1st February 2006

Pastor Wallace was well known at the Calgary Herald and wrote many articles and sent letters of topical issues related to his beliefs. Wallace also used his position as head of Calgary Evangelical Ministerial Association to push a personal agenda. Some Christians felt Wallace was grandstanding for personal gain.

When Wallace announced this resignation in April 2004 Joe Woodward, the religion writer at the Calgary Herald wrote this curious piece in that it did not include any commentary by members of the South Calgary congregation. Nor did Peter Menzies the Calgary Herald editor or Joe Woodward respond to anonymous letters and emails sent suggesting all was not well with Wallace at South Calgary Community Church where he might not be so beloved.

Also there was the sadness that Wallace could never get South Calgary back to the weekly attendance enjoyed when Pastor Berg was there - now there was a beloved pastor! Smoke and mirror tactics were played to make the church seem larger and in need of moving to a larger facility. The notes from the last Annual General Meeting the Pendergasts attended had a weekly congregation an average around 510 weekly attendees but the actual adults attending the two Sunday services was closer to 200. Numbers were inflated by a number of factors including the high number of public music events/concerts. There seemed a desperate need to show South Calgary as a substantial church in the South West quadrant. One administration leader left the church feeling that the church leaders were 'fudging' the numbers to justify the large number of paid staff and the move to a larger facility.

A Vision For the Future document released in 2003 till resides on the South Calgary Website - has lots of empty phrases "We envision a church that is on mission – A church with its people exceptionally engaged, equipped, empowered, and released to do the work of ministry according to their spiritual gifts, talents, and passions in Calgary and around the world." In realty the church seemed to lack the ability to move forward under the ultra strict control of Pastor Wallace and a large number of paid staff. The part on relationships somewhat hollow in reality "We value being a joyful community where relationships are caring, respectful, and authentic."

In contrast to the "Beloved Pastor" Story we show a more recent Calgary Herald editorial that asked for the right of a catholic priest to question the catholic church - The Pendergasts tried to raise legitimate questions for which they were deliberately abused, yet the Herald did not want to report it.. We hope at some time the Herald will print a story on proactive ways to prevent abuse and help and heal those that do it, and those they have abused.

We are aware that strong efforts were made by influential friends and associates of Wallace to 'kill' the original Western Standard article "Holy Terror". Praise God the story went forward. One associate withdrew his opposition as soon as ex pastor Jim Grady added his troubling story to this web site. He realized something was amiss when a highly respected youth pastor confirmed the Pendergasts claims.

In an earlier article Don Martin at the Calgary Herald suggested Wallace would have made a better politician and Al Duer the Calgary mayor at the time, and an attendee at South Calgary a better minister. Many might agree with that view.

The Pendergasts are especially saddened by the Herald's apparent stand on this issue since the paper has helped them a number of times - professionally and more recently on the cross Canada Marriage Course conferences held with Nicky and Sila Lee in 2004. In spite of this experience they still look to the Calgary Herald for a balanced view on most issues.

At the end of the day many of those abused by Wallace and others at South Calgary realize their abusers suffer from their own sense of inadequacy and hurt, and need healing too. Whatever the cause it is hoped there will be no more abuse. How that healing and a full reconciliation will take place or be accepted is now in God's hands.