Citizens Concerned

"Citizens Concerned" was a short-lived organization formed in Stallbrook, opposed to the presence of the Free Spirit Connection in their city. Initially started by Pastor Nate Roth of Shiloh Baptist Church, with his wife Wilma leading many demonstrations in front of the Free Spirit Local Gathering's meetinghouse, they were later joined by Reverend Martin Oldenberg of Our Savior Lutheran Church and members of his congregation. The group was also supported to a degree by Reverend Justine Taylor of First Unitarian Church, a militant radical feminist. The group focused its criticism on the sexual ethics of the Free Spirits, especially their allowing communion rooms in their meetinghouses to be used for sexual encounters; Taylor added speculation that the Free Spirit Connection had received funds from those who exploited women through pornography and prostitution. Their main activities were picketing the Free Spirit meetinghouse to deter people from entering, and distributing leaflets sharing their "concerns" that the Free Spirits were a cult which used sex to lure people into their clutches. The Free Spirits responded by answering their allegations in a calm and straightforward manner, and by avoiding escalation; this combined with the confrontational approach of some Citizens Concerned members resulted in many people rejecting the message of Citizens Concerned, and either supporting the Free Spirits or at least defending their rights. The arrest of Nate Roth on sexual abuse charges was the final straw for the group, and it collapsed soon afterwards.
[For a later organization with similar concerns, see North End Alliance for Truth]
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