Oct. 21, 1993

Dear Friends at Landmark Education,

At the request of Sharon Spaulding I write this letter regarding my experience with the Forum, now called the Landmark Forum. At the time I participated in the Forum I had been pastor of a rural congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Wisconsin for about five years.

I had previously attended a five-day seminar called "Making a difference: A Course for Those Who Minister." It’s basically the Forum for Clergy. Certain members of my congregation were eager for me to attend this seminar. I was initially doubtful and resistant, to say the least, because Werner Erhard’s name was associated with it. I had once joined friends in the "Spiritual Counterfeits Project" in Berkeley, CA in passing out leaflets in San Francisco to discourage people from enrolling in an Erhard seminar. Though at that time I knew nothing personally about Werner Erhard, I trusted my friends’ judgment that he was a cult leader who needed to be withstood. Now, fifteen years later, how surprised and dismayed I was to have the most active, socially minded and mature members of our congregation urging me to attend a Werner Erhard seminar!!

I did finally attend, but determined from the start to be rigorously skeptical. But I found the seminar to be very fine and indeed, among the most helpful courses on ministry I ever attended, including my classes at two great seminaries and excellent chaplaincy training (CPE). When I found out there was a "parent course" called "The Forum" I was eager to attend. My wife and I went together, and found the experience to be a rich source of renewal for our commitments to family, church and society.

I currently work with FOOD FOR THE POOR, INC. an ecumenical agency based in Deerfield Beach, FL, dedicated to the alleviation of poverty and hunger in the Caribbean. I continue to draw on learnings and insights from The Forum which bring a sense of empowerment and satisfaction to this work. Participation in The Forum has brought renewed commitment and vitality to my faith and to my reading of the Scriptures. This seems remarkable because not once did the content of The Forum deal with faith issues or theology. It’s just that those who participate bring their own concerns with them naturally become the focus of personal reflection and learning during the seminar. Attending The Forum was great. I highly recommend it. To regard the Landmark Forum as a "cult" is ridiculous. I am happily available to discuss this with anyone who has concerns or questions.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Dean W. Simpson