The Epic, Pt. 64

The advance materials the Group prepared for the executive committee members had five parts. The package started with a brief summary of the situation. This was followed by the entire Paul Borden Report, the board comparison charts, the two new letters from the General Conference personnel, and the list of requirements for resolution which were presented at the three-on-three meeting. The summary, which is the only portion of this package not already posted to this blog, is included below.

“Summary of Appeal

“Our appeal is to reestablish in the Takoma Park Church the system of governance mandated by the Seventh-day Adventist world church and stipulated in the Church Manual.

“This issue began with the implementation of a report prepared by Paul Borden, a church consultant. His report (enclosed in its entirety) was approved for implementation by the congregation under questionable and divisive circumstances on November 17, 2007. The major point of contention with this report is the paragraph which stipulates implementation of a ‘staff led structure.’

“This altered governance structure is not in harmony with the Church Manual. This is notably reflected by the absence of a church board (which is required by the Manual). A proper church board has been replaced by two other ‘boards,’ neither of which fulfills the requirements of the Church Manual singly or in combination. (See enclosed Board Comparison Charts.) As this situation evolved letters of support were received from several church officials.

“‘I could not support this form of church governance nor would the General Conference. It is a far departure of how the Seventh-day Adventist church does business’ (Roscoe Howard, then North American Division Secretary, in a letter dated March 25, 2008).

“‘The [Church Manual] section on the role and function of the Church Board is recorded in the chapter of the Church Manual where it is required practice for every church. There is no alternative structure for the Church. The Church Manual does not allow for any alternatives’ (Vernon B. Parmenter, then Associate Executive Secretary of the General Conference and Secretary of the Church Manual Committee, in a letter dated April 21, 2008).

“‘Pastor Vernon Parmenter, my Associate Secretary, and one who has been assigned to be responsible for the Church Manual and its application, has already written a letter addressed to the Takoma Park Church… As one of your elders, I am in full support of the Church Manual’ (Matthew Bediako, General Conference Executive Secretary, in a letter dated May 28, 2008).

“Recently, letters of additional clarification have been received from Larry Evans, Undersecretary of the General Conference, and Armando Miranda, General Conference General Vice President and Church Manual Committee Chairperson. Their letters are enclosed in their entirety.

“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 in theory and in practice.

“There are additional issues pertaining to and arising from this deviation from governance according to the Church Manual to be addressed at a future date.”

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