Why Churches Ineffective in Advocating Social Justice and Righteousness By: Ptr. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso:
In the book "Home Coming" Orthodox priest commented that “Evangelicals” are theologically bankrupt, and runs the Church like corporation or institution which hire and fire pastors/ministers if their agenda would not be met. They are selective on scriptures that would fit on their agenda. A comment according to Fr. Wenfrey a former Evangelical Reverend and David Thomas from Baptist Reverend when they were sacked from their Church and went to Orthodox. Another comment says that “Pastors” are installed by layman “board of deacons/trustees” in their position without authority “cannot execute plans or drive the Church into a fullest potential” unless on their command; in short theologians are being manage and directed by laymen regarding theological issues. While on the contrary, the other group of Evangelicals manage the church by pastors are questionable in terms of financial accountability and transparency, this is because of the absence of checking and balance procedure in the church due to assumption of absolute trust as they're honest servant of God; in short because they're theologians and almost infallible.
On the seminar conducted by ATS “Asian Theological Seminary Philippines I find it peculiar to us as a church because this is sensitive case. This ministerial forum addressed the issue of abused of Money, Sex and Power in the churches is almost identical to the Orthodox father's complain. To explain further, Atty. Alex Castillo a former CEO of Del Monte Phil. raised six proposals that promote propriety in the administration of church funds or finances. First, church must have a sensible system to record and report the church's financial activity and information. The main purpose is to create a clear paper or audit trail. Second, church must ensure financial transparency to an adequately large and relevant audience. Purpose is to hold church leadership accountable and transparent to its constituent. Third, register your church with the S.E.C and, as appropriate, with the B.I.R as a TAX-Free entity. Purpose, is to give the church a legal personality, subject to the laws of the country particularly to the governing corporation. Fourth, institute check and balance mechanisms in the accounting, disbursement and investment of church funds. Purpose, is to ensure that there are control mechanisms in the administration of the church funds. Fifth, clarify and stress individual accountability for every aspect of financial administration activity. Purpose, to clearly delineate individual accountability for each aspect of the administration of church funds and to ensure all aspects are covered. Sixth, implement a “No Conflict of Interest” policy. Purpose, to ensure the church adheres to the highest standards of integrity in its transactions with suppliers and to signal it is serious about this.
While on our second speaker, Atty. Federico Tancongco of BDO private Bank, address the issue of transparency and accountability in the Church and Christian organization, and he raised four arguments. First is”the argument of secularization” in the church. Reason, some ministers argued that transparency and accountability are secular rules and designed for business and should not be applied to religious organization. The answer to this argument, he quoted 2 Corinthians 18: 16-23 DE-SECULARIZE TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY is biblical, that even Paul has been escorted by few people to secure while bringing money to Jerusalem and these people were appointed by the Church and not Paul. Second, “mistrust argument”. Some argued that checks and balances breed a culture of suspicion and distrust in relationships and in an organization. Remedy, declaration of principles which churches and Christian organization may subscribe to. This will provides norms of behaviour that maybe invoked by champions of transparency and accountability. Third argument is the “hassle argument”, that unnecessary procedures documentation delay prompt action “sa tagal ng approval iba na ang price the money the budget release”. The answer to this is that church needs to develop a model manual embodying minimum policies, procedures, standards and best practices. This manual covers integrity in fund raising, financial statements, reporting accuracy, financial disclosure, conflict of interest, checks and balances, donor's bill of rights, gifts from suppliers, dealings with government and agencies and etc. Fourth, “ownership argument” that once given the amount ceases to belong to the donor and the accountability is to God not the donor. He advised that Christian Organization should develop a certificated training program for leaders that impact fund raising badge of commitment to governance and leadership on the same page. These two lawyers pointed out that senior pastor or chairman of the board has potential to abuse the area of finances in the church. How about the power? How senior pastor or chairman of board or boar of deacons abuse their power?
Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan “CEO VI-CESO III” of COMELEC and Ms. Nora Lucero Gen. Sec . Of PBS “Phil. Bible Society” talks the issues of power in the church. Atty. Rafanan disclosed the eight issues regarding church power abuse in legal perspective. First, the wide abuse of “family and clans” in the church. This kind of abuse is also prevalent in the government although government prohibits nepotisms and dynasties according to our constitution. Second, power struggle in the church or we call this church office politics. The power struggle in the offices are often motivated by a desire to outdo or outsmart one another for promotion or privileges. Third, abusing spiritual authority. These are title without function, boss not a servant, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism, self-righteousness and influence peddling. Some titles (ie. Pastors, bishops, elders, chairman, president, deacons and etc.) could also be an instrument to intimidate, dominate, and suppress critical thinking. Even the government install three branches of offices for check and balance to avoid title manipulations. These are Congress “makes laws”, Executive “applies the law”, and the Senate “tries and convict” and to include Supreme court which interprets and decides. When the system malfunction, then we have constitutional crisis, do the church has the same system? Atty. Fourth, use the information as a form of power. If the right to access to information is provided in government through Phil-Cons sec. 7, art. 3 much more in the church government also. Transparency and accountability in its management of information and communication system should be clearly defined. Fifth, control, manipulation and patronage system or “utang na loob” are being use also in the church. The code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees are clearly defined in R.A. 6713. Granting incentives and rewards for exemplary service enumerative prohibited acts and transactions and providing penalties for violations or indirect bribery Art 211, PRC. Much more in the church, we should have like this service integrity and consequences. Giving gifts in advance prior to transaction that potentially compromise the integrity any purpose of transaction is prohibited. Sixth, organizational structure for effective decision making is the organization that stakeholder are heard and represented in the decision making process in church. Seventh, due process should be implemented same as in the constitution. Eight, leadership succession should be carefully evaluated by his/her capabilities and proven or tested expertise of the certain office he/she will be assign.
Miss Nora Lucero quoted John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton that...power tends to corrupts absolutely, great men are almost always bad men. She explained that most of the bad men who were in power starts as a good men when they're underdog. In her explanations, whoever in the authority “pastor or laymen” tends to be evil if there is no accountability and transparency from the other people. She explained that families and clans may compromise decision making in terms of releasing planning, releasing funds, hiring personnel and etc. This recommends diminishing public trust in the church to the officers. Conflict of interest is another issue which church should disallows business transaction to other corporations or companies for purchasing equipments purpose and etc. If it is allowed then a prior disclosure is made and prior approval is secured. A Job description that is purposely segregates conflicting functions should be implemented, and there should be a clear-cut policies on the use of company assets. She also addresses the issue of leadership succession. Founder’s syndrome and nepotism are most commonly practice in the church everywhere. Another issue is individual occupy the same position, and no clear-cut staff retirement benefit plan. The power struggles in the church or control manipulation are also practice in the church. The absence or lack of implementation of organizational structure in the church results to no job/position description with specified qualifications when it come to hiring personnel and no management information system tends to make the pastor puppets. The due process for grievance and discipline are not properly implemented in the church because there is no written staff code of conduct, lack of pro-active, and lack of confidentiality on the matter of involving staff discipline. Bias implementations for discipline, only the rank in file are always under discipline and the higher positions are exempted because nobody disciplines them. Some of these leaders took advantage of their power to manipulate sexual and financial scandal and yet still in public service. The some of the church are guilty of tax- evasion, labour code, code and ethics, graft and corruption and etc. Some are guilty on diverting their intended funds for example funds for evangelism diverted to church building or spending more on the building but not evangelism and reaching the lost. Evangelisms, missions and outreach program were done only every prior to church anniversary just for the news letter purpose.
A sex and gender issue in the church was discussed and our speakers was Dr. Isabelo Magalit President Emiritus of Asian Theological Seminary and Nora Avarientos Executive director of Owlrd Vision Development Foundation. An issue of abuse of sexual scandal, adultery and immorality is prevalent in the church and inevitable due to lack of due process. Gender discrimination towards gay and lesbian and issues of pornography was also discussed. These are the common problems in the churches today. Some of the independent churches practice many of these issues and some are on their way on trying to address these issues, some are bearing the consequences on these issues and they're on the process of splitting church. Now, I understand why some “agnostic and atheist” said churches today are of no different as business; purposely build the church to acquire money and power and even sex. Therefore church is potential for a den of thieves, adulterer and immoral, and hypocrite and cloth themselves in ministerial suit or sitting in the church office position “Lord have Mercy”. Is this true? Are we theologically, morally, ethically, politically bankrupt and ineffective Church? Some of you may agree or disagree on these issues, therefore I will invite you to post your comments or confession on this blog and explain your side. It it's true then how can we prevent immorality, graft and corruption in the government and society if the model this evil practices.
Please post it in facebook if you are not a member on this blog or e-mail it to me to jesse_amiel@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Sources: Asian Theological Seminary Forum 2011 Makati: Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries "Word for the World Sanctuary".
Home Coming: Edited by: Peter E. Gillquist. Home Coming: Concilliar Press. 1992, Fr. Wenfrey and David Thomas.
On the seminar conducted by ATS “Asian Theological Seminary Philippines I find it peculiar to us as a church because this is sensitive case. This ministerial forum addressed the issue of abused of Money, Sex and Power in the churches is almost identical to the Orthodox father's complain. To explain further, Atty. Alex Castillo a former CEO of Del Monte Phil. raised six proposals that promote propriety in the administration of church funds or finances. First, church must have a sensible system to record and report the church's financial activity and information. The main purpose is to create a clear paper or audit trail. Second, church must ensure financial transparency to an adequately large and relevant audience. Purpose is to hold church leadership accountable and transparent to its constituent. Third, register your church with the S.E.C and, as appropriate, with the B.I.R as a TAX-Free entity. Purpose, is to give the church a legal personality, subject to the laws of the country particularly to the governing corporation. Fourth, institute check and balance mechanisms in the accounting, disbursement and investment of church funds. Purpose, is to ensure that there are control mechanisms in the administration of the church funds. Fifth, clarify and stress individual accountability for every aspect of financial administration activity. Purpose, to clearly delineate individual accountability for each aspect of the administration of church funds and to ensure all aspects are covered. Sixth, implement a “No Conflict of Interest” policy. Purpose, to ensure the church adheres to the highest standards of integrity in its transactions with suppliers and to signal it is serious about this.
While on our second speaker, Atty. Federico Tancongco of BDO private Bank, address the issue of transparency and accountability in the Church and Christian organization, and he raised four arguments. First is”the argument of secularization” in the church. Reason, some ministers argued that transparency and accountability are secular rules and designed for business and should not be applied to religious organization. The answer to this argument, he quoted 2 Corinthians 18: 16-23 DE-SECULARIZE TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY is biblical, that even Paul has been escorted by few people to secure while bringing money to Jerusalem and these people were appointed by the Church and not Paul. Second, “mistrust argument”. Some argued that checks and balances breed a culture of suspicion and distrust in relationships and in an organization. Remedy, declaration of principles which churches and Christian organization may subscribe to. This will provides norms of behaviour that maybe invoked by champions of transparency and accountability. Third argument is the “hassle argument”, that unnecessary procedures documentation delay prompt action “sa tagal ng approval iba na ang price the money the budget release”. The answer to this is that church needs to develop a model manual embodying minimum policies, procedures, standards and best practices. This manual covers integrity in fund raising, financial statements, reporting accuracy, financial disclosure, conflict of interest, checks and balances, donor's bill of rights, gifts from suppliers, dealings with government and agencies and etc. Fourth, “ownership argument” that once given the amount ceases to belong to the donor and the accountability is to God not the donor. He advised that Christian Organization should develop a certificated training program for leaders that impact fund raising badge of commitment to governance and leadership on the same page. These two lawyers pointed out that senior pastor or chairman of the board has potential to abuse the area of finances in the church. How about the power? How senior pastor or chairman of board or boar of deacons abuse their power?
Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan “CEO VI-CESO III” of COMELEC and Ms. Nora Lucero Gen. Sec . Of PBS “Phil. Bible Society” talks the issues of power in the church. Atty. Rafanan disclosed the eight issues regarding church power abuse in legal perspective. First, the wide abuse of “family and clans” in the church. This kind of abuse is also prevalent in the government although government prohibits nepotisms and dynasties according to our constitution. Second, power struggle in the church or we call this church office politics. The power struggle in the offices are often motivated by a desire to outdo or outsmart one another for promotion or privileges. Third, abusing spiritual authority. These are title without function, boss not a servant, narrow-mindedness, dogmatism, self-righteousness and influence peddling. Some titles (ie. Pastors, bishops, elders, chairman, president, deacons and etc.) could also be an instrument to intimidate, dominate, and suppress critical thinking. Even the government install three branches of offices for check and balance to avoid title manipulations. These are Congress “makes laws”, Executive “applies the law”, and the Senate “tries and convict” and to include Supreme court which interprets and decides. When the system malfunction, then we have constitutional crisis, do the church has the same system? Atty. Fourth, use the information as a form of power. If the right to access to information is provided in government through Phil-Cons sec. 7, art. 3 much more in the church government also. Transparency and accountability in its management of information and communication system should be clearly defined. Fifth, control, manipulation and patronage system or “utang na loob” are being use also in the church. The code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees are clearly defined in R.A. 6713. Granting incentives and rewards for exemplary service enumerative prohibited acts and transactions and providing penalties for violations or indirect bribery Art 211, PRC. Much more in the church, we should have like this service integrity and consequences. Giving gifts in advance prior to transaction that potentially compromise the integrity any purpose of transaction is prohibited. Sixth, organizational structure for effective decision making is the organization that stakeholder are heard and represented in the decision making process in church. Seventh, due process should be implemented same as in the constitution. Eight, leadership succession should be carefully evaluated by his/her capabilities and proven or tested expertise of the certain office he/she will be assign.
Miss Nora Lucero quoted John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton that...power tends to corrupts absolutely, great men are almost always bad men. She explained that most of the bad men who were in power starts as a good men when they're underdog. In her explanations, whoever in the authority “pastor or laymen” tends to be evil if there is no accountability and transparency from the other people. She explained that families and clans may compromise decision making in terms of releasing planning, releasing funds, hiring personnel and etc. This recommends diminishing public trust in the church to the officers. Conflict of interest is another issue which church should disallows business transaction to other corporations or companies for purchasing equipments purpose and etc. If it is allowed then a prior disclosure is made and prior approval is secured. A Job description that is purposely segregates conflicting functions should be implemented, and there should be a clear-cut policies on the use of company assets. She also addresses the issue of leadership succession. Founder’s syndrome and nepotism are most commonly practice in the church everywhere. Another issue is individual occupy the same position, and no clear-cut staff retirement benefit plan. The power struggles in the church or control manipulation are also practice in the church. The absence or lack of implementation of organizational structure in the church results to no job/position description with specified qualifications when it come to hiring personnel and no management information system tends to make the pastor puppets. The due process for grievance and discipline are not properly implemented in the church because there is no written staff code of conduct, lack of pro-active, and lack of confidentiality on the matter of involving staff discipline. Bias implementations for discipline, only the rank in file are always under discipline and the higher positions are exempted because nobody disciplines them. Some of these leaders took advantage of their power to manipulate sexual and financial scandal and yet still in public service. The some of the church are guilty of tax- evasion, labour code, code and ethics, graft and corruption and etc. Some are guilty on diverting their intended funds for example funds for evangelism diverted to church building or spending more on the building but not evangelism and reaching the lost. Evangelisms, missions and outreach program were done only every prior to church anniversary just for the news letter purpose.
A sex and gender issue in the church was discussed and our speakers was Dr. Isabelo Magalit President Emiritus of Asian Theological Seminary and Nora Avarientos Executive director of Owlrd Vision Development Foundation. An issue of abuse of sexual scandal, adultery and immorality is prevalent in the church and inevitable due to lack of due process. Gender discrimination towards gay and lesbian and issues of pornography was also discussed. These are the common problems in the churches today. Some of the independent churches practice many of these issues and some are on their way on trying to address these issues, some are bearing the consequences on these issues and they're on the process of splitting church. Now, I understand why some “agnostic and atheist” said churches today are of no different as business; purposely build the church to acquire money and power and even sex. Therefore church is potential for a den of thieves, adulterer and immoral, and hypocrite and cloth themselves in ministerial suit or sitting in the church office position “Lord have Mercy”. Is this true? Are we theologically, morally, ethically, politically bankrupt and ineffective Church? Some of you may agree or disagree on these issues, therefore I will invite you to post your comments or confession on this blog and explain your side. It it's true then how can we prevent immorality, graft and corruption in the government and society if the model this evil practices.
Please post it in facebook if you are not a member on this blog or e-mail it to me to jesse_amiel@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Sources: Asian Theological Seminary Forum 2011 Makati: Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries "Word for the World Sanctuary".
Home Coming: Edited by: Peter E. Gillquist. Home Coming: Concilliar Press. 1992, Fr. Wenfrey and David Thomas.
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