Hollywood’s stated clerk resigns in ‘political battles’
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, July 27, 2005
The stated clerk of the session at Hollywood First Presbyterian Church has resigned, declaring that the presbytery’s administrative commission has effectively silenced the elders and that she found it “incredibly painful to continue masquerading as a leader when I am only a pawn in their game.”
Marta Ann Gardner read her letter of resignation at the session’s meeting on July 26. She was highly critical of the administrative commission that was appointed by the Presbytery of the Pacific on May 3 to take over administrative jurisdiction (control) of the congregation.
One of the major contentions has been the commission’s decision, immediately after the presbytery meeting, to give the church’s evangelical pastors, Dr. Alan J. Meenan and Dr. David Manock, a pre-prepared letter ordering them to go on administrative leave, clear out their offices in less than 12 hours and maintain no further contact with Hollywood’s staff or members. That order came despite the vote by commissioners at the May 3 meeting to affirm the ministry of the two pastors.
In her resignation letter, Gardner said her service on the session under the administrative commission clashed with her reason for serving as an elder.
“I felt strongly God’s call to use my gifts in spiritual leadership and nuturance of the congregation,” she said. “I also was led into a significant role within the session, to help us become the kind of leadership community God could use to grow a church motivated by Scripture, with a heart for the world. I was eager to serve alongside pastors whose vision of carrying the gospel outward was challenging and exciting.”
Instead, she said, “I’ve been asked to be loyal to an Administrative Commission appointed by a Presbytery with little vision for the things I care most about. I find myself spending all my time and energy on political battles rather than furthering the kingdom. Back in April, I wrote a letter to the Committee on Ministry, signed by most of the session, citing the COM’s egregious disregard for the Book of Order or even for basic human fairness. I asked them to give our session, our pastors and our congregation an opportunity to work on reconciliation and healing of the wounds so recently brought to our attention by their flawed report. I vividly remember their response: that I had aptly described the very work the new Administrative Commission would perform.”
It was the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry that recommended the administrative commission after privately interviewing about 40 members of the 2,700-member congregation.
As a result, Gardner said, “The Administrative Commission has not, and apparently will not be helping us to reconcile or to heal. They are neither capable nor apparently interested in that endeavor. Rather, they have been transparent in their mistrust for those of us who question the value of their presence among us. They said they wanted to ’empower’ the session, but we have been effectively silenced. I find it incredibly painful to continue masquerading as a leader when I am only a pawn in their game.”
She expressed great concern about the “final solution” the commission will propose in the fall. Calling the presbytery “a powerful club with no deep understanding of, nor interest in, who we are as a congregation,” she said, “the report of the Administrative Commission underscored that they are happy participants in that political body, laying the groundwork for their final solution to be revealed sometime in the Fall.”