Revised 28th April 2005

Here is the start of the process of fairness going wrong - right at the very beginning. Pastor Wallace, Pastor Cumberlin and Chairman of the Elders were in a rush to force the Pendergasts to submit. After the forgiveness process on Sunday 14th September 2003 Kevin Phillips promised Barry & Jennifer their meeting would be held in confidence - even his wife and children would not know. Barry actually wrote Kevin the next morning thanking him for keeping a cool head in what was one of the worst meetings the Pendergasts have ever encounterd in their whole lives. They had never been threatened as they were by Pastor Wallace that night.

Rather than it being held in confidence Pastor Wallace, Pastor Cumberlin and Kevin Phillips called a special meeting of the elders on 18th September 2003 and raised a litany of unsubstantiated complaints. A year later Kevin Phillips admitted there was only one email as evidence. Throughout the terrible experience the Pendergasts asked many times for the proof of a judgement made in their absence. Surely even pastors and elders must have evidence, and the accused the right to see and respond to the evidence before a judgement is made?

Or are pastors and elders exempt from fairness? This experience is one of many where the Pastors and some Elders have used the unfair and totally unscriptual power of their position to force attendees and members (even fellow elders, pastors and dedicated ministry leaders) to submit to their misguided sense of authority. When will they admit their sin? The Christian world is waiting for an answer ......

From: Kevin Phillips <kpaj.phillips@shaw.ca>
Date: Fri Sep 19, 2003 11:41:27 AM US/Pacific
To: Kevin Phillips <kpaj.phillips@shaw.ca>
Subject: Notice of requirement to attend an meeting with the elders.


Barry & Jennifer:

The elders have come to a decision that must be presented in person to
bothof you relevant to an elder review of communications and issues you
have had with pastoral staff and ministry directors at S.C.C.C. . For that
purpose the elders have called for a meeting with you for this coming
Monday evening to present their decision.
After this meeting the decision presented to you both is expected to remain
confidential.

The meeting will take place in the fireside room at the church, at 7:00 PM,
on Monday, September 22, 2003. The duration of the meeting will be
between 15 to 30 minutes. This meeting is of utmost importance and it is
imperative that you attend. This is the only date that will work for all
the elders.

If you choose not to attend this meeting the decision of the elders of
S.C.C.C will be issued in writing addressed to both of you

Barry & Jennifer:
From: Barry Pendergast <barrypendergast@shaw.ca>
Date: To: Kevin Phillips

Subject: Meeting

Kevin & the Elders
Thank you for your request for a meeting on Monday evening with the non pastoral elders. We have to politely decline as Jennifer’s sister, who she hasn’t seen for four years is in town and they have a unique and special love for each other though they live miles apart. Special events are planned for this week. As you know we are also both extremely busy workwise for at least several weeks - Jennifer with preparing for upcoming teaching and my getting information ready for my trip with Jack Neufeld to visit a number of museum projects in the US.

We are concerned about the wording of your letter and the need for a decision based on a 20 minute hearing. A decision about what? As I said on the phone we would appreciate getting more detail about any specific concerns you have in writing ahead of any meeting so that we can prepare accordingly. In the meantime If individual Elders have a question or a special concern give us a call and we will do our best to respond and cooperate.

We have contributed significantly to this church in the last eight years and have received great joy from our participation. We wish to do so again when things ease up for us in our other commitments outside the church.

We will get back to you when our tight schedule has eased up a bit. Appreciate your consideration
Barry & Jennifer