Chapel of Awareness letter about revoking memberships

Chapel Guardian received the above letter (name removed by request) from a Chapel of Awareness member. The letter from Sherry DeLoach uses (as the sender noted) the words "revoke" and "terminate", which by definition carry punitive connotations.

From Chapel Guardian's reading, the wording of Sherry DeLoach's letter falls within this definition, indicating without being explicit that punitive action is imminent. Just because someone chooses not to renew corporate membership, that doesn't mean they have engaged in misconduct. Plus, who would honestly contact their organization and ask "Please revoke my membership"? This is no way to encourage anyone in our congregation to keep a membership of any level.

A year ago, the Friends of Chapel sent out a letter in which they pledged to "restore balance, wisdom, and spiritual leadership" to Chapel of Awareness. Sherry DeLoach's letter is another in a list of examples now of how those words had no meaning, as far as Chapel Guardian are concerned.

Sherry DeLoach is among the leadership of the Friends of Chapel. They organized and sued the Chapel for the very issue raised in the letter she sent. Lack of participation and non-payment of corporate dues were among the reasons that Friends of Chapel memberships were canceled, leading to their lawsuit and resulting mediation. Now in control, Sherry DeLoach and the Friends of Chapel are citing the very same reasons for threatening to revoke memberships.

Response to Chapel of Awareness newsletter

The Friends of Chapel of Awareness recently released a newsletter (copy at the end of this entry), and there are several items that warrant scrutiny, in the opinion of Chapel Guardian.


DISCOUNTED ART
Chapel Guardian are disappointed to see that the Friends of Chapel leadership are cheapening Rev. Donald Schwartz's famous artistic legacy by marking down his fine art by 25% and raffling off his prints. Why the fire sale? Adding insult to injury is the fact that the Friends are "celebrating" his birthday by slashing the prices of his prized art ... owned and celebrated by celebrities like William Shatner, racing professionals, and horse owners. Remember that Donald was the one the Friends put on their pedestal in their lawsuit to overtake Chapel of Awareness. This fire sale is the result?

More questionable is ... again ... the noticeable absence of any explanation of where the proceeds from this event are going. Is this a Chapel of Awareness fund-raiser? If it is a private event being held at Chapel of Awareness, how is the church benefiting from the use of church facilities and people? Are the funds going directly to church leadership and not the church for the congregation’s benefit? There is no transparency.


HEALING CENTER
The Friends of Chapel appear now to be backtracking about the use of Sherry DeLoach's phone number for what is supposedly a Chapel of Awareness program. The newsletter says "Please call 760 672-2868 rather than the Chapel phone since the Chapel phone is not monitored daily". Fair enough, but this is a significant change in church policy since the Friends of Chapel won control.


Up until last spring, the church phone was checked frequently and often daily. So the Friends' explanation begs a question: Why isn't the Chapel phone checked regularly anymore? That is a basic function of church business. This issue is compounded by observations Chapel Guardian have received that the Chapel of Awareness phone, within the past year, has had a steady busy signal for a day or two at a time.


"A SPIRITUALIST'S BIBLE"
In the newsletter, the Friends of Chapel leadership are now touting their book as "Rev. Larr's book". This is a significant change in description. From the beginning, the Friends of Chapel described this book as a supposed compilation of his journals and writings, which means that this is not his book. Several people who were close to Rev. Eugene C. Larr have said it is doubtful that he would ever have called a book something like this in the first place. Given Chapel's former non-denominational, spiritual (not Spiritualist) approach, the use of the term "Spiritualist's Bible" is blatantly inconsistent with Rev. Larr's vision.

As with Donald's artwork and other Chapel functions, the Friends of Chapel do not make it clear exactly where the proceeds of this book are going. The newsletter states that the book costs 20 dollars (including tax) if purchased through Chapel of Awareness. However, it states that if you buy the book through Chapel, you have to pick it up at Chapel. If you want to buy it and are not within distance of Chapel, you have to buy it through Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and Noble.

Most importantly, members of the Chapel have a right to know where their money is going when they buy this publication. If it is a Chapel publication that you can buy through Chapel, then is it a tax-deductible donation to the Chapel, as it should be? If it is sold through book sellers, how is that donation handled? If it is not a Chapel donation, what individuals or groups are potentially profiting from Rev. Larr's work? These questions need to be answered.


NEWSLETTER AVAILABILITY
Under Friends leadership, Chapel of Awareness has apparently abandoned mailing church newsletters, under the apparent assumption that everyone has email and good web access. This is an exclusionary action, requiring all members to have only a specific way to get information about the church they value. Some church members may not have access to the Internet, the knowledge to use it to significant value, or the money to afford high-speed access that can handle the huge file sizes that the new leadership uses for some reason. Others value their online privacy and might not want to give their email address to this Chapel leadership.