Chris Rosebrough from Fighting for the Faith recently interviewed Kerri Ferguson on his radio program. If you are not familiar with who Kerri Ferguson is we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far:
This is footage we have had for a number of years, exposing the cover up of pedophilia in the Australian Christian City Church movement. To this day, NONE of the “pastors” Kerri Ferguson went to for help have EVER bothered checking up on her or apologized for how they refused to help her in her time of need. These “pastors” are Phil Pringle, Brian Houston, Ian Treacy, and Gary Dench.
In Australia, some people consider paedophilia to be worse than murder. Don’t forget these “Pastors” faces that allowed these crimes to continue in the name of “Jesus.”
If they can get away with covering up paedophilia… then nothing can stop them. These men are before the Royal Commission. Yet Brian Houston and Phil Pringle are influencing our political leaders.
We have been covering the paedophile scandal cover-up of Phil Pringle of C3 Church. If people tuned in to 2SM radio this morning, they would have learnt that this scandal also found it’s way into the Hillsong movement.
This morning, Grant Goldman from 2SM radio publicly challenged Scott Morrison’s associations with cult leader Brian Houston of Hillsong. Goldman also introduced the serious issues behind Hillsong by introducing cult leader Phil Pringle and his C3 movement into the mix, highlighting the fact that both men have covered up paedophilia in their church’s. Goldman focused on Kerrie Ferguson’s story as well.
You can read Kerrie Ferguson’s ongoing story here in how this was covered up:
Scott Morrison attends ShireLIVE and has close ties with the better-known Hillsong community. Brian Houston is one of Morrison’s mentors and we have a personal email claiming that Scott Morrison has boasted that his mentor is Brian Houston.
If you don’t know how to navigate what surfaced from the Royal Commission regarding Houston covering up his father’s crimes, please read the below link:
TRANSCRIPT: Grant Goldman to Scott Morrison, Monday 21 September 2015.
“On August 24th, less than a month ago, I had something to say about Scott Morrison, I stated that in 2007 Morrison as State Director of the Liberal Party was the beneficiary of a totally unfounded and unjustified smear campaign against a man by the name of Michael Towke, the telecommunications engineer who had been preselected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Cook. The effect of that smear campaign was that Morrison, who in contesting the preselection, had received less than one tenth of the votes won by Towke. But Morrison was able to gain the Liberal endorsement as the Member for Cook.
In recent days supporters of Tony Abbott have suspected the loyalty and sincerity of Scott Morrison who appears to have been rewarded for his failure to defend the then Prime Minister against the Turnbull attack. In his Maiden Speech to the Federal Parliament on 14 February 2008, Scott Morrison made favourable mention of Pastor Brian Houston who operates the Hillsong religious organisation.
So who is Pastor Brian Houston, the mentor to Scott Morrison? Is he?
This is the fellow who told a Royal Commission that he had no legal or moral obligation to the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by his predecessor in the leadership of Hillsong, his father Frank Houston. In October 2014 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse was told by a witness known as AHA that when he was seven years only, Pastor Frank Houston would come to his room, lie on him, fondle him and masturbate him. When Brian Houston found out that in 1999 that his father was a pederast taking advantage of a young boy, he failed to tell the Police. Instead, Brian Houston and committee of the Assemblies of God suspended Frank Houston’s preaching credentials, for just two years.
It gets worse. I have in my hand as I write a copy of testimony given to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse by a lady named Kerri. I shall put this document on my website. Kerri told the commission the tragic story of how her son was raped by the man she had married. Her son reported the crime to two Pastors, Gary Dench and Ian Treacy. They did not tell the police. They did not tell the victim’s mother. They admonished the victim, telling him he was partly to blame.
After Kerri learned from her son what had happened, she told the Police and also asked for help from the Head Pastor of the Christian City Church, Phil Pringle who provided no assistance. Pringle had suspended Dench, not because Dench had concealed a crime against a child, but because Dench’s wife had won a prize in the lottery.
Later Kerri asked for help from Pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong Church knowing him to be a close friend of Pastor Phil Pringle. I’ll quote what Kerri told the commission:
“I related our circumstances to Brian Houston who became very irritated, told me he did not believe that such a thing had happened, turned his back on me and walked away.”
That is Brian Houston, who I understand with his wife Bobbie still calls the shots at Hillsong.
I am inviting Scott Morrison to come on my program and repudiate Pastor Brian Houston. I want Scott Morrison to express disgust at a Christian Leader who fails to report the sexual abuse of a child. I want Scott Morrison to express disgust at a Christian Leader who turns his back on member of his own congregation, a mother whose son has been betrayed by other pastors in the network, who refused to report to police that that boy had been raped, and instead told the boy he was partly to blame.
If you agree with me, back me up. If you disagree, prove me wrong.”
Phil Pringle and his cohorts continue to refuse to deal with issues that occured in the C3 Parramatta scandal 25 years ago. We are talking about two men that covered up pedophilia in the C3 Church movement.
The two pastors put into C3 leadership that showed lack of pastoral care, wisdom and responsibility in the C3 Penrith scandal are STILL in leadership positions today.
These pastors are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy.
Before reading on, we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far. In this article we wish to publish an open letter that alleges that Pringle was informed of this sexual misconduct and did nothing about it. Nor did he deal with the C3 pastors in relation to the trials.
Part 6 of this series of articles is an important read. It is important to understand the spiritual binding nature of C3 through their prophetic manipulation. It appeared that God wanted Mrs Ferguson to not “over analyse” her situations and just “let loose” so God could bless her.
Just like most loving and undiscerning Christians at C3, she would have done so willingly. However, when you see pastors at C3 preaching that Jesus died to make you rich and watch them live extravagant lifestyles, their is a false hope kindled in it’s members that they can rise above their difficult circumstances.
So when Kerri Ferguson was prophesied over in 1985, you can imagine what she was feeling when she lost her family, lost her home and lost her church through the collateral damage of the cowardly behaviour of C3 “pastors” Gary Dench, Ian Treacy and C3 Founder, Phil Pringle. Just like other victims caught in the C3 Prosperity and Word of Faith cult, Kerri Ferguson would have felt God had completely deserted her. However, unlike other victims, she decided to deal with the issues head on.
Background to the letter
The sexual abuse of Mrs Ferguson’s son had been disclosed one night after a church service to both C3 “Pastors” Gary Dench and Ian Treacy. These two pastors were then primary witnesses to the crime. Not only did the Pastors fail to report the crime to the police but when they were later approached by the Police to give evidence in the case, “Pastor” Gary Dench refused to co-operate and stated that he would not give evidence on behalf of the Prosecution. Dismayed when the Police informed her that Dench refused to cooperate with the investigation, Mrs Kerri Ferguson then decided to approach the leader of the entire church operation, the Head Pastor and founder of C3 (then operating as Christian City Church) in an attempt to have him direct his Pastors to cooperate in the police investigation.
What you are about to read in this below letter was how they first tried to ignore her and then attempt to discredit her. Their pompous and sanctimonious meanderings would have hurt her deeply. Sadly, this is the typical repeated behaviour we continually see at C3 church when members get abused either financially, sexually or emotionally or spiritually by their church leaders.
This letter from Kerri Ferguson was written to Phil Pringle in 1992. You can tell that this woman was writing in such a way to try and convict Pringle’s conscience to get involved in dealing with this unresolved issue. And just like when Pringle was mailed all the evidence exposing Tom Papania as a fraud (a fraud who Pringle allowed to speak at C3 Church anyway), Pringle did not respond to Mrs Ferguson.
You can read the original letter at the bottom of this article.
THE LETTER
Dear Mr. Pringle,
As I discussed with you and Simon McIntyre in 1988, it was then and is still, my fervent belief that the “deacons” of the Church should deal with misbehavior on the part of any of the ministers or other leaders in their number. At that time (after an incredible amount of effort to get to talk to you – I am sure Christ himself was more accessible, despite his schedule) I notified you that you were being given an option – “Either deal with the matter yourself or I would have to go outside the Church to have the matter dealt with “. The latter became necessary.
I refer to the matter of [son’s name] a subject subsequently dealt with by “60 Minutes” and showing Gary Dench and C.C.C. in a most unfavourable light. I hasten to assure you that that opinion was passed in thousands of letters received after the show. Those letters were written in the main, by “Christians” and many from Christian church people of all denominations, including several from your own church applauded our stand.
As you did not have the courtesy to get back to me or to [sons’ name] after talking with Gary Dench in 1988 and since it was necessary for me, once again, to “chase” you to get the result of your investigation into the matter, I was not altogether surprised at your ineptitude in dealing with the matter. You told me that you were powerless to control Gary Dench and that he was a “law unto himself”. It would appear Mr. Pringle, that following the “60 Minutes” story that you had a change of heart about just what power you did or did not have! It’s a sorry day when God has to use the secular media to do what his own people are too lacking in courage and principle to take care of.
It may interest you to know that [son’s name] left your office with the comment “he’ll turn out to be just like all the others” to which I urged him “to give you a chance”. [His] cynicism at so called Christian leaders was vindicated. Despite the “college-boy” smiles and the practiced looks of “concern”, the boy never heard from you again. Under the circumstances, don’t you think some show of Christ’s love would have been appropriate?
Despite admissions by Ian Treacy that he and Gary had indeed behaved as we claimed and despite Dench’s subsequent behaviour (which should have been of concern to the country’s psychiatrists, if not to you) to this day neither [son’s name] nor I have EVER received a request by you to forgive any damage caused or any attempt to reconcile what happened.
By the way, whilst Stephen Dent sat in the “accused”s box whilst on trial. Dench sat at the back of the Court reading TRAVEL BROCHURES!!! The praying was left to others!
AS the months went by in 1988 to now I carefully diarised EVERY incident. In my search for more information for a subsequent project I received some startling information. During a phone call from yourself to Gary Dench (after my visit to your office) I was referred to as “A NUTTER”. Well, Mr. Pringle that is not the opinion of doctors, journalists, counselors or MINISTERS of religion with whom I have worked on my project over the last few years.
What a gallant and courteous way for men of the church to speak about “the widows and orphans”!! May I respectfully suggest to you, Mr. Pringle, that Christ himself would have hardly been pleased at such a label being used to one of his children under the circumstances (or, indeed, any circumstances!)
Other revelations have been passed on to me regarding Mr. Dench’s activities which I, and I’m sure even you must find disturbing. To go on, however, expecting any decent stand from you at this point would, as experience has shown, be a lost cause.
I did do the correct thing in going to you first, Mr. Pringle. You left me no choice but to have the media expose that very dangerous man. Sometimes it requires a great deal of courage to stand by the underdog – “THE NUTTER”! You did not show that courage.
Mr McKeon (another of your colleagues) was first approached by me prior to 1988 with my concerns over Dench. I contacted him again much later in my attempt to have you “heroic” men put the pressure on Gary to support [my son] in court. He accused me of being on a “witch hunt” (a most unusual term, I feel for a Christian pastor!) and refused to criticize “God’s ordained”! (Good grief!!)
He was later to say some most ungentlemanly things to me on the phone and hand up (loudly) in my ear. Mind you, when my husband (a committed Christian) phoned him back to ask him to explain such behaviour he was given a hearing. Yet another example, I assume, of the esteem in which your fine C.C.C. Pastors hold women!!
It seems peculiar to me that in my conversations with several C.C.C. pastors they have claimed to have had God speak to them about issues such as real estate purchases, money ventures, parking spots etc. but none seems to have conversed with God about an issue as important as the peace of mind and trust of His children. It has caused me to wonder, Mr. Pringle, whose voice it is they have heard when God “called” them. You would have a difficult time convincing me that the Christ of the Gospels “chats” to his pastors all day about their real estate, other financial undertakings etc and becomes suddenly silent when one of their number steps out of line. No, Mr. Pringle, not the Jesus in my Bible – in fact He publicly castigated his disciples for putting anything in the way of his “little children coming to Him”.
Thankfully, I was most careful about all my dealings with you and your fellow Churchmen, not trusting any conversation (which may be referred to in the future) to their memory. I now feel vindicated in taking the particular steps I did.
It was shameful that a woman and child showed more courage than you and your colleagues. Perhaps, the weakness of some males in leadership positions in Christendom is the cause of many of the Church’s ills.
I am disappointed (yes, and angry) that my approach to you to seek your assistance was treated with such contempt.
Since you have not asked for forgiveness, I assume you do not need mine. May I most humbly suggest, that in the final judgment you and I will have to give account.
Phil Pringle and his cohorts continue to refuse to deal with issues that occured in the C3 Parramatta scandal 25 years ago. We are talking about two men that covered up pedophilia in the C3 Church movement.
The two pastors put into C3 leadership that showed lack of pastoral care, wisdom and responsibility in the C3 Penrith scandal are STILL in leadership positions today.
These pastors are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy.
Before reading on, we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far. In this article we wish to publish an open letter that alleges that Pringle was informed of this sexual misconduct and did nothing about it. Nor did he deal with the C3 pastors in relation to the trials.
It happened in 1985, during a time when abusive husband (Steve Dent ) was abusing Kerri Ferguson and her children. C3 Pastors Gary Dench and Ian Treacy were sanctioning Dent’s behaviour by telling Ferguson that she must be a “rebellious wife” or her husband would have no need to bash her.
Now keep in mind, this was the time that C3 Ps Dench and C3 Ps Treacy also had knowledge of Steve’s physical abuse.
Kerri Ferguson was exhausted looking after 5 children, working two full-time jobs, and being constantly beaten by her husband. Her husband had left her temporarily as he did for days at a time, or even weeks, while he sulked.
One morning in C3 Church, C3 Pastor Gary Dench anounced that there was to be a church Camp coming up. He subsequently approached Kerri and told her that she was to attend. Kerri tried to plead her way out of it. However, Dench was furious and COMMANDED that she attend. She insisted her way over the matter and finally told him that she couldn’t possibly afford it. Dench told Mrs Ferguson that the church would foot the bill for my family.
On the Saturday night the congregation gathered for a session in the camp hall. Dench had kept telling Ferguson that she must attend, so she did.
The guest speaker was PASTOR FERGUS MCINTYRE (Christian City Church, Maroubra branch).She did not know about this guest speaker until the night Dench announced it and “Fergie” appeared on stage.
McIntyre began by giving a sort of “testimony” regarding the fact that he had always had trouble stringing two words together. But since he was “saved” and called by God to become a Pastor, he experienced a miracle whereby when he spoke now and gave messages as a public speaker, he was able to speak coherently and fluently. He put it all down to God. He began to preach his message. After a few minutes he stopped in his tracks and pointed to Mrs Ferguson.
“I see this lady here!”
He identified her as he pointed out the things she was wearing so that everyone would look at her.
And claiming to get a direct revelation from God, Fergus McIntyre “prophesied” over Mrs Ferguson. We have managed to obtain audio of the prophecy and have transcribed it accordingly.
I see – yah, with- uh- I see God coming along and-and blowing on a lot of things that you’ve been thinking. And- and uh, you’ve- I can see- the type of person- uh- and Gods honours you and God blesses you and God- God loves you.
Uh, but God’s saying to you, “I want you to hold loosely to some of the things that you’ve held tightly to, and you’re gonna see the- some of the promises of God that you’ve asked God for. They’re going to come to pass, not according to how your mind would see it come to pass. I see you’re a person that, uh, would analytically work things out and-and have a hold, uhhhhh, you’d just weigh things up and you’d hold things in your mind in how it might happen.
God’s saying, “I’m gonna do some things for you, but a- don’t be surprised if it comes- if he comes in the back door to do them- comes in another way. He’s like- it’s like you like to have- it’s like in your mind you’ve always been used to things happening to how your mind would think.
But God’s saying, “I’m working on a lot of the areas of your life, a lot of these things that, uh, that you’ve been concerned about”and He’s been concerned about and God’s saying, “I’m not going to come and do it the way that you want- that you would think me do it, I’m gonna come in another doorway and do it. I’ll come and- because I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-” God’s bigger than all that, you see.
But God’s coming to say- to say that He’s- He’s- He’s doing things now. And He’s setting in order and He’s arranging things and He’s- and He’s healing and He’s wanting you to- and I can see Him doing a tremendous deep healing work in your own spirit. But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.
God’s saying, “Let it all go and I’ll come in and I’ll start and I’ll-” He already is!
But He’ll go a lot faster because He’s having to work on you and work on the situation at the same time. But if you just let everything go and hold loosely to the issues, the Spirit of God’s saying, “I can fix all those things up – Bam! Yes. [CROWD APPLAUDS] Yes. Hold loosely! Hold loosely! Hold loosely! Hold loosely to things.” The Spirit of God would say, “Hold loosely! Don’t, don’t hang on to things too tight. Don’t hold on to things too tight. Let it go. The Spirit of God’s gonna do those things. Hallelujah… yes…yes… hallelujah!”
Source: Fergus McIntyre.
REVIEW OF THE PROPHECY
“Let loose” of reason?
Our personal opinion on the matter was that the entire show that involved Mrs Kerri Ferguson was to prophetically manipulate her into silence, a technique we have seen at C3 Church Oxford Falls used numerous times and a technique that Singaporeans have observed Phil Pringle use on it’s members at Kong Hee’s City Harvest Church.
This continual type of false prophetic manipulation runs rampant in C3. Prophecy that tells people to not use their brains when dealing with difficult circumstances. And this is a form of mind control and behavioural control used on C3 members.
Notice how Fergus McIntyre made observed Mrs Ferguson’s ability to “analytically work things”, “weigh things up” and “hold things in [her] mind in how it might happen”. McIntyre said that both he and God wants her to “hold loosely to some of the things that you’ve held tightly to.”
Is this scriptural?
When God speaks through his prophets, he doesn’t tell his people to abandon their minds to God but to REASON with God:
“Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Don’t forget that God also teaches that the most important command is to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
Knowing right from wrong is practice discernment, which is what God teaches Christians to do. So why would God in this prophecy tell Mrs Ferguson that she needs to “let loose” of her gift of discernment? God even said to Israel that he would send false prophets among them to point out those who were his and held to his commandments. Paul said something similar in the New Testament.
Does this sound like God or Satan?
Fergie said,
“… God’s saying, “I’m not going to come and do it the way that you want- that you would think me do it, I’m gonna come in another doorway and do it. I’ll come and- because I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-” God’s bigger than all that, you see.”
God does not do things in secret. He gives his people plenty of warning and time before he accomplishes the things he wants done. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus instituted biblical repentance and church institutional response to certain sins. (See Matthew 18:15-20.) However, the scriptures teach us that Satan’s nature is subtle (Genesis 3:1) who operates illegally outside of the legal boundaries established by God. Consider how Jesus portrays the false leaders in his day in John 10:
“”Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1-2 (NIV)
If men of authority did “not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but [climbed] in by some other way,” and Jesus condemned them for it, is not Fergus McIntyre turning God into a hypocrite by claiming God said, “God’s saying, “I’m gonna do some things for you, but… don’t be surprised … if he comes in the back door to do them- comes in another way?”
God is a God of order and justice. He has made his church and those in it to live orderly and just lives that glorify Him. So why is McIntyre saying that God is “not going to come and do it the way that you want” to Kerri Ferguson?
All this woman wanted was justice. Why would God suggest otherwise?
A false spirit speaking through a false prophet
Another thing that proves that this is a false prophecy is when Fergus claimed God said, “… I can’t be held by any fixed concept- I can’t be held by-“. The Hindu deity is limitless. However, Christianity and Judaeism have always known that God is limited and bound. For instance, scriptures teach us that “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).
God is not held by our fixed concepts. This is because he has GIVEN us His Word. He tells us who He is and how He does things when we read His Word. No wonder McIntyre trailed off speaking on behalf of God and ended with “God’s bigger than all that you see”.
This is mysticism. He is shrowding his victim in doubt through mystical means to throw her off the biblical compass. When one becomes a Christian, they will often sing they were “once blind but now I see”. McIntyre is suggesting to Ferguson that she cannot see even though she in Christ. He is causing her to not believe in God by saying this and is hoodwinking her into believing his false words.
Prophetic incostinstency…
Furthermore, McItntyre says,
“But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.
God’s saying, “Let it all go and I’ll come in and I’ll start and I’ll-” He already is!”
This god is idle. It cannot do anything UNLESS you do something first. When you compare this to the God of scripture, Christ acted first before we ever did. This god of McIntyre was calling Ferguson to do something first before it could do something. It was asking her to do the impossible. It would have left her in despair unless she moves first.
This ‘god’ is not loving nor gracious. If you followed it, it would keep you bound and despairing in your hurt and pain.
This god is also a liar (or otherwise McIntyre is).
Fergus said,
“But God’s coming to say- to say that He’s- He’s- He’s doing things now. And He’s setting in order and He’s arranging things and He’s- and He’s healing and He’s wanting you to- and I can see Him doing a tremendous deep healing work in your own spirit.”
So God is “doing things now” even though it couldn’t because Kerri Ferguson had to take the first step?
But wait!
McIntyre said he saw God doing a “tremendous deep healing work in [her] own spirit”. How? Aren’t God hands tied until Kerri did something?
Whenever the word “but” is used in or after a sentence, it is usually said to counter that which was said before. Go read the prophecy and observe how many times this ‘god’ cannot figure itself out. It’s somewhat amusing! Not to mention that this “God” is unable to make Fergus McIntyre speak properly says it all really.
Was this prophecy to Mrs Ferguson a set up?
The clue in the transcript that indicates to us that Fergus received knowledge from C3 Pastor Gary Dench about Mrs Ferguson’s affairs is in his ‘uhs’. Whenever he says something that articulates Mrs Ferguson well, he seems to say ‘uh’.
A prophet of God wouldn’t hesitate would he? To us that indicates he doesn’t know how to deal with this conflict of interest within himself. McIntyre appeared nervous and hesitant in his prophecy, thus all the “uh” commentary.
This statement also needs to be examined:
“But He wants you to let go of all the things that have hurt you, all the things, all the people that have hurt you- all the situations that have been built up against you.”
This could have been a vague stab in the dark but McIntyre did summarise in this one sentence on behalf of ‘God’, Fersuson’s circumstances. This is proof to us that Dench informed McIntyre of Mrs Ferguson’s circumstance. It really sounds as though it came out at this point of the “prophecy”. Of course Dench and Fergie would want God to say to Kerri “let it all go”!
What he articulated for Mrs Ferguson to let go of at this instance is the very thing that should undermine this prophecy. Did Jesus say “let it all go” when a ‘brother’ sinned against us? NO! We “let it all go” when they repent. If not, take witnesses. If that doesn’t work, take it before the church. If Jesus didn’t teach us to “let it go”, why should we believe this prophecy? Especially when it was a C3 pastor that abused his pastoral office?
So to summarise what the ‘Spirit of God’ was saying to Mrs Ferguson, “Hold loosely to things”, is that biblical? It sounds like the C3 Church “prophecy” would want her to “hold loosely to” the bible so that she doesn’t question C3 church, her pastor, Fergus McIntyre and anyone else entangled in their web of lies.
Phil Pringle and his cohorts continue to refuse to deal with issues that occured in the C3 Parramatta scandal 25 years ago. We are talking about two men that covered up pedophilia in the C3 Church movement.
The two pastors put into C3 leadership that showed lack of pastoral care, wisdom and responsibility in the C3 Penrith scandal are STILL in leadership positions today.
These pastors are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy.
Before reading on, we encourage viewers to read what we have covered on the C3 Penrith scandal so far. In this article we wish to publish an open letter that alleges that Pringle was informed of this sexual misconduct and did nothing about it. Nor did he deal with the C3 pastors in relation to the trials.
So our question is this: where are these men pastoring today?
More information has surfaced that Pringle knew of this situation and chose not to resolve it. From what has been disclosed to Pringle personally, Pringle did not drop C3 “Pastor” Gary Dench because of his handling of the paedophile scandal in C3 Parramatta. Nor did he drop “Pastor” Ian Treacy pastor involved in this issue.
The below letter was a response to Phil Pringle slamming critics and mocking those that would go to the newspaper over Phil Pringle’s leadership. As you can see, this letter highlights Phil Pringle’s negligence over this situation.
“AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. PHIL PRINGLE
I am one of those people who found it necessary to go to the media with a complaint about you when you failed to answer my concerns yourself. I am dumbfounded that you are not humbled and ashamed that any one in your congregation would feel it neccessary to seek assistance from outside the church as a result of YOUR failure to listen and assist them.
When it was discovered that TWO Pastors in one of your churches failed to attend to a plea for help by a child because he was being systematically raped by his father, (also a member of one of your churches) telling the child instead that “he must have led his father on” and “he should pray for forgiveness”, I requested that you intervene immediately on behalf of this child.
You, with all the care and concern you could muster only agreed to see me and the child AFTER we threatened to go to the media.
You refused to speak to us without your “legal adviser” being present. I didn’t see Christ setting that example in the Bible……………but then our Jesus had strength of character and faced up to hurting people without needing a “legal adviser”.
You didn’t even offer to PRAY for the child or his family, instead, packing us off out of your office as quickly as you could.
You offered NO counseling, NO assistance and NO prayer.
You refused to take action against these two Pastors telling me that you had no power to do anything. You even refused to instruct them to go to court and give evidence on behalf of the child when they refused a police request to do so. You said they “were a law unto themselves”!
However, some time later when you discovered that one of these Pastors had benefited from a lottery win by his wife, you took immediate action to stand him down. It seems, Mr. Pringle that someone winning a lottery is of greater concern to you than the rape of a child!
The other Pastor still oversees one of your church branches Mr. Pringle but then he never committed the dreadful sin of sharing a lottery win did he?
You never contacted the victim or the victim’s family after your meeting with them – not even to inquire about the child’s well-being.
Which of these actions, Mr. Pringle, mirrors what Christ would have done under the circumstances?
If the measure of the contempt in which you hold people is how many people they have on a Twitter account, you must have deep contempt for me Mr. Pringle, because I don’t even have a Twitter account.
You see, I am STILL too busy cleaning up the mess left by you and your Pastors to be bothered with such a thing.
That people can discover your deeds (they are well documented) and learn of your behaviour during these events and yet still sit in your church each week and follow your teachings is an indictment on every single one of them and their obedience to God when we are told to “test all things and hang on to that which is GOOD!”
Perhaps the desire to test all things and follow GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS might move some or any of your followers to require you to stand in church before me and answer for your behaviour in this matter, Mr. Pringle.
Or are the people in your churches just sycophantic sheep, more afraid of displeasing you than they are of pleasing our precious Lord and Saviour?
Of course Mr. Pringle, you tactic is to make fun of, or ridicule, the complainant in these matters. That has always been your way. Your Pastors referring to people as “nutters” whom they wish to discredit in order to deflect proper examination of events, is shameful and abhorrent.
But when will your “followers” begin to ask, “Is this how Christ would behave”?
I wonder if Jesus will say to me on the last Day, “Sorry, you can’t come in – you didn’t have a Twitter account!” I doubt it!
And I wonder, Mr. Pringle if Jesus will ask me why I had to go to the media about a problem in your church? I certainly hope so. I will be only too happy to tell Him!”
One thing we would like to highlight in this letter is the following:
“The other Pastor still oversees one of your church branches Mr. Pringle…”
This would be referring to Ian Treacy.
So where are Gary Dench and Ian Treacy today?
WHERE IS GARY DENCH NOW?
Gary Dench is STILL a pastor but is no longer part of the C3 movement.
On Parramatta Life Church Parramatta website, his bio reads:
Gary Dench
Role: Pastor
Web:
Gary and Joyce are the senior leaders of Life Church International in Australia. They head the Parramatta congregation, a multi-ethnic church representing more than 30 nationalities, and believe God has a definite and specific plan for Parramatta. Gary and Joyce began their ministry in New Zealand in 1975. After 8 years of pastoring in New Zealand, they moved to Australia and pioneered Parramatta New Life Church (now called Life Church Parramatta). Gary’s dynamic, animated and biblically focused preaching inspires and empowers the congregation to live a life committed to God and challenges them to demonstrate his loving character through their own words and actions. Their dream is for the church to be a blessing to the local community; a hub where people can gather in unity and love; a haven of acceptance and forgiveness and a school to train, equip and release mission-minded people to share God’s message of hope and healing to the world.
The issue is this: Why didn’t C3 Leadership either encourage Gary Dench to step down or resolve his past wrongs as best he can with his victims? Gary Dench says that his dream for their church is to “be a blessing to the local community; a hub where people can gather in unity and love; a haven of acceptance and forgiveness and a school to train, equip and release mission-minded people to share God’s message of hope and healing to the world”. Is this a lie?
And what did Gary Dench do between “8 years of pastoring in New Zealand” and pioneering in Australia “Parramatta New Life Church (now called Life Church Parramatta)”? As you can see in the above bio, Dench did not mention his involvement with C3 Church.
WHERE IS IAN TREACY NOW?
Believe it or not, Ian Treacy is still a C3 Pastor and “pastors” C3 Church Prospect.
The C3 Church Global website confirms that Ian Treacy is STILL a C3 pastor:
“Ian & Arlene Treacy
Church Details
Venue: Cnr Great Western Hwy & Blacktown Rd PROSPECT NSW 2148 Australia Service Times: 9.30am, 6.30pm”
Although this scandal is old, this issue is important to analyse due to current events and behaviours we see in C3, Hillsong and the way they are governed.
This has been an ongoing series that has covered how a paedophilia scandal continued to snowball across the two biggest churches in Sydney.
When reading the below news article, some people might think, “Well, what is CW on about? Pringle did sack Dench over the paedophilia issue didn’t he?”
No. Pringle did not.
This below news article’s first sentence was not accurate.
What makes this scandal so disgusting on Phil Pringle’s behalf was that he did not discipline Gary Dench for defending in court the pedophile and wife-beater Stephen Dent, Dench’s discipline came into play because… wait for it… Dench’s wife won the lottery.
BACKGROUND
Phil Pringle did NOT take any action over the covering up of the paedophilia. Pringle blatantly REFUSED to take any action or censure pastors Gary Dench and Ian Treacy or instruct them to cooperate with the police.
Pringle’s response to the abused mother was that he couldn’t do anything about it stating, “Gary is a law unto himself.” Pringle never contacted the mother of the abused again.
The alleged suspension of Dench occurred over two years and three months later onlywhen the matter of the lottery win became known in the church and co-incidentallyafter the affairs of this particular family became public when aired on the 60 Minutes news program.
The church did NOT take any action over this family’s matter and it was, (in our view), a cynical and manipulative exercise (even, it could be said, a lie) for Pringle and CCC to claim that Dench’s suspension was related directly to the sexual case.
Who’s best life?
That matter had all been raised with Pringle over two yearspreviously. The only way in which Dench’s suspension related to the sexual abuse was that it had been made public and Dench’s behaviour on national TV had brought embarrassment to the church. (See above – Parramatta Scandal (Part 2).)
According to Phil Pringle, why was gambling a greater sin than dealing with a pastor defending a pedophile and wife beater?
Pastor Suspended
A SYDNEY clergyman has been suspended from church duties following a controversial court case when he admitted not telling police nor a parishioner that her son was being sexually abused by the boy’s stepfather.
The minister has also been asked to advise church officials what he intends to do with his wife’s share of an office lottery win – an even that has aroused controversy within the church and promoted a formal church policy on gambling.
A statement from Christian City Church International (CCCI) on Friday, said Pastor Gary Dench stepped down for three months to give him and his wife some time and space to clarify what actually took place and to resolve what will take place.
“Gary and Joyce Dench have stepped down from a position of responsibility within the church for a period of time so that the CCCI executive, the Westside Board and Gary and Joyce are all able together to clarify and resolve the situation.
“Their future ministry direction is also still yet to be finally resolved”.
The $50,000-a-year Castle Hill clergyman left on extended leave early this month, just after he and his wife returned from a two-week holiday overseas.
Discussed
A spokesman confirmed that Pastor Dench’s decision to step down followed discussions with church superiors and fellow directors.
He said t related to the sexual abuse case and “Gary’s position with the board and with the church”
“Not just Gary, but people in the congregation were hurt, by that,” he said, referring to the media reports of pastor Dench’s court evidence.
“The case raised questions, and there needs to be time for those to be clarified”.
Last month Pastor Dench testified in support of a former parishioner, ex-policeman Stephen Dent, who had pleaded guilty to sexually abusing his (Dent’s) stepson. Pastor Dench admitted he had sent the boy home with his stepfather after he had run away, and that he had not told the boy’s mother, also a parishioner, of the alleged abuse.
He responded heatedly to cross-examination by Pat Barrett, and refused to reveal what Dent told him, claiming it as a secret of the confessional.
The spokesman said that the lottery issue was separate, but that it had sparked a detailed new policy.
“We’ve asked him to tell us where the money will be direct.”
A local church spokesman said that the lottery issue was part of the reason for the suspension for Pastor Dench’s duties.
Church members reported that the prize was thought to be $1 million, but the Sunday Telegraph has been unable to confirm the amount.
While the Denchs were overseas the CCI executive met and formalised a written policy opposing all forms of gambling by church officers.
The Denchs say Mrs Dench had not bought a Lotto ticket, but was given a staff payout from her office manager, who bought the ticket.
Source: Warren Owens, Pastor Suspended, Sunday Telegraph, Published 21/10/1990.
The lady who was involved in the C3 Penrith Scandal has also shared how abusive the former ‘Pastor’ Gary Dench was to her family. Read the article here:
C3 should be deeply ashamed of their despicable doctrines and manipulative practices and their inability to resolve their spiritual incompetency. This issue has not been resolved.
It is worth noting in this situation how spiritually abusive and manipulative the ‘man of God’ at the top is. Does not this sound like the C3 Church is a cult when you have ‘pastors’ like this?
… At one point in my life, my then husband and I were having enormous difficulties. We had separated AGAIN temporarily (as we did every so often after he walked out on us following a particularly bad violent episode). He was extremely abusive and the children and I were under constant threat. “Pastor” Gary Dench knew of the abuse, and as I have told you, he told me my husband “would not find it necessary to beat me if I learned how to be a submissive wife”.
At one point, though separated, my husband and I both attended a “Marriage Seminar” run by a visiting American preacher. It was run over several nights. At the end of the seminar a Christian Marriage Manual was offered for sale so people would have something to take home that they could use as a reference in a continuing attempt to improve their marriage.
I had been very impressed by the Seminar (as had my husband, surprisingly). We both agreed that we would like to purchase the Manual. We were NOT well off, had five children, and were counting our pennies every week. As a relatively new Christian and not knowing the “protocol”, we approached “Pastor” Gary Dench on the last night and told him we would like to purchase a copy of the Manual but were unable to afford it and asked him if it would be alright to use our Tithe money to purchase it instead of putting it into ‘Dench’s dish” that week. (Of course I didn’t say “Dench’s dish” at the time – that’s just an expression I use now that I know him better.)
Dench was infuriated! He told us that it certainly would NOT be okay and that our Tithe’s MUST be paid as usual into his Christian City Church coffers. We were very disappointed but we “obeyed”!
At the time Dench knew of the abuse in our marriage (and as it turns out, the rape and molestation of my children) and was more interested in making sure his own finances were boosted than in our family receiving assistance. We never bought the Manual.
I look back now and wonder how intelligent people such as ourselves (my husband was a police officer and I had been the recipient of an International Scholarship and was an Undergraduate in Law) could be so manipulated……… How?????
I will tell you how ……. we had both been raised as Catholics and were once again being hit over the head with a club that had “G.O.D.” written on it. There is no greater manipulator than those who USE GOD and the FEAR of Him to control others.
I feel shame when I think of the way I submitted to my church leaders in an attempt to please God. I hope God can forgive me.
—-
(recalling this episode has just brought me to tears again………….)
We wish to thank this victim for sharing her story.
It is about time the church started noticing how atrocious the behaviour of C3 Church truly is. If you have had any similar experience at a C3 Church – please share your story.
C3 Church Watch 