The University of Southern California's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life keeps a public page titled "High Pressure Group Caution." It says that "high-pressure religious groups have raised concerns over the years due to their potential to harm members," and it lists religious organizations that "are not recognized by the university."
Two groups from this movement are on that list: the Restored Church Worldwide (RCW), listed as "formerly The Harvest at USC," and the City of Angels ICC, the Los Angeles church of the International Christian Church (ICC). The page also gives general warning signs to watch for, and it links to outside reporting, including the BBC's coverage of the ICC.
Questions to consider
- Did the group that invited you on campus tell you which church it belonged to?
- Read USC's list of warning signs. Do any of them match what you experienced?
- Why might a university decide not to recognize a religious group?
Sources
- University of Southern California, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, "High Pressure Group Caution" (accessed October 8, 2026): https://orsl.usc.edu/organizations/caution/
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