Contact: Bishop Janice Hollis, 844-483-4400, Hollismediagroup@outlook.com

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Bishop Janice Hollis:

In the twenty-one centuries since the birth of the Church, one might think that Church leadership finally would get an above average passing grade. Sadly, national religious leaders with whom I met found this was not the case.

Photo: Stained glass windows in the Sainte Chapelle Church, Paris, France (Public domain)

The Pennsylvania Partners in Social Ministries, of which I am a member, has been doing research on professional and Scriptural policies regarding conflict resolution in the body of Christ, and has looked into why many of today's churches do not thrive in the power of the Holy Spirit. The organization has uncovered numerous examples of ineffectual leadership. We have been especially distressed by cases where church leadership selected not to follow the biblical principles instituted by the Head of the Church--Jesus Christ. In one such case at a church in San Diego County, California, the leadership thwarted the Scriptural procedures.

In the following true story we have changed all names to fictitious names for the sake of privacy. The statements and facts are backed up by emails.

Tim Hansen, an evangelist who was ordained by the church in question, attended there for 12 years, was a member for 6 years, served as a choir member, soloist, Sunday school teacher, and financial supporter.

The Story Unfolds

Tim had attended the local Christian businessmen's fellowship breakfast where he met the elder of a local Arabic church. The elder invited Tim to speak at his church and offered to speak with the Arabic church to try to pave the way. But Jay Rochester, who is a member of the local chapter of Christian businessmen's fellowship and the Church where Tim was ordained, sometimes teaches at the Arabic church.

At the Christian businessmen's fellowship breakfast, Jay offered to get involved, supposedly to find out what was going on, and offered to let Tim know. But his involvement was not requested by Tim nor needed, and Tim asked him not to get involved because it was none of his business. The elder was going to recommend Tim. But Jay did get involved and then did not recommend Tim to the Arabic pastor as Jay later stated in an email. Tim did not need Jay's recommendation, so Jay's involvement was troubling to Tim, a minister in his fifties.

When Tim confronted Jay, to no avail, and then went to the elders and pastor of their Church, Jay incorrectly stated to Tim and to the elders and pastor of the Church, by email, that he was the senior pastor of the Arabic church. But Tim provided emails from the pastor of the Arabic church proving that Jay was not the senior pastor there, clearly stating that he was the only pastor there and that "senior pastor" was not a title used for anyone there. However, the leaders of the Church were friends of Jay.

Two of the elders, Gaye Stevenson and Phil Gentry, were the president and vice president of the local Christian businessmen's fellowship who lead in the discussions at the breakfast where the elder of the Arabic church gave Tim the invitation to speak at the Arabic church. Speaking was how Tim supported himself and he needed every opportunity. This was a job opportunity in a time of economic turmoil in America. Christian businessmen's fellowship gatherings is where Tim felt men would respect one another's businesses and jobs, and encourage each other. But the way he was treated was contrary to what he thought was the mission of the organization.

Tim claims that Jay had hit on him four times for money during the past five years. In the current situation, Jay accused Tim by email before the pastor and elders of owing him $30, and presented this debt as the reason he could not recommend Tim to the Arabic church. Jay had taken an Indian minister to the airport two years ago and then billed Tim for gasoline without Tim's prior consent to the arrangement. Though Tim, struggling to make a living and who had given money to Jay in the past to help Jay's ministry, had successfully proven he owed no money to Jay. But this did not seem to matter to Jay's friends in church leadership at the Church, who also constituted leadership at the Christian businessmen's fellowship in town.

Tim wrote the pastor and board of elders a letter asking to meet with them and Jay to present the matter objectively so they could judge the matter according to Matthew 18:15-17. Tim actually agreed to pay Jay the $30.00 if they requested or to apologize for any wrong doing they felt he committed. But no meeting was allowed. Furthermore, they did not dignify his request with any response. Tim received the silent treatment.

There was one person left Tim felt he could trust at the Church to hear the matter objectively, a former pastor, Rev. Dodd Crooke. But when Tim wrote him a letter explaining how Jay intervened in a job offer, Rev. Crooke stated in an email how important his friendship was with Jay, and accused Tim of ending his friendship with Tim. Rev. Crooke stated on May 13, 2015 at 11:34 am, "I regret that what I thought was an honest, open relationship has ended this way." Rev. Crooke's response was incorrect. Tim felt that the politics at play were dirty and underhanded.

Later, the pastor of the Church wrote an email stating that Tim could meet with him and the elders, but the meetings would not include Jay. Again, they were thwarting the Scriptural directions. Such a meeting would have missed the point of the meeting in which the offender should be brought before others in accordance with Jesus' command in Matthew 18:15-17.

Conclusion

Tim wrote a letter dated March 30, 2015 to the pastor of the Church, Rod Hedgecock, "Apologies, submission to the elders, suffering wrong, explanations, and dialogues do not work." Tim resigned his ordination and membership and went to another Church where they ordained him and are honored to promote his gift of speaking. Tim did send Jay $30 as a gift to clear his name, preferring to suffer wrong for the sake of his testimony, though he did not owe that to Jay, marking the second time he felt wronged by Jay over money. Pastor Hedgecock was made aware, but still the matter was not resolved.

This is not merely the story of ineffective leadership in one local church; this is the story of the American Church. No wonder the Church has lost its power to thrive in a challenging age. We cannot so much as recognize it when our worldview is postured to defend whatever we please, rather than please God—when personality takes precedence over principle—when friendship overrules facts. Obedience to God's absolute Law is the key to receiving the Power necessary for the Church to be relevant in a world where moral decline in society is rampant.