Dear Board of General Superintendents (David Busic, Gustavo Crocker, Fili Chambo, Carla Sunberg, Scott Daniels, and Christian Sarmiento),
I stand with Dee Kelley.
I’m shocked you allowed charges to be filed against this exemplary pastor. I’m stunned his credentials were stripped. I’m angry he was denied an appeal to that decision.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
Your silence is telling but it shouldn’t surprise me. You set the stage for it to happen. Two years ago I faced the same charges as Dee. But at my trial, three people recognized I had not taught doctrine out of harmony with the church. Why? Because our doctrine consisted of the Articles of Faith. As you know, there is NOTHING in those articles about the LGBTQ+ community. This is 100% the reason the trial failed to strip me of my credentials and I’m still an ordained elder.
So what did you, the Board of General Superintendents, do? You redefined “doctrine” as the Articles of Faith + the Code of Christian Conduct + the Code of Christian Character. These other documents contain a reference to marriage as being between a man and a woman. But those two documents were never viewed as “doctrine.” With that change, charges of “teaching doctrine contrary to our doctrine” have more teeth.
By including these two documents in the definition of doctrine you created ammunition to win trials like mine and force elders out.
So now, it’s open season on pastors who believe God’s affirming love extends to everyone. Rev. Dr. Dee Kelley is your latest victim. You and I know there are other pastors being threatened with a trial for affirming members of the LGBTQ+ community.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
This is a dark day in our denomination. And it not only happened on your watch, it happened because of you.
If you feel no shame, I’m ashamed for you. If you shed no tears, I weep for you. If your heart doesn’t ache over what you’ve done, mine aches for you.
I urge you to make this right. Lead us in the right direction. Set the example for true holiness.
I stand with Dee Kelley.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Randall Hartman
They dont lead the church, The BGS cower before the witch hunters. They are either cowards, or else supporters of the inquisition and purge.
The few minutes given Dee to plead his case is just proof that there is no interest in what is right and true. Just winning. The church would be just as well represented to fire the BGS and hire Trump. It would be more honest.
There’s so much truth in what you say. We all know it’s pretty much about the money and power. I’m so sad. Thanks for your comments.
It’s so hard to understand how a church can behave this way. It’s heart wrenching. Thank you for standing up for what’s right, and against behavior that is so unholy and unjust.
It blows my mind. This is not the same church I was ordained into many years ago. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for your strong words! And I also staying with Dee!
I feel so many things, and I don’t even know Dee. I’m first incredibly angry, because more and more I see the GS’s like the Sadducees and Pharisees of Jesus’ day. I’m heartbroken because all the blood, sweat and tears that he must have put into the ministry God provided (not the GS’s) was stripped by them. I’m disgusted because they are changing the rules to the game so that they win. How unethical, unbiblical, unloving and how unlike Christ they are. May God’s justice shine forth.
Thanks Cody for your comments. I too am disgusted. Hoping and praying for better days ahead!
This process has truly taken the wind out of my Nazarene sails.
I pray the BGS prays thru on this and restore Pastor Dee.
I have been in the COTN since 1963, supporting with tithe and offerings, my talents, leadership- local, district, ENC trustee 11 years!
I truly believe BGS can do better and lead us in holiness.
I hope you are right but I don’t share your optimism.
Oh my….what landed me here today? In the 70’s, following the death of my father, I was lead to the CotN by a pair of teachers at my HS ( I was researching schools and opened the door by asking about Olivet). At Olivet ’74-76, I attended a predominant minority church “Wildwood”, eye-opening the racist bigotry I heard back at Ollie Tech… The organist of my “home church” and his escapades had earlier led me, a student new to the church, to ask the HS teachers to retrieve the church key from him, an established church member. They were never given the actual reason, I was too young and too vulnerable at the time to feel safe explaining. Now, after over 30 years as a professional, it is baffling that that request didn’t set off bells,whistles,lights,sirens,red flags or flares for that church leadership that SOMETHING was SERIOUSLY wrong. Ultimately left Olivet for a wonderful Catholic Nursing college and after witnessing what evangelicals have become left the christian faith. No regrets.