http://allsaintscathedralsabah.blogspot.com/2011/10/response-to-bishops-address.html#comment-form
william thien26
January 2012 18:56
THE GAME—HIDING AND SEEKING OF THE TRUTH
It is widely known that the leader of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah is presently getting bogged down in a flood of negative accusation—violation of the Diocesan’s Ordinance. Parishioners have come to believe that over the past five years he has acted in ways of abusive and dishonest. A website has been set up for them to air out their grievances. He is described as an arrogant, selfish, and opinionated man. He regards himself the only man who is more prominent in all fields of work. He is deaf and insensitive to criticism. Though parishioners throughout the Diocese have been complaining him about his behavior, he has never denied nor refuted the accusations. His total ignorance of the public opinion about him has sparked off a towering wave of anger in the Diocese.
He was suspected of being involved in corruption and many other malpractices Such accusations are beyond parishioners’ comprehension. They are unwilling to accept the fact that a God-fearing leader would have committed such mistakes. They have been crying out for his clarification because they all think that the accusations of corruption is highly defamatory to the Diocese. They have the same wishful thinking—they want the leader to prove himself innocent of all the accusations. They want to know the truth.
However, their grievances are still ignored by him. He has consistently and openly displayed daring challenges to their will and the Diocesan Ordinance. He has compounded his errors –despite written and strong verbal objections, he had resolutely ordained Philip Lo who is said to be an unqualified person, to the position of Deacon on the 15th of January, 2012. They are in great doubt now—were there any similar scandalous ordinations in the past? They want his explanation why he wanted to ordain such a person who is ineligible for the position.
There are also questions about his attitude towards the complaints. He has absolved himself of the responsibility by pushing the issue to the Chancellor who heads the Standing Committee. He stated that it is his advice that he chose not to respond. Parishioners are inclined to ask—why did he give the leader such an advice? The Chancellor should realize that responding to queries should not be construed as the leader’s admission of the accusations. Keeping silence is not the proper way to resolve problem. His advice was deemed as inappropriate and it has aroused widespread public curiosity—did the leader actually commit the irregularities in handling the church money? The Chancellor was denounced and he should be held responsible for the current crisis in
...page 1
It is widely known that the leader of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah is presently getting bogged down in a flood of negative accusation—violation of the Diocesan’s Ordinance. Parishioners have come to believe that over the past five years he has acted in ways of abusive and dishonest. A website has been set up for them to air out their grievances. He is described as an arrogant, selfish, and opinionated man. He regards himself the only man who is more prominent in all fields of work. He is deaf and insensitive to criticism. Though parishioners throughout the Diocese have been complaining him about his behavior, he has never denied nor refuted the accusations. His total ignorance of the public opinion about him has sparked off a towering wave of anger in the Diocese.
He was suspected of being involved in corruption and many other malpractices Such accusations are beyond parishioners’ comprehension. They are unwilling to accept the fact that a God-fearing leader would have committed such mistakes. They have been crying out for his clarification because they all think that the accusations of corruption is highly defamatory to the Diocese. They have the same wishful thinking—they want the leader to prove himself innocent of all the accusations. They want to know the truth.
However, their grievances are still ignored by him. He has consistently and openly displayed daring challenges to their will and the Diocesan Ordinance. He has compounded his errors –despite written and strong verbal objections, he had resolutely ordained Philip Lo who is said to be an unqualified person, to the position of Deacon on the 15th of January, 2012. They are in great doubt now—were there any similar scandalous ordinations in the past? They want his explanation why he wanted to ordain such a person who is ineligible for the position.
There are also questions about his attitude towards the complaints. He has absolved himself of the responsibility by pushing the issue to the Chancellor who heads the Standing Committee. He stated that it is his advice that he chose not to respond. Parishioners are inclined to ask—why did he give the leader such an advice? The Chancellor should realize that responding to queries should not be construed as the leader’s admission of the accusations. Keeping silence is not the proper way to resolve problem. His advice was deemed as inappropriate and it has aroused widespread public curiosity—did the leader actually commit the irregularities in handling the church money? The Chancellor was denounced and he should be held responsible for the current crisis in
...page 1
william thien26 January 2012 18:57
ReplyDeletethe Diocese. He should clarify on behalf of the leader unless he has the intentions to have the truth shrouded and remained in mystery.
There is no denying that the allegation has seriously damaged his credibility as a religious leader. Parishioners are now closely monitoring his activities. They have the same aspiration-- to seek for the truth. They are making every effort to dig out all possible evidences to prevent any probable “Money Laundering” activities in the Diocese. It is quite obvious that they do not have confidence in the leader and his clergies. It has become a “Historic Shame” within the Christian community.
With a view to evading questions from parishioners, a barrier which isolates the clergies has been put up. It is unprecedented in the history of the Diocese. Parishioners have been provoked and some of them have suggested that if their future attempts to obtain the truth are not attended, they will resort to set up a Tribunal to resolve the matter once and for all. They have quoted a case in Australia that showed how Bishop Ross Davies in the Murray Diocese was removed from office; he treated parishioners in a dictatorial manner and was found guilty of disgraceful conduct by a church tribunal. What will be the consequences if they are compelled to do so?
The leader and his team of clergies should stop dodging the questions from parishioners. They have to face the fact and solve the problem. Perhaps they are thinking to adhere to the rule--silence is golden. It is an erroneous thinking-- in this case, silence is consent. There are not many choices left with them. It is the right time for them (clergies) to defend. Parishioners have reached their limit of patience. They are tired with the Game. They want to know the Truth.
There is only one winner in the Game---who will win?
***
This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners on our current church crisis.
• william thien21 February 2012 23:36
ReplyDeleteTHE GAME—HIDING AND SEEKING OF THE TRUTH
It is widely known that the leader of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah is presently getting bogged down in a flood of negative accusation—violation of the Diocesan’s Ordinance. Parishioners have come to believe that over the past five years he has acted in ways of abusive and dishonest. A website has been set up for them to air out their grievances. He is described as an arrogant, selfish, and opinionated man. He regards himself the only man who is more prominent in all fields of work. He is deaf and insensitive to criticism. Though parishioners throughout the Diocese have been complaining him about his behavior, he has never denied nor refuted the accusations. His total ignorance of the public opinion about him has sparked off a towering wave of anger in the Diocese.
He was suspected of being involved in corruption and many other malpractices Such accusations are beyond parishioners’ comprehension. They are unwilling to accept the fact that a God-fearing leader would have committed such mistakes. They have been crying out for his clarification because they all think that the accusations of corruption is highly defamatory to the Diocese. They have the same wishful thinking—they want the leader to prove himself innocent of all the accusations. They want to know the truth.
However, their grievances are still ignored by him. He has consistently and openly displayed daring challenges to their will and the Diocesan Ordinance. He has compounded his errors –despite written and strong verbal objections, he had resolutely ordained Philip Lo who is said to be an unqualified person, to the position of Deacon on the 15th of January, 2012. They are in great doubt now—were there any similar scandalous ordinations in the past? They want his explanation why he wanted to ordain such a person who is ineligible for the position.
There are also questions about his attitude towards the complaints. He has absolved himself of the responsibility by pushing the issue to the Chancellor who heads the Standing Committee. He stated that it is his advice that he chose not to respond. Parishioners are inclined to ask—why did he give the leader such an advice? The Chancellor should realize that responding to queries should not be construed as the leader’s admission of the accusations. Keeping silence is not the proper way to resolve problem. His advice was deemed as inappropriate and it has aroused widespread public curiosity—did the leader actually commit the irregularities in handling the church money? The Chancellor was
Page 1
william thien21 February 2012 23:37
ReplyDeletedenounced and he should be held responsible for the current crisis in the Diocese. He should clarify on behalf of the leader unless he has the intentions to have the truth shrouded and remained in mystery.
There is no denying that the allegation has seriously damaged his credibility as a religious leader. Parishioners are now closely monitoring his activities. They have the same aspiration-- to seek for the truth. They are making every effort to dig out all possible evidences to prevent any probable “Money Laundering” activities in the Diocese. It is quite obvious that they do not have confidence in the leader and his favored-clergies. It has become a “Historic Shame” within the Christian community.
With a view to evading questions from parishioners, a barrier which isolates the clergies has been put up. It is unprecedented in the history of the Diocese. Parishioners have been provoked and some of them have suggested that if their future attempts to obtain the truth are not attended, they will resort to set up a Tribunal to resolve the matter once and for all. They have quoted a case in Australia that showed how Bishop Ross Davies in the Murray Diocese was removed from office-- he treated parishioners in a dictatorial manner and was found guilty of disgraceful conduct by a church tribunal. What will be the consequences if they are compelled to do so?
The leader and his team of clergies should stop dodging the questions from parishioners. They have to face the fact and solve the problem. Perhaps they are thinking to adhere to the rule--silence is golden. It is an erroneous thinking-- in this case, silence is consent. There are not many choices left with them. It is the right time for them (clergies) to defend. Parishioners have reached their limit of patience. They are tired with the Game. They want to know the Truth.
There is only one winner in the Game---who will win?
*******
This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners on our current church crisis. They began to doubt the integrity of the Chancellor who was complained of giving his inappropriate advice to the leader. They (parishioners) have the same question—Did they work in collusion? They are urged to convince parishioners that the accusations against them are groundless.
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william thien23 February 2012 16:11
ReplyDeleteTHE CULTURE OF ESCAPISM---CAN IT BE UPROOTED FROM ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL?
‘Your perception is our reality, We listen…..We care….
Thank you for visiting our company. We welcome suggestions and feedback from our valued customers. We are indeed very committed to improve our level of service from time to time. Help us to work better for you. Thank you.’
The above passage of text was excerpted from the questionnaire provided by a local company. This is a general trend and it serves as the purpose of collecting customers’ opinion about their service in order to improve their performance—they want to listen, they want to care.
In All Saints Cathedral, parishioners are wondering whether the leader of Anglican Diocese of Sabah would do likewise. It seems like a good idea as it would enable parishioners to give their valuable opinion about him and his clergies. Let them be evaluated how well they are performing.
The leader and his team of clergies are being criticized for their arrogance shown to parishioners—never listen to their complaints and never accept their proposal. They have seriously damaged their own prestige and they have become unpopular in All Saints Cathedral.
The leader was also suspected of having committed several irregularities in the Diocese. For example, he had, without any open tenders and quotations, awarded the church contracts to his cronies at inflated prices. When he was approached for an explanation, he had deliberately ignored and refused to respond.
Parishioners have been driven beyond their forbearance. They are unable to tolerate their prideful nature; they want to tell them that pride can infect their spiritual lives and divide the church. They have started voicing out their grievances via the blog—they want them to clarify their position on the issues of corruption and numerous malpractices.
But they said:
“I do not read the Blog and I do not know what the complaints are….”
“I do not read the Blog as it may affect my preaching from the pulpit….”
“I do not know that there is such a Blog…..”
“I do not waste my time to read the Blog…..”
“I am too busy to read the Blog…..”
“I do not read the Blog because its comments are negative…..”
“I do not read the Blog because the comments are false….”
It is unbelievable that the Blog, which contains many constructive comments and is known by every member of all the Anglican churches in Sabah, has never been read by any of the clergies. They are cheating parishioners, they are not trustworthy, they are afraid to know what they should and they choose to escape. Sometimes it is painful to know the truth, but it is worse to carry on without any correction of the mistakes.
It is inescapable, they are advised to be more realistic to accept the fact and solve the crisis—do not deceive themselves and do not think that they can get away with sin. They must read the blog in order to get a better understanding of the cause of the complaints so as to find out a solution to the problem.
The idiom, “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated” excerpted from Sunzi’s War of Art, would be of help to them.
Do not be the escapists---be ready to read the blog---be ready to rectify the mistakes.
************
This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners.
• william thien24 March 2012 01:36
ReplyDeleteAT THE THRESHOLD----TRANSPARENCY VS DISHONESTY
The word “Transparency” implies accountability, openness and honesty. Lack of transparency in governance often results in many unnecessary controversies, such as allegations of injustices and corruption.
In reality, many top-level leaders could not resist temptations of money and power. They reject transparency in all dealings. They would rather choose the path leading to evasiveness—to be suspected of committing irregularities such as corruption and other criminal accusations.
In All Saints Cathedral, the leader is being complained of lacking transparency in all the transactions of church matters. His ignorance of the complaints has posed questions about his credibility. Due to unable to obtain information which is supposed to be made known to the public, parishioners are in doubt about his motive.
He was said to have abused his authority in the dictatorial way. In order to prevent his secrets from being unveiled, he had cultivated some people whom he trust as cronies. They are loyal to him, they uphold his name as if he is their Lord. The church has become a place where the cronies are jockeying for power and benefit. They are doing their best to win his favor with flattery. They are intriguing against each other. They are competing for the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Their pursuit of worldly needs have infected their spiritual faith in God—parishioners are disappointed with their service.
In contrast to the cronies, those who have opposing stances and dare to speak the truth are unfortunately marginalized—despite their contribution to the Diocese is recognized and appreciated by parishioners. His tactic is to play down their achievement and forced them to resign from their post. He is jeopardizing the future development of the Diocese in a fit of jealousy. His disgraceful conduct has hit the morale among the righteous clergies. The latest case given here is Rev Ronnie Liew, the founder of Heritage Anglican church. He had tendered his resignation and is now operating an independent church. More than 98% of the Heritage Anglican Church congregation have expressed that they will join the new church. Who should be held responsible for the incident? The leader is urged to give an explanation.
Parishioners are in great doubt about his performance as the Diocese leader---he has impressed the public that he has been focusing on playing church politic and other trivial matters rather than evangelism. He has shaken their confidence in him. He was urged to take measures to improve his performance by accepting their (parishioners) challenge--- to lead the lost sheep (from Ronnie Liew’s church) home. Parishioners are expecting his action and believe that he will succeed.
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william thien24 March 2012 01:36
ReplyDeleteParishioners are also wondering why he insists to be so generous with Philip Lo and his wife—a couple who are unfamiliar and considered as strangers to the Chinese congregation. They have impressed the congregation most unfavorably because of their arrogant behavior. They want to find out why they are still allowed to occupy the Deanery as it has become an issue which has been openly and widely criticized. He has discouraged many other competent and righteous clergies -- he has a bias in favor of this couple and other cronies. They (the couple) have been in ASC for more than 5 years and it is time to assign them the task of evangelism in “Afghanistan”---their expertise is urgently needed there.
An operating loss of RM30,000.00 was the main cause for the closing down of the “Historic Kindergarten” in All Saints Cathedral. Parishioners are questioning him about the All Saints’ Music Academy—it had sustained a loss of RM17,213.49 and RM17,358.33 for the year of 2009 and 2010 respectively. Why doesn’t he close it down as what he did to the kindergarten? A reference to the accounts has also disclosed that the salaries, amounting to RM125,888.45 and RM129,690.35, which constituted more than 73% of the total expenses , were paid for the years of 2009 and 2010 respectively. Who are those receiving the salaries? Parishioners want his explanation about the great loss. They urge him to close down the music academy.
In the year of 2010, it was noted that 45% of the total income of ASC (amounted to RM2,904,489.00) was paid as Diocesan Assessment— a tremendous increase as compared to that in the years of 2008 and 2009 which showed 29% and 28% respectively. How does he use the fund collected as Diocesan Assessment from all the Anglican churches in the State of Sabah? He is advised to be more transparent in the Diocesan Account by making it available on request.
Parishioners are also interested in the accounts of the following schools-- – (1) the school in ASC (2) the school in Kuala Lumpur (3) the school in Tawau and (4) the the school in Beijing. Are the schools operated under the governance of the Diocese? To avoid any misunderstanding, the financial accounts of the questioned school should be published for members’ viewing.
Parishioners are demanding him to publish regularly two other accounts in the Sunday bulletin for their scrutiny—(1) a detailed weekly Receipt and Payment Account and (2) a detailed monthly Income and Expenditure Account. The data required for the compilation of the accounts is available immediately after the Sunday service. There is no excuse to keep it as classified information. The chancellor should give him the necessary advice so as to avoid the unnecessary controversy.
The forthcoming AGM, to be held on the 1st of April 2012 will provide all members the chance to vent their frustration on the leader.
Be transparent—the only way to avoid misunderstanding! Make the right choice --- for the future of the Diocese!
************
This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader’s disgraceful conduct. The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige. His ignorance of the complaints has however escalated parishioners’ anger—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
By William Thien
March 24, 2012
• william thien27 March 2012 23:17
ReplyDeleteAT THE THRESHOLD----TRANSPARENCY VS DISHONESTY
The word “Transparency” implies accountability, openness and honesty. Lack of transparency in governance often results in many unnecessary controversies, such as allegations of injustices and corruption.
In reality, many top-level leaders could not resist temptations of money and power. They reject transparency in all dealings. They would rather choose the path leading to evasiveness—to be suspected of committing irregularities such as corruption and other criminal accusations.
In All Saints Cathedral, the leader is being complained of lacking transparency in all the transactions of church matters. His ignorance of the complaints has posed questions about his credibility. Due to unable to obtain information which is supposed to be made known to the public, parishioners are in doubt about his motive.
He was said to have abused his authority in the dictatorial way. In order to prevent his secrets from being unveiled, he had cultivated some people whom he trust as cronies. They are loyal to him, they uphold his name as if he is their Lord. The church has become a place where the cronies are jockeying for power and benefit. They are doing their best to win his favor with flattery. They are intriguing against each other. They are competing for the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Their pursuit of worldly needs have infected their spiritual faith in God—parishioners are disappointed with their service.
In contrast to the cronies, those who have opposing stances and dare to speak the truth are unfortunately marginalized—despite their contribution to the Diocese is recognized and appreciated by parishioners. His tactic is to play down their achievement and forced them to resign from their post. He is jeopardizing the future development of the Diocese in a fit of jealousy. His disgraceful conduct has hit the morale among the righteous clergies. The latest case given here is Rev Ronnie Liew, the founder of Heritage Anglican church. He had tendered his resignation and is now operating an independent church. More than 98% of the Heritage Anglican Church congregation have expressed that they will join the new church. Who should be held responsible for the incident? The leader is urged to give an explanation.
Parishioners are in great doubt about his performance as the Diocese leader---he has impressed the public that he has been focusing on playing church politic and other trivial matters rather than evangelism. He has shaken their confidence in him. He was urged to take measures to improve his performance by accepting their (parishioners) challenge--- to lead the lost sheep (from Ronnie Liew’s church) home. Parishioners are expecting his action and believe that he will succeed.
Parishioners are also wondering why he insists to be so generous with Philip Lo and his wife—a couple who are unfamiliar and considered as strangers to the Chinese congregation. They have impressed the congregation most unfavorably because of their arrogant behavior. They want to find out why they are still allowed to occupy the Deanery as it has become an issue which has been openly and widely criticized. He has discouraged many other competent and righteous clergies -- he has a bias in favor of this couple and other cronies. They (the couple) have been in ASC for more than 5 years and it is time to assign them the task of evangelism in “Afghanistan”---their expertise is urgently needed there.
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william thien30 March 2012 01:35
ReplyDeleteTHE FRUSTRATED BLOGGERS ?
It is widely known that the congregation in All Saints Cathedral have been airing out their grievances against their leader via a blog which was created in October 2011. What were the causes that prompted them to make the complaints? Were their complaints answered or responded? Were they frustrated?
They (parishioners) complained the leader for his dictatorial and disgraceful conduct. They did not esteem him to be worthy of trust because he was found lavishing church money for his personal purposes—such as (1) the luxuriously renovated Bishop Lodge, (2) buying expensive vehicles for his family and for his cronies who are not entitled to such a benefit, (3) putting up light-decoration at inflated prices and (4) many other transactions which are not mentioned here.
Giving the reason that they did not reveal their identities, their complaints were not responded. He treated their complaints as a slander on him, which was calculated to damage his prestige. He said that their accusations and complaints were completely groundless and full of lies. He had definitely frustrated them.
Preparations for the forthcoming AGM are well under way. They will ask him questions which are believed would cause him some degree of embarrassment. They hope he will attend and preside this tension-filled AGM. They would demand him to prove to the congregation that he is innocent of all the accusations against him.
Rev. Jacob Lim preached on last Sunday. He was blamed for using the pulpit to glorify the leader. He criticized the bloggers for writing negative comments about the leader. He said he has never read the blog, but how did he know that the comments are negative? He is cheating himself because he is afraid to know what he should. Sometimes it is painful to know the truth, but it is worse to carry on without any correction of the mistakes. The bloggers should thank him for doing a fantastic job—he had reminded parishioners of their (leader and the clergies) misconduct.
The sermon (refer to Acts 5: 1-11) preached by him was given in three parts-(1) The Deceitfulness of Man, (2) The Influence of Satan, and (3) The Judgment of God. How wonderful it is! It seemed as if God was using the sermon to warn them (leader and the clergies). Do you (bloggers) agree?
The Diocese is now experiencing a critical time in its history. All parishioners should know their rights and obligations. Do not compromise with the mistakes—come to attend the AGM! Voice out your opinion!
***********************
There is no denying that the scandal about the leader has placed him in a predicament. He is now standing at the crossroads—to defend himself or to keep silence. There is no alternative left for him—he should defend and solve the problem. (based on public opinion)
28th March 2012.
• william thien16 April 2012 21:04
ReplyDeleteDID HIS CLAIM RESOLVE OR AGGRAVATE THE CRISIS?
In the last Sunday’s bulletin, the leader pointed out that some disgruntled members who have used the internet to slander him and to speak negatively of the church and the Diocese. He said that their real motive is not to seek for the truth but to stir up ill will.
Congregation from both the Chinese and English services were agitated by him. They said that he is the one, not the members, who has been sowing the seeds of hatred in the church. He was also blamed for using the bulletin to twist the truth and try to win some sympathy with his claim. But he failed in his attempt because they could not agree with him on the issue. Instead, they demanded him to reveal the Hidden Truth which they have been seeking. They condemned him for abusing the trust they placed in him.
They denied having talked negatively of the church as claimed by him. It was irresponsible of him to say so and they all blamed him for twisting the truth. He was also blamed for distracting congregation’s attention, trying to pervert and influence their judgment on him.
The cause of all the complaints against him (not against the church and Diocese) was solely due to his lack of transparency and accountability in all the transactions of All Saints Cathedral and the Diocese matters. He is urged to take the initiative to approach the core of the problem--- to answer their queries, to prove that he is innocent of the allegations instead of absolving himself of the responsibilities by pushing all the blames to others.
He should not ignore their queries as this would only aggravate the crisis. He is encouraged to hold a sincere talk with them, show them the financial statements for the All Saints Cathedral, the All Saints Academy and the Diocese so as to satisfy their aspiration to seek for the TRUTH.
************************
This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader. The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige. His claim via the bulletin did nothing good for him as it has only triggered off a new wave of anger and curiosity—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
By William Thien
Dated: 17th April, 2012
william thien19 April 2012 02:35
ReplyDeleteIS HE HIDING ANY SECRET? IF NOT, WHY DOESN’T HE……?
There is a widespread belief amid parishioners that All Saints Cathedral and the Diocese are facing a crisis in its history. They have attributed the cause of the crisis to the leader who has been accused of having committed various wrong doings in the administration and financial matters.
They have cried out for his clarification but they have received no answer from him as yet. They are not happy with his attitude, they have reached the limit of patience and they demand him to solve the problem without further delay.
Parishioners are wondering why he insists not to respond to their questions. They are unable to understand his “silence” on the accusations. Is he hiding any secret? Is he cheating? Is he a man of dishonesty? If the answers are ‘No’, why shouldn’t he clear the doubts?
There is no denying that his “silence” has fueled more speculations about his conduct. He has divided the church, he has widened the gap between himself and parishioners, and he has become the stumbling block to the future development of the Diocese.
In order to save the Diocese from being destroyed, the clergies are advised to stay on the right path of the God---tell him the real situation of the church, do not win his favor with flattery and do not tell him the untrue good news.
They are (the leader and his team of clergies) advised to read and study the following Bible verses which would help improve their spiritual faith in God:
Proverbs 11:1-3 1The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty. 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
Luke 16:10-13 10 “Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be trusted with money of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
***********
This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader. The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige. His pursuit of worldly needs have infected his spiritual faith in God—parishioners are disappointed with his service.
His claim via the bulletin did nothing good for him as it has only triggered off a new wave of anger and curiosity—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
william thien22 April 2012 06:44
ReplyDeleteDO YOU BELIEVE IT ----A MESSAGE FROM THE LEADER?
In today’s bulletin, the leader advised the congregation not to be influenced by some negative people’s comments in the internet because they are false and ungrounded.
More than 98% of the congregation from both the Chinese and the English services were provoked by his message. They blamed him for abusing the church weekly bulletin as his personal tool to attack them. They regarded his message as a slander on them and they wanted him to speak clearly who is sowing doubt and contempt in the church.
The congregation want to make it clear that the comments writers are not an isolated group, they are representing them. They reiterate that they would continue giving their unswerving support to their acts until the time when the leader is willing to prove that he is innocent of the allegations. He is requested to clear the “doubt—sowed by him” as soon as possible.
He is wrong to say that they contempt the church—it is irresponsible of him to say so. They love Jesus, they love All Saints Cathedral and they are proud to be the Anglicans. They do not deny that they show their contempt to the church leaders because they have seen all their bad qualities—their prideful nature.
It is simple for him to clear the doubts which parishioners are anxious to know---let them scrutinize the financial statements for the All Saint Academy and for the Diocese. If he is unable to do so, tell them the reason.
If they(the leader and clergies) want to be respected, they first need to humble themselves in the presence of the congregation—listen to their criticism and do not reject truthful advice.
They (the leader and his team of clergies) are advised to read and study the following Bible verses which would help improve their spiritual faith in God:
Proverbs 11:1-3 1The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty. 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
Luke 16:10-12 10 “Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be trusted with money of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
****************************************
This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader. The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige. His pursuit of worldly needs have infected his spiritual faith in God—parishioners are disappointed with his service.
His complaint via the bulletin did nothing good for him as it has only triggered off a new wave of anger and curiosity—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
By William Thien
william thien25 April 2012 04:33
ReplyDeleteWHAT DID HE IMPLY IN HIS MESSAGE? WAS HE COMPARING HIMSELF TO MOSES ?
In last Sunday’s message, the leader has compared himself to Moses, he quoted “Numbers 13 & 14” to imply that the comments writers are a group of spies, who are spreading unfavorable information about his plan and are trying to undermine church members’ confidence. He also quoted “Philippians 4:8” which highlights the importance of fixing our thoughts on what is true and honorable.
He refuted and denied the claims that he is running the church and the Diocese in the manner of one-man show. He said all the church and the Diocese projects are to be discussed and approved by the PCC and the Standing committee members.
Church members found it hard to contain their anger when they came to read the message. They blamed him for always skillfully dodging their questions---his behavior is contemptible. He is trying very hard to find a pretext for not answering their queries, he is sowing doubts in the church, he is not willing to clear the doubts and he is hiding the truth.
Church members who were so innocent as to believe everything he said have now expressed their strong objection to his leadership. They said that they have never been influenced by any of the so-called negative people. On the contrary, they told him not to pervert the truth because they have the ability and knowledge to make good decision and judgment.
It is quite obvious that there is a difference of opinion as to the construction and desirability of the House of Celebration. Judging from the declining Sunday attendance rate and the poor financial position of the church and the Diocese, they advise the leader to postpone the huge project until such a time when a significant improvement is achieved.
As it could be detrimental to the future of the church, church members and the leader should find a way to end the prolonged confrontation between them. The cause of the conflict is solely due to the complaints against the leader for his refusal to show the Accounts for the Diocese and the All Saints Academy. He has never responded to their request, his “long silence” has aggravated the situation, and it has prompted them to believe that he has done something fraudulently.
Honesty brings clear conscience and God hates dishonesty. In "Deuteronomy 25:13-16"-- 13“You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise, 14and you must use full and honest measures. 15Yes, use honest weights and measures, so that you will enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 16Those who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the LORD your God.
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This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader.
The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige and tarnished the good name of the church. His pursuit of worldly needs has infected his spiritual faith in God—church members are disappointed with his service. His complaint via the bulletin did nothing good for him as it has only triggered off a new wave of anger and curiosity—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
By William Thien
Dated: 25th April, 2012
william thien30 April 2012 07:48
ReplyDeleteWHO IS ROBBING GOD’S MONEY?
In yesterday’s bulletin, the leader seemed to warn the congregation not to withhold their giving of tithes to God because it would be equivalent to robbing God’s money. He mentioned this because he was told that some ungodly members who were trying to encourage other church members to give RM 1. Church members were furious at reading the message. They told him not to pervert the truth because they have the ability and knowledge to make good decision and judgment.
They blamed him for abusing the church bulletin to criticize those who point out his mistakes. They said that he has always obstinately refused to listen to their advice—his prideful attitude has disgraced the Diocese and All Saints Cathedral.
Many of them have confessed that they have been withholding part of their tithes and they will continue doing so in the future. What are the major factors which prompted them to make such decisions? Are they having any financial problems? Are they giving up their faith in God? It had never happened in the past. Who should be held responsible for this unpleasantness?
He tried very hard to persuade them to give more. He emphasized that the church funds were properly used and invested. But church members have expressed that they will be impervious to his blandishments unless he can prove himself a man of sincerity. To justify their claim, they quoted “2 Corinthians 9:7 --7You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully”.
They said that they have no objection to his use of the church funds if it is spent transparently and appropriately. Unfortunately he is being complained of lacking transparency in all the transactions of church matters. They quoted the Bishop Lodge, for example, he had renovated it for a sum of over RM1,000,000.00 and it was rumored that no open tender was called. In order to encourage them to give more tithe, he is advised to reveal all the details, such as the name of the contractor and the related documents.
"Transparency” implies accountability, openness and honesty. Lack of transparency in governance often results in many unnecessary controversies, such as allegations of injustices and corruption.
Honesty brings clear conscience and God hates dishonesty. In Deuteronomy 25:13-16-- 13“You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise, 14and you must use full and honest measures. 15Yes, use honest weights and measures, so that you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 16Those who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the Lord your God".
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This article was written based on the sad reflection from church members.
By William Thien
Dated : 30th April 2012.
William Thien10 May 2012 01:55
ReplyDeleteWHO ARE SOWING THE CONTAMINATED WORLDLY SEEDS ?
Last Sunday, most of the church members reacted angrily after reading the message written by the leader. He has again shown no promising sign of improving his relationship with church members. He has however compounded his mistakes by using the church bulletin to lash out at them, he has chosen to confront them.
In his message, he blamed church members for their negative attitude shown to the preachers after the worshiping service. He said that they should not criticize the preachers if they want to be benefited by God’s Word; they should show their obedience to God. They (members)refuted that they criticized them because they were saddened over the way they preached—they glorified themselves for their worldly achievements and not the God; their pursuit of materialism ends to the neglect of their spiritual needs; they are sowing the worldly seeds in the church. They felt disgusted at the way he defended himself and his clergies by using God’s name. They advised him not to contaminate God’s name. He must repent and work hard to restore God’s order to the Diocese.
The example he cited in the message seemed to suggest that the situation he is facing now is similar to that of what Jesus had in Nazareth. They advise him not to compare himself to Jesus unless he can live a lifestyle like that of our Lord.
He is urged to make a sincere self-criticism and stop using the Bible verses to fend off negative public opinion about him and his team of clergies. He must accept the fact that the Diocese is on the verge of divide and he must make every effort to solve the crisis.
He has made a serious mistake -- he regards himself a blemish-free saint. He is too proud to admit his errors. He must realize that pride can infect his spiritual lives. God hates pride and will judge it severely.
ACTS 12:22-23 *The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.*
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This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader.
The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige and tarnished the good name of the church. His pursuit of worldly needs has infected his spiritual faith in God—church members are disappointed with his service. His complaint via the bulletin did nothing good for him as it has only triggered off a new wave of anger and curiosity—they tend to believe that he is not honest in the management of Diocese fund.
By William Thien
Dated: 10th May, 2012
• William Thien28 May 2012 19:47
ReplyDeleteANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SABAH----the scandal-stricken parish !
There is a widespread belief amid church members that All Saints Cathedral and the Diocese are facing a crisis in its history. They have attributed the cause of the crisis to the leader because he has been accused of having committed various wrong doings in the administration and financial matters of the church.
They have cried out for his clarification but they have received no answer from him as yet. His non-response has fueled more unfavorable speculation about his conduct. They are totally disgusted with his attitude towards the matter, they have reached the limit of their patience and they are demanding him to solve the problem without further delay.
Some church members had written directly to the Archbishop, pointing out the seriousness of the situation. They all hope that he will look into the matter and put an end to the impasse.
Recently, church members were campaigning for signatures to support a petition to hold a forum with the Archbishop in Kota Kinabalu. Their sole motive is, with the help of the Archbishop, to restore God’s order to the Cathedral and the Diocese. They did not ask people to sign on any blank piece of paper as claimed by the leader—-he was bewildered and cheated by his cronies. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Archbishop had cancelled his trip and the forum was therefore postponed.
The leader announced yesterday in his pastoral letter that an Investigation Team sent by the Archbishop will be coming to Kota Kinabalu to help find out the truth of all the allegations against him. Church members were very excited to learn the good news. The integrity of the Team is unquestioned and they are confident that the hidden truth will be unearthed
In his letter, he tried to impress church members that he was not running the churches in the way of one-man show with just him making all the decisions. He said that he was always guided by the Chancellor and members of the Standing Committee in all the transactions of buying and selling of church properties. But church members reacted differently—-because they all know that the Standing Committee is dominated by him. The standoff will continue unless “Transparency” of the financial accounts is seen as this is the only way that he can prove himself innocent of all the allegations.
God knows all the secrets in our hearts. What we withhold now from one another will burst into full view at a later time.
Jeremiah 23: 24-29 24Can anyone hide from me? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” asks the LORD.
25“I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. 26How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say. 27By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal. 28Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between chaff and wheat! 29Does not my word burn like fire?” asks the LORD. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes rock to pieces?
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This article was written based on the public opinion about the leader.
The accusations against him may not be true, but it has undoubtedly damaged his prestige and tarnished the good name of the church. His pursuit of worldly needs has infected his spiritual faith in God—-church members are disappointed with his service. Church members hope that he will earnestly listen to their voice and they trust that he will steer the Diocese to the right path with the coming of the Investigation Team. May God Bless the Diocese!
By William Thien
Dated: 28th May, 2012
william thien31 May 2012 04:26
ReplyDeleteTHE GAME—HIDING AND SEEKING OF THE TRUTH !
It is widely known that the leader of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah is presently getting bogged down in a flood of negative accusation—violation of the Diocesan’s Ordinance. Parishioners have come to believe that over the past five years he has acted in ways of abusive and dishonest. A website has been set up for them to air out their grievances. He is described as an arrogant, selfish, and opinionated man. He regards himself the only man who is more prominent in all fields of work. He is deaf and insensitive to criticism. Though parishioners throughout the Diocese have been complaining him about his behavior, he has never denied nor refuted the accusations. His total ignorance of the public opinion about him has sparked off a towering wave of anger in the Diocese.
He was suspected of being involved in corruption and many other malpractices Such accusations are beyond parishioners’ comprehension. They are unwilling to accept the fact that a God-fearing leader would have committed such mistakes. They have been crying out for his clarification because they all think that the accusations of corruption is highly defamatory to the Diocese. They have the same wishful thinking—they want the leader to prove himself innocent of all the accusations. They want to know the TRUTH.
However, their grievances are still ignored by him. He has consistently and openly displayed daring challenges to their will and the Diocesan Ordinance. He has compounded his errors –despite written and strong verbal objections, he had resolutely ordained Philip Lo who is said to be an unqualified person, to the position of Deacon on the 15th of January, 2012. They are in great doubt now—were there any similar scandalous ordinations in the past? They want his explanation why he wanted to ordain such a person who is ineligible for the position.
There are also questions about his attitude towards the complaints. He has absolved himself of the responsibility by pushing the issue to the Chancellor who heads the Standing Committee. He stated that it is his advice that he chose not to respond. Parishioners are inclined to ask—why did he give the leader such an advice? The Chancellor should realize that responding to queries should not be construed as the leader’s admission of the accusations. Keeping silence is not the proper way to resolve problem. His advice was deemed as inappropriate and it has aroused widespread public curiosity—did the leader actually commit the irregularities in handling the church money? The Chancellor was denounced and he should be held responsible for the current crisis in the Diocese. He should clarify on behalf of the leader unless he has the intentions to have the TRUTH shrouded and remained in mystery.
There is no denying that the allegation has seriously damaged his credibility as a religious leader. Parishioners are now closely monitoring his activities. They have the same aspiration-- to seek for the TRUTH. They are making every effort to dig out all possible evidences to prevent any probable “Money Laundering” activities in the Diocese. It is quite obvious that they do not have confidence in the leader and his cronies. It has become a “Historic Shame” within the Christian community.
(page 1)
william thien31 May 2012 04:28
ReplyDelete(page 2)
With a view to evading questions from parishioners, a barrier which isolates the clergies has been put up. It is unprecedented in the history of the Diocese. Parishioners have been provoked and some of them have suggested that if their future attempts to obtain the TRUTH are not attended, they will resort to set up a Tribunal to resolve the matter once and for all. They have quoted a case in Australia that showed how Bishop Ross Davies in the Murray Diocese was removed from office. What will be the consequences if they are compelled to do so?
The leader and his cronies should stop dodging the questions from parishioners. They have to face the fact and solve the problem. Perhaps they are thinking to adhere to the rule--silence is golden. It is an erroneous thinking-- in this case, silence is consent. There are not many choices left with them. It is the right time for them (clergies) to defend. Parishioners have reached their limit of patience. They are tired with the Game. They want to know the TRUTH.
There is only one winner in the Game---who will win?
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I have my say…….
This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners on the current church crisis.
It is a matter of great sadness when it becomes necessary for the “3-member Advisory Committee” sent by the House of Bishop to investigate the origin of all the allegations so as to get a better understanding of the circumstances.
Judging by what the leader said in his “pastoral letter” on the 27th of May, 2012, he had clearly stated that he was always guided by the Chancellor in all the transactions which are being criticized. Parishioners begin to doubt the integrity of the Chancellor and he was complained of giving his inappropriate advice to the leader. They (chancellor and the leader) are urged to convince parishioners that the accusations against them are groundless and I am confident that they will.
It is too early to predict the outcome of the investigation. At this stage, it is unwise for parishioners to speculate or to pass any judgment on the issue. Let the Advisory Committee to deal with the case and all parties should accept their advice.
By William Thien
1st published on 27/1/2012
Updated on 31/5/2012
william thien11 June 2012 23:26
ReplyDeleteARE THEY PLAYING THE BLAME GAME OVER THE CHURCH CRISIS?
‘Because of very persistent complaints made by a group of 5 members to the House of Bishop, I have welcomed the House of Bishop to send a 3-member “Advisory Committee” to help get the truth of the allegations made.’
‘I am always guided by our Chancellor and members of the Standing Committee in these transactions.’
The above message of text was excerpted from the “undated Pastoral Letter from the Bishop” which was released on the 27th of May, 2012. He has distinctly pointed out that he has never run the church and the Diocese in the way of one-man show as complained by church members.
He wanted to tell them that it is out of fairness to put all the blame on him rather than on the Diocesan Chancellor.
In order to convince church members of his innocence, he has suggested to them to write directly to or call the Diocesan Chancellor if they want to know the truth or more details of all the transactions relating to the sale and purchase of land for the Diocese.
Some church members were in sympathy with the Bishop. They condemned the Chancellor because the Bishop has become the victim of his misguided advice. Is the Chancellor the key person who has stirred up the Diocese crisis?
While few people think that he (Bishop) is innocent in some respects, others react negatively and they do not believe a word of it. There is no excuse for this chaotic state to drag on without a solution; they advise the Bishop and the Chancellor not to play the Blame Game as it is not a constructive way to resolve the current crisis---they should take the positive step toward ending the impasse.
We are guilty if we remain silent when we should warn another person of the consequences of his or her actions.
(Ezekiel 3:20-21 ---- 20-If good people turn bad and don’t listen to my warning, they will die. If you did not warn them of the consequences, then they will die in their sins. Their previous good deeds won’t help them, and I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs. 21-But if you warn them and they repent, they will live, and you will have saved your own life, too.”)
God does not prevent us from acting foolishly; he only reminds us of the consequences of foolishness. Are you willing to pay the price for a certain action?
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This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners over the current church crisis.
They are tired with the Blame Game----they want the “Two Gentlemen” to act wisely (not foolishly) to restore the good reputation to the Diocese.
It is a matter of great happiness when it becomes necessary for the House of Bishop to send a 3-member Advisory Committee to investigate the origin of all the allegations so as to get a better understanding of the circumstances.
By William Thien
Dated: 12th June, 2012.
• william thien19 June 2012 07:32
ReplyDeleteDOES GOD ACCEPT EXCUSES?
In response to the undated “Pastoral Letter from the Bishop”, Fabian Lai, a member from the Chinese 9.30 a.m. service, had on the 15th of June 2012 written a letter to the Diocesan Chancellor asking for the detailed account of all the transactions related to land/property purchased and sold during the past six years. Some church members praised Fabian Lai for his courage to reveal his identity and hope that those who dare not to do so will follow his step--- reveal themselves and be responsible for what they write or comment.
As it is crucial to the future of the Diocese, Church members believe that the Chancellor, after careful deliberating upon the current crisis, will show his positive attitude to the letter. His past advice to the Bishop to keep ‘silence’ was deemed as inappropriate by church members. He is urged not to repeat the mistakes and excuse himself this time---his early reply to Fabian’s letter is the only credible way for him to regain the public confidence in the Bishop.
God hates excuse. The first excuse in the Bible is shown Genesis 3:12 -- 12“Yes,” Adam admitted, “but it was the woman you gave me who brought me the fruit, and I ate it.”
It was Adam who made the first excuse. He blamed Eve, and indirectly he blamed God for giving him “the woman.” Then Eve blamed the serpent. Both tried to excuse their action by blaming someone else.
We are guilty if we remain silent when we should warn another person of the consequences of his actions. God does not prevent us from acting foolishly; he only reminds us of the consequences of foolishness.
(Ezekiel 3:20-21 ---- 20-If good people turn bad and don’t listen to my warning, they will die. If you did not warn them of the consequences, then they will die in their sins. Their previous good deeds won’t help them, and I will hold you responsible, demanding your blood for theirs. 21-But if you warn them and they repent, they will live, and you will have saved your own life, too.”)
If his (the Chancellor) conscience is clear, he should reveal the Truth without any excuse.
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This article was written based on the sad reflection from parishioners over the current church crisis.
It is a matter of great sadness when it becomes necessary for the “3-member Advisory Committee” sent by the House of Bishop to investigate the origin of all the allegations so as to get a better understanding of the circumstances.
Judging by what the Bishop said in his “pastoral letter” on the 27th of May, 2012, he had clearly stated that he was always guided by the Chancellor in all the transactions related to the sale and purchase of land/ property.. Parishioners begin to doubt the integrity of the Chancellor and he was complained of giving his inappropriate advice to the leader. They (chancellor and the leader) are urged to convince parishioners that the accusations against them are groundless.
It is too early to predict the outcome of the investigation. At this stage, it is unwise for parishioners to speculate or to pass any judgment on the issue. Let the Advisory Committee to deal with the case and all parties should accept their advice.
By William Thien
Dated 19th June, 2012
william thien25 June 2012 15:25
ReplyDeleteTO REDRESS THE INJUSTICES---TELL THE TRUTH!
On the 15th of June 2012, an unnamed writer who made a complaint against some bloggers for their writing of irresponsible comments about the purchasing of one unit of aged Toyota Harrier for assistant bishop John Yeo, and the denial of burial ground to a deceased member in Kudat. He said both the comments are false, which had inflicted severe hurt on the persons involved. Regrettably, he was unable to give any evidence to substantiate his claim.
Judging by his statement, he must be a person who comes from the inner circle of the administration in the church and he must know much about the true stories. If he knows that lies are being spread around, why doesn’t he clarify the situation and reveal the truth? His unconvincing defense will only aggravate the situation---church members want to know the truth, they reject liar.
Church members seem to have harbored doubts about the used Toyota Harrier which was purchased at the inflated price of RM147,000.00---was there any kickback from the deal? Moreover, the decision (without any prior consultation) to buy the vehicle was made before holding the PCC meeting for approval. If he thinks that the allegations against him are untrue, he should take action to refute and tell the truth.
Silence is golden but it can also be interpreted as Consent--church members are expecting his (John Yeo) clarification. His ignorance of the allegation will affect not only his prestige, but also the reputation of the Diocese.
Followers of Christ are called to speak the truth, always in a loving manner.
(Ephesians 4: 14-16) “14Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
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I have my say…..
This article was written based on the sad reflection from church members over the current Diocese crisis.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Diocese is on the verge of divide. Members are urged to stay calm and do their best to end the confrontation. Church leaders should be more sincere about reconciling with church members ---by revealing the hidden truth.
By William Thien
Dated: 25th June 2012.
william thien9 July 2012 08:17
ReplyDeleteEIFFEL TOWER VS HOUSE OF CELEBRATION
The Eiffel Tower of Paris, built in 1889 and was a subject of some controversy, has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.
On last Sunday’s service, the church leader who attempted to influence church members’ point of view, had compared the Eiffel Tower with the construction of the House of Celebration, hinting that the public criticism he has been incurring is similar to that of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the architect for the tower.
While some members commented that his speech was a timely prescription to obtain more support for the House of Celebration, others criticized that he was babbling and trying to evade his responsibilities. His speech did not seem to win church members’ approval.
Eiffel was objected on artistic grounds, but the leader is being criticized for his lack of transparency and accountability in all the transactions of church matters. With the approaching of the ground-breaking ceremony, the leader should act wisely by displaying all documents related to the House of Celebration, which in the eyes of the public, are necessary to convince them to change their mind.
They need the following information:
1. Did he set up any building committee to study the feasibility?
2. How did he arrive at the cost of RM30,000,000.00 for building the House of Celebration?
3. Did he invite any open tender for the building contract?
4. Who was awarded the contract?
5. Who decided the tender price?
The word “Transparency” implies accountability, openness and honesty. Lack of transparency in governance often results in many unnecessary controversies, such as allegations of injustices and corruption.
Be transparent--- the only credible way to avoid misunderstanding.
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This article was written based on the sad reflection from the public. The accusation against the leader may not be true. The misunderstanding between him and the church members could possibly be caused by his ‘Long Silence”.
By William Thien
Dated July 9, 2012
• william thien20 July 2012 06:16
ReplyDeleteTO WHAT EXTENT CAN WE BELIEVE HIS WORDS?
“The church never claims to be perfect. We are sinners saved by grace. But we must all grow in authentic discipleship by learning to speak the truth, to act honorably and to work together for the cause of Christ. If there are problems or things that are not clear, we have leadership teams at different levels to address these problems i.e. you can see your local priests, ask your local church PCC, seek explanation from our different Committees or Boards, or write to the Standing Committee.”
“We can not just send out anonymous letters or spread complaints that damage fellowship in the church and cause division.”
The above passage of text, written by the leader in the Diocesan Bulletin Issue No. 38, seemed to portray himself as a victim of the ever-expanding crisis in the Diocese. He had also quoted the story of Jesus, which he used as a background to bring out the situation he is now experiencing---disapproval of his leadership. Parishioners blamed him for making use of Jesus’ name to justify himself over the widespread criticism about his behavior.
Parishioners also blamed him for trying to divert their attention to matters irrelevant to the cause of the crisis. It is a matter of great shame that the issue was picked up by a local media and it has become a subject of much discussion. They said that he must accept full responsibility for having stirred up the media’s attention— he has presented the Diocese a Jubilee Gift.
He has courted controversy by refusing to address issues arising from his alleged maladministration. The most important aspect of his task is to resolve the lingering disputes with sincerity—to be transparent and accountable.
In order to restore order to the church, he must abide by his message published both in his “pastoral letter” and the Diocesan Bulletin.
However, some concerned parishioners scoffed at his message, they opined that he is staging a “Jubilee Farce” via the bulletin. It is unjust of them to suspect the leader’s sincerity at this stage, why don’t they give him a chance to clear the doubts? They are advised not to let a preconceived misconception to influence their judgment on the leader.
With the approaching of the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the House of Celebration, parishioners have raised the following questions and hope that the leader or any one member of the Standing committee will give them a satisfactory answer.
1. Did he set up any building committee to study the feasibility? Who are the committee members?
2. How did he arrive at the contract sum of RM30,000,000.00 for building the House of Celebration?
3. Did he invite any open tender for the building contract?
4. Who was awarded the contract?
5. Who decided the tender price?
The word “Transparency” implies accountability, openness and honesty. Lack of transparency in governance often results in many unnecessary controversies, such as allegations of injustices and corruption.
Be transparent--- the only credible way to avoid misunderstanding.
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I have my say…
This article was written based on the sad reflection from the public. The accusation against the leader may not be true. The misunderstanding between him and the church members could possibly be caused by his ‘Long Silence” in the issue. His response to their questions will help convince them of his innocence.
By William Thien
william thien23 July 2012 18:21
ReplyDeleteTHE DILEMMA OF CHOICES—TRANSPARENCY OR DISHONESTY!
Undoubtedly, the article, “Bishop under probe”, which appeared in the Daily Express on the 17th of July has invited widespread speculations—who is that bishop under probed? Probed by whom? Why was he probed? People busied themselves with finding out the truth—it has become a subject of much discussion in the State of Sabah.
The Roman Catholic Church, in order to avoid their reputation from being tarnished by this rumored “historic scandal”, had made a clarification the next day to clear the doubts. Parishioners of Roman Catholic praised their bishop for his prompt response.
The news has astounded the leader and his associates. A reference to the Bishop’s pastoral letter dated 21st July, 2012 has revealed that he had taken action to demand Daily Express to withdraw the related article, and to publish a public apology. Parishioners failed to puzzle out what has caused him to act so foolishly —is it another misguidance from the chancellor?
He refuted some of the allegations against him, stating that they are false and calculated to damage his name. However, his clarification (defense) failed to convince parishioners that he is innocent. They are asking themselves—to what extent can they believe his words?
He can regain their support and confidence by ordering his crony to answer Fabian Lai’s letters as soon as possible. The letters are as follows. He must act in accordance with what he wrote in the bulletin—they key to open the door of solution is with him.
……page 1
william thien30 July 2012 05:22
ReplyDeleteTHE PACKED CATHEDRAL----WHAT DID IT SYMBOLIZE?
On the 24th of July, 2012, the All Saints Cathedral was fully packed with members from different churches throughout the Diocese. They were joyfully attending the Jubilee Celebration and witnessing the ground-breaking ceremony of the House of Celebration. They will cherish the memory of that moment for the rest of their lives.
At the same time, they were also disturbed to hear the news that Court had granted an interim injunction sought by a church member to restrain the leader from carrying out his duties. Undoubtedly, the news had caused a great impact on church members. It has become a new topic of much discussion after another.
Opinions differ on the project of House of Celebration. Most of the members from the English and Chinese congregation objected to the plan, giving the reason that the core of the matter is his lack of transparency. They have voiced out their complaints, but he has obstinately clung to his ideas, and refused to address the issue.
Of course, members from the BM congregation who vowed, simply out of ignorance, to give their unswerving support to him, stating that a God-anointed servant would never commit any wrongdoing. They trust in his integrity.
There are criticisms that the leader is using the BM congregation as a tactic to build up his personal influence. Apparently, the Diocese is on the verge of splitting into two factions—a deep divide between the BM and non-BM congregations.
What did it symbolize when thousands of BM members packed into the Cathedral to celebrate the Jubilee Year of the Diocese? Was it a sign of healthy development for the Diocese?
********
Non-BM congregation have reflected their disapproval of the leader’s performance by refusing to attend the Jubilee Year service on the 24th of July.
He can win back their support and confidence by being more transparent in the transactions of the church matters. He should tell them the reason why he cannot disclose the following information for the House of Celebration:-
1. Name of the architect
2. Name of the engineer
3. Document of Approval from the DBKK
4. Tender document
5. Person who decides the tender price
6. Any other information relating to the building
Keeping silence can only aggravate the dispute.
By William Thien
Dated 30th July, 2012
• Anonymous1 August 2012 19:56
ReplyDeleteThe following passage is a reply from Bishop Vun to the Sabah Anglicans
On Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 2:04 PM, A Vun wrote:
Enough is enough, if you are Joshua Kong, say who you are and be responsible to what you wrote.
You are not "Sabah Anglican" because only our Standing Committee or our Diocesan Synod can collective have the right to call ourselves "Sabah Anglican".
1. We are not intimated by your hateful mails making wild accusations - and being a coward hiding behind a name you are not worthy nor do you have the right to claim.
2. We do not dialog with you in the tone of hate and falsehood. If you have something to say, why don't you come and face me in person. Your writing to me cc. to all our Bishops does not intimate me. You act like a bully and behave like a coward. I have no respect for people who make irresponsible claims, spread lies and sow dissent between Christian brothers. If you are an Anglican, may I correct you for you wrong behavior.
3. You wanted to stir up dissent and trouble during our Centenary Celebration last year - threatening our me, our Cathedral clergy and pastors. Now you want to stir up trouble again when we prepare for our Jubilee celebration. This is your motivation - a trouble maker - while all our members are working with the Lord to build up the church.
4. Please remember our Diocese is not in crisis. Our mission works are properly supervised, including our Academies. All our accounts are properly kept and audited by qualified and responsible professionals. Calling us names does not alarm us or make us fearful. It only shows your words have no factual truth. You seek to destroy my reputation and paint a negative picture of our church and our leaders, calling 95% our synod representatives cronies and people with no principles is very wrong. Please show yourself. You have no standing in our church, neither do you have standing in our community. Our whole Diocese is growing and our evangelism is bearing fruits. New churches are being planted. Do not think that by making wide allegations and accusations we will be distracted from our important task.
In the Name of Jesus, I forgive you for what you have done against me and our Diocese. We leave room for God's vengeance because vengeance belong to Him.
If you have any further things to say, please have the courtesy to say it to me in person. I am putting your address as spam so I will not give time to read your hateful mails in the future. In the past, I have not answered you because in principle, I do not want to lower myself to answer accusations made maliciously in anonymity. As responsible leaders, we do not do that. This is the one time I do this because you have gone too far.
Albert Vun
Bishop of Sabah
william thien3 August 2012 05:40
ReplyDeleteMEMBERS ARE PROHIBITED FROM CALLING THEMSELVES SABAH ANGLICANS ----A NEW RULE?
After reading his letter……..
The leader seems to be mired in a new round of bitter conflict with a group of members who call themselves Sabah Anglicans.
The group had previously written a letter (contents unknown) to the leader, which had somehow angered him. In his furious response, he was apparently influenced by
his preconceived notion that the said letter was from Joshua Kong.
The way he reacted did not reflect his status as a leader. It was impetuous of him to use some words which were rather harsh to counter church members’ criticism. He is advised to avoid acting on impulse in the heat of anger.
He condemned those who make irresponsible claims, spread lies and sow dissent between Christian brothers. Church members agreed with him, but they are also curious to know what the truths are---his one-sided statement could not convince church members of his innocence because it was vague and did not provide any detail.
He complained that he and all the clergies were threatened by some members during the Centenary Celebration last year. However, he did not reveal the level of the threat; Christians are advised not to use any threatening means to achieve their motive.
He has clarified that all the accounts are properly kept and audited by qualified and responsible professionals. Church members are advised not to dispute and suspect the integrity of the professionals. In order to soothe the growing tension with church members, disclosure of the financial accounts for the Diocese is advisable and it is the only measure to end the controversy.
He has confused church members by stating that only the Standing Committee and Diocesan Synod can call themselves Sabah Anglican. Are we not Anglicans? Can we call ourselves Kota Kinabalu Anglicans? Is there a new rule which prohibits us from calling ourselves Sabah Anglican?
Hurling rude language at each other must be prohibited in the church.
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This article was written based on the sad reflection of church members.
The leader should take notice of public opinion and take the initiative to hold a pragmatic dialogue with church members to solve the crisis. The Diocese belongs to all the SABAH ANGLICANS and they have the right to access to the full facts of its financial position.
He has to tell them the reason if he thinks that disclosure of the accounts is not advisable.
All parties are advised to settle their disputes out of court.
By William Thien
Dated 3rd August, 2012
william thien7 August 2012 07:30
ReplyDeleteIS HE READY TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKE?
Church members noted from the Sunday bulletin dated 5th August 2012 that several persons, including Philip Lo, will be ordained as reverends of the Diocese.
Philip Lo, as described by most of the church members, is a man without any preaching experience and possesses no theology qualifications. The ordination will bring shame to the Diocese, and discourage others who have the needed qualifications but are always ignored.
Church members will remember that on the 15th January this year, the leader, despite many written and verbal objections, had resolutely ordained Philip Lo to the position of deacon. He repeats the same mistake this time, he willfully ignores their criticism and he has displayed an inherent character—always seeking to do others down.
Undoubtedly, his decision will give rise a mighty uproar among church members. They want him to stop arousing anger and resentment in the church. He must realize that violation of any church ordinance will not only discredit his good reputation, but also affect the whole Diocese.
Church members remind him, as a diocese leader, he should not act in the way as a street fighter does.
***********
This article was written based on the sad reflection of church members.
Church members are expecting him to put an end to the lingering disputes. He should take notice of public opinion and take the initiative to hold a pragmatic dialogue with them to solve the crisis.
All parties are advised to settle their disputes out of court.
By William Thien
Dated 7th August, 2012
william thien9 August 2012 18:48
ReplyDeleteDILEMMA OF CHOICES—TRANSPARENCY OR DISHONESTY!
Undoubtedly, the article, “Bishop under probe”, which appeared in the Daily Express on the 17th of July has invited widespread speculations—who is that bishop under probed? Probed by whom? Why was he probed? People busied themselves with finding out the truth—it has become a subject of much discussion in the State of Sabah.
The Roman Catholic Church, in order to avoid their reputation from being tarnished by this rumored “historic scandal”, had made a clarification the next day to clear the doubts. Parishioners of Roman Catholic praised their bishop for his prompt response.
The news has astounded the leader and his associates. A reference to the Bishop’s pastoral letter dated 21st July, 2012 has revealed that he had taken action to demand Daily Express to withdraw the related article, and to publish a public apology. Parishioners failed to puzzle out what has caused him to act so foolishly —is it another misguidance from the chancellor?
He refuted some of the allegations against him, stating that they are false and calculated to damage his name. However, his clarification (defense) failed to convince parishioners that he is innocent. They are asking themselves—to what extent can they believe his words?
He can regain their support and confidence by ordering his crony to answer Fabian Lai’s letters as soon as possible. The letters are as follows. He must act in accordance with what he wrote in his pastoral letters.
WALK THE WALK…TALK THE TALK. THE ONLY CREDIBLE WAY TO SOLVE DISPUTES AND CLEAR SUSPICION OF DISHONESTY. (part 1)
william thien12 August 2012 19:22
A RECIPROCAL ACTION OF THE 3 WISE MEN ?
It is being rumored that the trio have been interacting to help each other and give each other advantages in the form of Love-Gifts while they make regular visits (under the excuse of invitation) to other churches in the Diocese.
It was said that the amount of such so-called love-gift ranges between RM2,000.00 and RM7,000.00, and was given after each visit. Some church members despised the trio for their nibbling at God’s money by fair means; they want them to repent of their sins.
Church members, however, are also reminded that God considers it a sin when they have so much to be thankful for and so little to complain about, yet they choose to complain—especially about the church leaders just base on unconfirmed rumors. They are advised to approach the trio in person or by writing to clarify the truth of the allegation rather than gossiping around.
Of course, the trio should take the initiative to convince church members of their innocence by (1) disclosing the financial statements kept by the individual church in the Diocese, and (2) swearing on a Bible to tell the truth.
The trio have been in the spotlight since the revelation of this ill-gotten love-gifts. Their prompt response to clarify the allegations would help resume friendly relations with church members and more importantly, to stop the rumors that will not only damage their reputation but also the Diocese.
Their “silence” will be taken as an admission of the allegations.
*******
This article was written base on the sad reflection of church members. The rumors about the love-gift may not be true, but it will become true if the rumored-recipients refuse to clarify the matter.
By William Thien
Dated : 12th August 2012
william thien14 August 2012 02:58
ReplyDelete“THE TRUTH” ---- IT HAS SHED ITS CREDIBILITY OVER THE DIOCESE ISSUE !
Church members were disgruntled with “The Truth” after reading its comment on the issue of the used Toyota Harrier bought for Bishop John Yeo. They complained that it is not telling the truth.
Rumor has it that the vehicle was bought prior to holding a PCC meeting for approval. It was also arguable that the purchase price of RM147,000.00(need to confirm) for a 10+ years reconditioned-vehicle was considered as far above the prevailing market value; it has aroused members’ suspicion of church leaders’ integrity.
In “The Truth”, its comment seemed to suggest that John Yeo had fulfilled all the procedures as stipulated by the church regulation. A PCC meeting had granted him a budget (amount was not specified), and he had spent within the limit.
Church members are asking him the following questions.
(1)How much was approved for the budget?
(2)Why didn’t he buy a brand new car using the approved budget?
(3)Why did he want to pay a mind-boggling sum for that grandpa-aged car?
(4)Did he actually spend the huge price for that old car?
(5)Did he buy the car of his own free will ?
(6)Who was the seller?
All church members are reminded to be honest in their behavior.Cheating violates a holy God. Cheating and godliness cannot live together in peace. One must give in to the other.
In Proverbs 11: 1-3
1The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty.
2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
**************
This article was written base on the sad reflection of church members. The allegation for the over-priced Harrier may not be true. The leaders, if they love the Diocese, should make the necessary clarification to stop the rumor.
Their “Silence” will be taken as an admission of the allegation.
By William Thien
Dated: 14th August, 2012.
william thien20 August 2012 02:04
ReplyDeleteIS THE DIOCESE FLOODED WITH ……?
The leader’s blatant decision to ordain Philip Lo, a man without completing his theological study, as a priest of the Diocese has triggered off much criticism and objections.
Church members’ opinions differ on the ordination. While most of them do object the ordination, a minority of the congregation (including all the priests, the adult cell members and members of the Standing committee) are surprisingly found ignorant about the harmful effect it will cause to the Diocese.
Those who have opposing stances are advised not to blame the ignorant members because they have been told to be obedient to the wishes of their god, they must do their best, even though sacrificing themselves, to fulfill his will—they are a typical group of god-fearing members.
There is no denying that Philip Lo’s ordination has set up a very bad precedent for future cases of a similar nature. The Diocese, as expected, will be flooded with faked priests, and they are ordained just based on favoritism. Were there any similar cases occurred in the past six years and not revealed?
Can you imagine what will happen if the Diocese is run by a group of people whose studying qualifications are fabricated? Is he severely violating academic morality? Is he dishonest?
Honestly evaluating our walk with the Lord is the only way to keep growing in faith.
( Romansc12:3 3As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.)
*********
This article was written based on the sad reflection of church members. They hope that the leader will reconsider the ordination of Philip Lo because they think that he is not suitable for the job.
By William Thien
Dated: 20th August, 2012
william thien27 August 2012 21:31
ReplyDeleteINTEGRITY VS DISCRETION
A new round of anger was sparked off amid the congregation after reading the Bishop’s message written on the Sunday bulletin dated 26th August, 2012.
Its contents, apart from inculcating his rotten and one-sided story, showed no good intentions to defuse the tension caused by him. Church members agree with him that the Constitution gives him the sole discretion to do the ordination. But, it does not mean that he can abuse the constitution to do whatever he likes.
God gives us the freedom to choose what we want to do, but what are the consequences of choosing to sin? The greatest consequences of sin is eternal separation from God. Romans 6:23 gives the explanation: “23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It would be presumptuous of him to ordain a person who is not qualified and is severely under objection and criticism. 1Cor 14:33 gives the reason : “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace” . He must take action to resolve the crisis rather than fanning the flames. He must repent before Lord and ask Lord to take away his supercilious character.
Does he realize that his non-response to all the allegations against him has caused serious negative influence on the Diocese? Does he realize that he is the first bishop who is complained of being dishonest in the history of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah? Does he realize that he is no longer respected by church members? Does he realize that he needs to repent?
Church members need a Bishop of absolute integrity, they reject a man of absolute discretion.
**********
This article was written based on the sad reflection of church members. They are of the opinion that the Bishop should hold a pragmatic dialogue with members to resolve the controversies.
By William Thien
Dated: 28th August 2012
william thien30 August 2012 09:09
ReplyDeleteIS HE A SHEEP-LOVING LEADER?
The ordination of the most disputed Philip Lo was proceeded without any interruptions on the Wednesday night. A poor attendance was recorded, less than 600 people attended the occasion.
A police patrol car, with several policemen, appeared on the scene. Were they hired to give protection to the leader or for the safety of his sheep?
Church members said they do not need any protection from the police because they trust in God to be with them in all their problems, they feel peace in the church. (As explained in Isaiah 26:3 --You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!)
Who else needs the police’s protection in the church? It must be the leader who needs the police’s protection. Why does the leader need the police’s protection? Does he trust in God? If his answer is yes, then why did he hire the police to protect him? How will he preach to his sheep about our God?
Church members said that if he harbors feelings of revenge in his heart, he cannot be at peace with others. (As explained in Romans 12:17-18 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.)
God promises to comfort us in our fear if we seek him when we are afraid. We have the assurance that he is with us in any circumstance. (As explained in Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.)
Church members are sheep, they are not wolves. The leader, as the shepherd, should not use the police force to oppress his sheep. Why does he fear his sheep? Why doesn’t he love his sheep?
*********
This article was written base on the angry reflection of church members.
They hope that he, for the unity of the Diocese, would take the initiative to resolve the controversy.
By William Thien
Dated: 30th August 2012
william thien10 September 2012 05:52
ReplyDelete“THETRUTHASC” HAS SHED ITS CREDIBILITY OVER THE DIOCESE ISSUE ?
Church members were disgruntled with “TheTruthasc” after reading its comment on the issue of the used Toyota Harrier bought for Bishop John Yeo. They complained that it is not telling the truth.
Rumor has it that the vehicle was bought prior to holding a PCC meeting for approval. It was also arguable that the purchase price of RM147,00
0.00(need to confirm) for a 10+ years reconditioned-vehicle was considered as far above the prevailing market value; it has aroused members’ suspicion of church leaders’ integrity.
In “TheTruthasc”, its comment seemed to suggest that John Yeo had fulfilled all the procedures as stipulated by the church regulation. A PCC meeting had granted him a budget (amount was not specified), and he had spent within the limit.
Church members are asking him the following questions.
(1)How much was approved for the budget?
(2)Why didn’t he buy a brand new car using the approved budget?
(3)Why did he want to pay a mind-boggling sum for that grandpa-aged car?
(4)Did he actually spend the huge price for that super-car?
(5)Did he buy the car of his own free will ?
(6)Who was the seller?
All church members are reminded to be honest in their behavior.
Cheating violates a holy God. Cheating and godliness cannot live together in peace. One must give in to the other.
In Proverbs 11: 1-3
1The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty.
2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.
********
This article was written base on the sad reflection of church members. The allegation for the over-priced Harrier may not be true. The leaders, if they love the Diocese, should make the necessary clarification to stop the rumor.
Their “Silence” will be taken as an admission of the allegation.
By William Thien
Dated: 14th August, 2012 (1st published)
Dated :11th September, 2012(2nd published)
willliam thien13 September 2012 22:12
ReplyDeleteHAD THE “DEVELOPMENT FUND ACCOUNT” BEEN TAMPERED WITH BEFORE CARRYING OUT THE AUDITING?
The latest episode in the fraud scandal about the church leader has shocked all the church members. They express their gratitude to the “THETRUTHASC”, saying it was the author’s efforts and strong desire to piece together all the facts and evidence that enabled them to get a better understanding of the unethical practices in the Diocese.
The amount, more than RM10 millions involved in the scandal, is considered as tremendous, unprecedented and a historic shame to the Diocese. Judging from the auditor’s report and the analysis of the “THETRUTHASC”, church members believe that the leader and some of his associates have obviously committed a breach of trust. What are the consequences of choosing to sin?
It is suspected that the Sale & Purchase Agreement for the shop-lot in Tenom had been tampered with before conducting the audit of the Diocese account by George Lim. From the information disclosed, the actual amount overpaid for the shop-lot should be RM108,830.00 and not RM58,830.00 as detected. It could be justified by referring to the facts as outlined below:
1. The Agreement was made between Lingkudou Development Sdn Bhd and Bishop of Sabah.
2. Date of the Agreement: 30th December 2009
3. Agreement prepared by: Messrs Azman Baginda & Co, 1st Floor, Block E1, Lot 7 & 8, Beriawa Shophouse, Jalan Bumiputra, P.O.Box 274, 89008 Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia. Tel: 087-331743.
4. Price of the shop-lot: it was RM365,000.00 as clearly stated in the agreement.
5. Address of the shop-lot: Lot No. 6, Block A, Pangie Industrail Complex. (TL167503844, District of Tenom)
6. Stamp duty payable : RM6,300.00 which was levied on RM365,000.00 (refer to the letter from LHDN dated 28/01/2010).
Payments made to the developer has however raised doubt about the integrity of the church leaders as it was overpaid for RM50,000.00, making the cost of the shop-lot from RM365,000.00 to RM415,000.00.
The following analysis of payments will justify the claim.
• 1st payment : RM36,500.00 (Cheque No. HSBC 344511) was made on 28/12/09 under payment voucher no. pv76/Dec 09.
• 2nd payment : RM328,500.00 (Cheque No. HSBC 344674) was made on 3/03/10 under payment voucher no. pv3/Mar 2010.
• 3rd payment : RM50,000.00 (Cheque No. HSBC 593261) was made on 18/06/10 under payment voucher no. pv53/Jun 2010.
Church members are asking the following questions.
1. How many sets of the relevant agreement are being kept by the leader?
2. Why did he need to make the additional payment of RM108,830.00 to the developer?
3. Was the agreement tampered with?
4. Was the additional amount paid to the developer?
5. Was it just a miscommunication that caused the extra payment?
All church leaders and clergies are reminded to be honest in their behavior. Cheating violates a holy God. Cheating and godliness cannot live together in peace. One must give in to the other.
They are urged to read Proverbs 11: 1-3 “1The LORD hates cheating, but he delights in honesty. 2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.”
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The leader, the chancellor and the treasurer are required to give parishioners a detailed explanation.
By William Thien
Dated: 14th September 2012
william thien18 September 2012 01:10
ReplyDeleteCRITICISM SWAMPED THE ASSISTANT BISHOP JOHN YEO
The assistant bishop is being engulfed in a flood of complaints after his email was disclosed by “THETRUTH”. The email was addressed to the clergies and aimed at influencing their judgment about the leaders’ alleged misbehavior.
He and the other leaders have never honestly faced the criticism. No sincere remorse can be felt in their attitude toward church members. On the contrary, they try to make up for their management weaknesses so detected by the auditor with all possible measures, such as the aforesaid email.
Church members failed to understand why he acted so foolishly to dispute about the external auditor’s report. Does he sense that the matter has reached a delicate point?
Facing strong demand for transparency in financial matters, the leaders are still obstinately sticking to a wrong course of action and refuse to cooperate with church members. Why? Did they really commit any irregularity in handling church money? Church members remain skeptical about their integrity.
The clergies are urged to be fully aware of the seriousness of the situation and not to be influenced in their judgment by the email. They are not asked to side against the leadership; but for righteousness, they need to discriminate between right and wrong.
The author of THETRUTH had challenged all the clergies to express their own stand about the following questions:
1. Is the management letter from the auditor true?
2. If the management letter is real, do you support conducting a forensic audit on the Diocese’s accounts?
No doubt, the auditor’s report has aroused public indignation and some members have threatened to report the case to MACC for their investigation into the scandal. Is it wise for them to do so? Is there any alternative route for both parties to reach a common ground to solve the church crisis?
***********
This article was written based on the public reflection.
It is unfair to put all the blame on Bishop Albert Vun. All the financial matters and accounting record are handled by the Diocesan Treasurer, Paul Chong who is also a professional accountant. He is advised to clarify the matter to clear the name of the Bishop.
By William Thien
Dated : 18/9/12