Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 9/17/2008

Question
My brother is treasurer of our church & has been for 40+ yrs. He & his work have always been above reproach. There have never been any questions re: honesty, mistakes, etc. He has had some physical problems for some years (inclusion body myositis) & has trouble getting around but is still mobile & as mentally acute as ever. Recently, another member ,who is a deacon, verbally attacked my broter after a church service. He had asked my brother a question (totally unrelated to church)and apparently did not like his answer. My brother is a straight-shooter & doesn't hesitate to speak his mind but always in a firm but non-combative way. This person has also verbally attacked other members as well. He went as far as to call my brother's home & verbally abuse him & his wife. The person's wife happens to be the church secretary & has lots of input with the pastor. Well this bit of background brings me to my question. My brother has requested that the pastor help resolve these issues - he hasn't complied. A nominating comittee member called my brother & requested that he resign as treasurer "for the good of the church." My brother did turn in his resignation letter which was majorly edited by the pastor & his secretary. I read the letter & there was nothing inappropriate in it. The pastor changed the date of the resignation as well as left out a request by my brother for an out-side audit. Can they do that? We are heart-broken by this & by the fact that the pastor seems to be playing both sides of the fence. There have been a couple of lies told by the Pastor & secretary re: the letter of resignation. Can you offer any insight as to what, if anything, we can do? We've all been praying for the matter to resolve but.....   thank you so much for your input on this.  Yours in Christ, Pamela D. Henry

Answer
Unfortunately, my first answer seems to have been sucked into cyberspace.

In a nutshell, using only the data that I have I would suggest you leave the church. Why? The pastor and secretary have colluded to alter a letter and create a lie.  Do they have something to hide or just ignoring you to "keep peace"?  Only they and God know.  You have been to the Pastor, which is the first step in Matthew 18.  That did not work.  Since the husband of the secretary is a deacon it is doubtful that the deacon board would be of much help but you can take another person with you to the pastor or go to the deacon board as step two of Matthew 18. As I said, my guess is that it will be ignored but you will have followed the right protocol.  Step 3, if step 2 fails, would be to try and bring it to the church, which may be difficult as you most likely would not be recognized at a business meeting. Outside of sending a letter to every member I do not know of any other way to bring it before the church body for a ruling.  When that fails, you have no options but to either stay and bear the burden of the offence or leave the church.  If there is a lawyer in the church? I would have your brother do a certified affadavit that when he resigned the books were all in order in case someone has been cooking the books or is plotting something that they might blame on him.  

Throughout this process I would be praying for the people involved to be convicted of their lack of integrity and to come forth and get the issue reconciled yet I would still follow the biblical protocol and then leave if that repentance does not come and the issue is not solved righteously.

All that being said, it will have to be between you and your brother to make the ultimate decision.  May God grant you great wisdom and discernment in this matter.