steven b clark: dictator - - - - - - -sos community: null set
DESCRIPTION
In 1964 Steven B Clark typed up his vision of a Covenant Community, referring to it's leader as the "dictator". Subsequently, in describing the community of believers under the "dictator" he used the term "null set". In its simplest form, the term means, "a set that is empty; a set with no members." One wonders why Clark would use such a term to describe the communities of Christians he envisioned.TRANSCRIPT
Steven B Clark:
Dictator
Sword of the SpiritCommunities:
Null SetsA document from the Thomas Yoder Papers, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Following this introduction is a copy of a document written by Steven BClark, founder of the Sword of the Spirit (SOS). The SOS is a non-denominational"Christian" movement that actively recruits "leaders" of smaller covenantcommunities so as to obtain control over them and then, with the assistance ofthose same leaders, bring the members of those communities into formation andsubmission under the Sword of the Spirit.
This document was written in 1964 by Clark while he was at the campus ofNotre Dame. It predates his baptism in the Holy Spirit by three years. The ideascontained in this document formed the basis for the creation of the Word of GodCovenant Community and subsequently, the government and structure of theSword of the Spirit.
In the document, Clark identifies the leader of this group as "The Dictator."Clark is an intelligent man with a graduate education and a penchant for being ,exact when it comes to what he means and writes. (See his epic tome, MAN ANDWOMAN IN CHRIST.) His view of the leader ofa Christian community as a-"Dictator" goes against the scriptural view of Christian leaders as "the GoodShepherd" who lays down his life for his sheep. Dictators, on the other hand, arenoted for their ability to have everyone else lay down their lives for the Dictator .
. The term "Null Set" is used to define the community that Clark envisioned.Governed by the Dictator and his Lieutenants, the Null Set contains manysimilarities of Sword of the Spirit Communities investigated by Catholic Bishopsin Akron OH, Baltimore MD, Newark NJ and Steubenville OH. A review of theterm via online searches will produce such fmdings as "a set that is negligible" or a"set that has no members." Either definition seems to take a very dim view of themen, women and children that comprise Sword of the Spirit Community.
Finally, of interest in the document is the role of the Catholic priest. Thereader can investigate that peculiarity for themselves.
John Flaherty
May 20, 2011
Grand Island, NE
