Updated 8th February 2006

We will post the negative reply to this appeal shortly and the reason this web site started. This was the final in a number of appeals shown on this site to try to get the elders to deal with the conflict fairly. As time went on it was clear that the basis of the two excommunications was a totally fabricated to protect the senior pastor Jim Wallace and his wife. Visit and read the article Holly Terror at Western Standard Magazine recently published. Also read the article in Christian Week. Now the world can see the depth of dishonesty and evil practiced at this church to protect a controlling pastor, his wife and other staff. It was more important for the elders and other staff to protect the pastor's integrity than to deal with the multiple allegations of abuse .

Barry, Jennifer, Jim Grady and many other behind the scenes tried every reasonable avenue to get a discussion started. Emails were exchanged with Elders, Ron Berg, Rolly Laing and others. All wished the claims of severe spiritual abuse to be swept under the carpet. Perhaps those visiting the site will offer advice on how this letter could have been better worded?

Barry & Jennifer Pendergast, 9203-29th Street SW., Calgary, AB, T2V 4V1
tel (403) 281 4876 email: barrypendergast@shaw.ca

Kevin Phillips
Chairman of the Elder Board,
South Calgary Community Church,
2900 Cedarbrae Drive SW.,
Calgary, AB, T2W 3S9


22nd. February 2005


Dear Kevin & The Elder Board

After considerable prayer, reflection and consideration we write to you, as we did on 27 October 2003 and 26 October 2004 to request that the elders reconsider their decisions to take away our membership and ban us from all South Calgary Community Church activities and events.

We arrived at South Calgary Community Church in 1994 and since then have contributed and invested significantly and faithfully over the years in our tithes, talents and our time, as required by membership and for the benefit of church ministry. There is considerable evidence of our faithful and passionate contributions to numerous ministry areas, individually and together.

Yet at a meeting on 28 September, 2004 and October 19, 2004, you confirmed that your original decision to discipline, take us out of service and ultimately to ban us was based in a single email sent to Denise Chaulk; an email sent in confidence, to a friend and spiritual advisor, who herself had voiced concerns about the pastoral leadership. A single email, not the multiple grounds cited in your letter of the 22 September 2003. When viewed in context with other discussions and emails with Denise Chaulk, there was little evidence to suggest that your decision was fair or warranted the subsequent actions taken by the Elder Board during 2003 and 2004. Also on 14 September, 2003 a forgiveness process was undertaken between Pastor Wallace and ourselves which was personally witnessed by you as Chairman of the Elder Board, yet this seems to have been overlooked until we met with Mr. Laing on 28 September 2004. Was this reported to the elder meeting on 18 September, 2003 before a decision to discipline us was made? Was this reported to the membership meetings held to provide information on our two excommunications?

That you discussed our situation with the church membership on 2 November, 2003 and 18 November, 2004, without our presence or representatives, to allow us to challenge many of your claims against us, flies in the face of fairness and natural justice. We believe in view of the magnitude of your decisions we do have a right to present our case before the membership, which we understand is the highest decision making body at South Calgary Community Church. We respectfully request a full and frank discussion of all the issues and concerns, in a fair and open manner, before the membership.

Our own serious concerns were simply never addressed. Where we saw conflict or inappropriate actions we tried to act on Matthew 18:15 to deal directly and in a timely manner with those involved. A case in point was the multiple hostility shown to Jennifer at Ladies Time Out and witnessed by others. To date there have been no responses to deal with this, and other conflict areas, openly and fairly.

In numerous correspondence with the Elder Board we have tried to find a way to reach out, to reestablish our relationships with you and others at South Calgary Community Church. We have wanted to do this in a Godly manner, yet we have never felt it was reciprocated by you, the Elder Board, the pastoral staff or members and attendees. We ask you to review our past contribution to this church and our previous correspondence with you. We ask you to review the terms of the covenant we jointly signed in March 2004 and the obligations that were placed on all sides; some of which have not yet been fulfilled.

As you consider this request, please examine your own hearts as we continue to examine ours. Neither the church members, church attendees, the Elder Board or ourselves can move on until we collectively resolve the issues that prevent forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation. We are jointly called by scripture to forgive and reconcile with our brothers and sisters in Christ, however difficult the conditions and circumstances are. If the process needs help from the outside (and likely it will in this case), we are confident we can jointly find capable and impartial wise Christian men, in the Calgary region to assist the process of true repentance and reconciliation.

Therefore we confirm our request to appeal the Elder Board's decision to terminate our membership and ban us from all church activities and service. For the sake of unity in the church we ask you as shepherds to reconsider your decisions. Alternately we ask for the opportunity to speak directly to the membership of SCCC.

Your brother and sister in Christ




Barry & Jennifer Pendergast