CFCMI’s history, structure, and indoctrination formula
A Brief History (1974-~2009)
CFCMI was founded in 1974 by Lloyd Ray "L.R." Davis (1935-1999), a crestfallen Apostolic preacher who resigned his license with the United Pentecostal Church in 1970 amid allegations of sodomy and child molestation. Davis moved from his home state of Arkansas to Kenosha, Wisconsin and later to Waukegan, Illinois where CFCMI was created. CFCMI grew steadily as they recruited many young men, mostly sailors from the Great Lakes and Norfolk Navy bases, into the organization. While most of the recruits were male, they also drew women and families due to Davis's charismatic appeal.
From the mid-1970’s to the early 1990’s, the church experienced steady growth. The primary outreaches were the Christian Serviceman’s Center just outside of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Waukegan, and the Norfolk and San Diego congregations recruiting new members from the major Navy Bases adjacent to them.
Allegations of Davis’s sexual misconduct and other forms of institutional abuse (such as taking advantage of sailors financially) persisted through the 1970’s and 1980’s. The issues garnered media attention from area newspapers and culminated in the Serviceman’s Center being designated off-limits for Great Lakes sailors from 1982 to 1983. Later, in 1990, ABC News “Nightline” produced an expose of the church and Davis that aired nation-wide.
Davis was finally brought to justice and convicted of sex crimes in 1992. Sentenced to 31 years without parole, his appeals for early release were all turned down and Davis died in prison in Dixon, Illinois in 1999, having served just short of seven years of his sentence.
In August 1999, Peter F. Paine assumed the duties as General Pastor; Edward J. Thomas became the Associate General Pastor. Both men are sons-in-law of Davis.
At one time, CFCMI hosted congregations in Waukegan, Norfolk, San Diego, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. Orlando was closed in 1993, and San Diego reduced to a "military fellowship" in 2008. As of the late 2000’s. foreign missions still exist in Sri Lanka and Haiti. In August 2007, Paine and Thomas announced that all the US congregations would merge into one central location in Norfolk by 2008; the other congregations would then become satellite fellowships of the new headquarters.
Legacy Organizational Structure
Here is CFCMI's leadership structure that was in place in the late 1990's. It is drawn from a document passed out to parishioners at that time and the CFCMI Bylaws (both attached below). When LR Davis passed away in 1999, the Assistant General Pastor position dissolved, and Pete Paine became the General Pastor. There were also brief variations through the 2000’s, where Ed Thomas assumed oversight of the overseas local pastors and Pete Paine oversaw the US based local pastors.
Pete and Ed are now retired, and the structure very likely has changed. However, for the purposes of understanding the copy of the bylaws and the goings-on in the 1990’s and 2000’s, this is a useful diagram.
Leadership authorities and accountabilities:
General Pastor
Absolute power; no accountability
International Board can override administrative action with a unanimous vote*
*Gen Pastor appoints all board members
Peter F. Paine, Asst/Acting Gen Pastor
"Spiritual Authority" over US Local Pastors
No downward accountability
Edward J. Thomas, Vice President
Authority over all Overseas Local Pastors
No downward accountability
Local Pastors
Subordinate to Gen Pastor/EJT/ Int’l Board
No Mechanism to hold superiors accountable
No mechanism for local parishioners to hold pastors accountable
Stages of Indoctrination
Each of the main headers represents a step in the increasing levels of indoctrination. They are all supported by carefully crafted, very specific topical Bible Studies.
These topics represent many of the pillars of "Sound Doctrine" that are presented to new initiates as if only members of CFCMI have such a pure, unique understanding of the workings of a "true" God-called ministry. The greatest level of understanding of these doctrinal stances are held by, of course, the Pastors, who can change the nuance of their meaning to suit their purposes, and often do when it is useful to keep members off-balance.
Historical Timeline up to ~2009
CFCMI TIMELINE (information compiled by John Cady, former member):
1933 - Hazel Beck born in Tennessee.
1935 - Lloyd Ray Davis born in Arkansas.
1954 - Lloyd and Hazel marry; they would have three children - Debra Louise (1956), Pamela Jean (1958), and Larry Ray (1960).
1960 - Davis licensed by the United Pentecostal Church.
1963 - Davis briefly visits a church in Spooner, Wisconsin; claimed he was physically thrown out by several men in the church. The story varies as to the reason why he was physically removed.
1968 - Accusations start to arise concerning Davis’ conduct.
1970 - Davis resigns his license as UPCI minister amid investigation by Arkansas General District over his conduct.
1971 - Davis and family move to Kenosha, Wisconsin.
1973 - Davises move to Waukegan, Illinois.
1973 - Peter F. Paine joins the church.
1974 - Edward J. Thomas joins the church. Christian Fellowship, Inc. established. Good News Singers singing group created.
1975 - Edward and Pamela Thomas marry. Peter and Debra Paine marry.
1976 - Davis makes noted visit to tomb of Unknown Soldier. Davis moves the single men into the Karcher Hotel in Waukegan.
1977 - Good News Singers record their only vinyl record on Wineskin Records.
1978 - Christian Fellowship Servicemen’s Center opens outside the Great Lakes Naval Base.
1979 - Christian Fellowship, Inc. name changed to Christian Fellowship Church Ministries International (CFCMI). Larry (son of LR and Hazel) and Katie Davis marry, would later leave CFCMI. Thomas is sent to Norfolk to start a church.
1980 - Thomas is sent to Orlando, Florida to start a church.
1981 - Bruce Wilson and other believers gather in San Diego, California, marking the start of what would become a congregation. Mike Meuller installed as pastor in Orlando.
1982 - Servicemen’s Center placed off limits due to allegations of homosexual activity, cultic behavior, and pastoral misconduct. End of Karcher Hotel era. San Diego church installed with Morehouse as pastor.
1983 - Servicemen’s Center removed from off-limits list, base commander relieved. Norfolk opens church building in Ocean View.
1985 - Henry Adihetty and Sunnil Hewage baptized in Sri Lanka by Davis. Adihetty installed as bishop of Sri Lanka.
1987 - Davis makes his *prophecy* about 200 men, heavily promotes his eunuchship doctrine.
1988 - Waukegan congregation buys old Swedish Glee Club. A General Conference is held in Waukegan. Hubert Ulysse joins the church.
1989 - Morehouse leaves, Dan Lantis sent to replace him.
1990 - Norfolk moves to larger building on Ocean View and opens a Servicemen’s Center.
1990 - ABC News "Nightline" airs expose on Davis.
1991 - Allegations rise against Davis again; large number of people leave CFCMI.
1992 - Davis is tried and convicted for sex crimes, including two minors; sentenced to 31 years in prison. Two other members are also tried with Davis and convicted of lesser charges.
1992 - Hubert Ulysse starts fellowship in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1993 - "Yellow Ribbon Campaign" begins, claiming Davis was innocent and wrongfully convicted.
1993 - Norfolk Servicemen’s Center closes. Ulysse installed as Fort Lauderdale pastor. Mike Meuller removed as Orlando pastor; Orlando church dissolved.
1994 - Rallies begin on behalf of Davis to get him released from prison.
1995 - Several appeals on Davis’s behalf are filed: all failed.
1995 - Ulysse installed as bishop of Haiti and Tony Norelus installed as Fort Lauderdale pastor.
1996 - Norfolk buys property on Little John Drive. San Diego buys a large Methodist church building. Duane Robinson takes charge of fellowship in Japan, sees much growth. Adihetty is removed from position of bishop in Sri Lanka, Hewage replaces him. Jacksonville, Florida fellowship established.
1999 - Davis dies in prison; Paine installed as General Pastor.
1999 - *Capital Campaign* launched for building fund in Waukegan.
1999 - Paine, Thomas, and Lantis team up with Quixtar, a branch of Amway.
2000 - Ex-CFCMI members launch AbusiveChurches.Org; website’s success prompts members to question the leadership about the Davis case and other issues. CFCMI senior leadership announce they will expel anyone who reads the AbusiveChurches website.
2001 - Paine gives the Mother’s Day speech. Upon giving a partial admission of Davis’ guilt, Paine’s speech creates splits throughout the ministry. Wilson installed as pastor in Waukegan. Increasing reports surface concerning Lantis’ behavior, coupled with declining numbers in San Diego. Sidney Thompson replaces Robinson in Japan; Robinson and family return to USA.
2003 - Amid increasing reports of financial mishandling, pastoral misconduct, and control practices, Thomas *dissolves* the Norfolk church, forcing nearly 100 people to leave. Robinson leaves and starts New Beginnings Christian Ministries in Norfolk, a separate work from the one in Georgia. New York fellowship severs ties with CFCMI.
2004 - San Diego sells building, meets in hotels until moving into a newer, smaller facility. Waukegan announces plans to build in upscale section of Lake County. Thomas sells Norfolk property.
2005 - Servicemen’s Center in Waukegan closed for good. First *Senior Pastors Tour* takes place.
2006 - CFCMI sets goal for 365 new members by year’s end; only 216 were realized ministry-wide. North Chicago strip which included the Servicemen’s Center is demolished. Thompsons return stateside; Eric and Charlene Turner take over fellowship in Japan.
2007 - Second *Senior Pastors Tour*. Thomas moves congregation into building in Virginia Beach, only to move out a few months later. Paine announces all CFCMI congregations are moving to Norfolk, Virginia. New International Headquarters building is purchased in Norfolk. Total number of new members ministry-wide is only 110, little more than half of 2006. Only US congregations were counted.
2008 - Todd Morgan is assigned to head fellowship in Washington State. San Diego is redesignated as a military fellowship instead of a full congregation. Lantis stripped of pastoral title, but later re-instated as "fellowship pastor". Wilson replaces Brand as dean of minister’s college, citing stricter adherence to eunuchship doctrine. Joe Watson is named director of the San Diego Military Fellowship.
2008 - Thomas and Paine share general pastor title. Dedication service held in Norfolk; large field of land named after L.R. Davis.
2008 - After seeing only 33 new members for the year, CFCMI discontinues tracking the statistic on their website. Yokosuka, Japan military fellowship discontinued. Todd Morgan, director of Everett, Washington fellowship, is reassigned to Norfolk.
2009 - Washington State fellowship website taken down.