Exec Committee Responds to Four Questions

On Nov. 10, I e-mailed four of the members of the Executive Committee four questions that I hoped they would answer to shed light on how Western Oaks could reach a point where we would lose our senior pastor of 18 years. It was clear from Pastor Jeff's 17-minute resignation speech that this was something he did after enduring years of duress. He felt God's peace that it was time to leave this body of believers due to the actions of a critical few, whose vision for Western Oaks differed from his own. It saddened me to see his faithful ministry at Western Oaks end in this manner although he left with his integrity intact. I'm even more concerned about what this means for the future of Western Oaks. What will happen to the next senior pastor if he doesn't fall in line with the powers that be? The worst fate that could befall Western Oaks is that we would go through all of this again because we did not honestly deal with the circumstances that led to Pastor Jeff's forced departure. I share this with you so you know the context of the questions that follow.

With that background, here are the four questions that I asked. These questions, by the way, are not only mine. They represent the concerns of many people that I've spoken to, including the first meeting that nearly 20 of us had when we met later that same day that Pastor Jeff announced his resignation.

QUESTIONS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Pastor Jeff said that he and Melodee have been living with deep hurt and stress for the last two years. As a member of the executive committee, in what specific ways have you personally helped them through this ordeal?

What is your personal vision for Western Oaks, and in what ways does it differ from Pastor Jeff's?

How was the discussion of a severance package initiated and by whom?

Did you at any time suggest or tell Pastor Jeff that he should resign or step down? Were you present when another member of the executive committee did? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, please explain the reason why.

Bob Kaufmann sent me an e-mail earlier today with a response to these questions. He copied his e-mail to two of the remaining four executive committee members as well as to Pastor Jeff Blevins and Pastor Ed Ingram. Later, I will post my thoughts about the following statement, but I believe it is important to let the committee's words first speak for themselves. Here is the complete and unedited response:

STATEMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
When the Executive Committee was formed, Pastor Jeff insisted that everything discussed be kept confidential, that everyone be completely open regarding their walk with God and this congregation, and that we commit ourselves to pray for the congregation and share with one another what God was telling us about each other and the congregation. The nature of many of the tasks that the Executive Committee performs requires this type of confidentiality. Everyone agreed that this was correct and all have continued to this day to uphold this vow. This is why the meetings are closed, not because there is anything to hide, but because of the confidential nature of things discussed. Again, this was a rule initiated by Pastor Jeff, it was assumed that when people voted on the function of this team it was understood that this was the way it needed to operate.

Regarding your questions, the facts speak for themselves. About a year ago, Pastor Jeff was considering leaving the ministry. Today, he is excited about continuing in the ministry and where God may be calling him. Each member of the Executive Committee is sad and happy for Jeff at the same time. Sad, because someone who has pastored each of us may be leaving this area. Also sad, because he will not be apart of the Executive Committee and we will miss him and his presence. Happy, because when God calls someone to a ministry and that person follows, that person is blessed in a manner in which only God can bless him and those that he is ministering to are blessed by God through that person. Pastor Jeff has been a great pastor and has ministered to each of us personally on the Executive Committee in times of great need. He has been the voice and hand of Christ speaking to us during these times. He has done the same thing to members of all of our families and to many others. All of us (including P. Jeff) have shared our thoughts and dreams for ourselves, our families, and our congregation intimately with one another. We all have great respect, admiration, and concern for each other and would do nothing to hurt each other. It hurts us immensely that anyone would even think that any of us would do anything to hurt Pastor Jeff.

Regarding your question about vision: The vision, strategy, and purpose of Western Oaks Baptist Church are published on the website for all to see. The majority of this information was developed by Pastor Jeff and staff prior to the establishment of the Executive Committee. Part of the workings of the Executive Committee involved reviewing the vision, strategy, and purpose of Western Oaks during which all concurred that what was written was good and right for Western Oaks now and in the future and no one has ever discussed that they might or should change.

Regarding your question about a severance package: No one ever discussed a severance package. When we all agreed that God was calling Pastor Jeff to a new ministry, we began to discuss how to best handle this time of transition. We knew that Pastor Jeff and his family would have needs during this time and so would the congregation. We wanted Pastor Jeff to be able to pursue this calling as best as possible and we wanted the congregation to be able to go through the transition as best as possible. We contacted IBSA and others knowing, Godly individuals, and several methods by which to accomplish the aforementioned criteria were developed. Since all of the methods seemed to be fit the criteria, we allowed Pastor Jeff to pick that one which he felt best fit his needs. He picked one, but while we were discussing it, it became apparent that doing that method in the suggested manner would result in a very heavy tax load for 2006. If we delayed the lump sum payment into 2007, it would be much more beneficial to Jeff in regard to tax liability. We made these modifications which resulted in a increasing of the time and amount of support for Jeff even though they would cause more financial burden on the congregation. Why did we make the modifications? Because it was the right thing to do. This method of managing the time of transition was presented to the congregation. Each member had time to consider it, the implications for which they were binding themselves both financially and in service, and pray about it. The congregation overwhelmingly adopted the method. The manner in which you stated your question implies that you either don’t understand what occurred (the above has been presented to the congregation both verbally and in written fashion) or that you are distrustful and are accusing someone of doing something wrong. Again, these implications hurt each of us deeply as nothing could be farther from the truth.

Regarding what we have done personally for Pastor Jeff and Melodee: All the members of the Executive Committee have done things for Jeff and Melodee. We continue to pray for them and we keep in consistent contact with Jeff regarding their situation. Your question is inappropriate and it implies that you must think that not enough has been done and that the Executive Committee members should have done more.

Regarding the accusation of asking Jeff to step down: When Pastor Jeff was considering leaving the ministry, we prayed about this (could it be that God is calling Pastor Jeff to leave the ministry) and none of us believed that this was true. In fact, we heard God saying just the opposite. Being true to our vow, we shared this with Pastor Jeff and encouraged him in all manners consistent with what we had heard God saying. When Pastor Jeff shared with us that he felt God was calling him to a different ministry, we again prayed about that and God told us that this was correct. We shared this with Jeff and encouraged him in all manners consistent with what we heard God saying. The only thing one can infer from your questions is that you are either questioning Pastor Jeff’s and the Executive Committee members’ ability to hear from God or you think it must have been wrong to share with Pastor Jeff what God was telling us.

All of your questions, your blog, your recent actions, have an air of distrust and accusation in them. It seems that you believe that what Pastor Jeff, the Executive Committee, and the majority of the members of Western Oaks Baptist Church have heard from God is wrong. It seems that you believe that you hear God better and want to lead a group of people because of this. If that is what you hear God calling you to do, please go do it, as none of us on the Executive Committee would ever want to do anything to inhibit God’s calling of someone to ministry. But if it is not, it is now past time for you to stop doing what you are doing. If you want to be a part of this congregation, you need to stop being so distrustful and accusatory and begin starting to build up the congregation instead of tearing it down.

-- The Executive Team