Global Community Communication Alliance

The Global Community Communication Alliance (GCCA), formerly the Aquarian Concepts Community, is a religious group founded by Tony Delevin. It is based in a 16 acre compound in the town of Sedona, Arizona. [http://www.rickross.com/reference/acc/acc1.html Cosmic cataclysm] Philip J. LaVelle and Frank Klimdo, "San Diego Union-Tribune" February 16, 2007] As of 2007 it is led by Develin, also known as "Gabriel of Urantia" and his companion Nancy Chase, the "Mandate of the Bright and Morning Star".

Delevin was born on July 5, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied theology at Duquesne University, and at the time was a fervent Catholic. He also attempted a music career which failed. Delevin has claimed to have spent time in monasteries. In 1975, he founded a Pentecostal street ministry known as Son Light Ministries in Tucson, Arizona. [ [http://www.rickross.com/reference/acc/acc2.html Son Light Ministries] Judith Ratliff, "The Arizona Daily Star" November 17, 1979]

In his autobiography, "The Divine New Order", Develin claims that in previous lives he was the Apostle Peter, St. Francis of Assisi, King Arthur, Martin Luther, Alexander the Great, and George Washington, among others. However he also says "the issue is who I am now, because I am greater today than who I was in any past life." [http://www.rickross.com/reference/acc/acc4.html Tony Delevin, aka 'Gabriel', speaks] Tyler Midkiff, "Sedona Red Rock News" April 6, 2007]

According to Develin, his teachings are based on elements from "The Urantia Book". Members of the GCCA are told that they are "starseed", or old souls, sent to Earth from distant planets. Starseed find work and life on Earth difficult due to the fraudulence of existence on the "new soul" ruled planet. New souls are considered spiritually immature. According to a former member, inductees into the GCCA are given new names and histories to illustrate their supposed past lives across history.

Since its creation the GCCA has founded dozens of companies, organizations, publications and teaching outlets, including Spirit Steps Tours, Global Change Multimedia, Future Studios, Global Family Legal Services, The Alternative Voice, Cathedral Rock Lodge & Retreat Center, the Starseed and Urantian Schools of Melchizedek.

Media interest in the group began in 1997, when parallels were drawn between the GCCA, then known as the Aquarian Concepts Community, and the Heaven's Gate sect, the group led by Marshall Applewhite, which is notorious for its 1997 cult suicide.

References

External links

* [http://gccalliance.org/ Web site] of the Global Community Communications Alliance
* [http://gabrielofsedona.info Web site] of Gabriel of Sedona
* [http://www.rickross.com/groups/acc.html Global Community Communications Alliance] page on the Web site of the Rick A. Ross Institute, a cult-watch organization.