This is the next installment seeking to answer the question of how Jane Whaley controls the members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The first post only covered two parts of the answer. There are several parts to the answer to the ever resounding question. Here is the summary from the first post…

From Phillips’ work, we learn that many people have and will confuse the voice of their conscience with the voice of God. He says that the conscience is not a reliable source of guidance because even though some would argue it is our final moral guide; the conscience can be trained with wrong perspectives from our environment and/or the people around us from whom we take counsel. In our desperation for answers to life’s important issues, we often seek answers from our peers or ones we respect. In my opinion, Jane Whaley’s narcissism colors her perspectives and when seekers come to her, the counsel given is ultimately oriented to serve her and the voice of her conscience which she claims is the voice of God Himself.

In essence, Jane commandeers and seeks to supersede the ability of her faithful members to hear the voice of their conscience and/or if we may say- the voice of God speaking to them individually. Her position of super-spiritual authority demands that her faithful members relinquish the right to assert that they can or have heard the direction for their life independent of her required input or approval. The culmination of this process is more gradual for some than others. For those recruited into the group, the process of surrender to Jane may come in small steps of surrender masked or euphemistically labeled as surrender to the will of God. At any point along the journey, a new recruit may stop to consider the outcome of denying Jane the control she requires and demands, but, the consequences of refusal would be severe and will be the source of major emotional trauma and damage. Refusing Jane her control over you may cost your job, your home, your family and years of lost enjoyment of life.

For those born inside the group, they know no other system by which they can direct their own lives. For those born inside or who spend most of their life years inside the group, thinking for yourself or asserting any different decision than what Jane speaks about your life is equal to blasphemy, selfishness and outright rebellion. The fear of losing relationship with the one who ‘is responsible for your soul’ runs deep and is only complicated by the intimidation used to bully members to submit or lose their place with “God’s people.” Submit to “the will of God” as voiced through Jane or lose the “call of God upon your life.” Fear and intimidation are common tools inside WOFF in order for Jane to keep control over a person’s desire to follow their own conscience whether in worship, life decisions or family relationships– independent of her approval.

To a faithful WOFF member, there is no other way to live and they may even feel remorse for those who don’t have access to Jane and her “wisdom.” For many, they are totally oblivious to the control over their freedom and God-given right to live by the voice of their own conscience free from interference of a controlling religious authority.

Here we must again quote from the North Carolina State Constitution. From Article 1- Declaration of Rights-

Sec. 13.  Religious liberty.

All persons have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and no human authority shall, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience.

For any reasonable person who gains some understanding of the means of control inside WOFF or other similar groups, it is evident that the ability for members to “worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences, – does NOT exist inside the group. Yes, it would be difficult to prove in a court of law. But, why should we have to? Why is it necessary to prove the denial of the God-given right and conversely the evil existing within WOFF when the common sense and decency of man affirms the rightness of this Religious Liberty? Why would anyone who considers themselves a Christian seek to deny another person this basic right to worship as they choose without “control or interfere with the rights of conscience”? Why would any “religious leader” set-up control dynamics within their group that in effect violate the North Carolina State Constitution both in letter and in spirit? Why would any group seek to control their members with such veracity while purporting that “…We love all people.” Is there a lack of faith, at Word of Faith, in the very God that freely gave this right to every man to worship Him? Even after being a part of it for years, it makes no sense to me why it is so vital to forcibly control folks into staying at WOFF. But, folks – it is, in my opinion, happening inside WOFF.

It is here, we must also add to the first post that the intelligence of a WOFF member has NOTHING to do with one’s involvement. My experience is with WOFF –a bible-based high intensity faith group. I do not have experience in other types of control groups or cults. But, from my reading, many intelligent people get caught up in control groups year after year. Does it make sense that intelligence and the freedom to hear and obey your own conscience without interference are two totally separate matters?

There are seven attorneys inside WOFF right now. There are more in the pipeline. In order for each one of them to stay in the group and remain in Jane’s good graces, they must surrender what others on the outside take for granted- their freedom to worship and obey their conscience free of a human authority. Put away the WOFF reasoning that Jane only speaks for God and is not a “human” authority. Really? Who can confirm Jane’s super-spiritual status? Who can confirm her place as an infallible source for wisdom and knowledge straight from the holy throne room? It is that notion of her super-spiritual status that each faithful member of WOFF –regardless of their level of intelligence—must submit to in their life in order to continue at WOFF. Submitting to Jane’s self-actuated divinity robs you of your unhindered relationship to the one who made you- in whatever form you desire that relationship to exist! By asserting her divinity and stepping between her members and God Himself, she robs her faithful members of their individuality and freedoms to worship God. She becomes a self-appointed idol to her members by the control she practices.

And also here we must state that coming under this notion of Jane’s divinity has nothing to do with personal savvy, intelligence or family background. As Steven Hassan states in his book, Combatting Cult Mind Control (Copyright©1988, 1990 by Steven Hassan, published by Park Street Press, ISBN 0-89281-311-3)

“Outsiders who deal with the leadership of destructive cults never cease to be amazed that they aren’t scatterbrained kooks. A cult will generally target the most educated, active, and capable people it can find. I hear comments such as “I never knew there were so many brilliant people in these types of groups” or “That leader is really a very nice, kind and insightful person—how could they ever join a group like this?” … Occasionally, I am asked whether there is some kind of typical “problem family” from which cult members tend to come. The answer to this question is no. Anyone, regardless of family background, can be recruited into a cult. The major variable is not the person’s family but the cult recruiter’s level of skill.” (emphasis added page 77)

Who could deny that Jane is a very skilled recruiter?

As a close to this post, we will again mention that in order to fully understand the mechanisms of control and intimidation used at WOFF- we will have to review the doctrines and practices which are used to carry the control. It is not enough to say Jane controls her members; we must review HOW she does it in addition to what we have discussed so far. Please, return for the next installment in this series of posts where we will list some of these practices and their effects on WOFF members. The more I ponder the question and the answer, the more I realize I do not even know ALL the methods of control used inside of WOFF. How could I?

“It is never too late to wake up and leave and reclaim your life!” Steve Hassan

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 438.