Mansfield files complaint with synod PJC
By Edward Terry, The Layman, April 15, 2010
First Presbyterian Church in Mansfield, Ohio, has filed a remedial complaint against Muskingum Valley Presbytery over its action to dissolve the relationship between the congregation and its pastor.
The complaint, filed March 29 with the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Synod of the Covenant, asks that the presbytery rescind its acceptance of a disputed administrative commission report and dismissal of the Rev. Dennis Allison. The complaint also asks that a special committee be formed to help Muskingum Valley reconcile with the congregation and its pastor.
The presbytery action in question took place Jan. 9 when a majority of Muskingum Valley’s commissioners endorsed an administrative commission report calling for Allison’s dismissal and recommending a clean slate of church staff. The commission had investigated claims of: conflict in the congregation; loss of membership, attendance and financial support; intimidation of members and staff by the pastor; irregularities in membership rolls and concerns of financial and fiduciary mishandling.
In its report, the commission said its recommendations were made “not on any grounds that there has been malpractice, corruption or wrongly intentioned ministry,” but instead based on evidence that the church is in conflict and needs a change in staff.
Not only did a majority of the congregation support its pastor and staff at the special called meeting, its leadership also disputed the report and the constitutionality of the process.
Echoing the due process violation claim, Mansfield’s remedial complaint argues that the administrative commission exceeded the scope of its charge, failed to follow proper procedures, failed to provide fair notice to those affected, failed to keep full records of its proceedings and made a recommendation that was inconsistent with its findings.
“The administrative commission shrugged its shoulders not knowing what to do, and simply blamed the pastorate,” the complaint states. “While exonerating the pastor of each and every specific allegation, the administrative commission proceeded to categorize its findings as a general failure of the staff to solve it, and lacking any good ideas of its own, improperly and simplistically called for the removal of the leadership, and to ‘start with a clean slate of professional ordained staff.’”
Mansfield’s complaints against Muskingum Valley include:
- The presbytery voting to dissolve the relationship without having a meeting of the congregation.
- There had been no official request, by the congregation or the pastor, when the presbytery took action to dissolve the relationship;
- The presbytery failed to follow its own “special rules” for the meeting, including giving voice and vote to administrative commission members and giving voice to former members of Mansfield;
- Accepting a motion by the administrative commission to dissolve the pastoral relationship, even though the stated purpose of the special meeting was only to receive the report; and
- Improper lobbying during the lunch break when printed materials favoring removal of the pastor allegedly were handed out.
When asked to comment on the complaint, Clerk of Session Dana Constance expressed frustration with the entire process, which began in late 2008.
“Because of the manner in which presbytery, through its General Presbyter and Committee on Ministry, has publicly dealt with the leadership of this church, libeling and slandering it without following constitutionally-prescribed investigation and process, the leadership was seriously undermined,” said Dana Constance, clerk of Mansfield’s session. “As well, as our remedial complaint states, the manner in which the administrative commission conducted its interviews and drew its conclusions added to the anxiety and disruption. This, over a period of three years, has been expectedly detrimental to worship and program, with every intrusion, involvement has decreased significantly.”
Despite all the upheaval, Constance said, the congregation’s spirit continues to be positive.
Muskingum Valley Presbytery Stated Clerk Marty Radcliff said he could not comment on the complaint, but did say that the presbytery will file an answer with the synod. The presbytery will have 45 days to file its answer, he said.