Chapel Guardian has received a communication (read it at the end of this post) from Rev. Ann Lorenzini. To Guardians' knowledge this is the first time she has openly addressed the circumstance of her expulsion from Chapel by the church Board of Directors. Her information is helpful because it confirms what Guardian has been receiving --- that students, service attendees and members are being misinformed about what happened to Rev. Ann. She addresses this issue directly in her statement below.
Chapel Guardian knows of other expulsions, including at least one other minister. This has been covered in past observations here. Rev. Ann's is significant because of her long association with the Chapel and close ties with Founder Rev. Gene Larr until his passing in 2006.
Rev. Ann has provided Guardian a copy of her letter of expulsion, provided here for you to read. Consider the misinformation Nell Rose Smith uses in her rationale for Rev. Ann's expulsion:
EXPULSION VS. CANCELLATION
Nell Rose Smith claims Rev. Ann (whose name she misspells in the letter) was responsible for "the expulsion of the entire membership". This is false. Not even the friendsofchapel.blogspot.com site referred to this particular action as expulsion. Friends of Chapel stated that the church "cancelled the memberships of everyone". The term expulsion by definition is related to punitive action. Even the Friends of Chapel acknowledged the action as cancellations, not punitive action (punishment).
The Chapel Board of Directors at the time (December 2009) made it clear in a letter from Rev. Ann to the congregation that the cancellation of all memberships was necessary for reorganization after the schism occurred. That was not punitive intent (expulsions). That letter was followed up by a new membership form for all to fill out, which Friends of Chapel ordered their faction not to acknowledge. Those new forms were being mailed back and accepted to the Chapel at the time mediation began, however. The action that the Board took was not punitive, it was procedural based on circumstances. Nell Rose Smith also seems to ascribe these actions as solely those of Rev. Ann, when they were Board decisions.
ECONOMIC AND GENERAL WELFARE?
Chapel Guardian find this issue cited by Nell Rose Smith as bizarre. She refers to Rev. Ann's "failure to meet the fiduciary responsibility for maintaining the economic and general welfare of the Congregation." This is also false.
Under Rev. Ann's leadership and contributions, the Chapel of Awareness received new energy-efficient windows. Rev. Ann also saw to the continual maintenance of the Chapel. Under her watch, while the Landmark/Friends of Chapel were inactive, Rev. Ann installed new fans in the Sanctuary for better energy efficiency.
Finally and most disturbing, while Nell Rose Smith and the Landmark/Friends of Chapel were inactive in the church and suing it, Chapel of Awareness successfully rallied the membership to donate for a new roof. Nell Rose Smith and her group are now the sole beneficiaries of what Rev. Ann and the membership did.
QUOTING BY-LAWS
Nell Rose Smith quotes the By-Laws to Rev. Ann in saying that the Chapel "shall be open to those persons who are keenly interested in actively bringing into action the concepts and directives as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation". But this is exactly why Nell Rose Smith and the Landmark/Friends of Chapel were removed from the membership rolls in the first place. They were not active, and expressed no interest whatsoever. How can Nell Rose Smith accuse Rev. Ann of the same thing?
CONCLUSION
In calling the Friends of Chapel out on their lack of activity or contact with Chapel for several years as of 2009, what Rev. Ann and the Board of Trustees ended up doing at the time was really expose a faction of the membership --- lead by people following Landmark philosophy, not Chapel or Gene Larr --- standing at the sidelines to take over assuming Rev. Ann would fail upon the founder's passing in 2006.
That failure did not happen, and they were asked to justify their absence. That led to the lawsuit and their ultimate takeover of Chapel. In that takeover, the new Board under Nell Rose Smith's leadership did not honor the spirit of the mediation agreement, expelling Rev. Ann even though her position on the Board was recognized.
Given the subject matter of the letter, Nell Rose Smith oddly signs it "Sincerely yours".
BELOW: REV. ANN'S NOTE TO CHAPEL GUARDIAN
from xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx
to Chapel Guardian
date Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 8:38 AM
subject Re Chapel of Awareness Spiritual Church
to Chapel Guardian
date Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 8:38 AM
subject Re Chapel of Awareness Spiritual Church
Dear Guardian,
Thank you for your vigilance this past year in posting the activities at the Chapel of Awareness Spiritual Church in an objective manner.
For the past many months, I have received phone calls and cards wanting to know where I’ve been, and saying: “…Many of us pray that you will one day have a change of heart.” I have explained the reason to them, but there are some who still don’t know the details of, and for, my absence.
Therefore, I am attaching a letter I received in June, 2010, from Rev. Nell Rose Smith, as Chairman of the Board, which will fully explain why I am no longer there. You have my permission to print it in its entirety, or in part, as you see fit.
Again, thank you for your continued interest in the Chapel.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ann Marie Lorenzini
