EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this report was previously affiliated with Living Word Christian Center, Incorporated. This report consists of research into public sources and statements from members of the public who are familiar with the organization. Any information that comes from the author’s previous relationship with LWCCI is clearly labeled as the author’s recollection.
By James Tibbets, Pendletonian Times
PENDLETON, Oregon – Living Word Christian Center, officially called Living Word Christian Center, Incorporated, has lofty goals in the area of educating the public. LWCCI operates educational programs for everyone from small children to adults; to everyone whether they are free or incarcerated. But all isn’t roses for LWCCI: they have been accused of everything from harassing former members to illegal political activities.
According to documents found on the Oregon Secretary of State’s online business search website, LWCCI began its life on January 4, 1955 in Mount Vernon, Oregon. It was called “Mountain Chapel Community Church of Mount Vernon” and was founded by Roscoe Cannon, Marvin N. Brannon and Gilda McKinney. The objectives stated in filing documents were the “promotion of religion in Grant County, Oregon, to hold and acquire church property for the benefit of the corporation, to extend to the public the opportunities for worship, and to promote charity.”
On September 11th, 1983, the organization was renamed “Living Word Christian Center” by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees. On September 29, 1984 the board voted again to change the name to “Living Word Christian Center Mt. Vernon, Oregon.” Its name was changed for the final time on November 6, 1986 to “Living Word Christian Center, Incorporated” which is what it is called today.
LWCCI also does business as “Living Free Ministries, Inc.” Both names are registered with the Oregon Secretary of State and documents list Don Miller as the registered agent for both entities. Don Miller is married to Sharon, president of both entities and pastor of LWCCI. Both reside in Mount Vernon. LFMI gives its address as the LWCCI church on Northgate in Pendleton.
The 1986 filing was lengthier than previous filings had been. In addition to the name change, the simple, single sentence objective was lengthened. These new objectives include:
- Establishing “a recognized Creed, Code of Doctrine, discipline and form of worship.”
- Establishing an “ecclesiastical” form of church government.
- “Ordination of ministers upon completion of a prescribed course of study, designated by this church ministry.”
- Establishing “an organization of ministers … to minister to the congregation.”
- Establishing “congregation membership based upon acceptance of a recognized creed and belief and support of the church.”
- “Spread the Word of the Gospel through seminars, radio, television, establishment of church literature, and other forms of mass media for the purpose of educating the individual in the Word of God.”
- Establishing “various religious services pursuant to the recognized Creed, form of worship, code of doctrine and discipline of the church and the establishment of Sunday Schools and religious Schools for Christians and educational instruction to the young and to the old.”
- “Establishing a Bible Training School or School of Theology (not considered an accredited educational institution) for the preparation of ministers who minister to” LWCCI.
- “Minister the Word of God to the faithful, and all others.”
- “To acquire and hold such property, either real or personal, for church purposes, as may be necessary for its membership and the worship of God.”
According to the LWCCI website, Sharon Miller “founded” LWCCI in Mount Vernon in 1982. The website continues that “in March 2003, in response to a supernatural visitation of the Lord,” Miller, “along with an outreach team from Mount Vernon” established an LWCCI church in Pendleton. Miller serves as pastor for both churches and travels between them every Sunday.
LWCCI operates “Heritage Honor Clubs.” These clubs are made up of children in grades 1-12, who meet weekly throughout the school year to learn about American history, “honorable living” and life skills. The purpose of these clubs is to “accurately” teach American history, including “the truth that God has and still does play a part in the forming of America and her future.” Contentious cultural issues are discussed, such as “progressive cultural tides.”
Free sermon access used to be provided to church members and the general public on the LWCCI website, but a message on the downloads page currently reads that “trusting the leading of the Lord, we are no longer offering the service of free, weekly message downloads. We encourage you to attend and become a vital part of the church God has assigned you to. Messages can still be purchased on the website store, in person at the office in either location, or by calling [the LWCCI office].” The website store is defunct but lists the price of a “message” on CD as $7, or $3 for an mp3 copy. Other offerings from LWCCI range in price from $14-$35. Buyers are directed to call the church office in Mount Vernon for purchases.
LWCCI offers an in-home Bible study course that “allows students to proceed at their own pace.” This is called the “Individual Discipleship Program” and there are 11 levels to the program, 10 of which are paid. Levels vary between 10-17 lessons per level and are priced between $50-$85 per level. The total program costs $720. The first lesson is “complimentary,” and includes the section headings:
- Salvation
- Righteousness
- Faith
- Healing
- Prayer
- Sanctification
- Water Baptism
- Tithing
- Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
- One Soldier Church
Later levels, which are paid, include titles such as “getting results with your faith,” “releasing the power of the kingdom,” “hostage to a spirit of infirmity,” “key to miracles” and “how to lose your mind.”
Marie Hancock, 44, of Pendleton, is a former member of LWWCI who started attending when she was 26 and continued for nearly a decade. Hancock says she left LWCCI on Sunday, March 27, 2016 and is now an ordained minister and active participant in Pendleton’s pagan community. She says that “[Miller] has less official religious credentials than I do.” Hancock is ordained by the Universal Life Church of Sacramento, California, which provides free ministerial ordination to those seeking it.
Hancock says that she left LWCCI after she was asked by Miller to present a speech at both churches. She related that after some back and forth with Miller about the length of her speech both parties agreed that it was ready to present. She says that she gave her speech in Pendleton without any issues and then made the trip to Mount Vernon, where she says she was summoned into Miller’s office and berated in front of another member by Miller because the speech wasn’t original enough.
Hancock claims to have been harassed multiple times by members of LWCCI since her 2016 departure. She says she regularly endures “stare downs” from church members. Her Facebook profile includes posts like “since it’s a small town and even though [expletive] are blocked, I’m sure things get around. Dear [members] of my former church: get over it. My family has [expletive] to do with you, because of you … When you see me in public, feel free to ignore me or go ahead and scowl at me.”
In another post, Hancock described an alleged assault by a member of LWCCI during the Main Street Cowboys’ Dress-Up Parade in 2019: “[a church member] threw a [full sized] candy bar into [my son’s] face. [My son] was a year old at the time.”
Hancock says that she suffers from religious trauma due to her experiences at LWCCI, a condition which she says has been diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional. According to Sabino Recovery, Religious Trauma Syndrome “is a form of psychological trauma that can result from the harmful effects of religious indoctrination, abuse, or manipulation” and is similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. RTS is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-5 is what many mental health professionals use to diagnose mental illnesses and disorders and it is published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Hancock identified intellectual property on the LWCCI website that she says she created and donated to LWCCI: “they’ll probably take it down once [Pendletonian Times] points it out.” She says that LWCCI has a policy which states that that any intellectual property which is created on LWCCI property becomes the property of LWCCI. This includes photos and videos.
“They’re very much about money … I got in trouble for buying a house [without church permission]” continued Hancock. She says members are instructed to pay tithes, or 10% of their “pre-tax” income. “They will call you if you don’t pay tithes … they want to know how much you make.” She says that these calls are usually filled with concern for the member but “at the end of the day, they just want to know why you’re not paying your tithes.”
According to the most recent Form 990-N filed by LFMI, they took in less than $50,000 in 2023.
Pendletonian Times was shown a Facebook message from a person who claims to be a member of LWCCI. Pendletonian Times has withheld their name to shield them from possible retaliation by LWCCI. The message claims that Angela Alarcon is a youth minister at LWCCI. According to the East Oregonian, Alarcon was convicted in 2018 of abusing her now-husband’s three year old boy and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Miller, who regularly ministers to inmates at the Umatilla County Jail, advocated for Alarcon’s release from custody so that she could live at a residential treatment facility that the church used to operate in John Day. According to the source’s claims, Alarcon teaches more than one youth group at the church.
Nonprofit organizations are largely banned from intervening in political affairs. According to the website of the Internal Revenue Service, churches and other nonprofits cannot “intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Hancock says that LWCCI “constantly” endorses political candidates. “From the pulpit they are careful … [but] in [church] groups they tell you who to vote for.” She says that the Heritage Honor Clubs present the “Republican-party platform” to children.
The IRS sometimes reminds tax-exempt organizations that they must steer clear of political activity; the most recent message to tax-exempt organizations about the issue is dated November 19th, 2007. According to the letter, “the prohibition against political campaign activity has been in effect for more than half a century and bars certain tax-exempt organizations from engaging on behalf of or in opposition to political candidates. However, these organizations can engage in advocating for or against issues and, to a limited extent, ballot initiatives or other legislative activities.” Violation of this law can result in an excise tax, which is a tax imposed on certain goods, services or activities. In severe cases, loss of tax-exempt status is a result.
According to a fact sheet published by the IRS, they give serious consideration to complaints made alleging the abuse of the tax exempt status granted to nonprofit organizations. Form 13909 and supporting documentation may be submitted by email at: eoclass@irs.gov, or the toll-free number: 877-829-5500.
Pendletonian Times reached out twice via email and once via telephone but LWCCI did not respond to a request for comment before publishing.