Community Chapel Continues To Lose
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   Coming as quite a shock to Chapelites, a Chapel mother not only lost 
custody of her five children, but was forbidden to take them anywhere 
near the Community Chapels when she has visitations.  The Court battle 
in Vancouver, B.C., at times very high pitched, lasted ten long days 
with the Colossian Fellowship being called as expert witnesses.  The 
Chapel support for the mother was great, but to no avail against truth.

   In her ruling, Justice Jo-Ann Prowse noted that the dancing involved 
"physical contact...not only between adults, but also between adults and 
children."  "The evidence has left me with serious doubts as to (the 
mother's) judgment as it relates to the children," the judge continued, 
"I conclude that the clouding of her judgment is due in large part to 
her fervent and apparently unquestioning commitment to the Community 
Chapel Church...Her most serious error in judgment was the removal of 
the children from their school.  But there are other judgment calls 
which are also disturbing.  These include removing the children from all 
of their outside activities, the regular late night attendances at 
church services...the willingness to see them enter into connections 
with adults, the encouragement of secrecy about the church, and the 
unwillingness to seriously consider that the evidence about the Seattle 
church should give her some pause for thought."

   Coming on top of this, was the closure of the Victoria, B.C. 
Community Chapel in early January 1988.  The Satellite closed after a 
Victoria Police Officer went undercover and investigated it.  He found 
the same problem with children that plagues the main Community Chapel.

   This is not the only loss for the Community Chapels.  From the 
1986/1988 telephone directory for the main Community Chapel, there has 
been a loss of over 500 members; down to 1,597.  Their satellite 
churches have also experienced losses.  From claiming 22 satellite 
Churches, they are down to about 12 satellites churches according to 
their "Our Satellite Churches," minus Victoria.  And according to their 
own listings, the total membership for all the Chapels, now stand at 
less than 2,337!
    
(C.F. Staff)
  
The C.F. PREVUE
March 1988
P.O. Box 12933
Seattle, Wa., U.S.A.  98111