Allegations Challenged & Refuted.....

April 17th 2007

We hope that at some time Pastor Blanton will answer this request to meet out in the open with some of those he helped to abuse at South Calgary Community Church; and with mediation if required. The time has come to stop the lies and inuendo and pursue reconciliation however big the gap. Our prayer is this might happen before the Blantons leave Calgary for a new posting in Corpus Christi ,Texas
Friendship Blanton style

Kent wrote "We have a deep and true friendship that should be able to withstand any
stormy times in life. Proverbs says a true friend keeps closer than a
brother and that true friends sharpen each other like iron sharpens
iron. That means that are still their during the hard times, but they
are also willing to risk speaking the hard things to one another if
necessary. I believe we have that kind of friendship."

Within days Kent would join in to shun and humiliate Barry. Kent couldn't bear listening to the truth about the abuse at South Calgary Community Church. Abuse he had helped to perpetuate for years. Who could trust Kent Blanton again - he's only a fairweather friend Read the full text
From the South Calgary web site "Our Elders are the spiritual leaders and overseers of our church. They are given ultimate responsiblity and authority to see that the church remains on a true course biblically, that our members are being appropriately shepherded, that the body is being fed through insightful and accurate biblical teaching, and that the life of our church is being well-managed with the assistance of other competent and godly leaders." Yet they sat and allowed Jim Wallace to openly mock God's message inEzekiel 34 as one of the most misunderstood and misquoted passages in the bible!
Kent and Elaine Blanton having dinner at the Pendergasts in early September 2003 (less there be concern the Blantons did not share in any alcoholic wine at that evening or at any time in the Pendergast's company). While the Kent & Elaine Blanton were enjoying the hospitality of the Pendergasts, a couple they called close friends, Kent's fellow pastors and elders had just engineered a totally unwarranted attack on the Pendergasts that would remove the Pendergasts from any level of ministry or participation in church activity. They wrote this letter on September 19th that manufactured charges that could not be backed up by witnesses or facts. They made a judgement based on false evidence supplied by the senior pastor - Jim Wallace, Pastor Marg Cumberlin and the chairman of the elders Kevin Phillips. A compounding of lie upon lie without a shred of evidence. Requests for copies of elder's meetings minutes were turned down. Why? What were the pastors and elders trying to hide? This way of abusing others had always worked in the past! Not one elders or pastor with an ounce of integrity. In this case a judgement that was made without any chance for the Pendergasts to question or make a defence. The serious accusations were subsequently found to be totally unfounded almost a year later on the admission of Kevin Phillips the chairman of the elders. Never the less thus commenced the isolation, shunning and stalking to force them into submission to abusive pastors, elders and ministry leaders. The Pendergasts only 'crime' was to expose a record of serious spiritual abuse at the church and a total neglect of many ,married couples in serious diffuculties, all of which Pastor Blanton was a willing participant to. The action of Pastor Blanton and his fellow elders to excommunicate the Pendergasts a little while later was subsequently overturned by an independent and respected Christian mediator. Independent mediation was something the Pendergasts pleaded for from the beginning - a plea supported by Ron Berg, Executive President of North American Baptist Conference - why did the pastors and elders resist it? One can only assume the obvious they had something to hide from view and continue to do so by refusing to provide honest answers. Although the couple returned to the church they were shunned, stalked and humiliated at every opportunity. For what purpose?. The photograph is likely the last time the Blantons ever spoke with the Pendergasts. And Pastor Blanton has the audacity to suggest it was the Pendergasts problem because they were defiant to the senior pastor! A pastor with a long record of abuse no less. Let the record of the Pendergasts multiple attempts to reconcile be noted; all turned down by the South Calgary pastors and elders without reason or logic. This web site did not start till it became obvious the pastors and elders would not enter into an open and honest reconciliation or mediation process. The Pendergasts throughout were seeking a wise man to help. The senior pastor did not just abuse people but scripture too! On the last day the Pendergasts witnessed the senior pastor mocking Ezekiel 34 as one of the most misunderstood and misquoted passages in the bible. A passage the Pendergasts had referred the elders to only days before as a place for them to understand their role. Not a soul dared to challenge the senior pastor on this abuse of scripture, indeed abuse of any kind, including Pastor Blanton. By now all knew any challenge would be met by force, isolation and humiliation. Click to read more about Ezekiel 34 and spiritual abuse.

Let the record show Kent Blanton and his fellow pastors and elders conspired to lie and deceive, all behind closed doors, to protect their record of abuse of many years. He has never had the guts to face the accusations leveled on this site - all based on factual information. Let the record show the Blantons refused to meet to discuss the worsening situation involving them and the Pendergasts. Praise God for giving the Pendergasts and others the physical and emotional strength to fight against this unhealthy desire to control others. Bad enough in the outside world but in a church unbelievable. Let the be no doubt that God detest liars like this and those that try to hide the truth.

What sadness to see the Blantons, both gifted with such wonderful music and worship skills to allow themselves to be part of such evil activity. While every person deserves “second” , “third” ,  “fourth” , etc. chances in life….the same chances that God grants…, in the divine/human community which the church represents, there is always a mandate to “protect the sheep” from those whose approach to ministry is centered on themselves and their need to control, and not on the sheep.  While we have  no idea as to the changes that may have occurred in  Kent & Elaine's lives, those who have abused in the past definitely need to be ‘checked out’ as to their progress in moving toward more healthy approaches to ministry and life.   Our prayer is that if they move to Corpus Christi they will be accountable to and mentored by mature pastors, Godly men and women who can help redeem and restore them from their past actions.

Again we offer the Blantons and any others the space and full opportunity to refute any of these allegations and perhaps provide some honest answers to past questions about their involvement in long term abuse at South Calgary.

The Pendergasts are at least thankful for many happy memories spent with the Blanton's three sons while in their care. They were a real and lasting blessing.

More to folllow .......
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Read what a member of the choir and somebody very close to Kent Blanton wrote to the elders. To our knowledge this was never answered.