The Holdeman Purge of the 1970s: The Panels

🎙️ The Purge: A 1970s Reckoning in the Holdeman Church

In this powerful and deeply researched episode, host Caleb sits down with historian Dennis Goossen to unpack one of the most dramatic and traumatic chapters in the history of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite—commonly known as the Holdeman Church.

📜 What was “The Purge”? During the 1970s, the Holdeman Church launched a sweeping campaign of member interviews and disciplinary action, known internally as “panel work.” Ministers interrogated every member of every congregation, leading to mass excommunications, family divisions, and long-lasting emotional scars.

🔍 Inside the Episode:

• The cultural and theological tensions that led to the purge
• How the panel interviews unfolded and what questions were asked
• Firsthand accounts from those who lived through it—both those who stayed and those who were cast out
• The infamous Greeley, Colorado case and its lasting legacy
• The emotional toll on both members and ministers
• How the church eventually brought the purge to an end—and what changed (or didn’t)

💔 A Story of Faith, Fear, and Fallout This episode explores not just the historical facts, but the human cost of religious control and the resilience of those who found new paths forward. Whether you're familiar with the Holdeman Church or hearing about this for the first time, this is a story that resonates far beyond one denomination.

🎧 Tune in for a sobering, insightful, and empathetic look at a community in crisis—and the lessons it leaves behind.

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