Monday, August 13, 2007
Express: Shiloh Members Seek to Oust Pastor
Thanks to my friend Chris for pointing me to an article in today's Express (available here, page 10) about the movement within Shiloh to oust Reverend Charles Wallace Smith. The article discusses several reasons motivating the push for Smith's removal and reports that a vote was held this past weekend at the Church with 138 out of 150 votes for Smith's removal. The church board reportedly deems the vote unauthorized by the church's by-laws.
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10 comments:
That's because it wasn't an official meeting.
The Aunt who is a long time member of Shiloh did not bother with said meeting because 'it was nothing but a bunch of foolishness' and she knew it was sponsored by the forces trying to push out the Pastor. Also it's still Summer, black folk take vacations too and goodness knows something this important wouldn't take place while people are on vacation.
I don't know what would solve the problems at Shiloh, but I'm mistrustful of any movement with the likes of Sammie Ellis and Mary Sutherland behind it, which is the case with the "oust the pastor" campaign.
Here's a link to a video of an ABC-7 piece on the movement, in which Sammie Ellis speaks against Pastor Smith:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0807/446767.html
corrected post title; members seek to OUST him, not OUT him...
typos can be funny. :-)
They said on Channel 8 tonight that there will be an "official" vote on September 15th...continued media exposure of issues at Shiloh is nothing but good...
"corrected post title; members seek to OUST him, not OUT him..."
Maybe they could combine the two, and seek to OUST him by OUTing him?
The Post picked it up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/13/AR2007081301088.html
The folks that want to oust him are angry about him SELLING the properties. What do they want to do, keep them?
Dunno how productive an ouster might be......
There are many members at Shiloh Baptist Church and the vote on Saturday was unofficial. The majority of the church loves the pastor and he can not sell any property without the approval of the trustee board or decons. The problem is not the pastor but the lack of giving from the people who so call want him out.
oh great, where will they all park when it come time to vote Pastor in or out?
This matter has gone on to long! I am not attempting to justify the church's lack of stewardship. However, that lack of stewardship predated the Pastor. Here are some facts:
1. The Pastor does not sign checks! So for any transaction to be authorized, it must be approved by the trustees and/or the joint Board.
2. Only the trustees can sell property!
3. While the church onstitution provides for 50 members to call a meeting, it does not say you get to establish the date and time of gthe meeting. Since so many people take vacation in August, why would you hold a vote unless it was for nefarious reasons.
4. If your concern is that property needs to be "fixed up," why did none of the reported "Concerned Shilohites" contribute to the emergency fund. Better yet, why do they, including deacons not contribute to pay for the expenses of the church?
5. A meeting was held that addressed the issues of the Pastor's position at the school. Members voted to accept the decision the Pastor made but asked that in the future, matters such as this come before the church.
I could go on and on addressing the many distortions but the point is this:
22 deacons and their supporters believe they, not the church and Pastor should run the church. They want to be "the church leaders " and ultimate authority while not supporting the church financially or with their human resources.
This is a power struggle between the deacons and the church and Pastor because the church did not and does not support their authority to fire who they want or decide who is or is not a church leader. The church voted down their devcision to fire the Pastor months ago. The church voted down their decision to hold up the church budget and appointment of church leaders.
The deacons are an extension of the Pastor, the Pastor is not their extension. So, if the Deacons had done their job, there would be no confusion. Instead of establishing clear policies & benchmarks, they rather micro-manage the Pastor & the church. We do not need ubruly and untruthful church leaders!
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