⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.   New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica 

     My memories are not as detailed and distinct in reference to these three services. So, I may get the details confused as to the order they occurred. The first foot washing service at WOFF was set on course with certain guidelines: men washing men’s feet, women washing women’s feet. Family members could wash each other’s feet. The purpose was to humble yourself and make right any bitterness or unforgiveness with that person. Plastic basins, (from prayer times?) were brought out with some water in them. Towels were supplied for drying the feet. The service lasted several hours as there was a whole lot of washing to do. Many wept and from all indications, several relationships were mended.

     The second service had a few more restrictions and the service was shorter. I don’t remember the exact modifications, but the same spirit was not in the second as in the first service. Maybe instead of sharing towels, we used paper towels? The children were allowed more freedom in the second service, if I remember correctly. The school classes participated in the services together..? Present or former members, please feel free to comment and help further define the experience from your perspective.

   By the third foot washing service, the water and basins had been replaced with baby wipes and trash bags. The spiritual and emotional impact was reduced even further. I remember walking away thinking it had become ritual and not a “spiritual” practice. Baby wipes and trash bags? As with several other things done at WOFF, you participated hoping for some experience, but in this case, I left still searching for answers as to what had happened and why. In these services as in several prayer services; people would populate the stage and use about every square foot of space not occupied by stacks of chairs, musical instruments or plants. For a new person, this would certainly have been a strange sight.

    We may have had foot washing services in Greenville. My memory is not as clear. I honestly could not say one way or the other. It is very likely, as whatever was emphasized, preached or practiced at WOFF made its way back to Greenville in one form or the other. As things evolved at WOFF either “spiritual” or natural, the Greenville church felt the effects. This became stronger and stronger as the years passed. The pastors in Greenville looked to Jane Whaley for more direction and “fine tuning” leading up to the move in 2002. The control exercised by Jane Whaley over the Greenville church was almost tangible on some occasions.

    Is the omission of “foot washing” purposeful or an oversight for WOFF? Is it somewhere on the website and I missed it? Was the practice of foot washing not something Jane Whaley “sees in her mirror” and thus does not want everyone else to see it?

      A little research produces a list of the churches that practice foot washing. Indeed some churches consider it an ordinance along with baptism and communion. Groups who practice foot washing include and are not limited to Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Mennonite and Mormons. Several Protestant groups include foot washing in their practices. These include Anglican, Lutheran, some groups of Methodist and several types of Baptist groups. The Baptist group includes Anabaptists, Free Will Baptists, Separate Baptists, Union Baptists, and Primitive Baptists. Many Church of God churches practice foot washing. This list is not all inclusive. More information can be found here…  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_washing#Protestant_practice  and http://www.ccg.org/english/s/p099.html and http://www.anabaptistnetwork.com/node/316.

    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. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) This is post number 112.