6th Update to CC Members (23.07.08)

Dear Calvarites,

We had hope that there would not be a need for a 6th update but much to our sadness, our leaders have proven to be rather unresponsive, indecisive or simply just slow to act. Firstly, none of the issues we have brought up at our meeting with the Board of Deacons on 31 May 2008 (as set out in our 4th Update) has been addressed. None of our proposed solutions has been adopted despite the ample time given.

Then, after the shocking discovery of the various transfers of funds from the Missions Fund to Senior Pastor's Calvary International Ministry (CIM) (as set out in our 5th Update), we had expected the deacons to wake up, take up their responsibility and do the right thing. Instead, the deacons issued a rather disturbing public announcement on Sunday 6th July that the "allegations" were malicious and none found to be true. We are not certain which statement that we have made was considered as "malicious allegation" because we have always stated the facts. If they are referring to other rumours circulating around, then they should not have made general references and sweeping statements.

Nonetheless, the public announcement made matters worse. It caused much confusion to those who have been totally unaware of the current crisis in our church while, at the same time, elicited much anger and disappointment among the teh tarik groups. As a result, some of our members have recently taken a stand and given a petition and ultimatum to the deacons to take action to dissolve CIM, return the balance of RM1.4 million to the Church and to get Senior Pastor to retire by 31 July 2008, failing which, several of them have indicated their willingness to refer the matter to the authorities. They have also informed the Assemblies of God General Council of their intended course of action.

Almost simultaneously, another course of action was put into motion and that is a requisition to the Board of Deacons to convene an EGM to remove Senior Pastor from office pursuant to the rules set out in the Church Constitution. The signature drive has already started. They say that every cloud has a silver lining and what the public announcement has also done is something beyond our imagination. Truly, God is with us and is in full control of the situation. Because of the public announcement, many of our church members and worshippers who have been in the dark hitherto, have been approaching our group and other teh tarik groups for clarifications and many have been enlightened with the truth of what is happening in our church.

The enquiries from these Calvarites were overwhelming and therefore, we have decided to have a meeting to brief all concerned members and regular worshippers on what is happening in our church. It will also be a forum where we will be able to address questions and concerns the members may have.


SATURDAY MEETING AT KOLEJ BANDAR UTAMA

The meeting is scheduled for this Saturday 26th at Kolej Bandar Utama at 3pm. We wish to clarify here that we had made a request to our church Executive Pastor on 17th July to use either DH or DP as our venue for this meeting. This is in line with Senior Pastor's call at our last AGM to use our church premises for our teh tarik sessions instead of meeting outside.

We are not certain why the Executive Pastor has chosen not to make a decision on our request but instead, relegated the responsibility of making this decision to the Board of Deacons. We were expecting a simple "yes" or "no" answer to our request to hold the meeting in church but the final decision of the Board of Deacons which was faxed to us yesterday simply left us dumb-founded! Their reply was neither a "yes" or "no" but rather a note to inform us that they are convening an EGM soon to clarify certain matters raised by some members of the Church and that they are "of the view that the members can raise their queries or share their views at this EGM". By implication, we take their response as a "no".

Please come for this Saturday 's meeting and bring along other Calvarites who share the same concern and burden for our beloved church. Feel free to inform other Calvarites or forward this notice of meeting to them. Don't worry, this meeting is not an illegal meeting because we shall not make any decisions or pass any resolutions on behalf of the Church. That can only happen at a properly convened EGM. All deacons and pastors of Calvary are most welcome!

God Bless,

KC & some Teh Tarik members