Contents:

• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Analysis of the title and first two paragraphs of Chapter 18 of “Approved by Man” by Wright/Townsend (ELC leaders)
• Chapter 2: Analysis of the first section of chapter 18 “The Propagation of the Declaration”
• Chapter 3: Analysis of the second section of Chapter 18, “Why such a strong stand against the DOT?
• Chapter 4: Analysis of the third section of Chapter 18, “Biblical Law Center Bulletins”
• Chapter 5: Analysis of the fourth section of Chapter 18, “More Exclusivity Statements”
• Chapter 6: Analysis of fifth section of Chapter 18, “We Can’t Give it to Other Churches!”
• Chapter 7: Analysis of the sixth section of Chatper 18, “Has it ever been tested in court?”
• Chapter 8: Analysis of the last section of Chapter 18, “The Questions will keep coming”
  
• Chapter 9: Ben Townsend Explains Chapter 18 of Approved by Man: He admits that he did not know what he was talking about (Below)
• Chapter 10: Reply to Ben Townsend’s Article, “Give and Take”
• Chapter 11: Answer to Ben Townsend’s Article, “It Really Isn’t Personal: “It’s Financial!”
• Chapter 12: Answer to Ben Townsend’s Article, “God is our Benefactor; He is NOT a Beneficiary”
• Analysis of Ben Townsends Article “A Law, Made by Man, Will be Changed” and Conclusion

Related articles:

• Exposing or Silently Co-existing with False Teaching Causes Suffering and Persecution from Within and Without a Church (050217)
• The Only Way a Church Can Organize to Remain a New Testament Church (050616 article which explains that why trust is a Bible concept and why it is the only way a church can organize in accord with New Testament principles and the wisdom of using a properly worded and executed Declaration of Trust with supporting documents.)
• Expose And Reject The Teachings and Methods of Church Organization Con-Artists and Charlatans (050616)
• Why Understanding and Applying Church and State Law Is Important for Believers and Churches (June 3, 2012 article)
• Is the ordinary trust recommended by this “Separation of Church and State Law Ministry” and by the BLC a legal entity?
• See Comparison of Bible Trust (ordinary trust), Incorporation (includes corporation sole), and Ecclesiastical Law Center Trust for a concise chart of the differences each brings to church organization.
• See Spurious rationale for church incorporation: to hold property (Section VI, Chapter 7 of God Betrayed; Chapter 7 of Separation of Church and State) for an explanation of the ordinary trust. That chapter shows how the ordinary trust comports perfectly with Bible principle and why this author now co-labels the ordinary trust a Bible trust.

Chapter 9: Ben Townsend Explains Chapter 18 of Approved by Man: He admits that he did not know what he was talking about

Jerald Finney
Copyright © December 11, 2014

As was obvious to this author when he read and analyzed Chapter 18 of Approved by Man, Townsend did not know what he was talking about regarding trust law. He wondered why Townsend would make such outrageous statements and legal arguments. Ben Townsend partially explained his foolish writing in Give and Take. In that article he stated:

“Okay, I admit it. And when pastors are questioning the ‘other’ attorney from the ‘other’ really good law ministry, he can actually have my blessing to say, ‘Dr. Townsend admits that he does not know much about Trusts’” (See the Endnote for the complete section where he makes this admission. Click Give and Take for this author’s replies to the entirety of that article.).

Townsend goes on to say that Robin Wright, now deceased, was the ELC brains behind the law of trusts. This infers that the ELC is now going forward without anyone with any knowledge of trust law. The ELC, as when Dr. Wright was alive, (1) organizes churches as legal entities through the use of some kind of trust and (2) relentlessly attacks the Biblical Law Center (“BLC”) and the DOT and the ordinary trust thereby created. All this is explained in the Preface, Introduction, and Chapters 1-8 of this booklet.

Give and Take raises a very important question: Why would Townsend write Chapter 18 of Approved by Man when he admits that he does not know much about trusts? The fact is, as shown by Chapters 1-8 of this booklet, he knows nothing about trusts. In Chapter 18, Townsend speaks as though he is an authority on the Declaration of Trust and the trusts thereby created. Pastors have explained Townsend’s reason for his unlearned and virulent attacks to this author. The quote of one pastor (not Dr. Greg Dixon and not a pastor who had, at the time of his quote, utilized the DOT and the ordinary trust) as to Townsend’s motive follows: ““[Out of courtesy, this author will not publish the pastor’s statement.]” Mr. Townsend needs to repent and ask for help in correcting the flaws of the ELC as to church organization for the sake of all the good men of God who depend upon him for leadership.

No one can defend the ELC position against the Declaration of Trust and the ordinary trust thereby created. Townsend certainly has made no rational attempt to do so. Should he make such an attempt, this author will be glad to read and analyze his offering. This author will repent should he be proven wrong concerning any matter.

A complete analysis of Give and Take is in Chapter 10 of this booklet. The link is: Chapter 10 – Reply to Ben Townsend’s Article, Give and Take.

Endnote

Section 2 of Give and Take: “GIVE – ‘Ben Townsend does not know much about Trusts.’ – Ben Townsend” follows:

Okay, I admit it. And when pastors are questioning the “other” attorney from the “other” really good law ministry, he can actually have my blessing to say, “Dr. Townsend admits that he does not know much about Trusts.” Then he can snort through his nose a little giggle, and the pastors in the audience can smile and nod to each other and chuckle. They can even designate one of their own pastors (at that moment) to cackle out loud. I would like him to stipulate that at that point he will tell the congregation of pastors, “Dr. Townsend has the same amount of knowledge on Trusts as Paul, Peter, John, and all the other writers of the Bible.” Whenever anyone would call the ELC and ask about Trusts, I would say, “Dr. Wright, phone call,” and hand the phone to Dr. Wright. Mainly, those would be people whom Dr. Wright had set up their Trust as an individual. He  personally set up hundreds of those Trusts. Some were Unincorporated Business Organizations (UBOs), some were Bare Trusts to just hold properties and assets, and one he set up for me to hold money to be used to help other missionaries and ministries in my son Jeremy’s name after his death. He sincerely tried to show me how it all worked once, and I smiled and nodded and said “Hmmm…” a lot. And with Dr. Wright having a B.A. in History, graduating from Central Baptist Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration, I figured he knew what he was talking about. Besides, I am a pastor. The only thing I really knew about Trusts was “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.” I was not confused into thinking that was a legal Trust though.

Click the following link for a complete analysis of “Give and Take”: Chapter 10 – Reply to Ben Townsend’s Article, Give and Take.