Shamblin Faces Religious Discrimination Suit
Former employee files charges against Weigh Down founder.
By Todd Starnes | posted 10/01/2000 12:00AM
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Shamblin, who has ties to the Church of Christ, started a new church in Nashville with her husband and several other couples in January 1999. The church, which meets in a warehouse, has about 80 members, mostly Weigh Down Workshop employees.
Since 1992, Shamblin has taken her business from a garage start-up to a multi-million-dollar Nashville corporation. Her 1997 book, The Weigh Down Diet, has sold more than 1 million copies. There are 30,000 Weigh Down Workshop locations meeting weekly around the world, including in thousands of evangelical churches.
In recent weeks, she has come under fire for questionable theological views. The controversy intensified after Shamblin posted a weekly e-mail communiqué to her followers on August 10. "As a ministry, we believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit," Shamblin wrote. 'However, the Bible does not use the word 'trinity' and our feeling is that the word 'trinity' implies equality in leadership or shared Lordship. It is clear that the scriptures teach that Jesus is the Son of God and that God sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not send God anywhere. God is clearly the Head."
Last month, Thomas Nelson cancelled publication of Shamblin's new book, Out of Egypt, and LifeWay Christian Stores pulled her products off their shelves.
Copyright © 2000 Baptist Press
Related Elsewhere
Previous Christianity Today stories about Shamblin include:
Christian History Corner: Weighty Matters | Gwen Shamblin's teachings sound an awful lot like some in the early church—and not in a good way. (Sept. 22, 2000)
The Weigh Is Narrow | As former employees claim they were pressured to join Shamblin's church, the Weigh Down Workshop leader attempts to clarify her stance on the Trinity. (Sept. 15, 2000)
Gwen in the Balance | Thomas Nelson cancels book contract with Weigh Down author over her controversial comments rejecting the Trinity. (Sept. 8, 2000)
The Weigh & the Truth | Christian dieting programs—like Gwen Shamblin's Weigh Down Diet—help believers pray off the pounds. But what deeper messages are they sending about faith and fitness? (Aug. 25, 2000)
'Judge Us by Our Fruits' | The founder of Weigh Down responds to her critics. (Aug. 25, 2000)
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