Chapel of Awareness pastor's letter

"Your current Board members are all free thinkers and none were held hostage or coerced into making decisions they didn't agree with."

Reverend Don Miller, Chapel of Awareness pastor

In such a fractious time in the world, in an era where unity is needed most in the name of "loving kindness" (as the Friends of Chapel have put it) Chapel of Awareness Pastor Don Miller takes an uncalled-for slap to the faces of a good amount of the Chapel of Awareness membership who supported the previous Board prior to (and during) the Friends' lawsuit.

Reverend Miller has opted to turn what was once a positive, inspirational, and unifying annual letter to the congregation by previous pastors into a negative political play designed to ostracize those he and the Friends of Chapel do not agree with. Coercion and "hostage holding" are serious accusations. He has thrown them at current members without qualification or example. This is inappropriate and unbecoming of a pastor -- especially one who admits in his own letter that he has been gone from Chapel for about a third of a year.

Reverend Miller states in the letter that Reverend Nell Rose Smith took over as Pastor in his absence, yet the present church bylaws do not state a procedure for such a handover (the closest that can be found is the calling of a special meeting of the congregation); even if such a handover was done properly by board action, no notice was ever sent out to the congregation.

Before he takes this slap at members and the previous board (representative of the chapel membership as elected), Reverend Miller refers to church founder Reverend Eugene C. Larr's "mundane practices" of teaching. Does he really mean to call the founder's teachings "mundane"? As to say, by definition, "common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative"? From Chapel Guardians' observations, this approach falls in line with the very publishing of the book In the Beginning, material that (by the book's own admission) founder Larr did not want published (a position he was consistent on for years).


Reverend Miller's letter is ironic in that he literally sat on both sides of the fence during the church conflict, serving and voting with some of the very board members he accuses of "hostage holding" while supporting the Friends' lawsuit. This calls his loyalties into question when it comes to a whole congregation, which Chapel of Awareness members assumed would be made whole by the Friends' stated goals upon taking over the church. This letter does not make the congregation whole; it only keeps the wound open. Many argue that it is the Friends of Chapel who fractured the congregation to begin with, and based on the actions (recall: right thought, right action) of the sitting leadership, Chapel Guardian must now agree.


Reverend Miller says the current Friends leadership is working to make sure there are no hostile takeovers of Chapel of Awareness. But there has been one. Theirs ..... From the filing of a lawsuit to the banning of ministers, corporate members and leadership against mediation, to the publishing of a book the founder didn't want to a new leadership that has been consolidated into Friends of Chapel backers.


From the letter, Reverend Miller would have the membership believe that Chapel of Awareness was saved from some underground force bent on taking it over (odd, given that the alleged ringleader was pastor for about two decades). That was not the case, no matter what Friends of Chapel propaganda would have you believe.


Reverend Miller's tone -- his statements in this letter -- is a new unfortunate chapter in Chapel of Awareness history. Is this what Chapel of Awareness has come to? Is this what Reverends Eugene C. Larr and Donald Schwartz would advocate? Is this what you want out of what has often recently been termed "Your Chapel"?

Chapel of Awareness annual meeting and chairman's letter

As Chapel of Awareness enters its annual phase of electing members of the board, Chapel Guardian take note of some points made by Reverend Nell Rose Smith in her letter to the congregation in her capacity as board chair. [Mailed election materials are at the bottom of this post]

As with last year on the heels of the Friends of Chapel take-over of Chapel of Awareness, Reverend Nell states: “nothing is more precious than the generosity of those who make it work through their commitment, time and energy, their ideas and resources” … none of which Reverend Nell provided herself when she and the Friends of Chapel faction disappeared from Chapel of Awareness and then proceeded to sue the church as it struggled.

She thanks the following people whose behavior was questionable over the year: She thanks Reverend Sherry DeLoach as membership director [who has resigned her board position], who sent collection notice-style letters to corporate members warning them of their “termination” if they did not pay their corporate dues. A stick-rather-than-a-carrot approach with shades of the very behavior she and the Friends accused the former board of. Reverend Nell also thanks Terry Hall as the webmaster, who was cited by Yelp and Wikipedia for terms-of-service violations and who proliferated Chapel of Awareness “business” listings across Websites of questionable taste and information.

Finally, in the annual meeting materials provided to the membership this year, the sitting board opted not to provide pre-stamped proxy envelopes to mail back to chapel. The stamping of the return proxy envelopes, for years, was designed to encourage members to return their proxies in the event they could not attend the annual meeting – as a courtesy. The sitting board has apparently chosen to forgo courtesy, and perhaps discourage proxy voting by this quiet, albeit incidental, change of procedure.

Chapel of Awareness closed?

 Chapel Guardian were tipped off this week that Chapel of Awareness' Facebook page says that Chapel is "Closed Now".

The Friends of Chapel's public Chapel of Awareness Facebook Page, as of October 20th and 21st, does indeed clearly state that Chapel is "Closed now". (see attached page copy and this link)

For almost two years now, the Friends of Chapel (now in control of Chapel) have continually claimed that expelled Pastor Reverend Ann Lorenzini and the expelled board of directors closed chapel during the Friends lawsuit against the Chapel; a claim that was not true. Up until just a couple of months ago, Friends of Chapel member Reverend Eric Berg made the same claim on his own Chapel of Awareness page; a claim he removed after Chapel Guardian brought it to the congregation's attention.

Now, we see the very people perpetuating this misinformation stating on their own Chapel of Awareness Facebook Page that they have now closed Chapel of Awareness.

This is truly sad, and deserves public clarification. Please hold the Friends of Chapel on the current church board accountable for what this closure means, as the Annual Meeting approaches.

Chapel of Awareness was not closed

A Chapel Guardian follower sent in a tip about an interesting passage on Reverend Eric Berg's Website about the Chapel of Awareness' status from 2006 to 2010.

He states in part: "Although I was not a part of Chapel from June 2006 to 2010 while working in Washington State ..... After Chapel reopened in Spring/2010 and after Donald crossed over in September/2010, I contributed on the teaching staff and clergy ....."

Chapel was not closed at any time during this period; it's a leading statement that could be easily interpreted that Chapel of Awareness was closed from 2006 to 2010. The statement is inaccurate. As has already been covered on this blog, the chapel board of directors (during the Friends of Chapel lawsuit against the Chapel) held limited services downstairs and put other functions on hold in early 2010 until the resolution of the Friends lawsuit.

Any claim that this blog is wrong on this point can be countered by this: During the Chapel's time of limited services in early 2010, Friends of Chapel members were witnessed on several occasions staging drive-by checks and standing outside the building during the limited services, during the time Eric Berg claims that the Chapel was "closed". Why would the Friends of Chapel stage such drive-bys and stand-bys of services if no one was there and the church was closed?

Eric Berg, either innocently or on purpose, is inaccurate in his claim that the Chapel of Awareness was closed in the fashion that he states it.

Psychics that "astound"

The Friends of Chapel in control of Chapel of Awareness apparently continue to post to "business" websites like this one. Not only does this post on "Cylex" (www.cylex-usa.com/company/chapel-of-awareness-730358.html) contain web ads that throw Chapel in with online psychics that claim to "astound", it gives erroneous information about Chapel. The fax number listed is for a florist shop (a "Chapel Hill Florist"), not Chapel of Awareness. Yet the Chapel description on this page appears to be written by someone in the know.

Chapel of Awareness "missionaries" and "religion"

Chapel Guardian received an observation about something found on the Encinitas Patch web site (http://encinitas.patch.com/listings/chapel-of-awareness). The Chapel of Awareness has posted a double-talk description that seems to further show that the Friends of Chapel now running the church know little if anything about the real work of founder, Rev. Eugene C. Larr, and the philosophy of the Chapel.

Here is what they say:

"Chapel of Awareness follows a religion of the spirit known as Tau Sing. Rev. Eugene C. Larr held the first service of the Chapel of Awareness on December 24, 1972 in a building that was formerly used as a Methodist church. Visit the Chapel of Awareness website to read more about Tau Sing."

"Services: Missionary programs"

This is flat out wrong, in Chapel Guardians' view. Since when does Chapel send out "missionaries" as part of a program? What is a Chapel of Awareness missionary? The use of "religion" to describe Larr's and Chapel's contribution to spiritual development, is more alarming.

As the Chapel of Awareness leadership have worded it, their description of the Chapel of Awareness is vague and open to interpretations - a religion called Tau Sing, or a religion of the one spirit, Tau Sing. What does that mean? What is "Tau Singism"? Or "Tauism"? Or "Singism"? If Tau Sing is "the religion of the spirit", does that mean Tau Sing is God? Or is it a religion -of- spirit.

What exactly are the Friends of Chapel saying here? And where are the Friends sending their missionaries?

The Friends of Chapel, in Chapel Guardian opinion, seem to be trying to change Larr's vision of spiritualism -without- dogma and religion into a religion itself. This is the opposite of Chapel of Awareness's purpose.

Chapel of Awareness "spirits"

What business does Chapel of Awareness have advertising on a site for wine??

As the previous observation noted, this is yet again another example of what happens when an organization floods the internet with promotional listings that end up on questionable sites.

Do we really want people to search online and find this kind of thing? Sorry, Chapel, wrong kind of "spirits". Funny, but embarrassing.

Chapel of Awareness "spirits"

Chapel of Awareness now a spam vehicle?

A basic internet search today showed a top level result (showed up starting around 5a-m this morning apparently) that uses Chapel of Awareness as a spam vehicle for "replica adidas sunglasses wholesale - three years with Chapel of Awareness". This is embarrassing, and avoidable.

Why does this matter to our congregation? Well when you flood the internet with yourself across "business" web sites as the Chapel's current leadership have done, you open yourself up to this kind of abuse. Chapel's current Board of Directors had no business sending out Chapel of Awareness listings under "business" sites (questionable ones in some cases, web searches show) for what we thought was (used to be, at least) a church. Who wants to attend a church that's becoming an on-line spam vehicle?

Foul-mouthed Chapel of Awareness

Friends of Chapel members Terry Hall and others are now regular speakers on Sundays at the Chapel of Awareness (in place of apparently AWOL Friends of Chapel ministers). If the philosophy of "You are known by your works" is any indication, the Tweets below (from Friends of Chapel members Terry and Amy Hall) are a window into the kind of mindset of these Sunday speakers ...

Where are the Chapel of Awareness ministers?

A couple of tips came to Chapel Guardian recently after the Guardians' post about the Chapel of Awareness calendar.

Regarding one tip, Guardian appreciate that the Friends of Chapel leadership took note and chose to follow the spirit of church bylaws by adding monthly board meetings to the calendar. Until Guardian brought up the issue, board meetings had stopped being placed on the calendar. Keeping the meetings on the calendar keeps the Friends of Chapel leadership in line with the bylaws, which state that members of the congregation can attend the board at meetings. That is difficult to do when no one knows the meeting dates. So kudos for making that change.

But the calendar now seems to indicate that ministers are stepping away from their active participation in Sunday services (a familiar tone when these same ministers became inactive in Chapel starting in 2006 ... are we seeing a repeat of that?). The new calendar (as of April 26th) shows only four Chapel minister-led Sunday lectures for the entire spring and summer seasons. All the rest (between May 1st and September 11th) are listed with semi-anonymous first names like "Lecture by Bill", followed by "Lecture by To Be Announced" starting September 18th.

Why would someone curious about Chapel of Awareness be inclined to make the choice to attend a Sunday service for the first time with a "Lecture by Bill"? Or a "Lecture by Helene"? etc. What kind of message does that send? The Chapel of Awareness web site is a window into the church for those potentially interested in finding out more. A "Lecture by Bill" is not the way to do that, as far as Chapel Guardian are concerned.

So where are the ministers?? More importantly, where is the Pastor??

They and the Pastor are supposed to be leading Sunday services, and leading the lectures. Turning this responsibility over to no-name mysteries sends a murky message.

No Chapel of Awareness board meetings?

A Chapel Guardian observer sent in a note that Chapel's online Calendar shows only Services and Classes but no scheduled Board Meetings even though the calendar legend shows they should be on there. As of 4-14-11 the Calendar shows no Board Meetings listed for ANY month this year. Classes are there; Services are there; but there are no Meetings.

If the Meetings are actually happening, why aren't they in the Calendar? In the past Chapel Board Meetings were open to the Members to attend and even speak. The Friends of Chapel flooded some of them in 2009 and 2010 and in one they even brought a yelling, threatening lawyer demanding that they be heard. Now that they are in control, nothing.

January's Calendar highlights the Friends' Chili Cook-Off. So apparently Chili Cook-Offs are more important than following Chapel of Awareness Bylaws and running regular Meetings of church business?

Chapel of Awareness business?

Tourists traveling in the area made an unwitting observation about how the Friends of Chapel appear to be changing Chapel of Awareness's direction into business and not a nonprofit church.

The photo above has a note attached saying "They were having a cute gallery shop, so we popped in". (dated March 12th) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/orignauxmoose/5545080034/)

The church's new leadership has been sending out notices about rummage sales (including one that was planned for March 5th), but then some church members got a message promoting an art show for Donald Schwartz. The note posted by the tourists seems to indicate that what they saw was not an art show but a "gallery shop". That sounds like a storefront, not an event. (Note also that nowhere in the promotion for the art show, or even the rummage sales, is there an indication of any proceeds going to the church as a fund-raiser)

Before the Friends of Chapel took over, Chapel of Awareness had set up a store, but it was for parishioners with all proceeds going to the church as a fundraiser. It was not a storefront for the public.

What steps has the new Chapel leadership taken to make sure that they are operating a storefront properly under the auspices of a non-profit church? As usual, who knows?

Given the Friends' placement of Chapel of Awareness under a large number of online "business" listings (not religious), and now with the creation of this "store" and a book without showing how Rev. Gene Larr's church is benefiting, the appearance is that the new church leadership is moving Chapel of Awareness towards a for-profit business, in Chapel Guardian view.

There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, as long as it is done legally and transparently to the congregation. No matter what, as of now the focus is becoming confusing.

You don’t have to go to Chapel of Awareness anymore …

… because all the basics to Chapel of Awareness philosophy are apparently now contained in a single book called “In the Beginning: A Spiritualist’s Bible”, a book claiming to be the ultimate compilation of work by the late Rev. Eugene C. Larr, the Chapel’s founder.

Did it not occur to author Donald Schwartz and those he thanked in the book’s acknowledgments that by publishing the entire lecture series, among other materials, they have effectively ended the purpose of Chapel itself?

Why attend live presentations of the Beginning Lecture Series or Sunday Services when you can buy the book and read at your leisure, anywhere, anytime?

In Chapel Guardian point of view, the publishing of this book puts Chapel’s purpose in jeopardy. There’s no point in “answering your spiritual knock” when you don’t even need to approach the door anymore.

The book outright acknowledges that “for more than 30 years, Rev. Larr refused to have his classes, lectures, and lessons published in print. He remained concerned that misinterpretation and misrepresentation would ensue” (page 11).

Rev. Larr is absolutely right.

All one need do is look at the “interpretations” and claims of channeling found in the “The Season”, an occasional publication of the “new” Chapel of Awareness. An example:

Rev. Nell Rose Smith is stated to have channeled the Chapel’s founder (as published in the Winter 2010/11 “Season”). The “channel” seems to reveal Rev. Larr to be morose on spirit-side: “When I focused only on money, then I saw only the poverty of my life” … “When I focused only on my goals and achievement, I saw only my failures,” the publication quotes “Rev. Larr” as saying. Who among Chapel members would honestly think that Rev. Larr only focused on money in life when church donations – on principle – were practically discouraged, and membership was free to 5 dollars for three decades? Who among Chapel members honestly believe that Rev. Larr only saw failures when he built an organization that only the rarest of individuals can? These words warrant critical analysis. As Rev. Larr himself insisted, as a scientist.

Instead of following Rev. Larr’s wisdom, the “Bible” authors (and we use plural because it is clear that this material was put together not by Donald Schwartz alone) claim that “Gene was finally convinced” to publish. That very well might be true, given the heavy handed tactics we have seen from the Friends of Chapel group which alienated many of the congregation.

In fact, the Friends of Chapel who paved the way for this book are mostly the ones who sued Rev. Larr’s own creation. By name in the book (page vii), they are acknowledged: Rev. Eric Berg, Rev. Sherry DeLoach, Rev. Don Miller, Rev. Bob Sisler, Rev. Nell Rose Smith, Debra Bernath, Marie Dardarian, Helene Dorian, Monica Hagen, Melissa Hall, Ernie Linkous, Wanda Olson, Dietmar Rothe, Suzanne Sisler, Drucilla (Kubicka) Thiercof, and Sheri Wachstetter.

Also distressing is that the copyright of the book (2011) is listed solely as that of the late Donald R. Schwartz. Chapel Guardian must assume that any royalties from the book are going to his estate and those who run it. The new Chapel of Awareness leadership (mostly those acknowledged in the book) have yet to provide any explanation as to how Chapel of Awareness benefits from the publication of this material. Donations? Royalties? How will Rev. Larr’s organization survive?

The Beginning Lecture Series and other materials were also part of Chapel’s legacy. Any claim by Rev. Larr’s organization appears to have been wiped out by the publication, based on Chapel Guardian reading of the book’s copyright notice. The book even goes so far as to publish the church’s precepts (page 1). Does that now make Chapel of Awareness itself beholden to Schwartz’s estate?

In the end, the struggle around the publishing of the “Bible” isn’t so much about Rev. Larr’s philosophy itself. It’s about how it’s being treated, and the very fear Rev. Larr had most – that people would misinterpret and misuse this information.

Perhaps the best example of this can be found in Rev. Bob Sisler’s forward (page 9), in which Sisler concludes: “One last thing to remember, the book isn’t about Rev. Larr, it’s about you! (sic)”

No. It’s not all about “you”. It’s about all of us. In this case, it’s also about Rev. Larr’s legacy.

Rev. Larr taught the virtues of looking inward and developing the self, and building awareness. Sisler’s own words, in Chapel Guardian opinion, are an example of the misinterpretation Rev. Larr most feared.

There is a difference between focusing on the self and being self-centered.

More new Chapel of Awareness irony

 A Chapel Guardian observer knowldgeable of local politics picked up on this one:

Terry Hall --- who is in charge of the Friends' Chapel of Awareness web site and distributed misinformation and mean-spirited Internet posts against Pastor Ann Lorenzini (as established by public documents easily found in online searches and on the friendsofchapel blog) --- comments on a Coast News story about the inappropriateness of "trying to coerce your compliance by threatened legal action".

He should know of such tactics, given his involvement in and support of the vitriolic behavior, twisted facts, and legal action on the part of the Friends of Chapel in the last year.

The post can be found at:
http://thecoastnews.com/view/full_story/12281926/article-Op-Ed--Publisher-says-Review-seeks-to-control-ad-prices-in-Rancho-Santa-Fe?

Ironic, in Chapel Guardian opinion.

Chapel of Awareness "rummage sale"

Note to Guardian: Received a tip about a Craigslist post for Chapel's March 5 rummage sale. Interesting thing is the post which was dated February 28 was flagged for removal. Try the link on it and it goes to "This posting has been flagged for removal.". Usually these things are flagged for some kind of posting violation or questionable content. Seems to be a recurring issue with the new group's use of the web. Biggest unanswered question is where the money from these rummage sales is going? If its a Chapel event then it needs to state these are donations to Chapel. They never say that. If its not a Chapel event then they need to say that too. Imagine members trying to write off donations that actually aren't.

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.

Reverend Eric Berg retiring?

An update on Reverend Eric Berg's web site shows that he is apparently pulling away from the "new" Chapel of Awareness. Much of his activities on his page are crossed out and he states that he plans to retire three months.

This is what he says there: "At present I support the Chapel school and church, as well as the community of ministers and non-ministers, but am considering retirement when I return to Washington 4/1/2011." -- http://psiontist.com/eclarr/rev_eric.htm

It now looks as if the Friends of Chapel of Awareness group publicly went after the characters of members and ministers, in Reverend Eric's and Donald's names, only for them now to be gone.

Thank you all for keeping my post unnamed.