Founded:

1953

Founder:

Clyde Fletcher

Alternate Name:

True Church of Jesus Christ

Separated From:

Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)

About:

Originally the Minnesota branch of the Cutlerite church, this group broke off from the Missouri branch when a succession dispute arose after the death of church president Emery Fletcher. There had been a growing discord between the two branches for years, due to "the lack of communication and a wide difference in environment. The Minnesota congregation are primarily members of a rural society, engaged in agrarian pursuits, while the Missouri membership live and work in an urban community. The problems and needs of each have little in common with the other which has often caused disunity" (Fletcher, p. 75).

Eventually the separation grew to a point where the Minnesota elders voted to excommunicate the leaders in Missouri "for cause, inasmuch as said members had not prior thereto repented of the transgressions committed by them..." (Young, p. 188). The Missouri Cutlerites did not accept these excommunications as legitimate. After the death of Emery Fletcher, first counselor Erle Whiting (who was "excommunicated") was named president of the church ; however, the Minnesota branch accepted the leadership of second counselor (and Minnesotan) Clyde Fletcher. Though this group claimed to be the legal "Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)," in order to differentiate themselves from the Missouri group, the Minnesota group referred to themselves as the "True Church of Jesus Christ."

From 1963-1966 a legal battle between the two groups took place over the sale of a piece of church property. Clyde Fletcher attempted to sell a 144 acre farm belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) to a man named Sam Lykken. A judge ruled against Fletcher and forced the Minnesota group "to recognize the Independence [Missouri] group as having the right to determine property matters." The Minnesota group was also made to turn over all church records to the Missouri group (Young, p. 192).

After Clyde Fletcher's death in 1969, the few remaining members of this group reunited with the Missouri branch.

References:

• Fletcher, Rupert J. and Daisy Whiting, Alpheus Cutler and the Church of Jesus Christ. Church of Jesus Christ, 1974.
• Shields, Steven L. Divergent Paths of the Restoration. Herald House, 2001, p. 158.
• Young, Biloine Whiting. Obscure Believers: The Mormon Schism of Alpheus Cutler. Pogo Press, 2002.