PG turns nasty as usual at AGM

Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) had looked forward to a quiet AGM last Monday, 27 June 2011 on the anticipation that none of the 7 Plaintiffs/Concerned Members will show up at the meeting.  He almost had his wish come true until Sister Liza appeared at the AGM.

The 7 concerned members were earlier informed by other members that their names were not on the membership rolls put up on the church notice board. None of 7 also received the usual letter from the church to collect the Annual report and that further confirmed the belief that they had been removed as members. In the late afternoon of the AGM day, another member, who happened to drop by the church, alerted one of the 7 concerned members that all their names have re-appeared on the membership rolls. Hence, the attendance of Sister Liza at the eleventh hour.


1. The AGM proceedings

PG started the meeting with his own house rules. This is a clear deviation from the past where he had always quoted Robert’s Rules for the conduct of the meeting. Robert’s Rules in reality, allows much freedom in expression of opinions, questions and comments during debates on resolutions. However, despite proclaiming to use Robert's Rules in previous AGMs and EGMs, PG has never followed the said rules to the book. Members' rights, especially to speak, are often denied.

He then went on to share his message. He admonished the members to live by faith and walk in the ways of the Lord. He warned them not try to “gain the whole world and lose your soul”. It was ironical, listening to this message. PG needs to embrace the truth of this message much more than the members he was preaching to. It was a case of PG telling the members that there’s a speck in their eyes when there’s log in his (PG) own eye.

The items on the agenda including the appointment of Deacons and Auditors were quickly dealt with, with hardly any questions from the members.


2. The drop in income

Deacon Edward presented the Financial Report and admitted that total income from offerings, tithes and faith promise has been declining since 2008. He alluded this to the challenges and struggles the church has been facing in recent years, avoiding the mention of the church crisis, which is the real cause for the decline in income.

3. The drop in attendance

Deacon Ngeow presented on the church attendance and informed the meeting that the attendance for all the Sunday services have dropped by 13% from 2009 to 2,278 as at end 2010. After discounting the toddlers and babies and taking into account the double counting of the pastoral and church staff and helpers who attends all 3 services, the actual number should be just above 2,000.

It is, therefore, an established fact now that Calvary is no longer the second largest church in Malaysia. FGA remains the largest. SIB, DUMC and possibly Glad Tidings have overtaken Calvary in terms of numbers. Click on the audio clip below to listen:-

4. The Special Resolution

Deacon David Peters presented a special Resolution on the provision for dispute settlement which will be an addition to the Church Constitution. The proposed provision sets out the procedures to resolve conflicts and disputes between the church and the members.

The proposed steps in dispute resolution include negotiations, mediation and arbitration which is exactly ALL the steps the TTG brothers and sisters have undertaken in the last 3 years in their efforts to resolve the crisis in Calvary Church.


David Peters turned comedian where he stated proudly that the Calvary Church Constitution is the most advanced constitution among all the AOG churches in Malaysia!

It is sad indeed that this brother, although a lawyer by profession, does not see that the Calvary Church Constitution is actually the most flawed Constitution among the AOG churches in Malaysia. Click on the audio clip below to listen:-

(Full details of the Resolution will be posted in the next article)


5. The mis-treatment of Sister Liza

After the presentation by David Peters, Sister Liza went forward to express her views on the Resolution. She wanted to explain that the Plaintiffs had, as a matter of fact, attempted and exhausted all avenues of negotiation, mediation and arbitration in trying to resolve the conflict in the church. However, before she could finish speaking, she was abruptly stopped by PG. When she persisted to speak, PG quickly instructed that her microphone be switched off. She was then asked to leave the meeting but she stood her ground and stayed on.

Later, she attempted to voice her objection that the special Resolution was passed without PG making a count of the number of votes in support of the Resolution. This was because such a Resolution which pertains to the Constitution, requires a two-thirds majority before it can be adopted.

PG did not allow her to speak and instead instructed his “bouncers” namely Pastor Susan Tan, Pastor Richard and 2 other leaders to escort her out of the meeting. Sister Liza again refused to leave and was finally left alone.

Listen to PG’s high-handed treatment of Sister Liza in the audio clip below:-