Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 61
York asked that the charges be dismissed because publicity surrounding his earlier guilty
plea — subsequently rejected by a judge — will prevent him from getting a fair trial.
A federal judge ruled that York supporters would not be allowed to demonstrate outside the
courthouse during the trial, but said anyone could watch it on closed-circuit TV on a
separate floor of the building. (AP in 11 Alive News, Internet, 12/31/01)
Claiming $1 Billion
Using documents based on ―common law,‖ frequently used by anti-government militias to
harass public officials, supporters of the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors have sued
Putnam County, GA, officials for $1.069 billion. Nuwaubian leader Dwight York was
recently sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted on 200 counts of child
molestation. A colony of Nuwaubians until earlier this year lived on a 476-acre compound
west of Eadenton where, while battling continuously with local officials and regulations, they
erected pyramids, a sphinx, and other Egyptian-style structures. (Rob Peecher, Macon
Telegraph, Internet, 10/23/03)
Leader Says He’s Not Subject to Federal Law
United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors leader Malichi York said at a recent hearing on his
child molestation and fraud conviction that he is a sovereign Indian Chief — a ―Moorish
Cherokee‖ — and therefore not subject to federal law. Some 200 of his followers supported
the claim by appearing in American Indian-looking clothing. York‘s organization has in the
past claimed heritage from or religious affinities to Egyptians, Christians, Jews, Muslims,
Shriners, and Masons. Once, the Nuwaubians dressed like cowboys and York declared that
he was from outer space.
U.S. District Court Judge Hugh Lawson has refused to accept York‘s agreement with a lower
court that calls for a 15-year prison term in return for a guilty plea. The judge said that
York‘s post-plea behavior has not indicated acceptance of his guilt or consideration of the
effect of his conduct on the victims. (Rob Peecher, Macon Telegraph, Georgia, Internet,
7/1/03)
Word of Faith Fellowship
Suing Social Services for Taking Children
Nineteen members of the Spindale, NC-based Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), have
filed a federal lawsuit against the Rutherford County Department of Social Services (DSS)
for harassment and conspiracy. The suit is a response to the Department‘s taking into
custody several children of a former member who says the church family with whom she
had temporarily left the children is involved in psychologically damaging religious practices.
A local judge ruled the DSS action justified, saying the WOFF environment was abusive to
children.
The plaintiffs claim that DSS, in pursuing its goal to ―shut the church down,‖ has
investigated the church because of its ―Biblically-based and non-violent practice of ‗strong‘
or ‗blasting‘ prayer, and on the peaceful practice of ‗discipleship,‘ consisting of quiet
religious study, and have threatened to remove the children of (church) members from their
parents because of these religious practices.‖
The suit also says the DSS has forced church parents to sign ―Safety Assessments‖ limiting
parents‘ use of strong prayer, attempted to turn children against their parents so they can
be deprogrammed, ―engaged in highly intimidating and psychologically traumatizing
‗interviews‘ in which defendants attacked and ridiculed (WOFF) religious beliefs and
practices,‖ and conspired with the ―anti-cult movement.‖

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2003, Page 62
The suit says strong prayer, which the WOFF believes is Biblically mandated, refers to ―any
strong demonstration of the Holy Spirit ...including supplication, petition, weeping,
groaning, travail, crying out, praying in tongues, and shrill cries for Christ to be formed in
you and to come against the works of the devil.‖
The suit maintains that discipleship, ―contrary to false allegations ...does not involve
isolation from peers, friends, or family, but such contact may be limited during the in-school
period of the discipleship training. Separately, parents may also seek to place additional
limitations on their children‘s contact with friends outside of school in response to bad
behavior.‖
WOFF believes also that corporal punishment is Biblically mandated. But ―both the child and
the adult performing the spanking are taught to cry out to Jesus and to mix faith with the
spanking, asking God to change the child‘s heart.‖ (Michael Gavin, Daily Courier, Internet,
12/10/03)
Child Custody to DSS
The children of ex-member Shana Muse have been taken from the Covingtons, a Word of
Faith Fellowship family in Rutherford County, NC, and given over to the custody of the
Department of Social Services.
Muse, once a member of the group, left her children with the Covingtons when she went to
seek treatment for personal problems. But the family refused to return the children when
Muse returned from a stay at an Ohio facility that helps former cult members. [Muse calls
the Word of Faith cultic.]
The Covingtons, who have appealed the judge‘s ruling, are not allowed to visit the children,
who are in a safe house in another county. But Muse‘s sisters, both WOFF members, are
allowed supervised visits. (Jerry Stensland, Daily Courier, Internet, 10/18/03) [See CSR
NewsBriefs 2.4c for background on this story.]
Daughter Happy in Group
Sixteen-year-old Sarah Muse, whose mother is seeking her custody, has told a court
hearing that she is happy living with a Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) family, away
from her estranged father‘s alleged abuse and the effects of her mother‘s drug problem.
Shana Muse left Sara with the church family when she went to seek treatment so that she
could deal with her problems, and the family has now refused to return her.
Shana Muse, who says that Rutherfordton, NC, WOFF is an abusive, cult-like environment,
spent several weeks at an Ohio rehabilitation facility for cult leavers.
Sarah says residing with the WOFF family ―has been the best time of my life ...and the
happiest I‘ve ever seen my brothers. For the first time in my life, I have someone who will
love us and will always be there for us. For the first time in my life I feel safe.‖
Sarah, now taking classes at a local community college, spoke of the church‘s spanking
discipline, and of the ―blasting‖ prayer directed at members, including very young children,
who commit rules‘ infractions. She said that receiving discipline was voluntary, and that she
loved it, that ―it has changed my life ...You‘re never praying at a person, you‘re praying
together.‖ She says her mother complained, during court-ordered visits, that WOFF was a
―cult‖ and that ―we are brainwashed. She keeps saying she will take us to Wellspring[the
Ohio facility] and deprogram us.‖
A psychologist who tested the children at the request of the church couple said they have
benefited from their new situation and would be psychologically harmed if they were
removed. (Jerry Stensland, Daily Courier, Internet, 9/12/03)