock in with Jane and allow her to tell you if you were hearing God- submitting your conscience to her? We move on, the main speaker and provider of riches has not taken the stage.
Hannah Davies is the direct WOFF connection to the main speaker. Has the Judge done any vetting or research of the darker side of WOFF? I have no answers to that question. It is sad on the one hand that a man of such high standards would align himself with such a controversial group, no matter how impressed he is with Hannah. Hannah does not represent the dealings and deeds done in the secret areas behind the closed doors of WOFF. But, Hannah provided a robust, near worshipful introduction and the Judge came to the podium.
From here, I will not attempt to retell the entire presentation, though I took extensive notes. Judge Reidinger began by explaining the US involvement in Nuremberg of Justice Robert Jackson of the US Supreme Court and Attorney General Francis Biddle. Jackson words in the very beginning set the tone of the trial- (in a speech which lasted hours) these were crimes against the peace of the world. He quoted Winston Churchill as saying we have a crime for which we have no name.
The indictments were for -1. Crimes against peace. 2. Conspiracy to commit wars of aggression. 3. War crimes. 4. Crimes against humanity. (abbreviated) Reidinger went on to explain that the defense of “following orders” was not a defense at all and each defendant was to have a fair trial based in the facts.
The term “war of aggression” was explained as a conquering, invasion based war for which Germany’s efforts were obvious. However, Reidinger listed several previous wars of aggression which were not questioned or addressed with the same measures as World War II. He explained several important background events such as the effect of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, and League of Nations. He pointed out the Treaty of Versailles required reparations paid to nations; however the Nuremberg Trial was against individuals. The main Nuremberg trial for the 22 defendants lasted from November 1945 to October 1946. Of the 22 defendants- 12 were executed, 3 were acquitted and the rest received prison sentences of different lengths. Some in the US were critical of the process calling it a high grade lynching; also some saying in complaint that the standards were changed after the crimes.
Other key points include the majority of the victims of the Holocaust were from outside the German borders. The media at the time showing photos during the liberation horrified many. Justice Jackson calling for International laws so that aggressive war would never happen again. Reidlinger said though there was the goal of due process, clearly there was the intent punish and send a message – this must never happen again. Sadly, this has not been accomplished.
Before we close, allow me to summarize the irony up to this point. Many educated and hoping to be educated folks in this room were reminded that education was not the total answer to preventing the Holocaust; even educated people can give their conscience over to a leader. How many caught the meaning? Did any WOFF member say in their heart, is that me? Have I given my heart/conscience to Jane? I have no idea how many, if any, realized their true state. Next, when explaining the indictment of the Nazi criminals, how many in the room were reminded five of their own were under indictment for felony charges? When Reidinger explained that “I was following orders” was not a defense. How many WOFF members asked, would that be my only defense for the “correction” I have given others? During the “deliverance fight”, did I cross the line? I was only following Jane’s direction, right?
Now, a paraphrase of the Judge’s close. The Nuremberg trial shed a bright light on crimes which were screaming for justice. The world took notice and said – Never Again! Are we serious? If we look at different news stories, are we serious? Are others being executed because of their religion? How are we going to respond?
The legacy of the Nuremberg Trial has yet to be written, it will be written by you, students, (and) young warriors. “Will you stand when something happens to your neighbor? Stand up for right? If you don’t who will?” Or will you just take a pat on the back and say how good we are doing?
At these statements, I wanted to shout. Students of the Word of Faith Christian School! Will you excuse the abuses covered over in the name of Jane’s religion as “God’s will” and allow your “neighbor” to be punched, kicked, hit, screamed at and held down? Or will you do something?
John, you expect the children to change things? EXACTLY! We can’t leave it to the children, where are the parents, where is the DSS! No matter how Jane attempts to rewrite the history of the group saying these things never happened- true memories and fears still affect the children. Members of all ages KNOW the truth about the abuses. Some have fled, some feel stuck, and some ignore and say it’s not my responsibility. North Carolina Bar members- Hannah Davies! When will you take your professed fight for justice and wake-up and fight for the safety of the children in your group-first! How will the attorneys in WOFF explain away the abuses which are allowed to continue because of the dysfunction of the leader and many in her leadership? I sat among you as a witness, tonight. All of you heard the same ironic truth I heard. Don’t let it be another wasted, look-good, feel-good, pat-on-the-back meeting. Many of you have attended hundreds, maybe thousands of such meetings. Apply tonight to your own life! WAKE-UP! Yes, I saw your Jewish supporters sitting among the crowd. I felt sorry for them. They are being DUPED!
Season of Changes is upon us. Will this be a cold winter in Spindale?
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Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 544.