- Embassy of Heaven
Embassy of Heaven is a Christian based organization based in
Stayton, Oregon that seeks to separate from secular government. Its members profess themselves to be literal citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and refute any ties to what they refer to as "worldly governments". The organization issues its own identity documents (including passports and drivers licenses), business licenses, motor vehicle title certificates and license plates. The group's leader is Craig Douglas Fleshman, a former Oregon state computer systems analyst who goes by the name "Pastor Paul Revere" and has been married to Rachel Revere since 1971.The government claims the organization is set up to avoid paying taxes. Though its leaders refer to themselves as lawyers, none have any education in law nor have they passed the
Bar exam . [cite news | url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/212422_corpsole17.html| title=Two Snohomish County men accused of anti-tax scheme |publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | date=2005-02-17 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-02-04] The organization has run afoul of tax codes because it does not recognize the authority of the United States. In 1997, Sheriff's Deputies raided the church's property and seized it for non-payment of taxes. Pastor Revere insisted the taxes were not owed because the property was "a separate nation". [ [http://www.iahushua.com/WOI/embassy.htm Embassy of Heaven evicted in tax case ] ] Several members have been arrested for driving cars with "Kingdom of Heaven" license plates and showing similar driver's licenses to law enforcement officers. [ [http://www.embassyofheaven.com/catalog/licensby.htm Licensed By Heaven ] ] [ [http://goingtojail.embassyofheaven.com/gotojail087b.htm Going to Jail - First Police Encounter ] ] [ [http://www.embassyofheaven.com/current/orland.htm Orland, Calif ] ]According to the
Anti-Defamation League , Embassy of Heaven has ties to anti-government militias.cite news | url=http://www.adl.org/mwd/oldnews4.asp | title=The Neo-Militia News | publisher =Anti-Defamation League | date= 1997-03-05 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-07-18]References
External links
* [http://embassyofheaven.com Embassy of Heaven]
* [http://embassyofheaven.org Records Department for the Church]
* [http://dns2.embassyofheaven.net Embassy of Heaven Network]
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