FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1.In Part 1 we outlined the nature of the controversy between the legal view of our congregation’s rightful autonomy as Reformation African American Lutheran Church-Chicago on the one hand, and on the other, the Metro Chicago Synod Bishop’s wrongfully illegal view that our congregation was “closed” (dissolved) via a series of “Synod organized” packed meetings during each of which our congregation was not present (conspicuously absent) and thereby blatantly not allowed (denied) the iceberg tip (first principle) of due process rights.
2. The above said, the Synod Bishop’s office, then, as now is all at once arrogantly, errantly, and openly attempting, under the color and camouflage of law, to wrongfully assume the unbalanced (unchecked) power of its office by trying to illegally over-ride our autonomy and unconstitutionally usurp (seize control) of our congregation’s rightfully owned parsonage property at 11312 S. Union.
3. Consequently, we now have no other principled choice but to legally resist the Synod Bishop’s attempted unconstitutional grab (highway robbery) of our property by standing on our congregation’s constitutional rights of self-governance and property control according not only our very own congregational constitution but also according to Bishop Curry’s own Synod Constitution, the ELCA’s Denominational Constitution, as well as the State of Illinois and the U.S. Constitutions.
4. Our Part 1 memo to Rev. Biekman, then MCS Director of Evangelical Mission and Bishop Curry’s Assistant, outlined the two divergent Congregationalist versus Synod Bishop’s office views and practices. The former rightful and constitutional the latter unconstitutional i.e., wrong as wearing two left shoes.
5. The crux of the two conflicting Congregationalist versus Synod Bishop’s office views and practices was stated in our Part 1, November 2021, memo to Rev. Biekman, then MCS Director of Evangelical Outreach and Bishop Curry’s Assistant, as following:
1.As you are well aware, a hidden and open controversy currently exists regarding the status of our congregation within MCS-ELCA.
2. Said controversy emerged in the open at the October 28, 2021 South Conference Luncheon/Meeting hosted by Augustana Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry, Hyde Park. The speaking guest of honor was Bishop Yehiel Curry. You were also in attendance as a part of your MCS Portfolio. The meeting was the first face-to-face South Conference meeting since the COVID–19 shutdowns 18 months ago. Although we continued to gather for SC check-in meetings virtually via Zoom however.
3. In his presentation to the SC, Bishop Curry made the unsolicited report that our congregation was officially closed i.e. we no longer existed on the Synod rolls. Perhaps he did this because our delegation of six (6) representatives of the Congregation’s leadership team was present, and accounted for, during the opening introductions of the SC business meeting.
4. This writer, in response to Bishop Curry’s unsolicited opinion statement was thereby challenged to intervene during the Q&A making the observation that contrary to the Bishop’s errant statement, reports of our congregational demise are gravely exaggerated and so despite the good Bishop’s errant opinion.
5. Bishop Curry cited as his authority A) the October 2020 meeting recommendation of his African Descent Ministries Council, B) the October 24, 2020 meeting decision of the Synod Council, as well as C) the Book of Reports of the Virtual 2021 Synod Assembly.
6. By contrast, this writer took the position, standing on our congregational constitution and the MCS-ELCA polity, that the power of closure (dissolution) rests solely with the impacted congregation and its Council.
7. Both sides agreed that the discussion of our congregation’s status was beyond the scope of the October 28, 2021 SC meeting. It was then further agreed that a meeting between the Synod Office and our Congregation’s leadership team should be arranged ASAP. Said meeting’s purpose being to further sort the issue out. Moreover, the proposed meeting would be further arranged via negotiating with Rev. Robert Biekman, then MCS Director of Evangelical Mission and Assistant to Bishop Curry.
PLEASE NOTE #1: WE STAND ON THE ELCA DISSOLUTION GUIDELINES WHICH SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE OUR POSITION OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY
In support of our position our memo to Rev. Biekman cited the ELCA Guidelines on Dissolution as follows:
8. The above said, we hereby propose convening a virtual meeting via our freeconferencecall.com account at the earliest convenience of Rev. Biekman -given proper prior notice.
9. We base this request on the Steps for Dissolution guidelines of MCS-ELCA here:https://mcselca.org/wp-content/uploads/Steps-for-Dissolution-of-a-Congregation-ELSA-MCSELCA.pdf
10. We further seek to convene our Synod-meets-Congregation meeting based on the following quote of Appendix I of Steps wherein its opening two paragraphs state:
A) “When it becomes apparent that the ability of the congregation to remain effectively engaged in ministry is in jeopardy, schedule a consultation of the congregation with your synod bishop or designee to develop a plan for discernment. This plan will usually include conversation with the bishop, the synod’s director of evangelical mission, and leaders from neighboring congregations. Decisions about bringing a ministry to a close will only happen after a time of prayer, study and conversation. The decision to close a ministry will require a properly called meeting of the congregation as required by polity and statute.
B) “A sample resolution for discontinuance of ministry follows. Check your state law to make sure a
resolution is sufficient and the necessary type of majority needed to approve it. After the appropriate
resolution is adopted, signed and attested, a copy shall be forwarded to the bishop of the synod.”
11. Note: The above referenced resolution is solely made by the congregation only.
12. We invite Rev. Biekman’s reply to our virtual meeting request.
PLEASE NOTE # 2: BISHOP CURRY, BY HIS ELEVEN (11) MONTHS SILENCE, STUDIOUSLY IGNORED OUR MEETING REQUEST AFTER WHICH WE WERE THEN TO BE BLINDSIDED BY HIS ATTORNEY’S 30 DAY NOTICE -OUT OF THE BLUE
PLEASE NOTE #3: Our Comprehensive Response to Bishop Curry’s Attorney’s 30 DAY NOTICE of October 2022 “Served” on our Parsonage @ 11310 S. Union by Mr. Adam K. Beattie, Attorney of MCS Some Seven (7) Months Ago is linked following:
NEW DIRECTIONS: Reformation African American Lutheran Free Congregation Chicago's Legal Defense Fund Saving Black Churches 