Matters Arising out of EGM by GC

MEMORANDUM

“STRICTLY WITHOUT PREJUDICE”

To: The Board of Deacons, Calvary Church
From: Grace SK Chew

Re: Matters Arising out of EGM held on 15th August, 2008
Date: 2ND September, 2008

Introduction

I would like to give a short introduction about myself, I have been a Voting Member of Calvary Church since 1994 and worshipping with my husband and family at Damansara Perdana congregation. I was involved in Church in various capacities as Life Group Leader, Altar Worker and SCG Teacher for the past many years. I believe God has given me the gift of teaching and as such my desire has always been to serve the Lord in teaching God’s Word and encouraging others.

Normally it is not my nature to speak out openly on issues in Church. However, since 1st March 2008 after attending the Church Leaders Meeting I was deeply disturbed by matters expressed then whereby Senior Pastor and the church leadership had taken a particular stand. Consequently I spoke out during the AGM on 28th March, 2008 on the need for accountability, integrity, transparency and good church governance in Calvary Church.

Due to the above stand that I had taken during the AGM I was informed soon after the AGM, that it would not be appropriate for me to be appointed as a SCG Teacher as I am not in line with the current Church leadership vision.

In fact, during the past years my husband and I have always been very supportive of Calvary Church’s vision and projects but over the past few months many events and matters have arisen which have caused much concern and doubts to us.

Consequently, it is with the deepest concern and sadness that I am writing this Memo to you following the EGM held on 15th August, 2008.

Although over the months various concerned members in Calvary Church have brought out many relevant issues with the Board of Deacons (BOD) but unfortunately these issues were not handled properly nor dealt with in a timely manner. Instead of attempting to solve the problems BOD had chosen to avoid them and taken the position to protect and justify what has happened over the years. BOD had through its announcement on 6th July, 2008 pathed the way for the EGM. Although the Church Secretary had informed that members will be given opportunity to speak out at the EGM, the actual conduct of the EGM did not reflect the stand at all.

During the EGM I was led by the Lord to speak on the same issues as I had spoken during the AGM and asked why our Church leaders and BOD in particular were using the legal opinion and forensic auditors’ report to shut concerned members up and by applying the laws of the land to brush aside critical issues and further ignoring God’s laws and Kingdom principles to establish truth and righteousness in Calvary Church.

I. ACTIONS AND CONDUCT OF EGM PREJUDICED AGAINST MEMBERS

In particular, I wish to state that the following actions and conduct of the EGM displayed unfairness to members and tantamount to oppression and suppression of members during the EGM:

1. The Chairman of the EGM was bias and prejudiced against concerned members who sought permission to speak up on relevant issues. The Chairman cut down members from speaking and kept on interjecting them at intermittent intervals with the view to disrupt their trend of thoughts and reasoning so that they could not continue and hence causing others unable to follow through with what was spoken.

2. At the outset the Chairman announced that each person can only ask two questions which are relevant to matters raised in the Agenda. Why was this limitation imposed? Was there a fear that other damaging matters could be revealed by concerned members in the course of the proceedings? Hence the need to impose limitations at the very beginning.

3. The microphones at the EGM were positioned in-front on the left and right sides of the sanctuary only whereas at the middle and rear portions there were none available at all so that members seated there were deterred and prevented to speak up. Furthermore, the microphones were controlled and switched off by the leadership whenever they sense matters are sensitive and they wish to cut off the particular member(s) from speaking.

4. The whole proceedings at EGM was being orchestrated and the Agenda was fixed by BOD with intent to legalise matters so that concerned members have no chance to voice dissent or their differing opinions.

5. Several concerned members had given 7 Resolutions to the Church Secretary on 30th July, 2008 in accordance with Rule IX (5a & 5b) of the Constitution and yet by BOD’s own wide interpretation of the Constitution under Rule XIV, they rejected them two days before the EGM and notice of BOD’s decision was only delivered by Courier Service to the concerned persons on 14th August, 2008 (again not showing good faith in their actions as the said Resolutions were already given to BOD on 30th July, 2008).

By rejecting the Resolutions BOD went right ahead to give their one-sided explanation and the two reports by the criminal lawyers and forensic auditors respectively and hence to get their own Agenda through without any other input from concerned members or debate by members based on the 7 Resolutions.

6. The Questions and Answers Session was merely to put up a show as despite all the doubts raised, BOD did not intend to do anything to consider the different views but just pushed the Agenda through.

Furthermore members had come to seek the Truth but BOD only wanted to give their one-sided opinion and explanation instead of doing all that it takes to find out the Truth, declare the same, stand by the Truth and to let the members know so that the Church can move towards reconciliation and healing. BOD by its stand and unfair actions at the EGM has caused the Body to be even more disunited.

7. The Chairman announced that NO VOTE will be taken during the EGM and yet BOD proposed and adopted two reports and to declare CARED to be grouped under Calvary Church Missions Department and have it adopted as an Extended Ministry of Calvary Church.

As such matters are so vital and critical to the Church and as under Rule IX (1) of the Constitution “members have full powers on the administration of the Church” why were these two reports not given to members and why were members not given opportunity to discuss and debate about these important matters during the EGM?
Why did BOD have to push its way through and ignore the rights of members under the Constitution? Wouldn’t this tantamount to suppressing the views of members?

I believe that most if not all who came for the EGM came to seek the Truth and all wanted to see the Church being united in love and pursuit of God’s plan for the Church. Instead many left disappointed and disillusioned by the church leadership.

From the very outset we, members all had very high hopes and confidence in BOD to handle the matters brought before the Church leadership. We have looked to you, Deacons being matured Godly men and woman and the elected representatives of members of Calvary Church, filled with the Holy Spirit, who loved the Lord and were commissioned by God and Senior Pastor in the presence of all members and worshippers to act for the good of the whole Body of believers in Calvary Church. We ask ourselves where is the Christ-like love and compassion for the members who are earnestly seeking for the Truth and Righteousness in our Church?

Throughout this whole episode was there more fear of man rather than fear of God? Can we honestly say we all have been good examples to our fellow believers in speech, in conduct, in life and in purity? Granted we all are subjected to this test but we should also take note that God requires an even higher standard of accountability from our teachers and leaders.

II. OUTSTANDING MATTERS THAT NEEDED TO BE RESOLVED

I would sincerely urge the BOD to re-consider what various concerned members who have differing views, have expressed to the BOD and that the leadership will re-evaluate their stand again to seriously consider the following matters which still remain unresolved:-

1. Establishment of an independent Truth & Reconciliation Commission as stated in the proposed Resolution tabled to the BOD on 30th July, 2008. Further I would propose that members of this Commission be elected from members by secret ballot during a properly convened general meeting. That apart from matters discussed during the EGM there are other issues that have to be further looked into and since the matters to be investigated involve the BOD and relevant Pastors and to avoid conflict of interests, the said Commission should not comprise of exclusively members from the BOD or Senior Pastor or the Pastors;

2. Establishment of the Constitutional Review Committee as there are serious flaws in the Constitution which could have contributed to the problems that Calvary Church is now currently facing. Further, I would propose members of this Committee be elected from members by secret ballot during a properly convened meeting. That since the functions of the said Committee pertain to and determine the powers and roles of Senior Pastor, Deacons, Pastors and staff of Calvary Church, the said Committee should not comprise of exclusively members from the BOD or Senior Pastor or the Pastors;

3. That both the written legal report and forensic auditors’ report be given to members so that all can be fully appraised on the matters and of the findings contained therein. It is not fair to expect members to just accept the opinions based on a briefing when we were not given a chance to be fully informed of the same and upon what terms of reference the opinions were rendered and further, as the opinions have far reaching implications on the church. Even if the opinions are adopted by BOD we do not accept the way it was pushed to members at the EGM. Further we wish to inform that Sister Lilian Siew had a written submission on the request of the 7 resolutions to be tabled at the EGM but she was unfairly cut off by the Chairman at the EGM and hence, not given an opportunity to state her opinion at the EGM.

If the Submission had been heard then the BOD would not have been able to merely use Rule XIV to shut all members up and take absolute control over the EGM. It further reflects how one-sided and high-handed the EGM was being conducted. I ask myself and I am sure many present there would also have asked the same too : Where were the rules of Natural Justice that night? Where was fairness and justice right in the very place where we always gather to worship our Heavenly Father? Won’t God be saddened by what had taken place that night?

4. That CIM should be renamed without “CALVARY” so as not to give the impression that it is part of Calvary Church as it is independent of Calvary Church and being the personal ministry of Senior Pastor. The true state and position of the body must be revealed and portrayed to Church and the public.

5. Further that CARED being an integral body under CIM but independent of Calvary Church should not be grouped under Calvary Church Missions Department as an Extended Ministry of Calvary Church. Calvary Church already has CARE under Missions Department so why make matters more complicated to bring in CARED, being a foreign body into Calvary Church, consequently resulting in duplication of roles?

6. That Further we like to pose to the BOD whether the Board has carefully considered that apart from the laws of the land the Body of Christ and all Church affairs are firstly governed by Kingdom principles and God’s laws. So in the light of the present crisis has BOD examined the truth of all matters and come out clean before God and man? Can they categorically state that nothing has been done which is not in line with God’s laws and Kingdom principles? Was there more fear of man rather than fear of God in dealing with Church affairs and God’s business in Calvary Church? Was there an overwhelming need to protect a position and maintaining the status quo at the expense of standing up for Truth & Righteousness in the Church?

7. That Finally we have to ask ourselves what is the leadership style of our present Church leaders? Is it one that displays the characteristics that Jesus calls His followers to be like? Is there humility, servanthood, sacrifice, love, gentleness, kindness, righteousness, truthfulness, honesty, integrity, transparency? Do we find instead there is lording it over others, oppression, suppression of truth, pride, greed, worldliness, over indulgence in raising money under the pretext of raising the members’ and worshippers’ level of faith? Has our church leadership lost their first love for God?

III. CALL TO BE HEALED & RESTORED IN GOD

I sincerely like to ask BOD: THAT if we desire to experience God’s revival for Calvary Church again would it be asking too much from the leadership that they close ranks with all concerned members and so many other hurting members and let us all humble ourselves before God and seek His face to repent and pray for God’s restoration for our Church?
God has perfect plans for His Church, let Love, Truthfulness, Honesty and Righteousness reign in Calvary Church again.

Indeed let us remind each other again that “the whole duty of man is to fear God and obey His commandments for He will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 and further let us also claim His Word for healing and restoration as contained in Jeremiah 29:11-14.

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD RULE SUPREMELY IN CALVARY CHURCH!

Yours Truly,

Grace Chew