I wasn’t quit sure what I was
going to do when my one o’clock class was canceled. I had a break for lunch
before that canceled class. I really needed to get into the library, so found a
quiet spot to eat and study until 2:00 when I usually left for the church.
While eating and attempting to
read a book, I remembered what the gentleman across the street from the church had
told me, “You should come early.” I had dismissed him several times and really
never gave it much thought, but I began to think maybe I should head for the
church.
I had no idea why I was doing
this. I wasn’t even sure what to expect. I was thinking and praying about it for
the entire thirty minute drive to Long Beach. As I approached my destination, I
thought if there was something to see it might be better if I parked in the
hospital lot instead of right in front of the church. I was beginning to feel
like a spy.
I pulled into the far driveway and
chose the fourth row to look for a place to park. The lot was pretty full as it
often was during the day. I was driving slowly when I noticed a couple on my left.
It looked like they were saying their goodbyes. They were in a deep embrace and
a passionate kiss. The woman’s back was to me as I passed, but the man was face
on and it was the pastor and the woman was not his wife. It was a parishioner
he was supposedly counseling. At that moment I doubted he was being very
helpful. As I passed by them, the pastor looked right at me. Our eyes made
contact. He continued what he was
doing without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
I was less surprised by what he
was doing than how he responded. He didn’t seem to care one bit that I saw
them.
I pulled on through the parking
lot trying to decide what to do. About two blocks way I decided I would drive straight
over to the district office in Fullerton and report what I saw. My reasoning
was I was not the one to deal with this. It was his job.
After entering the district office
I told the secretary that I needed to see the District Superintendent. It was
important.
This was my first opportunity to
even meet the DS. I didn’t know how he was going to respond or if he would
believe me.
I got in quickly, introduced
myself and told him my story. That is when the shock came.
“That pastor is a well respected
man in our district. He serves on the District Executive Committee and pastors
the largest church in the district. You on the other hand have a history of
causing problems. You are an angry young man. I have a letter here from the DS
in Calgary detailing your action’s while at Canadian Bible College, and his
displeasure that you were hired in Vancouver and warning me about you coming to
our area. Why should I believe you?”
Well, that pretty well said it
all. Nothing I just said was going to have any impact at all. I attempted to
defend myself for a few minutes until I realized it was useless. He told me I
should not be making this kind of accusation when I would be leaving in less
that a year. I would be ruining the reputation of one of the leading pastors.
I told him that there were elders
who have had suspicions about his extra marital affairs for sometime and I
believed that one reason they hired me was in hopes of finally knowing for sure
by being caught in the act. I was told many pastors hug parishioners and I did
not need to add imagination to the facts.
I encouraged him to contact the
elders for a meeting. I didn’t want
to come across as ordering him to do anything but I hoped he would contact the
elders to meet with them and get their insights. He told me he would decide
what to do and that I was to remain out of the picture.
I left knowing I could not remain
out of the mess completely. After all, I saw him and he saw me in that parking
lot. If anything came out of my meeting with the DS, he would know it started
with me. I was OK with that but I also doubted this was going to go any
further. It was dead in the water.
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