The White Report

There have been a lot of unanswered questions about Arnold Murray. This blog will attempt to answer some of them. The first concerns his credentials. In the Answer to Critics section of the Shepherd’s Chapel website he states: ‘I have never claimed to have received a doctorate from Roy Gillaspie. I do not know where some of these “researchers” came up with this. Roy Gillaspie was simply a beloved teacher of God’s Word and I have never said or implied any such thing. It is true that I have a policy of not publicly stating where I earned my doctorate because then “critics” cannot judge me by association. I have always publicly stated that my credentials are my ability to teach God’s Word.’

This is important because Murray claims to have earned a doctorate, and adds the title D.R.E. [Doctor of Religious Education] after his signature. Murray was in fact a recipient of an honorary degree bestowed upon him by Dr. Dermit W. Poling of Bodkin Bible Institute in Grafton, W. Virginia. I’ve been unable to narrow down the date, but a copy of the original Press Release [possibly for the Arkansas Democratic Gazette] is pictured below this article.

In an article by B.J. Oropeza, first printed for Christian Research Institute in 1991, it states: ‘Arnold Murray claims to have received a doctorate under a man by the name of Roy Gillespie, he also asserts his dissertation was on the Book of Daniel. After learning of this, CRI attempted to find out where Mr. Murray received his doctorate. I personally wrote to Arnold Murray and asked for information about his degree. Mr. Murray sent me a letter (dated 6-11-91) stating that “My gift to teach is the only credential that I will give.” I also attempted to find any dissertations by either Murray or Gillespie through University Microfilms International (UMI Microfilms) in Michigan, the headquarters for postgraduate dissertation copies in America. There were no dissertations on file by either of these men. Neither could any dissertation be found through checking with Inter-library loan, and The National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints.’

The article goes on to say: ‘Tony Pierce, another counter-cult researcher, had also called the Shepherd’s Chapel questioning Murray’s credentials. The receptionist accused her of being a “Kenite,” but did mention that Murray used to be a student at Biola University in California. After contacting the school, Biola University personnel stated that the University never had a student by the name of Arnold Murray throughout its history. Furthermore, Biola did not even have a doctoral program until recently. A receptionist from the Shepherd’s Chapel also stated that Murray’s dissertation was being “revised.” However, there is no such thing as a “revised” dissertation once it is submitted. A doctor’s dissertation must be in its completed form if a school is to award anyone with a doctor’s degree. Based upon the above evidence, we can only conclude that the Shepherd’s Chapel has been dishonest in this regard, and that Arnold Murray does not have a genuine doctor’s degree from a properly accredited university or semina

In my research of Kenneth Goff’s Soldiers of the Cross Bible Institute, I discovered the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. was also a registered corporation for several years nearby in Colorado and changed it’s name to Biola Schools and Colleges, Inc. in December, 1970. Roy Gillaspie was mentioned in association to the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in at least one early news story. It seems unlikely Bodkin would have bestowed a Doctorate in Religious Education on Murray if he already had one, but if there is an additional earned degree it may have been in  association to the short-lived Institute in Colorado or the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Both were pre-Biola, yet technically connected to it.

In the Answer to Critics section of the Shepherd’s Chapel website it states, ‘As a matter of record, the only group of which I am a member is with the “Chosin Few” which is a group of Korean War veterans comprised of various military factions who fought in one of the more famous battles of that war. I am very proud to have served as a U.S. Marine..’

My research indicates Murray was a Marine, was in Korea, and was among the Chosin Few. Below is an article from the San Mateo Times, dated April 19th, 1951, in which Murray’s participation is acknowleged along with several other Marines. I have to conclude it refers to the same Arnold Murray based upon the picture, his connection to that area, and because it mentions an engagement to Anna Sweeter, which was his deceased wife’s maiden name.

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