Warnke Update

(EP) - Comedian Mike Warnke has released the findings of a "council
of elders" convened to look into charges that Warnke falsified his
testimony, was guilty of moral failure, and misused ministry funds.

This article was written by Watchman Fellowship, Inc., who is
solely responsible for its contents.  The owners of this computer
bulletin board, the host of this conference, and/or the person(s)
who posted this message on the bulletin board in no way
guarantees, warrants, or in any other manner insures the accuracy
of this article and accept no responsibility or liability for any
misrepresentations therein.

Last summer Cornerstone magazine published an extensively-
documented article claiming that Warnke's involvement in Satanism,
as portrayed in the book Satan Seller, was fabricated. The article
also made allegations of adultery and substance abuse, and detailed
Warnke's three divorces. A report in the "Lexington Herald-Ledger"
detailed financial misconduct in the ministry which resulted in
revocation of its tax exempt status by the IRS.

A five-member board of elders chosen by Warnke met in January to
look into the charges. 

The council said there were "conflicting reports" of Warnke's
background, and said it had heard testimony that "validates
involvement with the occult." The council concluded that "Mike's
unique ministry of witnessing to the salvation available in Jesus
Christ is a voice that still needs to be heard."

The council criticized the Cornerstone article as "less than fair
in representing the truth," but made no attempt to disprove the
specific allegations made in the article.

In a statement dated 25 January 1993, Warnke said he stands by his
testimony of former satanic involvement, but confessed to "some
exaggeration and embellishment ... which resulted from the dramatic
recreation of incidents in my life." Warnke insisted his intent was
not to deceive, but to entertain.