I’m putting this up for researchers and bloggers – I have part of the publication in Google docs and am not doing a good job of getting the information to people who are asking for it.
A few screenshots is a start. If someone can explain how to link a Google doc, I’m all ears.
The information is from Contending Earnestly for the Faith from Christian Witness, Australia.
The author of the article is Philip L. Powell of Christian Witness, who was National General Secretary of Assemblies of God in Australia and Editor of the monthly Australian Evangel, 1989-1992. Christian Witness publishes Contending Earnestly for the Faith quarterly.
The article is The Judgement was set and the books were opened.
The information J. Lee Grady gave is found on page 31, under column 3, footnote 44.
The question is: Did J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine chose not to renew his membership in The International Coalition of Apostles?
Here is what J. Lee Grady told Philip. L. Powell in the highlighted portion: (click to enlarge)
Footnote 44 reads as follows:
I sent an earlier draft of this article to Stephen Strang and Lee Grady. Lee responded as follows and gave me permission to quote him:
 “I have chosen not to renew my membership in ICA for several personal reasons. But I have not severed my personal relationship with these people. I am still in close fellowship with many of them. In fact many of them are very close friends. I love them and I will not end my relationship with them just because I disagreed with the way the Lakeland Revival was handled. The ICA is a diverse group of leaders who have differing views on a lot of topics, so it is unfair to say that a lot of them agreed on Lakeland.”
Then Philip L. Powell makes an note: ED: See what I mean about “fence-sitting!”
For those wondering, Steven Strang is owner of Strang Communications of which Charisma Magazine is a part. J. Lee Grady is the Editor of Charisma Magazine.
The International Coalition of Apostles is a hierachy of leaders, calling themselves ‘apostles’ led by C. Peter Wagner (holding up a copy of Charisma Magazine) It is an independent network of neo-pentecostal/charismatics who hold several extra-biblical views including dominionism, Third Wave, Joel’s Army, Manifest Sons of God, Latter Rain, Word/Faith, Prosperity Gospel and other unbiblical practises and teachings. The ‘apostles’ fall under the NAR movement, a deviation from traditional Pentecostalism.
I commend researchers for wanting this information verified and for wanting to see with their own eyes and ask their own questions. It’s a shame I can’t link Philip L. Powell’s full article.
Questions and openess are healthy in a religious culture where questioning is often shut down and the questioner shamed or ridiculed.
The question next becomes, When did J. Lee Grady give permission to publish his statement?Â
The email from J. Lee Grady requesting permission to quote was sent to Philip. L. Powell October 1, 2008.
Next question: If J. Lee Grady left the ICA as he stated, why hasn’t his website been amended to reflect his decision?
“Fence Sitting” is probably a very good application here. He wants to distance he and Charisma from the excesses without giving the ICA crowd the middle-digit salute, for they would lose a good chunk of their readership if they did.
On a less-venal level; if he does want to help them realize their excesses, he might want to stay on speaking terms rather than write them off entirely and shout from a distance about their shortcomings.
Critical analysis isn’t a charismatic strong suit, especially for a magazine that is a cheerleader for the movement.
It is a good application isn’t it?
I would wonder if he has joined another group of Apostles such as Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church of Redding California?
But he has spoken sharpley about the Todd bently divorce issue and Rick Joyner.