Mormon Candidate For Governor Of Hawaii Tied To Movement That Burns Books of Mormon
Bruce Wilson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 10:59:28 AM EST
On Saturday September 18th, Hawaii's voters will decide which of two Democratic candidates will get the nomination to run as the Democratic Party candidate for governor in Hawaii's  2010 general election. Running against former US congressman Neal Abercrombie is former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann.

During Democratic primary race Mufi Hannemann has been charged with fundraising irregularities (see 1, 2), and ethics violations, and also "manipulation" and "strongarm tactics" while Mayor of Honolulu. Charges against Hannemann have come not only from liberal activists but also from the Chair of the Hawaii Republican Party and the Hawaii Christian Coalition.  

But there's another skeleton in Hannemann's closet that Hawaii's voters, especially the 5% who are Mormon, might want to know about. Especially given the ongoing international controversy concerning a Florida-based evangelical Christian ministry's plan to stage a mass-burning of copies of the Q'uran, it's notable Mufi Hannemann has ties to a global ministry called the International Transformation Network whose CEO, Ed Silvoso, has sanctioned burning Books of Mormon.
Burning Books of Mormon, statues of Catholic saints, and so on

As Ed Silvoso's close colleague C. Peter Wagner  described in his book Hard-Core Idolatry - Facing the Facts (still in print, available from Amazon.com [see link, above], published by the Wagner Institute of Practical Ministry, 1999), the "Holy Spirit" came to their mutual colleague Cindy Jacobs and "told her that told her that in [the Argentinian city of] Resistencia they must burn the idols, like the magicians did in Ephesus. Ed Silvoso, Cindy Jacobs and the Resistencia pastors agreed."

So, what sort of items were on the "burn list"? As we learn on page 38,

"...the kinds of material things that might be bringing honor to the spirits of darkness: pictures, statues, Catholic saints, Books of Mormon, pictures of former lovers, pornographic material, fetishes, drugs, Ouija boards, zodiac charms, good luck symbols, crystals for healing, amulets, talismans, tarot cards, witch dolls, voodoo items, love potions, books of magic, totem poles, certain pieces of jewelry, objects of Freemasonry, horoscopes, gargoyles, native art, foreign souvenirs, and what have you." [emphasis mine]

On page 39 of Hard-Core Idolatry - Facing The Facts we get additional details on the mass conflagration of "idolatrous" objects:

The believers agreed to obey God and to cleanse their homes, even if it meant giving up what might have been expensive items. They were to wrap each item in newspaper to protect privacy, and then cast the objects into a 55-gallon drum set before the platform the following night. The drum was heaped to overflowing! They poured gasoline on it and set it on fire. This was a major power encounter, because the witches and warlocks had surrounded the area and done their occult sacrifices, killing animals, burning incense, and sending the most powerful curses they could muster toward the evangelists. When the flames shot up, a woman right behind Doris screamed and manifested a demon, which Doris immediately cast out!

[note: "Doris" is Doris Wagner, C. Peter Wagner's wife. She specializes in casting out demons and in fact teaches paid courses on the subject at the Wagner Leadership Institute.]

Hannemann, Silvoso, and the ITN: The Evidence

I've laid out some of the evidence tying Duke Aiona and Mufi Hannemann to Ed Silvoso and his International Transformation Network both in a two part series I published in April 2010 (1, 2) and in subsequent stories posted here at Talk To Action and elsewhere (see: 1, 2, 3, 4).

Especially striking was the claim Ed Silvoso made at a May 2010 conference held at a megachurch in Cedar Hills, Texas, in which Silvoso declared, "It doesn't matter if the Republican or the Democratic candidate wins the governorship [of Hawaii]. Either one is already in the kingdom." Given that former congressman Neal Abercrombie has no ties to the International Transformation Network or its Hawaii branch, Transformation Hawaii that I am aware of, the likelihood is that the Democratic candidate Silvoso referred to was Mufi Hannemann.

As I detailed in my two-part series Transforming Hawaii, a  2008 internet post in Ed Silvoso's name stated that Silvoso's fellow International Transformation Network leader Cal Chinen was "shepherding" the mayor of Honolulu which, at the time, was Mufi Hannemann. "Shepherding" is a term that has been commonly used in cults.

[video, below: in ad for "Convergence 2010" conference in Cedar Hills, Texas, Cindy Jacobs announces top-billed conference speakers Peter Wagner and Ed Silvoso, and in footage from that conference Ed Silvoso announces his upcoming November 2010 ITN conference in Hawaii and then tells his audience that "It doesn't matter if the Republican or the Democratic candidate wins the governorship. Either one is already in the kingdom."]

As the excerpts from Ed Silvoso's 2007 book Transformation - Change The Marketplace And You Change The World indicate, International Transformation Network CEO Ed Silvoso sees Republican candidate Duke Aiona as the best hope for "transforming" the historically liberal state of Hawaii.

 [below: excerpt from page 31 of Ed Silvoso's book Transformation]

But judging from Ed Silvoso's description of "the Mayor of Honolulu" (who was Mufi Hannemann as of when Silvoso's book went to print  in 2007), Silvoso would likely welcome Hannemann as the next governor of Hawaii as well.

[below: excerpt from page 33 of Ed Silvoso's book Transformation]

James "Duke" Aiona's extensive ties to the ITN include a 2006 trip to Argentina to an ITN conference where Aiona was filmed praying together Uganda's First Lady Janet Museveni. The cost of Aiona's trip was paid for with over $7,000 in gifts - apparently in violation of Hawaii's state ethics rules.

But both Aiona and Hannemann have appeared together at numerous ITN conferences and also at conferences held by related Hawaiian evangelical ministries such as Hawaiian Island Ministries (HIM.) The image below is a screen shot of the program for the International Transformation Network's 2008 Hawaii conference - at which Mufi Hannemann and Duke Aiona appeared together on stage to co-lead the opening ceremony of the event.

[below: program for 2008 Hawaii International Transformation Network conference]

In my April 22nd, 2010 story Christian Right Claims Both 2010 Hawaii Gubernatorial Candidates, I described a range of links between Mufi Hannemann and Ed Silvoso's International Transformation Network and its Hawaii chapter, Transformation Hawaii:  

Hannemann attended the International Transformation Network's first big Hawaii conference according to Richard Borreca of the Honolulu Star Bulletin and on 9:00 AM on January 21, 2008 Duke Aiona and Mufi Hannemann shared a stage at the opening ceremonies for a Transformation Hawaii / International Transformation Network "Catch the Wave" two-day conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Lt. Governor Aiona and Mayor Hannemann could also be found together at a January 18, 2010 Honolulu rally against same sex marriage that was organized by the Hawaii Family Forum.

The Hawaii Family Forum was founded by International Transformation Network Chairman Francis Oda, who also chairs the board of the Hawaii Family Forum. Ed Silvoso is ITN's CEO

In 2008, both Mufi Hannemann and Duke Aiona each spoke at another ITN-associated event, a conference held by the Hawaiian Island Ministries of pastor Dan Chun.

[images, below: Mufi Hannemann and Duke Aiona each spoke at the Hawaiian Island Ministry's major yearly conference for 2008. Standing next to Hannemann and Aiona in both images are Dan Chun and his wife]

As a 2003 report (PDF file of report) from the Hawaii Family Forum described, Dan Chun and HIM ministries have been a major force in the Christian evangelical fight against gay rights in Hawaii:

"In her March 7, 2003 address to the participants of Honolulu 2003, Shirley Dobson praised the efforts of Hawaii Family Forum.

"Here in Hawaii you have a [Family Policy Council] that is working for you." Dobson told participants. Posing for photo's after the address, Hawaii Family Forum's Kelly Rosati was able to speak directly with Mrs. Dobson. During the evenings events, Dan Chun, Founder and President of Hawaiian Island Ministries (HIM) called Kelly up and introduced her to the 2000+ people attending the conference. He, too, praised the efforts of HFF and Rosati.

Support for Hawaii Family Forum by HIM has been longstanding. HFF has participated as a vendor at HIM conferences since 1999.
Dan Chun is also the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Ms. Rosati is confident that Hawaiian Island Ministries will continue to work with Hawaii Family Forum to represent the families of Hawaii."

The Hawaii Family Forum was founded by Hawaiian architect Francis Oda, who also serves as the Chairman of the International Transformation Network.

The Hawaii Family Forum is now headed by Executive Director Allen Cardines, who is also President of Transformation Hawaii.

As stated on the Transformation Hawaii website, "Transformation Hawai'i (TH) is a chartered member of the Global International Transformation Network (ITN) headed by Ed Silvoso, CEO."

The ITN is actively in a number of countries around the world, including Uganda. My 20-minute mini-documentary Transforming Uganda, which was cited in January 2010 testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission,

"presents a radically new perspective; a little-known but global evangelical effort, which claims gays are possessed by demons and that faith healing can cure HIV and AIDS, is working to "transform" the nation of Uganda along theocratic lines. Individuals in that effort, shown in the video, are directly tied to Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill that would mandate execution for HIV positive Ugandan citizens. According to gay rights activist Jim Burroway, the bill appears to still be in play."


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Mormon Candidate For Governor Of Hawaii Tied To Movement That Burns Books of Mormon | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)
These people are crazy!!!! (5.00 / 1)
You people are awesome.  I don't know why the MSM isn't covering this.  

You know, I used to be hard on various Christian denominations for setting rules for dogma, from the 3rd century AD on.  Now with all of these wacky, zany, mega-schizophrenic sects out there, all insisting that they are speaking the absolute infallible truth, I can see why the Catholics and Orthodox Christians are so hardcore on dogma.  OK, so I may not LIKE all of Catholic dogma, but with a Catholic priest, you pretty much know what party line he's going to be spouting.  In this world of Rev. Jones and good God knows who else, that's kind of comforting.  

Now Mormons who burn the Book of Mormon?  That makes my head hurt.  A Mormon friend told me that a lot of young Mormons loved Marilyn Manson until he came to Utah and burned the book of Mormon, at which time he was booted out.  But you kind of expect it from a Satanist like Marilyn Manson!  You don't expect fellow Mormons to be advocating the extinguishment of their holy book!

This is the craziest thing I've ever read!  This guy deserves Keith's "Worst Person in the World" award today.

by fabucat on Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 12:34:19 PM EST

Thanks! (none / 0)
I don't have evidence that Mufi Hannemann has himself burned Books of Mormon but he's associated himself with a Christian tendency, through the International Transformation Network, that says it does.

by Bruce Wilson on Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 02:08:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

At one time- antidominionism was dogma (none / 0)
At one time- antidominionism was dogma in the Protestant church in the US! The antidominionist evangelical/fundamentalists are also accusing the church today of not having discernment and sticking to what the Bible says- read the following article here: http://discernment-ministries.org/ChristianImperialism.htm / also check out Isaac Backus here: http://classicliberal.tripod.com/radical/churchstate.html and go to Isaac Backus' book.

by zowie on Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 05:29:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I know, and here's a recent example : (none / 0)
Faith2Action's Janet Porter recent lost her radio show on VCY America because of her dalliance with hardcore dominionists. Kyle at PFAW has the scoop:

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/vcy-drops-porters-radio-pro gram-over-dominion-theology

by Bruce Wilson on Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 09:42:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]




Shepherding (none / 0)
I was quite taken aback to read: ""Shepherding" is a term that has been commonly used in cults." Perhaps yes, but it is also a term widely used in mainstream Christianity. It is rather like saying, "Candles are commonly used in pagan rituals." It's an accurate statement, but candles can't be used as a distinguishing characteristic of pagan ritual because they are so common in many other faith practices, also. We have a shepherding program in the Moravian congregation to which I belong, and as the oldest Protestant denomination (with one of our pastors currently serving as the President of the National Council of Churches) I don't think we can be considered to be a cult.

by MLouise on Sun Sep 12, 2010 at 10:32:25 PM EST
Are there cell churches as well? (none / 0)
If there are cell churches as well... small groups run by leaders who report to the leader of the local church (who may report to someone even higher), then there is evidence your churches are being steeplejacked.  Cell churches and shepherding are BAD NEWS.  They are so easily abused and turned into a form of control and coercion that no church should ever consider them.

Remember... these people (Religious Right/Dominionists/NAR/whatever you want to call them) deliberately try to take over other churches.  It may be a bit of "old news"- but go back and read about the Institute for Religion and Democracy and things like that.  That is an organization set up specifically to either convert mainstream and liberal churches to the Religious Right, or to destroy them.  The dominionist churches have been steeplejacking since before the IRD even started.

Shepherding and cell churches are one of the ways they get into mainstream/liberal churches and start rotting them out from within.  There are several other ways, but they are not germane to this discussion.

by ArchaeoBob on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 09:43:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]


There's some terminological overlap here... (none / 0)
"Shepherding" can mean different things but it has come to have a very distinct meaning within the charismatic Christian right. See this Wikipedia writeup which (currently) begins to address the nature of the "shepherding" relationship:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherding_Movement

by Bruce Wilson on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:20:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]


Shepherding (none / 0)
In this context shepherding refers to the practices established among neo-charismatic "prophets" including the Ft. Lauderdale Five and the Kansas City Prophets. Because shepherding received some bad press, the apostles and prophets in the New Apostolic Reformation and their Transformation entities now often refer to this practice as simply discipling.  This is another term which can have different meanings for different groups.  However, if you read the media of the New Apostolic leaders it is quite clear what they mean.  This takes place in an authority structure where one must answer to their peers and mentors.  At the top of the structure are the apostles and prophets of the movement.  

In the 1980s as the idea of shepherding entire communities began to be developed, this technique became recognized as a potential political tool for the Religious Right.

by Rachel Tabachnick on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:25:53 AM EST

More on shepherding (none / 0)
This is one of the problems in trying to write about the New Apostolic Reformation and its  Transformations networks.  Some of their lingo is quite unique, like spiritual mapping and Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare terminology, but sometimes they have simply given new meanings to common terms.  

In his book Fire From Heaven, Harvey Cox writes about dominionism and Kingdom Now theology among Pentecostals (a legacy of the Latter Rain Movement, forerunner of today's NAR) and says that what rankled him the most was their use of rhetoric similar to liberation theology.  

If you follow the media, books, sermons, etc. of the NAR leadership, they make it quite clear what these terms mean to them.  The fact that they don't necessarily mean the same to others outside their movement is sometimes quite beneficial to their agenda.

by Rachel Tabachnick on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:55:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

thanks (none / 0)
Thanks for this nuanced explanation. I'll have to look up that book by Harvey Cox. Christ as Good Shepherd is a strong central image for our denomination. The way the shepherding program works in our congregation is that each year the elected Elders (one of the governing boards) divide up the membership list and let each of us know who is our "shepherd" on the elders for that year. That means that if we have a concern, that person is our particular Elder representative. The one to whom I have been assigned for the past two years is a peace activist like I am. In fact, he and I have been trying for several years to get the American flag out of the sanctuary. It's been there since WWI when we still had some of our services in German and some questioned the congregation's "patriotism." I think it is a good program ~ certainly not at all what is described as Dominionist. I share Harvey Cox's aggravation at the way the right wing hijacks and twists perfectly good language.

by MLouise on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:37:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
This is a lovely interpretation of shepherding... (none / 0)
... and quite different from the NAR's definition which is part of a strategy for dominionism.   See my latest series of articles on the NAR's adaptation of "The Head And Not The Tail" from Deuteronomy 28:13.  It provides further documentation of the intent of the movement's leadership.

I have been told by others (from several denominations) that it is tragic how many perfectly good words have been redefined by charismatic dominionists.

It is difficult to write about the NAR because of the issues concerning terminology.  As you may notice, articles on this topic at Talk2action are often 3,000 to 5,000 words or more.  I would like to write short blog posts, but this is a difficult subject which does require a great deal of nuance. It also requires ridiculous amounts of supporting material in order to document what may seem like an outrageous claim - that the NAR is indeed organizing a war on secular democracy and religious pluralism in this country and elsewhere.


by Rachel Tabachnick on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:35:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]





Mormon Candidate For Governor Of Hawaii Tied To Movement That Burns Books of Mormon | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)

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