REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
Perry, Oklahoma Conv, 1942
F.B.I. Investigations into Christian Conventions
Federal Bureau of Investigation 
February 20, 2024
The FBI Omaha Field Office is seeking the public's help in identifying victims or individuals with knowledge of abuse and/or criminal behavior that has occurred within a religious group that traditionally has not had a name. The group has often been referred to by others outside of the group as "2x2," "The Way," "The Truth," and "The Church With No Name," among others.
While it is natural for parents to want to gain a better understanding of the potential exploitation of their child, further questioning of the child may lead to inaccurate statements and increased emotional trauma.
If you have information about this ongoing investigation or believe your child or other children may have been victimized by individuals affiliated with 2x2, the FBI requests you complete a short online questionnaire.
The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law. Your responses are voluntary but may be useful in the federal investigation and to identify you as a potential victim. Based on the responses provided, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information. All identities of victims will be kept confidential.
To assist in the investigation and to be provided with information on resources available to victims, please answer the questionnaire to the best of your ability. It may be that you have already given this information to an FBI agent or law enforcement, but please provide it again on this questionnaire. Based on your responses, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
October 7, 1942
Black Stockings, File No. 100-147337; 3 pages
CAUSE: "Subject (name blacked out) reported to be a suspicious character
because of his strange religious affiliation at (blacked out). Investigation
reveals he is a member of a sect known as the 'Black Stockings,' that he
is registered for Selective Service in (blacked out) where he was classified
as a Conscientious Objector, and that he has been making efforts to be classified
as a minister. No indication of any subversive activities."
Federal Bureau of Investigation
March 25, 1943–June 16, 1943
Black Stockings, File No. 100-194864; 9 pages
CAUSE: "This investigation is predicated upon a letter alleging...itinerant
preachers of an unorganized church, wandering through the vicinity of (blacked
out), and...acting in a suspicious nature, in that an oil train was wrecked
in the vicinity of his meeting, and that they took long walks in the woods...caused
them to be regarded with suspicion by informant."
Federal Bureau of Investigation
May 21, 1943–October 7, 1943
Go Preachers, File No. 100-209144; 47 pages
CAUSE: "This investigation was predicated upon request of the Bureau
to obtain information concerning the religious sect 'GO PREACHERS'."
NOTE: The content of the report contains many quotes from George Walker's letter to the Selective Service of 1942.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christian Conventions
March 23–26, 1964
File No. 62-109060, Serials 2704, 2714, 2754; 7 pages
CAUSE: "Typewritten postal card received from Dorothy Mendenhall, Linneus,
MO named eighteen members of Christian Conventions as real assassins of President
Kennedy...card indicates group has persecuted and imprisoned writer."
Personal typed account, undated, no author given, titled:
"1942 Followers of Christ"
First line: "As an F.B.I. Agent on the investigating committee for Ministers as conscientious objectors...I come across many interesting religious individuals and groups. But the strangest and most interesting, and perhaps the most practical is this group."
TTT Editor's Note: A source has reported that this is a spurious account written by Walter Nelson, a young worker in Virginia at the time. For years workers have been trying to get this piece destroyed, but it continues to surface. Walter was instructed to send a retraction for the hoax and to apologize to every person he had sent it to. He was then sent to preach in Africa for many years.
Compiled by Cherie Kropp-Ehrig
