January 6, 1999

Hello Dave,

Though I have not seen the actual internet postings from Lambert to which you referred, they have been mentioned to me by others. Apparently they include two or three references to purported conversations between Lambert and me.

The first is a statement that Lambert says he told me about Dave Pack telling him in a fit of rage, "I will destroy Rod." As I have previously told Lambert, I have no recollection of such a statement and if this were a court of law question, I would have to say, "I have no recollection of it."

Another statement was that in a 90 minute conversation with me on or about December 7, Larry kept bringing up Dave Pack's name. This is categorically not true. Lambert is the one who raised the name of Dave Pack. He insisted that the whole "split in Global" was a result of attitudes and actions of Dave Pack.

I specifically told Lambert that in my opinion that idea was false.  Rather the split was produced by the attitude and actions of Rod Meredith, with Dave Pack used as a straw man to try to rally the Council around Rod. In fact, I made this point repeatedly during the discussion, letting him know that the issue was definitely not Dave Pack. I told Lambert that the Michigan matter was blown way out of proportion and that people had been used to accomplish that. I said that no matter what Dave did or didn't say in Michigan, the matter should have been handled through normal channels and that I had begun that process as soon as Lambert called me on Saturday night.

By the way, this conversation took place in my office. Lambert was in town for "regional pastors" meetings with RCM, and just showed up, unannounced in my office. Rob Potts was present during the entire conversation and can confirm my words. Lambert began by asking if there was any chance for reconciliation, and ended by saying he thought that since most of the brethren had gone with RCM, that we should just give back the assets, the office space, etc. and go away. I haven't heard
from him since.

Another statement is reported to be that Lambert says that I told him on one or more occasions, that "we need Dave Pack to get in Rod's face."  This is an inaccurate quote and attaches some sinister conspiracy to a simple statement to a fellow pastor. The actual statement was very nearly this: "Dave, like all of us, has strengths and weaknesses, but he is the only person on the Council who will stand toe to toe with Dr. Meredith when he thinks he is wrong. We need to be able to do that."   That was a true statement then, and it is true now. We must be able to speak frankly in an atmosphere of open and forthright discussion, even when it is unpleasant.   Dave, I do not know what has turned Lambert into such a tiger all of a sudden, unless he was that way all along and I was blind to it. He sure seems to be promoting a lot of contention and strife on the Internet. I hope he sees the light.

I hope this clears up my involvement, and makes the truth plain to counter Lambert's version. With all the work we have to do, I don't keep up with the slander and libel that seems to fly around.

Talk to you later.

Larry