This would be the last time that Pastor Wallace spoke to the Pendergasts. Although a form of forgiveness process was performed Pastors Wallace, Cumberlin and Chairman of the Elders, Kevin Philips would quickly forget it. Kevin would forget that he promised the issues were over and confidential. Yet days later on 18th September 2003 Pastors Wallace, Cumberlin and Chairman of the Elders, Kevin Philips would lay multiple charges against the Pendergasts that led to a decision to discipline the Pendergasts in their absence. In September 2004 Chairman of the Elders, Kevin Philips would agree this was wrong and the decision was based on a single email sent to Elder Denise Chaulk sent 15th September 2004. In most reasonable organisations this kind of serious error should have led to disciplinary action against Pastors Wallace, Cumberlin and Chairman of the Elders, Kevin Philips. Not at South Calgary Community Church. The leaders could never be wrong.
Notes from a meeting held with Rev Wallace, Rev Cumberlin and Kevin Phillips - held Evening 14th September (some updating April 2004)
We requested we meet with Kevin alone first. He resisted and we said we would leave if we could not talk briefly about an important issue. Kevin Phillips then agreed to our request and met in the library - told his passing our email sent to him of the 22nd Aug for action by Jim Wallace & Marg Cumberlin was a conflict of interest - even in the secular world it would be recognized as such. We gave Kevin illustrations but he just did not get it. The letter registered concerns about Jim Wallace, Barton Wallace and Marg Cumberlin and other ministry leaders.
Wallace and Phillips thought we were meeting to discuss just Wallace’s email earlier in day that had unfairly attacked Barry on two issues - the upcoming men’s retreat and the Seed dinner ministry. Jim Wallace noted Jennifer’s presence required him to get Marg Cumberlin involved. Would later find Pastors Wallace and Cumberlin have a routine worked out to subdue anybody who criticised them.
Barry & Jennifer asked to meet in a more comfortable room close to a wash room and access for a cold drink- we agreed to the nursery room. Jennifer overhead Jim Wallace say “she is trying to control the meeting”
We asked Wallace concentrate and not take no notes - he said he has a poor memory. Kevin took some notes. Kevin said the elders had total control to discipline as they wished under the governance and bylaws.
Barry challenged Wallace on a number of issues. A friend has been trying to get a bus ministry for months approved. Wallace kept stalling. Told us the bus idea was used by Perry ( a previous and fired youth pastor) 15 years ago was a disaster - Jim agreed to tell Ed - why did he waste everybody's time? Vivian and Ed . Had opportunities. As of early November still hasn’t told Ed Davies. See Barry’s email follow up
Barry noted problems in trying to run a men’s ministry because Wallace was quite obstructive in supporting anything relational. Jim Wallace had a problem with the Tim Horton's group seeing it as subversive - it created a mess of the Mustard Seed dinner project.. To April 04 nothing has happened in this ministry area of a relational nature. the volunteer booklet notes many men’s ministry area but none have happened except a small accountability group.
In your face affirming by Wallace to Barry- disgusting and frightening performance - issues: media, my projector, men's' stuff, helping those who have lost kids, Getting Hayden Phillips to church, surrogate grandparents to Blanton boys. Jennifer asked Jim about his doctorate subject. Jim hedged on his D-div subject - somehow we feel its connected with the Young Married's and the Marriage course
Wallace extracted forgiveness from us - like getting a confession out of a prisoner - ritualistic
Wallace seems to hate passionate people - we scare him
He admits he’s cold but surrounds himself by warm fuzzy people - he has a Myers Briggs rating ENTJ
Wallace had to sort out a mess on the Seed (see emails re retreat and in January) and last Men's Retreat- he was left to sort out problems with re Ed Wiess the main speaker- we now know why he hated Seed and Pat Nixon. Wallace seems to have a problem with sorting our problems that most of us find easy!
Did not like pushing his wife out of house for a men's' breakfast X2
His life of woe - nobody to help him _ I offered to help him - any task however small
Cannot seem to work with passionate people he can’t control
Pastor Marg to Barry you have an anger problem
Kevin Its all about governance (at that time they have no governance - bylaws not approved by government)
Why Marriage course not mentioned at Marriage Retreat in March - didn’t want to tell anybody because he assumed it was still under a test run and some people at retreat were involved. Shows how unconnected he is - we believe he did so we would no glory and so he could suck up to his professor for his D-div. Wallace denied the stats from the Marriage Retreat suggested that there were serious problems with couples at SCCC (our video record shows 12 couples in serious distress also notes Wallace as an extreme personality in a public Myers Briggs test)
Jennifer asked whether marriage had any special important in the church - Jim snapped back no more than worship or any other ministry
Wallace to Pendergast ”You cannot lead another ministry for at least a year if you back out now - you will have to be invited back” - we both said we have lots of external volunteering we will do. Barry & Jennifer spoke about their increasingly busy lives at that point in time - Barry with the SP/BGEA building and Jennifer with an increased teaching load.
Wallace “You pulled out of media but you did Seed graphic” Why can’t Barry still help other ministries. Jim W being so petty and vindictive
Said we are happy to let others lead Marriage Course - we cannot do it but will help and encourage others to do it properly
You weren’t Ministry leaders - you just ran a course (see Marg's memo)
Jim Wallace & Marg Cumberlin - “we have to take some very tough decisions whether you like or not!”
Jim Wallace brought up some issues regarding an earlier marriage retreat - seemed out of context but he got onto the subject of men discussing and admitting to pornography in their lives. He mentioned several names including Barry's. Jennifer definitely felt Jim Wallace was using confidential information to shock her.
Wallace also spoke about our role as surrogate grandparents to the Blanton boys - Barry & Jennifer both felt it was a threat that our contact would be cut off if we did not behave. (Later events proved this right)
Barry told JW & MC there were leaders who did affirm - told him I enjoyed working with Barton- his wife at RMC and with Kent Blanton
Jennifer noted asked Jim not to be offended but that she was disturbed by a conversation on the Marriage Course with Barton Wallace around April time. Barton intimated she was going to do the Marriage Course with the Young Married. Jennifer had replied you should speak to Marg Cumberlin - she has already turned a Home Group for asking to run it. Barton had replied had said i see why should have to talk to Marg Cumberlin.
Barry asked “ what have we learnt from this mess of communications” . There was no response
Gave our views on the Awards night - but so many people said it was so good - 100’s of emails. We said it was like a typical Hollywood awards night - not the way to encourage people to volunteer.
Lateness - late for his own funeral - everybody laughs - we were critical of it - shows arrogance for others
Jennifer asked whether marriage had any special important in the church - Jim snapped back no more than worship or any other ministry
JW’s assertion that Kent has a gift of mercy and Marg a gift of compassion.
We offered to help anybody else to do Marriage course - give encouragement - Rev Cumberlin “we can’t get anybody to do meal”
JW & MC left meeting in a serious huff - somebody removed Marriage course brochures. We hugged Kevin and thought we had achieved a milestone - at least with Kevin
Kevin noted the proceedings were confidential even his wife and children wouldn’t know. Kevin should have been shocked by Wallace’s attitude.
Both this and the earlier meeting show Wallace’s inability to problem solve. He seems to want to bully his way to a solution.
Four days later Wallace and Cumberlin would lead an attack on the Pendergasts at a secret elders meeting September 18th. A decision to punish the Pendergasts was made at this meeting without allowing the Pendergasts to respond and/or bring counsel to a meeting. See affidavit documents.
Clearly Barry and Jim have challenges. Barry wrote a request to Jim via Lynn and copied Marg in early September for a face to face meeting, off site to discuss differences. Jim failed to respond. Kent was told of this request in another email.
Come to the conclusion early on in this dispute that we were subject of spiritual attack of abuse by the leadership.