Three days after issuing a safety bulletin, Campus Police published a correction on Oct. 24 after the department could not determine an imminent criminal threat to PCC students as a Christian sect, with years of previous online rumors of misdeeds elsewhere, proselytized at PCC.
According to early incident reports, pairs of people claiming to represent the World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) approached students around PCC’s main campus to discuss their beliefs on “God the Mother.” Multiple reports prompted a safety bulletin issued via email by PCC Campus Police on Oct. 21, citing student concerns that the specific language was thought to be used in online rumors involving the organization with potential cult activity or sex trafficking. As part of PCC’s investigation, representatives from WMSCOG spoke with Campus Police. Thirteen similar law enforcement cases were also reviewed, and no criminal activity on PCC space was substantiated, according to Lieutenant Bill Abernathie.
“Based on our investigation, the church is a legitimate organization with almost eight thousand locations,” said Abernathie. “There was also no basis found for the sex-trafficking claims.”
WMSCOG was founded by Ahn Sahng-hong, believed to be the second coming of Christ, according to their website, and died in 1985. The female image of their God, known as “God the Mother,” is a woman currently living in South Korea. The church has amassed almost three million followers across the globe.
Dr. Michael Bush, assistant superintendent-vice president of business and administration services has expertise from a government-funded institution perspective.
“People have a right to enter a space that’s public and be able to say what they’d like, providing their speech is not violating the law,” Bush said during a phone interview. “So, they can’t have obscenities, threatening speech, crime solicitation or anything that California’s penal code says you can’t say.”
PCC is required to allow open access as defined under the limited public forum definition for the first amendment and California Education Codes 66301 and 76120, regardless of religious affiliation.
Individuals soliciting or proselytizing are also not allowed to block or impede a student’s path during their contact and should accept a response without pressure. Violations of conduct will result in the persons being cited and removed from campus, according to Bush.
WMSCOG has been the subject of online discussion and faced scrutiny for its proselytizing methods and rumors of illegal activity. Recruiting actively happens at college campuses around the U.S., including PCC, and often begins by asking students about “God the Mother.” However, no law enforcement action has been documented against the group.
Nicholas Mather, PCC social sciences adjunct assistant professor, specializes in teaching religion. Although his familiarity with WMSCOG is only recent, he cautioned against judging their missionary activity, provided their methods are socially acceptable.
“I would not refer to them as a cult,” Mather wrote in an email to the Courier. “Typically that term is frowned upon by religious scholars because of the negative connotations, and instead, the term ‘new religious movements’ is used.”
According to Mather, an organization must exhibit certain traits before being deemed a cult.
For example, the group may try to exert influence over a follower’s life. This may be accomplished by separating the members from their family, or sharing close living quarters which can encourage isolation. There may also be a required, unquestioned commitment and reliance on the group’s leader who is sometimes portrayed as divine.
In amending the original safety bulletin, Chief Steven Matchan encouraged students to trust their instincts and stay aware of their surroundings at all times, both on and off campus.
“We would like to remind our campus community that the presence of any organization on campus does not necessarily constitute an endorsement, but merely reflects our support and adherence to everyone’s right to free speech,” said Matchan.
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I’ve been approached by these guys on campus several times and harassed when I tell them that I’m not interested because I’m not a believer. They ask me why?, what do you believe in?, is it cultural?, have you read the bible? and their demeanor towards me changes as I keep telling them that I’m not interested. I don’t mind them being on campus, but just like they have the right to go on campus and talk to student about their beliefs. I have the right to go about my day and reject their religious propaganda. They shouldn’t harass students with more questions if we are not interested. Assistant Superintendent Michael Bush and PCCPD should investigate further and talk to other students with a similar experience because the members of WMSCOG even lie and state being PCC students doing a project for a class. I’ve asked them for the name of the course or professor and they just ask more questions. They don’t approach students and introduce themselves as members of a religious organization. Last semester, I met members of a Christian church in Pasadena inviting students to go to their service on Sunday. The members of the church were passing out water bottles, taking pictures and talking to students. WMSCOG’s approach isn’t very friendly. Now, the investigation might not have found any illegal activity about WMSCOG, but I find it disturbing to know that the founder of WMSCOG was believed to be the second coming of Christ while the female image of their God is a woman currently living in South Korea. The definition of the world “cult” in the dictionary is very clear: “A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.”