Worship Service Offerings
Go Into Amway/Quixtar "Diamond's" Pocket

In a legal deposition in August, 2000, Edward E. (Ted) Fish of Maine, who calls himself a Quixtar Diamond, admitted under oath to siphoning off funds from the offerings at Sunday morning worship services to pay expenses of running Amway-related functions.

Most AQMOs hold a "nondenominational" Christian worship service on Sunday mornings during major functions or conventions. Typically, attending members will be told that the collection will go to a specific ministry or cause, such as Gospel Films, Make a Wish Foundation, or other charitable organizations.

Fish is a self-described minister, and an unqualified Amway/Quixtar diamond.

In a legal case related to the lawsuit of Morrison et al v Haugen et al, a group of former Amway Diamonds and Emeralds have sued Ted Fish, Andy Andrews, and Andrews' business manager Bob Smith for violation of contractual agreements. According to the court pleadings, both Fish and Andrews had agreed to speak at an Amway-related function for the plaintiffs and their organization. Both speakers reneged.

Far more interesting than the actual complaint, however, is information given under oath, in depositions in the case.

According to his testimony, Ted Fish qualified as a Diamond Direct Distributor in 1988. He has not requalified since then. He has worn the Diamond pin for 12 years, and gets paid Diamond prices for speaking engagements. His group has dwindled to about 180 hard-core members who attend his annual summer and winter functions.

[Q indicates a question by the plaintiffs' attorney; A indicates Fish's response.]

Q: At your function, for instance, that you just had, did you have a worship service?

A. Yes, we did.

Q. And did you lead it?

A. Yes, I led it.

Q. And was there a collection?

A. Yes, there was.

Q. And did the money for the collection, was any portion of it used to offset the expenses of the weekend?

A. I'm trying to remember what we did with that offering. Yes. Yes, it was as a matter of fact. . . .

Q. Okay. And you have spoken at other functions. . . Other than the one that's in issue here.

A. Yes. . .

Q. In either of those instances, were you given money from a Sunday collection?

A. I believe I was.

Q. And did you run the worship service at those functions?

A. I spoke at the service.

Read the Complete Deposition