This leads to many more questions. Apart from the $6600 expensed for my work from the tithe, did the remaining $1.2 million make it to Rwanda? Is any of it sitting around in US corporations or bank accounts, waiting to be dispersed? Is the money resting in someone’s account? Who selected the programs that were funded by the tithe? Did this process of selection conform to the Rwandan canons? Why was this information not provided to the Rwandans when requested?
When I was interviewed by Bobby Ross Jr from Christianity Today and asked my views of this situation, I said this was a very very sad day for the church. There are a great number of people who are bewildered by the speed in which the AMiA seems to have come apart. The issues are confusing and statements of no friction between the AMiA leadership and Rwanda and that all is well are followed by the call that God is “doing a new thing” and the AMiA is being led out of the Eygpt of Rwanda into the promised land by its Moses — Bishop Murphy.
I do hope this ends quickly and that there can be a reconciliation of the parties concerned. This is a sad, sad story and its telling gives me no joy. However, I will continue to do my job and seek out and report the truth mindful that the pursuit of truth is the highest calling of us all.
Well, does this apply here ?
[url=http://www.apostlesmission.org/transition/item/21-communique-from-bishops-terrell-glenn-and-thad-barnum-regarding-amia-pear.html]
Many Thanks!
Truth is a high calling — but the call of love may be even higher…
The pursuit of truth is intrinsically loving, as the truth shall set us free.
One cannot separate truth from love.
Good to see this effort from Conger.
#2 you go girl.
#2 I believe in discretion, and attempt to practice charity, but above all else we must deal in the truth.
Alas, things continue to get stranger and more disturbing with new revelations about AMiA’s administration in SC.
In general, I firmly believe in the validity of the humorous principle that Babyblue (Mary Ailes) has often invoked to explain puzzling times when horrible messes are created: the [b]HHHB[/b] or [i]Hammerstein Hierarchy of Human Behavior[/i]. The HHHB states that when people really screw things up, it’s usually due to incompetence (laziness or stupidity or both), rather than being a result of deliberate malice or evil intent.
If the HHHB seems generally true in most human affairs, I think it’s especially apt to be the case when Christians mess up and make serious mistakes. But in this case, I have to admit that it’s hard to avoid suspecting that something rather deliberate and nasty underlies the fact that the AMiA press office’s highly incomplete and puzzling financial report slingles out Goerge Conger as a recipient of “tithe” funds to Rwanda, along with it highlighting three Rwandan bishops who’ve pressed the rightful Rwandan claim for due financial transparency and honest accounting for the North American funds that are supposed to make up the AMiA tithe to the Rwandan Anglican Church.
Yikes. This practically screams that the AMiA headquarters is still operating in “shoot the messenger” of bad news mode. What in the world were they thinking in Pawley’s Island?? Do they suppose that George Conger is dumb, or just doesn’t keep records of his professional expenses and reimbursements?
Alas, this blatantly personal smear tactic aimed at Fr. Conger seems like an incredibly stupid move by the headquarters. It appears not only inaccurate and petty, but it was sure to be discovered and to backfire. As an attempt at damage control, it only wrecks more havoc with AMiA’s public image.
Very, very sad. I expected so much more of the AMiA leadership. After this, it looks like only an independent audit by a reputable accounting firm (i.e., not merely an internal self-report by AMiA) will help restore confidence, so that we can know for sure how the supposed tithe funds were actually handled.
Lord, have mercy.
David Handy+
We DO need the truth of what has transpired – and it is likely a muddled picture on both sides, if most of human history has much to teach us.
We DO need to pray for all sides in this mess – just as we all need prayer.
We DO need to pray for the clergy and lay of both AMiA and Rwanda – hurt, confusion and anger must be rife.
Most of all, we DO need to pray for God to rule over this, to make good from bad, as the witness of the Church to the lost suffers from this.
God help all of us – and most of all those who are lost!