L. Craig Martindale

Loy Craig Martindale (born November 4, 1948) was the president of The Way International from 1982-2000. Martindale joined TWI in 1971, but he is currently on probation from the organization according to a ministry-wide announcement by current president Rosalie Rivenbark in 2000.Fact|date=August 2008

He served as head of the Way Corps training program and composed numerous articles published in The Way International's periodical, The Way Magazine. He wrote a book titled "The Rise and Expansion of the Christian Church in the First Century", its subject being why membership numbers of the first century Christian church soared, as well as "VP and Me", consisting of anecdotes and incidents with the founder and previous president of The Way International, Victor Paul Wierwille. Martindale was the usual teacher during his presidency at the Way's Sunday Teaching Services, which were presented to a live audience at their New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, as well as at other events.

Over Martindale's years in office from 1982, membership in The Way International dropped to a small percentage of its former numbers.Fact|date=August 2008 He stated at a "Word in Business and Profession" conference in 1994 that 80% of its leaders and followers had left.Fact|date=August 2008

Martindale became aware of The Way International while a leader in The Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the University of Kansas in the early seventies where he played football and received a bachelors degree in psychology. It was at a Way meeting on campus where he first heard WOW Ambassador Donnie Fugit teach. Soon afterwards, he saw V. P. Wierwille teach, and signed up for The Way's Power for Abundant Living Class.

After graduating from college, Martindale entered The Way's leadership program, The Way Corps, then in its second year. After a few assignments, he settled into his position as Way Corps Director, a position that he held (along with the Presidency as of 1982, as well as briefly holding the position as Head of Research) until his expulsion from The Way in 2000 following allegations of sexual misconduct.Fact|date=August 2008

The "Fog Years"

A year after V.P. Wierwille's death, European Way Corps Coordinator and head of The Way in Great Britain, Rev. Chris Geer, presented a document that he called "The Passing of a Patriarch" to The Way's top leaders and later to all Way Corps. According to Geer, this document outlined Wierwille's last days, including criticisms of the Board of Trustees and allegations of unbiblical decisions and behavior. Martindale initially cooperated with Geer and they appeared to be working together to strengthen The Way. However, eventually the two separated, with Martindale remaining as the head of The Way International and Geer operating an independent organization in Great Britain. Martindale would later refer to this break with Geer as "coming out of the fog" and the previous time as "The Fog Years".Fact|date=August 2008 Other Way leaders spoke up in criticism of Martindale and the other Trustees at this time, some even before the split, and were dismissed.

The "Oath of Allegiance"

Following his split with Geer, Martindale sent out a letter to all paid staff and top leaders demanding to know with whom they stood. Some leaders' sympathies were with Geer or other leaders who had left The Way, but they maintained their positions within The Way's leadership structure. Martindale was asking for a clear declaration of loyalty from his subordinates, those who would not affirm their loyalty to him would be removed from their positions. Many leaders and staff, as well as the other Way Corps who later received a similar letter, considered this an unbiblical demand and resigned their positions. In 1989 Martindale did a series of talks in which he explained his reasons for acting as he did. These were later put together as a class or seminar called "The Galatians Tapes" and later "Leadership Tapes I & II". In these tapes he likens Geer and other leaders who left The Way to the "miserable comforters" of Job and accuses them of being possessed with various "devil spirits".Fact|date=August 2008

The Nineties

Eliminating Wierwille's Programs

The decade of the nineties opened with Martindale firmly in charge, most of his detractors having left, some to start their own organizations. In 1992 he filmed his new class, called "Defeating the Adversary". Parts of it were taken from his previous "Leadership Tapes" seminar. Any classes, books, music or references to leaders who had left were removed from circulation. In the mid-nineties Martindale began to replace classes, programs and some doctrines initiated by Wierwille. First he filmed a new version of the advanced class on "Power for Abundant Living", then a new series called "The Way of Abundance and Power" replaced "Power for Abundant Living". The "Word Over the World Ambassador" program was replaced by the "Way Disciple" program, the "Rock of Ages" was cancelled and "Word in Business and Profession" weekends were replaced by "Advanced Class Specials".

Doctrinal Changes

In Martindale's new foundational class, several new doctrines were put forth, and greater emphasis was put on some existing doctrines. Martindale covered the non-belief in the Trinity and the idea that abortion is not murder in the foundational class. These were long-held Way doctrinal positions, but were not covered as clearly or adamantly in Wierwille's "PFAL" class. Martindale also advanced some opinions about continental drift, the Big Bang and other scientific theories, but generally misrepresented what science taught about these things.Fact|date=August 2008

His biggest change was his contention that the original sin of mankind in Genesis was Eve having lesbian sex with the Devil, who had "come into concretion" as a woman. This came during a period of intense emphasis on teachings against homosexuality. During the Rock of Ages festival in August 1994, Martindale convened closed meetings of first The Way Corps, then Advanced Class graduates, and also veterans of the W.O.W. Ambassador program. The subject was his belief that homosexuals had infiltrated the W.O.W. program and the ministry at large. He described this "infiltration" as "an attack of the Adversary" (the Devil) and outlined steps to combat what he saw as a major problem. The Way had always been against homosexuality and required being caught in the act to be dismissed from programs. Now, however, Martindale instituted what was called a "genuine spiritual suspicion" as enough grounds for actively investigating someone's sexual orientation and targeted suspected homosexual followers and sympathizers.Fact|date=August 2008

Martindale also began teaching on the evils of debt. General teachings progressed into a ban on any Way Corps being in debt, and later prohibitions on any individual who was in debt from enrolling in the Advanced Class, any Advanced Class Specials, or acting as Fellowship Coordinators or Way Disciples. While Way participants who did not fall into these categories could theoretically have debt, there was constant pressure on anyone who participated past the introductory level to get out of debt.

"Full Time" Ministers

In the late nineties Martindale declared that all Way Corps leaders would serve as "full time ministers" on The Way's payroll. Within 3 years it was apparent that The Way could not afford this program and it was scrapped.

The Word is Over The World

"Word Over the World" had been a Way slogan for decades. One Sunday afternoon Martindale announced that it had been accomplished and that The Way would now be entering "the promised land of the prevailing Word", mixing old and new testament imagery.

The New Millennium

In early 2000 it was announced that The Way and its Trustees, including Martindale, were being sued for charges that included sexual harassment.Fact|date=August 2008 Martindale admitted to having a "consensual affair" with the wife of the man who was bringing the lawsuit, but The Way eventually settled out of court.Fact|date=August 2008 Martindale claimed that he had apologized to all concerned and that all was settled "according to The Word." Despite this claim, Martindale soon resigned his position as President, citing his family and the good name of the ministry as reasons. He briefly held the position of head of research, but by spring it was announced that he had been placed on probation until "the fruit of his actions indicated that he had changed." He was also stripped of his clergy status and was considered dropped from the Way Corps. Rosalie Rivenbark succeeded him as the organization's president soon after the first announcement.Fact|date=August 2008