‘Right Attitude’ Propelled Tkach Into Leadership of Church of God

Joseph K. Tkach, the 59-year-old administrator suddenly thrust into leadership of the Pasadena-based Worldwide Church of God, was chosen only days earlier as founder Herbert W. Armstrong’s successor because “he demonstrated the right attitude,” a church official said Thursday.

Tkach, a World War II Navy veteran who was a Chicago-area businessman when he joined the church at age 31, was apparently not a well-known figure outside the ministerial circles of the church.

An associate of Tkach said he came into the forefront of church leadership in 1979 and 1980, when the state of California placed the church under receivership over charges, never proved and later dismissed, of financial irregularity.

“He displayed his mettle with hard work, patience and sincerity during that state-church controversy,” said the associate, who did not want to be identified.

It was announced Tuesday that Armstrong had told church members only last week that upon his death, Tkach was to succeed him as pastor general of the 80,000-member church and its affiliated organizations. The 93-year-old patriarch died Thursday.

Likely Successor

Garner Ted Armstrong, the church’s one-time television spokesman and the man considered the senior Armstrong’s most likely successor until his father broke with him in 1978, said in a telephone interview that he barely knew Tkach.

“It was surprising that he should have been my father’s choice, rather than some of the pioneers and old guard faithful who were instrumental in building that organization,” the younger Armstrong said from Tyler, Tex.

At a news conference Thursday, David Hulme, spokesman for the church, gave three reasons for Tkach’s appointment.

Hulme noted that since 1980, Tkach had been director of church administration, the senior position under Armstrong. In addition, he had demonstrated leadership abilities to Armstrong “and, most importantly, demonstrated the right attitude, which comes from the spirit of God.”

In a talk to Ambassador College students and church employees Thursday, Tkach urged listeners “to carry on as Mr. Armstrong admonished us. . . .”

“The greatest work lies yet ahead,” he said.

Tkach did not attend the news conference.

The choice of Tkach as church leader was criticized by John Trechak, editor of Ambassador Report, a newsletter founded nine years ago by a handful of former Armstrong employees disgruntled with the organization’s operation, which is said by church officials to have an annual income of $100 million.

Leadership Position

“Herbert W. Armstrong has left his empire to a man who is least qualified to run it,” Trechak charged. “He’s never been in a real leadership position, he’s non-creative and he is not respected for his knowledge of the Bible.”

Hulme told reporters there was “no disharmony” at present in the leadership of the church.

“Whenever there is a transition stage you are going to have people upset. There is always potential for competition in any organization,” Hulme said.

Hulme also indicated that there were no plans to seek a reconciliation with Garner Ted Armstrong, who founded his own Church of God International made up mostly of former Worldwide Church members.

The younger Armstrong said he would attend his father’s funeral. He said he had not seen his father face-to-face since May, 1978, and failed as late as two weeks ago in Pasadena to contact him and mend their relationship.

“There will be no attempt on my part to become a threat to the Worldwide Church. There is no animosity in my heart toward any of those people. We are both about the same thing, preaching to the world,” he said.