Friends of Chapel flout mediation agreement in dismissing chairman and vice-chairman

The Friends of Chapel steering committee, now operating as the Board of Directors for Chapel of Awareness, ousted Chairman Ann Lorenzini and First Vice Chair Barbara Koenig from the board on Sunday, May 16, 2010. This is in violation of the spirit of the court-ordered mediation agreement and special election, which stated that they were to remain in their positions until the end of their respective terms. Friends of Chapel – again – have flouted the very complaints they lodged against these two ministers. They have actually done what they have accused others of doing, and sued for.

Chapel Guardian has received reports of what happened at the meeting, including statements given by Rev. Ann and Rev. Barbara (posted below), and inappropriate behavior on the part of the Friends of Chapel steering committee, now in control of the Friends of Chapel board. This inappropriate behavior went so far as to allow the thirty-odd members of the audience to actually vote on the dismissals, when it is only the board that votes to take such action.

The Friends of Chapel steering committee, in dismissing Rev. Ann and Rev. Barbara, cited “grievances” in voting for their dismissal, yet the accusations leveled against the two of them were not shown to be proven or substantiated for the record. Grievances against Rev. Barbara were made at the previous meeting without her being present to face her accusers.

Two other things: The Friends of Chapel changed the locks to the building before Rev. Ann had been removed as chairman. Changing locks so an organization’s duly-elected, sitting chairman can't access the building is illegal. The Friends of Chapel, now in control of the official Chapel of Awareness website, have demoted Rev. Gene Larr’s legally established standing as founder of the Chapel to that of co-founder, adding in smaller type underneath his biography Donald Schwartz as “co-founder.” See this link: www.chapelofawareness.org/services.html.

Among other things covered at yesterday’s meeting, under the leadership of this new Friends of Chapel board, it was stated by the treasurer that the phone bill for Chapel has doubled in the last month, from about 100 dollars to more than 200 dollars, raising the suspicions of Advisor Ernie Linkous. Who are they calling? Also, Pastor Don Miller accused Rev. Ann of being delusional.

Most disturbingly – after Rev. Ann and Rev. Barbara left the meeting – a board member (who we won’t name, out of respect for them because of the power they now hold) told the meeting that Rev. Ann had failing mental faculties, and that Rev. Barbara manipulated Rev. Ann for her own agenda. This was shocking. It is not known whether this board member is a mental health professional and was able to diagnose Rev. Ann.

If Rev. Ann’s calm and professional demeanor at the meeting, and her statement, are any indication, she appears to have as good amount of mental control as anyone. Her statement, and Rev. Barbara’s, are below, as submitted to us. They were forwarded to the Chapel Guardian by a third party who asked to remain anonymous.