The following short excerpt is from a book by Dr. Don Vinzant. (More details to follow)

CHAPTER 8
ROOTS OF THE MODERN DISCIPLING
MOVEMENT

"Pat Robertson wrote an Open Letter to Bob Mumford on June 27, 1975, in which he complained about abuses associated with the discipleship-shepherd-submission teaching. He mentioned individuals who submit to shepherds instead of becoming responsible church members. He mentioned those who have little to say about Jesus but much about their relationship and submission to their shepherd. He told of a secretary at the Christian Broadcasting Network who had been turned into an emotional cripple by this movement. He said that she scarcely could type a letter without a long distance call to her shepherd. Robertson went on to tell about wealthy Christians being forced by their shepherds to reveal confidential details of their financial and family life. He told of one individual who was warned that he would miss out on the Kingdom of God and be ruined spiritually, physically, and financially if he did not submit to the shepherd's authority. Finally, Robertson quoted a key figure in the shepherding movement who said that if God spoke to him and he knew that it was God speaking, but his shepherd told him to do the opposite, he would obey his shepherd.14

"The Shepherds of Fort Lauderdale met in Oklahoma City in March of 1976 and issued the following 'Statement of Concern and Regret.'

"We realize that controversies and problems have arisen among Christians in various areas as a result of our teaching in relation to subjects such as submission, authority, discipling, and shepherding. We deeply regret these problems and, insofar as they are due to fault on our part, we ask forgiveness from our fellow believers whom we have offended. We realize that our teachings, though we believe them to be essentially sound, have in various places been misapplied or handled in an immature way; and that this has caused problems for our brothers in the ministry. We deeply regret this and ask for forgiveness. Insofar as it lies in our power, we will do our best to correct these situations and to restore any broken relationships. (The statement is signed by Don Basham, Em Baxter, Bob Mumford, John Poole, Derek Prince, and Charles Simpson.)15"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don E. Vinzant has served as the pulpit minister of the Grandbury Church of Christ in Grandbury, Texas, since 1982. Before that, he preached for the Northside Church of Christ in Austin, Texas, 1976-1982, and for the Village (now Quail Springs) Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, 1973-1976. He was on the original Sao Paulo Mission Team, 1961-1973. He served as the dean of the Sao Paulo Institute of Biblical Studies, 1970-1973.

He contributed chapters to Steps to the Mission Field, a mission textbook. He translated works of Rubem Alves, Brazil's leading Protestant theologian/philosopher. In addition, he has published numerous articles in various religious journals.

Don received his B.A. degree from Abilene Christian University in 1958, his M.A. degree from Abilene Christian University in 1962, and his D. Min. degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1984