"Calling the twelve about Him, Jesus bade them go out two and two through the towns and villages. None were sent forth alone, but brother was associated with brother, friend with friend. Thus they could help and encourage each other, counseling and praying together, each one's strength supplementing the other's weakness. In the same manner He afterward sent forth the seventy. It was the Saviour's purpose that the messengers of the gospel should be associated in this way. In our own time evangelistic work would be far more successful if this example were more closely followed" (The Desire of Ages, p. 350).
"The servant is not above his master. The Prince of heaven was called Beelzebub, and His disciples will be misrepresented in like manner. But whatever the danger, Christ's followers must avow their principles. They should scorn concealment. They cannot remain uncommitted until assured of safety in confessing the truth. They are set as watchmen, to warn men of their peril. The truth received from Christ must be imparted to all, freely and openly. Jesus said, 'What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops'" (Ibid, p.355).
"Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,--the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to 'follow after the things which make for peace' (Rom. 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle. And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience. But Jesus bade His disciples, 'Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.' Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan. In Christ their eternal life is secure. Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them" (Ibid, p.356).
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Epic, Pt. 75
On August 5, 2009 Takoma Park’s organist, Dr. K, sent Pastor DeSilva a letter stating that he was resigning the position. Dr. K was not Adventist, but he had served the Takoma Park Church with distinction for 13 years. He had once commented to a church member that he believed all of the things that Adventists believed, but chose to remain Episcopalian because he liked their worship style, and therefore kept two Sabbaths each week.
Dr. K had been growing dissatisfied with the situation at Takoma Park for some time. The chair of the Music Council had repeatedly spoken to Pastor DeSilva about Dr. K’s dissatisfaction. He had brushed her concerns aside. Dr. K. continued to stay at Takoma Park hoping that things would change for the better. He had made friends with people in the congregation and did not want to leave fellow musicians between a rock and a hard place.
As a professional musician Dr. K had worked for many congregations over the years and had been in the unique position of being an outside observer on the inside of events in those myriad of congregations. His observation when this whole situation began was that he had seen this before, and that bringing consultants in always meant the destruction of the congregation.
Dr. K finally reached his breaking point at the first Music Council meeting chaired by the new Minister of Music. Dr. K quickly saw that the music program would be shifting away from the traditional service that he was comfortable with. He had made the comment more than once that he did not need the job at Takoma Park. He did it because he enjoyed it. When he saw that changes were being made that he could not agree with, he chose to resign. Dr. K would have made the announcement at the end of that Music Council meeting but Pastor DeSilva had already left. Dr. K. was too much of a gentleman to make an announcement like that without first letting the senior pastor know of his intentions. As soon as Dr. K sent the letter to Pastor DeSilva he called two of the members that he had worked with closely over the years and let them know of his decision. He did not want them to hear the news via the “Adventist Grapevine.”
When Pastor DeSilva received Dr. K’s resignation he realized what a loss his departure would be for the church and tried to talk him out of it. Pastor DeSilva and his wife took Dr. K out to lunch. They tried to talk Dr. K into remaining at least until the end of the year. Dr. K told them that his mind was made up and he would remain only through the end of the month. Pastor DeSilva continued to try to change Dr. K’s mind, but it was made up. His decision was months in the making.
Dr. K’s last day playing at Takoma Park was August 29, 2009. At a private farewell party for Dr. K sometime later he commented that he was open to returning to Takoma Park in the future should the situation improve; he just couldn’t continue there under the present conditions.
Next: Miraculous
Justice
Dr. K had been growing dissatisfied with the situation at Takoma Park for some time. The chair of the Music Council had repeatedly spoken to Pastor DeSilva about Dr. K’s dissatisfaction. He had brushed her concerns aside. Dr. K. continued to stay at Takoma Park hoping that things would change for the better. He had made friends with people in the congregation and did not want to leave fellow musicians between a rock and a hard place.
As a professional musician Dr. K had worked for many congregations over the years and had been in the unique position of being an outside observer on the inside of events in those myriad of congregations. His observation when this whole situation began was that he had seen this before, and that bringing consultants in always meant the destruction of the congregation.
Dr. K finally reached his breaking point at the first Music Council meeting chaired by the new Minister of Music. Dr. K quickly saw that the music program would be shifting away from the traditional service that he was comfortable with. He had made the comment more than once that he did not need the job at Takoma Park. He did it because he enjoyed it. When he saw that changes were being made that he could not agree with, he chose to resign. Dr. K would have made the announcement at the end of that Music Council meeting but Pastor DeSilva had already left. Dr. K. was too much of a gentleman to make an announcement like that without first letting the senior pastor know of his intentions. As soon as Dr. K sent the letter to Pastor DeSilva he called two of the members that he had worked with closely over the years and let them know of his decision. He did not want them to hear the news via the “Adventist Grapevine.”
When Pastor DeSilva received Dr. K’s resignation he realized what a loss his departure would be for the church and tried to talk him out of it. Pastor DeSilva and his wife took Dr. K out to lunch. They tried to talk Dr. K into remaining at least until the end of the year. Dr. K told them that his mind was made up and he would remain only through the end of the month. Pastor DeSilva continued to try to change Dr. K’s mind, but it was made up. His decision was months in the making.
Dr. K’s last day playing at Takoma Park was August 29, 2009. At a private farewell party for Dr. K sometime later he commented that he was open to returning to Takoma Park in the future should the situation improve; he just couldn’t continue there under the present conditions.
Next: Miraculous
Justice
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Epic, Pt. 74
An elders’ meeting was held on August 10, 2009, which was a Monday. It was announced to the elders in the Sabbath bulletins on August 1 and August 8. The Sunday afternoon before the meeting was to take place (August 9) Elder J called Brother G to inform him that the upcoming elders’ meeting was also to be the reconciliation meeting and to ask his help in spreading the word to the rest of the Group. With barely 24 hours’ notice of the meeting’s new purpose (and in some cases, as little as four hours’ notice) some simply couldn’t make it. Others who showed up a few minutes late found the doors locked, and so were unable to enter and participate.
When Elder J began the meeting he was visibly uncomfortable. He obviously didn’t care for the spotlight role Pastor DeSilva had put him in by commissioning him to administer the reconciliation. He started out with a clichéd speech about a lot having happened over the past few years and needing to put everything on the table so the church could move on, etc. As an example of the supposed rift in the church he observed that he and Brother H had been friends for many years, but that the two of them didn’t talk any more since all of this had happened.
Brother H responded to this singling out by pointing out that in the beginning he had sat down with Elder J and explained to him why the altered governance was wrong from academic, historical, practical, Adventist, and biblical perspectives. Brother H reminded Elder J that his response had been that he had spoken with his father and with Pastor DeSilva and that both of them had told him there was nothing wrong. Brother H had concluded that if that was as far as Elder J was willing to go in analyzing the situation there was nothing more he could say to Elder J, but that didn’t mean he had refused to communicate with him. Brother H pointed out that if Elder J had ever wanted to talk about this or any other issue he had his contact info and could have gotten in touch at any time. This response didn’t seem to make an impression with Elder J.
As the meeting progressed it became clear from both the statements actually expressed and the body language demonstrated that the pastors and their supporting elders had come into the meeting with their minds already made up. One of the elders brought up one of the rumors Pastor DeSilva had been promoting about the Group’s motives, namely that this was all just a ploy to get rid of him as pastor. This elder spoke of how disgusted he was and expressed concern about what character of pastor Takoma Park would be left with if Pastor DeSilva were to leave. Another elder came right out and told the Group, “If you don’t like the way things are, leave.”
We should note here that throughout the course of the Epic we have largely ignored the various spurious accusations Pastor DeSilva has used to divert attention from the real issues and build sympathy for his position among the congregation. The list of these “red herrings” includes, but is not limited to, 1) "this is just a bunch of old white people trying to maintain power in the church," 2) "this is about music style," and, of course, the aforementioned 3) "they just don’t like me and are trying to get rid of me." None of these are true. While we have witnessed some truly disturbing and unconscionable behavior from our pastors during the course of this dispute their removal has never been what this is about. We admit that the thought of their departure has crossed our minds, but only in the context of wishing for leaders who would be fair and unbiased about the whole matter, which is something our current pastors have demonstrated themselves to be incapable of.
Various Group members attempted to unwind this myriad of misconceptions and outright lies the majority of the elders had bought into, but to no avail. Pastor DeSilva responded by repeating his favorite insinuations about the Group wrecking the church and reinforced his supporters. At the end of the meeting the Group was asked if they would like to have another one, but given how unproductive this one had been the Group concluded that a second meeting wouldn’t accomplish anything and declined the offer.
Next: Collateral Damage
Religious
When Elder J began the meeting he was visibly uncomfortable. He obviously didn’t care for the spotlight role Pastor DeSilva had put him in by commissioning him to administer the reconciliation. He started out with a clichéd speech about a lot having happened over the past few years and needing to put everything on the table so the church could move on, etc. As an example of the supposed rift in the church he observed that he and Brother H had been friends for many years, but that the two of them didn’t talk any more since all of this had happened.
Brother H responded to this singling out by pointing out that in the beginning he had sat down with Elder J and explained to him why the altered governance was wrong from academic, historical, practical, Adventist, and biblical perspectives. Brother H reminded Elder J that his response had been that he had spoken with his father and with Pastor DeSilva and that both of them had told him there was nothing wrong. Brother H had concluded that if that was as far as Elder J was willing to go in analyzing the situation there was nothing more he could say to Elder J, but that didn’t mean he had refused to communicate with him. Brother H pointed out that if Elder J had ever wanted to talk about this or any other issue he had his contact info and could have gotten in touch at any time. This response didn’t seem to make an impression with Elder J.
As the meeting progressed it became clear from both the statements actually expressed and the body language demonstrated that the pastors and their supporting elders had come into the meeting with their minds already made up. One of the elders brought up one of the rumors Pastor DeSilva had been promoting about the Group’s motives, namely that this was all just a ploy to get rid of him as pastor. This elder spoke of how disgusted he was and expressed concern about what character of pastor Takoma Park would be left with if Pastor DeSilva were to leave. Another elder came right out and told the Group, “If you don’t like the way things are, leave.”
We should note here that throughout the course of the Epic we have largely ignored the various spurious accusations Pastor DeSilva has used to divert attention from the real issues and build sympathy for his position among the congregation. The list of these “red herrings” includes, but is not limited to, 1) "this is just a bunch of old white people trying to maintain power in the church," 2) "this is about music style," and, of course, the aforementioned 3) "they just don’t like me and are trying to get rid of me." None of these are true. While we have witnessed some truly disturbing and unconscionable behavior from our pastors during the course of this dispute their removal has never been what this is about. We admit that the thought of their departure has crossed our minds, but only in the context of wishing for leaders who would be fair and unbiased about the whole matter, which is something our current pastors have demonstrated themselves to be incapable of.
Various Group members attempted to unwind this myriad of misconceptions and outright lies the majority of the elders had bought into, but to no avail. Pastor DeSilva responded by repeating his favorite insinuations about the Group wrecking the church and reinforced his supporters. At the end of the meeting the Group was asked if they would like to have another one, but given how unproductive this one had been the Group concluded that a second meeting wouldn’t accomplish anything and declined the offer.
Next: Collateral Damage
Religious
Friday, August 13, 2010
By the Numbers
We mentioned in the Epic, Pt. 73 that after the executive committee’s recommendations had been accepted by the Takoma Park Church the Group decided to sit back and see how Pastor DeSilva would do in growing the church. As it has now been a little over a year since that happened this post will take a quick look at some stats of the church over the past year, with a view toward assessing whether things have improved in any measurable way. In doing so we will be getting a little ahead of ourselves in terms of the Epic, but it seems worthwhile to connect these particular dots while they are fresh. Rest assured, we aren’t abandoning a systematic telling of events; we just want to compare a few numbers now.
On August 8, 2009 70 people attended First Service and 340 people attended Second Service at Takoma Park, for a total of 410 people in attendance at worship services that Sabbath. The financial statistics in that week’s bulletin (up to date through the previous week, August 1, 2009) reported $254,701 in offerings and $620,131 in tithe year-to-date.
Last Sabbath (August 7, 2010) 48 people attended First Service and 193 people attended Second Service at Takoma Park, for a total of 241 people in attendance at worship services that Sabbath. The financial statistics in last week’s bulletin (up to date through July 31, 2010) reported $241,602 in offerings and $567,778 in tithe year-to-date.
Let’s unpack these numbers, starting with the financial reports. The first excuse likely to be offered for the decline in this area is the economy. Yes, it’s down. However, it hasn’t had so big an impact as is seen in Takoma Park’s numbers.
Those who were paying close attention to the events of the recent General Conference Session in Atlanta will have noticed that they included a report from the General Conference treasurer, Robert Lemon. This report was reproduced by the Review, and can be found both online and in print. This report included statistics on just what impact the economy had had on the Church’s revenue. Elder Lemon made note both of the worldwide numbers and those specific to the North American Division (NAD).
Here’s how the comparison works out. Over the past year Takoma Park has seen an 8.4% decline in tithe; tithe across NAD declined only 1.7% for calendar year 2009. Takoma Park’s offerings declined 5.2% over the last year while NAD saw only a 2.1% drop in mission offerings (the only kind of offering that would be tracked at the division level) for calendar year 2009. Suffice it to say, Takoma Park can blame only a portion of its declines on the economy.
The attendance numbers, which cannot be blamed in any portion on the economy, paint an even starker picture. For our sample week there was a 41.3% drop from 2009 to 2010. Since both numbers were taken from the same time of year this plummeting figure cannot be explained away by seasonal variation, either.
What does require explanation is how the attendance drop can be so much greater than the financial drop. The answer is that Takoma Park has on its roles a substantial number of individuals who like having their membership officially located at “the historic Takoma Park Church” and support it financially even though they don’t live anywhere near it. They constitute a consistent and sizable source of income not affected (or perhaps even aware) of the goings-on at Takoma Park. Therefore, the attendance number becomes the more reliable indicator of the state of the active congregation.
For this past year Pastor DeSilva has had full sway in the congregation and the measurable indicators of congregational health aren't even holding steady, they're dropping. We leave it to you, our readers, to come to your own conclusions about the cause of this decline.
On August 8, 2009 70 people attended First Service and 340 people attended Second Service at Takoma Park, for a total of 410 people in attendance at worship services that Sabbath. The financial statistics in that week’s bulletin (up to date through the previous week, August 1, 2009) reported $254,701 in offerings and $620,131 in tithe year-to-date.
Last Sabbath (August 7, 2010) 48 people attended First Service and 193 people attended Second Service at Takoma Park, for a total of 241 people in attendance at worship services that Sabbath. The financial statistics in last week’s bulletin (up to date through July 31, 2010) reported $241,602 in offerings and $567,778 in tithe year-to-date.
Let’s unpack these numbers, starting with the financial reports. The first excuse likely to be offered for the decline in this area is the economy. Yes, it’s down. However, it hasn’t had so big an impact as is seen in Takoma Park’s numbers.
Those who were paying close attention to the events of the recent General Conference Session in Atlanta will have noticed that they included a report from the General Conference treasurer, Robert Lemon. This report was reproduced by the Review, and can be found both online and in print. This report included statistics on just what impact the economy had had on the Church’s revenue. Elder Lemon made note both of the worldwide numbers and those specific to the North American Division (NAD).
Here’s how the comparison works out. Over the past year Takoma Park has seen an 8.4% decline in tithe; tithe across NAD declined only 1.7% for calendar year 2009. Takoma Park’s offerings declined 5.2% over the last year while NAD saw only a 2.1% drop in mission offerings (the only kind of offering that would be tracked at the division level) for calendar year 2009. Suffice it to say, Takoma Park can blame only a portion of its declines on the economy.
The attendance numbers, which cannot be blamed in any portion on the economy, paint an even starker picture. For our sample week there was a 41.3% drop from 2009 to 2010. Since both numbers were taken from the same time of year this plummeting figure cannot be explained away by seasonal variation, either.
What does require explanation is how the attendance drop can be so much greater than the financial drop. The answer is that Takoma Park has on its roles a substantial number of individuals who like having their membership officially located at “the historic Takoma Park Church” and support it financially even though they don’t live anywhere near it. They constitute a consistent and sizable source of income not affected (or perhaps even aware) of the goings-on at Takoma Park. Therefore, the attendance number becomes the more reliable indicator of the state of the active congregation.
For this past year Pastor DeSilva has had full sway in the congregation and the measurable indicators of congregational health aren't even holding steady, they're dropping. We leave it to you, our readers, to come to your own conclusions about the cause of this decline.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Advice from the Spirit of Prophesy, Pt. 24
"A Constant Peril.
"For years there has been a growing tendency for men placed in positions of responsibility to lord it over God's heritage, thus removing from church-members their keen sense of the need of divine instruction and an appreciation of the privilege to counsel with God regarding their duty. This order of things must be changed. There must be a reform. Men who have not a rich measure of that wisdom which cometh from above, should not be called to serve in positions where their influence means so much to church-members.
"In my earlier experiences in the message I was called to meet this evil. ...I had to bear my testimony of warning against it, because souls were being led to look to man for wisdom, instead of looking to God, who is our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness. And now the same message has again been given me, more definite and decisive, because there has been a deeper offense to the Spirit of God.
"An Exalted Privilege.
"God is the Teacher of His people. All who humble their hearts before Him, will be taught of God. 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.' The Lord wants every church-member to pray earnestly for wisdom; that he may know what the Lord would have him do. It is the privilege of every believer to obtain an individual experience, learning to carry his cares and perplexities to God. It is written, 'Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.'
"I write thus fully, because I have been shown that ministers and people are tempted more and more to trust in finite man for wisdom, and to make flesh their arm. To conference presidents and men in responsible places, I bear this message: Break the bands and fetters that have been placed upon God's people. To you the word is spoken, 'Break every yoke.' Unless you cease the work of making man amenable to man, unless you become humble in heart, and yourselves learn the way of the Lord as little children, the Lord will divorce you from His work. We are to treat one another as brethren, as fellow-laborers, as men and women who are, with us, seeking for light and understanding of the way of the Lord, and who are jealous for His glory.
"God declares, 'I will be glorified in My people;' but the self-confident management of men has resulted in putting God aside, and accepting the devisings of men. If you allow this to continue, your faith will soon become extinct. God is in every place, beholding the conduct of the people who profess to represent the principles of His word. He asks that a change be made. He wants His people to be molded and fashioned, not after man's ideas, but after the similitude of God. I entreat of you to search the Scriptures as you have never yet searched them, that you may know the way and will of God. O, that every soul might be impressed with this message, and put away the wrong!
"This message is spoken to our churches in every place. In the false experience that has been coming in, a decided influence is at work to exalt human agencies and to lead some to depend on human judgment, and to follow the control of human minds. This influence is diverting the mind from God. God forbid that any such experience should deepen and grow in our ranks as Seventh-day Adventists. Our petitions are to reach higher than erring man--to God. 'And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.' God does not confine Himself to one place or person. He looks down from heaven upon the children of men; He sees their perplexities, and is acquainted with the circumstances of every experience of life. He understands His own work upon the human heart, and needs not that any man should direct the workings of His Spirit" (Jehovah Is Our King, pp. 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20).
"For years there has been a growing tendency for men placed in positions of responsibility to lord it over God's heritage, thus removing from church-members their keen sense of the need of divine instruction and an appreciation of the privilege to counsel with God regarding their duty. This order of things must be changed. There must be a reform. Men who have not a rich measure of that wisdom which cometh from above, should not be called to serve in positions where their influence means so much to church-members.
"In my earlier experiences in the message I was called to meet this evil. ...I had to bear my testimony of warning against it, because souls were being led to look to man for wisdom, instead of looking to God, who is our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness. And now the same message has again been given me, more definite and decisive, because there has been a deeper offense to the Spirit of God.
"An Exalted Privilege.
"God is the Teacher of His people. All who humble their hearts before Him, will be taught of God. 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.' The Lord wants every church-member to pray earnestly for wisdom; that he may know what the Lord would have him do. It is the privilege of every believer to obtain an individual experience, learning to carry his cares and perplexities to God. It is written, 'Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.'
"I write thus fully, because I have been shown that ministers and people are tempted more and more to trust in finite man for wisdom, and to make flesh their arm. To conference presidents and men in responsible places, I bear this message: Break the bands and fetters that have been placed upon God's people. To you the word is spoken, 'Break every yoke.' Unless you cease the work of making man amenable to man, unless you become humble in heart, and yourselves learn the way of the Lord as little children, the Lord will divorce you from His work. We are to treat one another as brethren, as fellow-laborers, as men and women who are, with us, seeking for light and understanding of the way of the Lord, and who are jealous for His glory.
"God declares, 'I will be glorified in My people;' but the self-confident management of men has resulted in putting God aside, and accepting the devisings of men. If you allow this to continue, your faith will soon become extinct. God is in every place, beholding the conduct of the people who profess to represent the principles of His word. He asks that a change be made. He wants His people to be molded and fashioned, not after man's ideas, but after the similitude of God. I entreat of you to search the Scriptures as you have never yet searched them, that you may know the way and will of God. O, that every soul might be impressed with this message, and put away the wrong!
"This message is spoken to our churches in every place. In the false experience that has been coming in, a decided influence is at work to exalt human agencies and to lead some to depend on human judgment, and to follow the control of human minds. This influence is diverting the mind from God. God forbid that any such experience should deepen and grow in our ranks as Seventh-day Adventists. Our petitions are to reach higher than erring man--to God. 'And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.' God does not confine Himself to one place or person. He looks down from heaven upon the children of men; He sees their perplexities, and is acquainted with the circumstances of every experience of life. He understands His own work upon the human heart, and needs not that any man should direct the workings of His Spirit" (Jehovah Is Our King, pp. 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20).
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Epic, Pt. 73
Pastor DeSilva had claimed since the institution of the altered governance structure that the Group had been inhibiting his ability to minister effectively, and that this was the reason the church had not prospered under the altered structure. The Group couldn’t see how addressing concerns through proper channels could constitute an impediment to ministry, but with the passage of the executive committee’s recommendations the Group decided it was time to step back and see what Pastor DeSilva would do in implementing them and growing the church.
The newly renamed church board didn’t meet in either August or September of 2009. What did happen during those months (or more precisely, between July 25 and September 26, 2009) was a series of illegitimate membership transfers. This subject was touched on briefly in the post, I attended an apostate church this morning, posted August 8, 2009.
Briefly, the proper procedure for membership transfers is for the name to be brought before the church board and approved, then given first and second readings by being printed in the church bulletin on two consecutive weeks, and finally to be voted on by the church on the second week that it appears in the bulletin. This process is gone through first in the congregation that the member is leaving, and then again in the congregation they are joining. The transfer is not considered complete until the receiving congregation notifies the departing congregation that the member has been voted in at the new church. All of this is detailed in the Church Manual.
What happened during these two months was that 18 membership transfers were printed in the bulletin for first and second readings without having been first brought before the church board. Even worse, no vote of the church was taken regarding any of these names. Of those 18, three were transfers in and 15 were transfers out.
The Group was dumbfounded by this blatant disregard for Church Manual procedure, particularly in light of the fact that membership transfers had been brought up during the business meeting on July 19, 2009 as a function of the church board which had been ignored under the altered governance and Pastor DeSilva had specifically stated that improper handling of transfers, “can’t happen any more if we take this vote.”
Finally, a member of the Group, Elder E, confronted Pastor DeSilva about this impropriety during an elders’ meeting, pointing out to Pastor DeSilva the specific portions of the Church Manual pertaining to membership transfers. The justification she was given for the way transfers had been conducted recently was truly fantastic. She was told that it was an oversight on their part—the transfers should not have been put in the bulletin and not voted by the congregation because all transfers were now handled by the General Conference. Supposedly, all the churches do now is the application for transfer. It then goes to the GC and they do the rest. Afterwards, the churches are told that it is okay. Then they put it in the bulletin and the church votes. We aren’t clear on how putting the names in the bulletin was an oversight if the final step in this supposed new process is for the names to appear and be voted on as usual, but it doesn’t matter because none of this is true.
This “explanation” is an imaginative spin on a new service being offered by the North American Division. Simply, this service allows church clerks throughout the division to connect electronically to send the relevant data about transfers back and forth. This reduces the time involved in the process stipulated by the Manual, but does not in any way alter the steps, much less take over the task of approving or disapproving of transfers. Quite frankly, it is ludicrous to think that the General Conference could consider and approve every transfer for its over 16 million members worldwide.
The evidence presented by Elder E did seem to ultimately have an effect. Pastor DeSilva never admitted that there had been any impropriety in the 18 transfers over these two months, but by the time the church board finally met in October he was touting the incident as an example of how he would make corrects in procedure if anyone pointed out to him that the Manual stipulated anything that he wasn’t currently doing. (We’ll explain the context of this statement when we describe the October church board meeting.)
There is one other thing we need to say while on the subject of membership transfers at Takoma Park. It is our understanding from various sources that there is a backlog of transfers out. We can only imagine that Pastor DeSilva is refusing to act on them because he doesn’t want it publicly seen just how many people have left Takoma Park as a result of this whole fiasco. Individuals caught up in this backlog who call the church office to inquire about the holdup are told simply that the transfer is “in process.”
Next: "Reconciliation"
Religious
The newly renamed church board didn’t meet in either August or September of 2009. What did happen during those months (or more precisely, between July 25 and September 26, 2009) was a series of illegitimate membership transfers. This subject was touched on briefly in the post, I attended an apostate church this morning, posted August 8, 2009.
Briefly, the proper procedure for membership transfers is for the name to be brought before the church board and approved, then given first and second readings by being printed in the church bulletin on two consecutive weeks, and finally to be voted on by the church on the second week that it appears in the bulletin. This process is gone through first in the congregation that the member is leaving, and then again in the congregation they are joining. The transfer is not considered complete until the receiving congregation notifies the departing congregation that the member has been voted in at the new church. All of this is detailed in the Church Manual.
What happened during these two months was that 18 membership transfers were printed in the bulletin for first and second readings without having been first brought before the church board. Even worse, no vote of the church was taken regarding any of these names. Of those 18, three were transfers in and 15 were transfers out.
The Group was dumbfounded by this blatant disregard for Church Manual procedure, particularly in light of the fact that membership transfers had been brought up during the business meeting on July 19, 2009 as a function of the church board which had been ignored under the altered governance and Pastor DeSilva had specifically stated that improper handling of transfers, “can’t happen any more if we take this vote.”
Finally, a member of the Group, Elder E, confronted Pastor DeSilva about this impropriety during an elders’ meeting, pointing out to Pastor DeSilva the specific portions of the Church Manual pertaining to membership transfers. The justification she was given for the way transfers had been conducted recently was truly fantastic. She was told that it was an oversight on their part—the transfers should not have been put in the bulletin and not voted by the congregation because all transfers were now handled by the General Conference. Supposedly, all the churches do now is the application for transfer. It then goes to the GC and they do the rest. Afterwards, the churches are told that it is okay. Then they put it in the bulletin and the church votes. We aren’t clear on how putting the names in the bulletin was an oversight if the final step in this supposed new process is for the names to appear and be voted on as usual, but it doesn’t matter because none of this is true.
This “explanation” is an imaginative spin on a new service being offered by the North American Division. Simply, this service allows church clerks throughout the division to connect electronically to send the relevant data about transfers back and forth. This reduces the time involved in the process stipulated by the Manual, but does not in any way alter the steps, much less take over the task of approving or disapproving of transfers. Quite frankly, it is ludicrous to think that the General Conference could consider and approve every transfer for its over 16 million members worldwide.
The evidence presented by Elder E did seem to ultimately have an effect. Pastor DeSilva never admitted that there had been any impropriety in the 18 transfers over these two months, but by the time the church board finally met in October he was touting the incident as an example of how he would make corrects in procedure if anyone pointed out to him that the Manual stipulated anything that he wasn’t currently doing. (We’ll explain the context of this statement when we describe the October church board meeting.)
There is one other thing we need to say while on the subject of membership transfers at Takoma Park. It is our understanding from various sources that there is a backlog of transfers out. We can only imagine that Pastor DeSilva is refusing to act on them because he doesn’t want it publicly seen just how many people have left Takoma Park as a result of this whole fiasco. Individuals caught up in this backlog who call the church office to inquire about the holdup are told simply that the transfer is “in process.”
Next: "Reconciliation"
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