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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt'>Bill London</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=4><span style='font-size:13.0pt'> Writes:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>I have been following your postings with interest, since you are a
CC insider with an independent perspective and a willingness to openly
challenge Doug Wilson and the CC leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>My questions to you: Given the CC history of "shunning"
members who challenge or disobey <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:City>'s
edicts, why has not this severe form of discipline been enacted in your
case?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>Do you believe that <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:City>
has been forced to hold off such discipline in your case as a result of his
diminishing power?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>Me:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>I think this is a good question. By the nature of the case it is
hard to know after the fact how effective my Blog has been at protecting
me. But I can assure you that part of what motivated my Blog was a
gasping for some kind of solid traction and self protection. A couple years
ago, I would not have admitted the tacit knowledge I had about how opponents
are dealt with; I am even guilty of shunning Duck in my own mind. And it
has been hard walking into <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Evan Wilson</st1:PersonName>’s
house without looking over my shoulder even now. But once I knew I was
the next critic, this tacit knowledge started operating with force before I had
even discursively thought about any sort of ‘change of mind’ about
the situation—and so I immediately began using my Blog as a form of self
protection. I think my Blog has been a success in some respects, and if my self
defense motivation was on track at all, then certainly this was a good way to
force the elders to deal differently with me. And sure enough, at first
there was some strong indication that a grand character assassination story was
starting to generate. But this has slimmed out to nothing, and one guy is
really trying to back step (there are all sorts of “qualifications and
nuances” that need to be understood about his original statements).
And then notice the strong stance that Wilson and Jones (writing for the
elders) originally had on my own Blog; this has gone to nothing after a “well
at least play according to the golden rule.” And even the strong requirement
to gain multiple witnesses has turned into “hey, we are willing to hear
your argument about whether or not witnesses are required.” Wilson and
Jones have emphasized the fact that they don’t ‘discipline’
for the kind of things I’m doing—so while losing one battle, it
seems they are trying to win another: go on record as merciful and tolerant to
very strong criticism. So I think the justification of my original
motivation and the way the story has played out indicates that things would
have been very different if I did not start a public display of my own story at
CC (viewed by hundreds of people everyday). There is also something going
on behind the scenes right now that I think is forcing more protection for me
(but which I cannot reveal at this time). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>So to answer the last question, I don’t think this is necessarily
evidence that <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:City>’s
power has diminished significantly in general. Most kirkers I have
communicated with are very happy not listening to arguments or evidence in a
thinking way, and are willing to assume that I’m a nut case and getting
ready to “spiritually implode.” And yet, I think we have all
noticed mounting challenges to Wilson from many different fronts over the last
few years, and challenges that have diminished what otherwise would have been a
more thriving and dominant ministry (in terms of money and following). I
would see Pooh’s Think as just the next item of challenge and public
exposure; and it has put me into contact with many people who could function as
sound witnesses if there ever where a judicial hearing about all this. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>Hope that helps.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'>Michael Metzler<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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