The following is the Group’s written response to Pastor DeSilva’s proposal which was formally presented at the meeting on April 16, 2009 between Elder Ramirez, Brother G, Elder C, Brother X, Pastor DeSilva, Elder J, and Elder D.
“Response to Pastor DeSilva’s Proposal
“It should be clear that this is and always has been an issue of proper adherence to the standard accepted operating policies of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. This is not and never has been a campaign of personal interest, issue, or power.
“Our goal is to reestablish at the Takoma Park Church a system of governance which is wholly in accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual both on paper and in practice.
“‘To add the support and accountability board as part of the church ministries board, as showed in a flow chart.’
“A. Joining the Support and Accountability Board and the Church Ministries Board does not reinstate the Church Board with the complete authority stipulated in the Church Manual. The Terms of Reference and placement of the two boards in the Organizational Flow Charts which were prepared by Pastor DeSilva after the acceptance of the 'Paul Borden Report' and distributed to the Church Ministries and Support and Accountability Boards clearly indicate that neither board nor a combination of both boards into one would have the same authority as mandated by the Church Manual for the local Church Board. Refer to Church Manual pp. 90-91.
“B. To suggest that the Support and Accountability Board be added to the Church Ministries Board to constitute the Church Board is an admission that the Takoma Park Church is operating without a properly constituted Church Board and, therefore, is not in harmony with the Church Manual.
“‘This proposal is subject to the following conditions:
Proposal does not in any way suggest that the current governess (sp.) structure has been outside the boundaries of the church manual.’
“C. We disagree. The charts issued by Pastor DeSilva clearly indicate that the present Takoma Park Church structure is 'outside' the boundaries of the Church Manual. We also point out that not one of several charts has ever been approved by the Church in Business Meeting.
“D. The executive power which Pastor DeSilva has wielded in specific instances such as 'vision casting,' issuing organizational charts without congregational approval, manipulating committees to achieve predetermined outcomes, and placing his position between the Ministries Board and the Church Business Meeting is in contradiction to the Church Manual and general Seventh-day Adventist governance principles. All committees, including the Finance Committee, should report directly to the Church Board and/or the Church Business Meeting, not to the Pastor. See Church Manual, pp.25-26.
“E. The actions taken to implement the 'Paul Borden Report' and subsequent policy changes such as the 'Code of Ethics' are not in harmony with the Church Manual.
‘This proposal is subject to discussion and final approval from the
Takoma Park Church in business session.’
“F. In order to resolve this situation, an agreement for resolution must do the following:
“1. Acknowledge that a local church is not at liberty to establish its own system of organization and that any change in the membership, responsibilities or function of the Church Board is solely the responsibility of the world church.
“2. Affirm a literal interpretation of the Church Manual as the ultimate authority in matters of church governance.
“3. Rescind the action to adopt the Paul Borden Report.
“4. Adopt an action plan for evangelism in the Takoma Park Church.
“5. Reinstate the Church Board as stipulated in the Church Manual, pp. 90 and 91, thereby eliminating the Accountability Board and Church Ministries Board.
“6. Acknowledge that all departments and ministries are accountable to the Church Board, not to the staff or any other person or entity.
“7. If an evaluation group is desired, its title should not use the term 'accountability.' It should be a subcommittee of the Church Board, serve in a purely advisory capacity, and be accountable to the Church Board.
“8. A Church Ministries body is most desirable. However, it should be a subcommittee of the Church Board, report directly to the Church Board, and be referred to as Church Ministries Council or Committee.
“9. Rescind the vote to adopt the 'Code of Ethics' which was widely interpreted as a loyalty oath and an effort to discourage legitimate, healthy discussion.
“10. Include a plan for the remediation of all related governance problems.
“11. Administrative observers from the Potomac Conference, Columbia Union Conference, North American Division, and General Conference are to certify that the new actions are in harmony with the Church Manual.
“12. Because of the present tensions now prevailing in the Takoma Park Church which have destroyed confidence and credibility, a neutral mutually-agreed-upon church official shall be appointed for observation and/or intervention purposes, to ensure that future actions are in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual.”
This meeting was supposed to last one hour but ran into nearly three. In the course of the discussion the subject of appearing before the conference executive committee was brought up and one of the Group’s representatives observed that that had been the Group’s goal all along. Pastor DeSilva’s response to this observation was, "Then why am I wasting my time in this meeting? I came here tonight because I thought this was going to be the end of this situation. If you want to go to the executive committee let's go and they'll tell you you're wrong and we'll be done with this." Elder Ramirez tentatively agreed that it was time to take this matter before the conference executive committee. The conclusion of the meeting was that he would follow up in an email with specifics about meeting with the executive committee.
“Response to Pastor DeSilva’s Proposal
“It should be clear that this is and always has been an issue of proper adherence to the standard accepted operating policies of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. This is not and never has been a campaign of personal interest, issue, or power.
“Our goal is to reestablish at the Takoma Park Church a system of governance which is wholly in accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual both on paper and in practice.
“‘To add the support and accountability board as part of the church ministries board, as showed in a flow chart.’
“A. Joining the Support and Accountability Board and the Church Ministries Board does not reinstate the Church Board with the complete authority stipulated in the Church Manual. The Terms of Reference and placement of the two boards in the Organizational Flow Charts which were prepared by Pastor DeSilva after the acceptance of the 'Paul Borden Report' and distributed to the Church Ministries and Support and Accountability Boards clearly indicate that neither board nor a combination of both boards into one would have the same authority as mandated by the Church Manual for the local Church Board. Refer to Church Manual pp. 90-91.
“B. To suggest that the Support and Accountability Board be added to the Church Ministries Board to constitute the Church Board is an admission that the Takoma Park Church is operating without a properly constituted Church Board and, therefore, is not in harmony with the Church Manual.
“‘This proposal is subject to the following conditions:
Proposal does not in any way suggest that the current governess (sp.) structure has been outside the boundaries of the church manual.’
“C. We disagree. The charts issued by Pastor DeSilva clearly indicate that the present Takoma Park Church structure is 'outside' the boundaries of the Church Manual. We also point out that not one of several charts has ever been approved by the Church in Business Meeting.
“D. The executive power which Pastor DeSilva has wielded in specific instances such as 'vision casting,' issuing organizational charts without congregational approval, manipulating committees to achieve predetermined outcomes, and placing his position between the Ministries Board and the Church Business Meeting is in contradiction to the Church Manual and general Seventh-day Adventist governance principles. All committees, including the Finance Committee, should report directly to the Church Board and/or the Church Business Meeting, not to the Pastor. See Church Manual, pp.25-26.
“E. The actions taken to implement the 'Paul Borden Report' and subsequent policy changes such as the 'Code of Ethics' are not in harmony with the Church Manual.
‘This proposal is subject to discussion and final approval from the
Takoma Park Church in business session.’
“F. In order to resolve this situation, an agreement for resolution must do the following:
“1. Acknowledge that a local church is not at liberty to establish its own system of organization and that any change in the membership, responsibilities or function of the Church Board is solely the responsibility of the world church.
“2. Affirm a literal interpretation of the Church Manual as the ultimate authority in matters of church governance.
“3. Rescind the action to adopt the Paul Borden Report.
“4. Adopt an action plan for evangelism in the Takoma Park Church.
“5. Reinstate the Church Board as stipulated in the Church Manual, pp. 90 and 91, thereby eliminating the Accountability Board and Church Ministries Board.
“6. Acknowledge that all departments and ministries are accountable to the Church Board, not to the staff or any other person or entity.
“7. If an evaluation group is desired, its title should not use the term 'accountability.' It should be a subcommittee of the Church Board, serve in a purely advisory capacity, and be accountable to the Church Board.
“8. A Church Ministries body is most desirable. However, it should be a subcommittee of the Church Board, report directly to the Church Board, and be referred to as Church Ministries Council or Committee.
“9. Rescind the vote to adopt the 'Code of Ethics' which was widely interpreted as a loyalty oath and an effort to discourage legitimate, healthy discussion.
“10. Include a plan for the remediation of all related governance problems.
“11. Administrative observers from the Potomac Conference, Columbia Union Conference, North American Division, and General Conference are to certify that the new actions are in harmony with the Church Manual.
“12. Because of the present tensions now prevailing in the Takoma Park Church which have destroyed confidence and credibility, a neutral mutually-agreed-upon church official shall be appointed for observation and/or intervention purposes, to ensure that future actions are in harmony with the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual.”
This meeting was supposed to last one hour but ran into nearly three. In the course of the discussion the subject of appearing before the conference executive committee was brought up and one of the Group’s representatives observed that that had been the Group’s goal all along. Pastor DeSilva’s response to this observation was, "Then why am I wasting my time in this meeting? I came here tonight because I thought this was going to be the end of this situation. If you want to go to the executive committee let's go and they'll tell you you're wrong and we'll be done with this." Elder Ramirez tentatively agreed that it was time to take this matter before the conference executive committee. The conclusion of the meeting was that he would follow up in an email with specifics about meeting with the executive committee.
Next: Minutes, Version 1
Religious
2 comments:
Go DeSilva!
I echo the sentiments. I feel bad for the guy.
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