Letter to Friends of the old Martinez United Methodist Church

Old Martinez United Methodist Church
PO Box 2025, Martinez CA 94553

7/18/2009

Dear Friends:

With great regret, we must inform you that the nearly 50-year life of the congregation of the Martinez United Methodist Church has effectively ended. The officers and committee members have nearly unanimously resigned. Most members have chosen to discontinue their attendance. This occurred after our church was hijacked by the District Superintendent and the Bishop and turned over to a new congregation which had previously had no members in our congregation. The building remains, but the people of the congregation, the real church, are gone.

The Conference violated the Discipline of the United Methodist Church (paragraphs 431 and 432) by reassignment of our pastor and assignment of a new pastor without consultation or assessment of the impact on our pastor and his family and the congregation of Martinez UMC. We made repeated efforts to provide our consultation about pastoral assignment and its impact. We even tried to get an explanation from the District Superintendent and Bishop. We were told, however, that they were not required to listen to our consultation and we received evasive and disingenuous reasons for their actions. Clearly, the best interests of our decades old congregation were not a primary consideration. The impact of their unilateral acts has decimated our congregation to such a degree that we are no longer viable.

Briefly, our pastor was removed and replaced by a Tongan pastor whose career experience is in leading Tongan language worship. He was to serve as our pastor and to serve the Tongan Fellowship, which had used our facilities. Further, we were expected to fund 75-80% of a substantially increased salary and benefit cost, an impossible burden on a decimated congregation. Rather than explain at greater length here, we have established a web site with copies of the relevant correspondence between our PPRC, the congregation as a whole, and the Conference Bishop and Superintendent.

The plan for the hijacking of our church became clear when Sunday, July 5, 2009, 10:30 AM worship was led by the new pastor, Rev, Afuhia Akolo, assisted by Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernandez, the Superintendent of the Bay View District. For the first time, this service was attended by a large number of Tongans (estimate over 40). They were sworn in as members of Martinez United Methodist Church. A Charge Conference was announced for July 18, 2009 to “set pastoral compensation and elect officers”. We conclude that this take over action was the “Greater Plan,” which the District Superintendent would not share with us. Quite frankly, with no discussion, no honest information, this was a hostile takeover.

To access the web site containing the correspondence mentioned above, go to http://deadMtzUMC.blogspot.com. If you have questions, you may address emails to us at deadMtzUMC@aol.com. If you have no access to the internet, you can reach us at the PO Box above. A few of us from the old congregation will continue to be accessible at that address

Again, we regret to inform you of this situation. We had a good run since the church was established in 1959, but it has now come to an end. We hope that this information helps you understand what has happened here. If you continue to worship in a United Methodist Church, we hope our open communication of our experience will help you protect your own church from a similar experience.

Sincerely,

The Former Leaders of the Martinez United Methodist Church on behalf of the large majority of the congregation and all but one officer and one committee member.

s /Sue Beadle, Former Lay leader
s /Jim Trusler, Former Trustees Chair
s /Lucille Bennett, Former Admin Board Chair
s /Maria Sartin, Former Treasurer
s /Bob Sartin, Former Pastor-Parish Committee & Finance Committee Chairs