***
## 1. Core CRI “We Were Wrong” Reassessment Materials
These are central apologetic vindications from the Christian Research Institute (CRI).
– “We Were Wrong – A Reassessment of the ‘Local Church’ Movement of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee” (Christian Research Journal feature, issue 32:6, 2009; updated web republications)
– CRI’s formal reversal of its earlier negative assessment of the local churches.
– Concludes that the local churches are a “solidly orthodox group of believers,” explicitly rejecting their previous “aberrant Christian group” category.[1][2]
– “The Conclusion of the Matter: We Were Wrong (A Reassessment of the ‘Local Church’ Movement of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee)” – article by Hank Hanegraaff
– President’s synthesis piece explaining why CRI changed its position, with emphasis on truth, repentance, and fellowship.
– Summarizes local churches’ affirmations on: one God in three eternally distinct persons, rejection of ontological deification of humans, and “only the church” vs. “the only church.”[3][1]
– “We Were Wrong! Hank Hanegraaff (From the President)” (extended online form)
– Narrative of meetings between CRI, Passantino, Elliot Miller, and LSM representatives, leading to the apology “We were wrong!”
– Useful for reconstructing the process and for quoting specific doctrinal affirmations from LSM representatives.[3]
– “CRI: WE WERE WRONG” (YouTube video, Bible Answer Man broadcast)
– Video/audio expression of the same reassessment, with live statements from Hank Hanegraaff.
– Helpful for capturing oral formulations of local-church positions on localism, orthodoxy, and “authentic expression of New Testament Christianity.”[4]
***
## 2. Defense and Confirmation Project / Contending For The Faith
This is the **official apologetics hub** run by local-church/LSM co-workers.
– **Contending for the Faith – Defense and Confirmation Project (DCP)**
Site: https://contendingforthefaith.
Main apologetics components:
– “Our Writings” (ePublications section)
– Statements from other Christians affirming the orthodoxy of the local churches and the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.
– Responses to criticisms of doctrines and practices (Triune God, deification, calling on the Lord, “local ground,” etc.).[5]
– “Dialogues with Apologetics Ministries and Theologians” (subpage)[6]
– Documents and reports from dialogues with:
– Christian Research Institute (CRI)
– Fuller Theological Seminary
– Other apologetics ministries and scholars
– Includes:
– *The Local Churches: “Genuine Believers and Fellow Members of the Body of Christ”*
– *A Confirmation of the Gospel: Concerning the Teaching of the Local Churches and Living Stream Ministry*
– *The Testimony of the Local Churches & Living Stream Ministry*
– Brochure *Voices of Confirmation Concerning Watchman Nee, Witness Lee & the Local Churches*.[6]
– “The faith affirmed by the local churches is the faith common to all believers…” (doctrinal statement)
– Concise apologetic statement of essentials (Scripture, Triune God, Christ’s person and work, salvation, the church).[5]
These DCP texts are your primary **internal apologetics corpus**: official self–representation, responses, documentation of external confirmations.
***
## 3. Fuller Seminary and Other External Affirmations
These are external theological evaluations often quoted by DCP and CRI.
– Fuller Theological Seminary panel statement on the local churches and LSM
– Concludes that “the teachings and practices of the local churches and its members represent the genuine, historical, biblical Christian faith in every essential aspect.”
– Asserts that Witness Lee’s teaching has been “grossly misrepresented and therefore most frequently misunderstood,” especially among evangelicals.[2]
– *Christianity Today* editorial (March 2006) on Fuller’s findings
– Endorses the Fuller panel’s conclusion that the local churches are orthodox in all essentials.[2]
– *Voices of Confirmation Concerning Watchman Nee, Witness Lee & the Local Churches* (DCP brochure)
– Collects statements from leaders in apologetics, theology, and evangelical journalism affirming orthodoxy and correcting misperceptions.[6]
These belong in a “third-party vindications” section of your bibliography.
***
## 4. Historical / Controversy Overviews with Apologetic Value
These are not written by LSM but are crucial context for apologetics.
– “Local Church controversies” (Wikipedia article)
– Summarizes:
– History of doctrinal objections
– CRI’s former criticism and later reassessment
– Fuller statement and *Christianity Today* editorial
– The pattern of misrepresentation and later correction.[2]
– Apologetics Index: “Local Church: Lord’s Recovery, Living Stream Ministry” and related entries
– A curated index of research resources on the local churches.
– Includes:
– Series on the Harvest House lawsuit
– Links to articles like Alan Gomes’s analysis, “Five Christian apologists evaluate the teachings of Witness Lee and The Local Church”
– Links to DCP and official LSM/local-church sites.[7][8]
Even when critical, these resources are part of the apologetics ecosystem you’ll need to map.
***
## 5. Lawsuit-Related Documents (Apologetics Dimension)
Legal history is constantly invoked in apologetic discussions.
– Apologetics Index series on the Harvest House / Ankerberg / Weldon lawsuit
– Documents the local churches’ libel action over being labeled a cult in the *Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions*.
– Includes commentary on why the local church was included and why some apologists still regard their teachings as problematic, as well as notes on support that the local churches later received from Hank Hanegraaff and others.[7]
Even though not written from a pro–Lord’s Recovery stance, these texts are necessary for a thorough “controversy and defense” narrative.
***
## 6. Miscellaneous Lord’s Recovery–Linked Resource Hubs
These are **not apologetics sites per se**, but are regularly cited in apologetics discussions as representative resources.
– Official / semi-official sites listed in Apologetics Index
– localchurches.org, livingstream.com, recoveryversion.org, etc., as the web presence of LSM/local churches.[7]
– “Contending for the Faith” references in other LC–related platforms
– Some younger-generation Lord’s Recovery sites (e.g., LivingToHim “Contending for the Faith” category) that occasionally provide apologetic or boundary–marking content.[9]
These can supplement your corpus with how the movement self–describes in more pastoral or practical modes.
***
## 7. How to Turn This into a Comprehensive Bibliography
To move from “major items” to a genuinely **comprehensive** list for scholarly work, I’d suggest structuring your bibliography into at least four sections:
1. **Internal, official apologetics (Lord’s Recovery / LSM / DCP):**
– All “Our Writings” ePublications on ContendingForTheFaith.org (statements + responses).
– All “Dialogues” documents and confirmation brochures.
– Any separate booklets or PDFs downloadable from DCP with defense/response in the title.[5][6]
2. **Evangelical reassessments and affirmations:**
– CRI “We Were Wrong” issue articles + president’s pieces.[1][3]
– Fuller panel statement and *Christianity Today* editorial.[2]
3. **Analytical / critical apologetics literature:**
– Apologetics Index and other countercult analyses, especially the Harvest House series and Alan Gomes / “five apologists” work.[8][7]
4. **Background and controversy summaries:**
– “Local Church controversies” article and similar surveys that integrate the above into a narrative.[2]
If you like, I can next help you:
– Build a structured markdown or CSV bibliography with fields (author, title, source, date, URL, stance, topic), or
– Map these resources into a course outline for “Apologetics and the Lord’s Recovery” (with module-to-document alignment).
Sources
[1] We Were Wrong (A Reassessment of the “Local Church” Movement … https://www.equip.org/
[2] Local Church controversies – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
[3] We Were Wrong! Hank Hanegraaff (From the President) (A … https://www.equip.org/
[4] CRI: WE WERE WRONG – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?
[5] Contending for the Faith – Beloved, while using all diligence to write … https://contendingforthefaith.
[6] Dialogues with Apologetics Ministries and Theologians https://contendingforthefaith.
[7] Living Stream Ministry / Local Church / Local … – Apologetics Index https://www.apologeticsindex.
[8] Local Church : Lord’s Recovery, Living Stream Ministry https://www.apologeticsindex.
[9] Resources – Living To Him https://livingtohim.com/
[10] Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR) https://thecenters.org/
[11] Over the past two years we have featured free eBooklets compiled … https://www.facebook.com/
[12] CSOC is a cult. Full stop. : r/UTAustin – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/
[13] Responses to Information Requests – Immigration and Refugee Board https://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/
[14] Was Witness Lee and/or Watchman Nee (a) Jehovah’s witness(es)? https://www.christianforums.
[15] Pray for my church. We are doing a first and studying evangelism in … https://www.facebook.com/
