An Open Letter to The Forgotten Shepherdess: by Left Behind

I am sorry that the creation of the blog site The Forgotten Shepherdess is being unfairly misrepresented by people through some of the comments written by me. Thank you for your positive intentions toward helping ministers and the laity enter into discussions with the express purpose of creating dialogue that would help us all have a better understanding of issues within our territory.

I write to you because I have recently been made aware that our committee has reportedly entered into record, items concerning the name of the blog and the issue of remaining anonymous. The readers of your blog already understand that there is no connection with another organization that concerns the wives of ministers and/or your purpose to misrepresent them.

It was never my intention to cast a shadow on anyone. Those who feel this way are people that I sincerely love, have great respect for, and wish their well being. This includes our Leader, who I have no doubt, loves God and is seeking to do His will.

Let me make this point, this really started because some individuals attempted to manipulate the process. Their actions automatically created a political “situation” through secretly contacting individuals to support their idea of who should come to be our Leader and to depose the current one. THEY OPENED THEIR MOTIVES UP FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION. The language of the stories came from them and other people who used similar words to vent their concerns as workers in this region. My message concerned the ministers who felt “Left Behind.” Is this not a legitimate concern to hear?

Entering into the discussion after great contemplation came when I was disturbed by certain people who would actually attempt to do “there will” instead of “God’s will.” I believed that the Leader of our institution deserved a fair process even though I disagree with him on many issues. In one of the satellite locations one young person said, “I hate that minister!” I then realize that people have watched over the years how ministers have in my own words “shot each other” while at the same time diminished the confidence of some vulnerable people (This young man was present at one of the meetings a few weeks ago).

The actions and statements of the recent committee are puzzling. They demonstrated that a worker cannot express their opinion and reveal their identity because of repercussions, termination and other reprisals. Meaning, they have substantiated the need for a forum of this nature. When our freedoms of expressions are restricted by “policy” then our expressions in the pulpits and other public venues concerning stories, word pictures, relationships and marriage etc. will be restricted.

I believe that the individual(s) who is/are “offended” should be reprimanded along with others for their insubordinate actions to politically manipulate, and call meetings together without the consent of the Leader, of which our electoral process does not permit. The lack of transparency is not from this blog but from those individuals who sought and seek to hide and circumvent the process and failed to openly declare their intentions. If this does not stop, more people will lose interest and have doubt in our system of elections.

The most political individual that is offended should be counseled by upper levels of this union that this behavior is not acceptable and creates further division. At the same time he should understand that other people are greatly offended by this kind of behavior and it stunts their Christianity. Upper management is the “watch dog” of our organization and cannot sit back and let a few people go out and use this type of behavior to promote change. In better words, the gavel came down on the wrong people and I am sincerely sorry that a negative connotation has shadowed such a creative and informative blog that for the first time advocates for workers and members of our conference.

I doubt that pulling these “make belief stories” off your blog will stop these individuals and raise their integrity for this process to a higher level.

Nor retract what was reportedly submitted by our Leader into record.

I also doubt that if I said to our Leader that it was never any intent to cast a shadow on him or his family that this would stop him from making blatant statements about your good intentions that would resolve this witch hunt to expose you and remove this blog from existence.

The truth is I WANT TO BE SAVED, and since they are offended I request from you at the appropriate time to remove the stories. By doing this I hope that he will let things “rest” and allow God to do His work for the good of the “many.” Threats reportedly insinuated by our Leader on behalf of the “offended” have nothing to do with this recommendation nor is it to make me or the “offended person” winners. It is for me to do the “right thing” at “this time” “for peace” and less stress for the good people of this territory. Now that the “ducks are lined up” we can only put our faith in God’s hand. God will bring out the good and the bad.

By the way, I’m Left Behind