"Chapel" retreats

Before Chapel Guardian discusses this new topic, it needs to be said that we are saddened that good will and intentions are continually shattered by the Friends of Chapel group. We wouldn't be posting today otherwise, but we insist on being vigilant as we uncover more layers to this Chapel of Awareness takeover, and more information is provided to us.

It's been brought to Chapel Guardian's attention that Reverend Eric Berg, who was dismissed from Chapel in 2006, has been holding mountain retreats "under the auspices of Chapel of Awareness" since that time. Chapel Guardian doesn't know why Reverend Berg (a member of Friends of Chapel) was dismissed and we acknowledge it's not really our position to know, so it's not fair to judge him based on that event -- and we won't. (We note that it has been a subject of public dispute among the congregation.)

When it comes to hosting events as Chapel of Awareness, though, that's a public matter worthy of open scrutiny.

Chapel has had mountain retreats for many years, so there's no issue there. What's happened since 2006 is the offering of these "Chapel" retreats without the sanction of Chapel of Awareness, offered only to an exclusive group of people (most of whom eventually became Friends of Chapel).

Two web pages show information about these retreats dating back to 2006 and earlier: www.ecberg.com and retreat.ecberg.com. It was what occurred after 2006 that Chapel Guardian believes needs explanation (screen captures of the web pages are at the end of this post):

1) www.ecberg.com states that these retreats are offered "under the auspices of Chapel of Awareness". Interesting, considering that these retreats from 2006 and after have not (to Chapel Guardian's knowledge) been openly advertised to the congregation, were not discussed at Board of Trustees meetings, and were not announced at services or in the newsletters from 2006 to early this year.

2) Reverend Berg made himself responsible for taking payments from congregation members who attended these retreats (as stated on at least one of the web pages). This raises red flags.

If Reverend Berg was dismissed from Chapel of Awareness (he is still listed as inactive as of May 24, 2010), under what authority was he running these retreats "under the auspices of Chapel of Awareness"? Doing this placed Chapel unknowingly in jeopardy in terms of liability should anything have happened.

More alarming is wondering where the money went.

From 2006 to the start of this year, the Chapel of Awareness congregation and ministers (those remaining who didn't "retire" until they conveniently returned in April) worked hard to raise money through events and fundraising drives for new ceiling fans in the sanctuary, wall patches downstairs, and a new roof that will last for decades. Where was the donation from the Friends of Chapel and Reverend Berg's "retreats"? There were none.

The handling of these retreats is questionable at best, and certainly exclusionary. A look at photos from the retreats shows only Friends of Chapel members.

Now, in light of this, Reverend Berg indicates that he is "being accepted back" by the church's new leadership. (He discusses this new era in a May 23 posting at revericsblog.blogspot.com) While we sincerely wish him the best, he must answer for how these "Chapel" events could've been offered when they weren't offered by Chapel.

The handling of the finances for these retreats follows a Friends of Chapel pattern, as shown with the handling of Friends of Chapel "donations" that went straight to a person (Wanda Olson in that case) and not an organization.

Chapel ministers list (www.chapelofawareness.org/services.html) as of May 24:

Berg web pages (www.ecberg.com and retreat.ecberg.com) as of May 24: