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HomeMy WebLinkAbout23- Council Office ORIGINAL CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION From: Mayor Pro Tempore Subject: Rescind Actions Taken Rikke Van Johnson Against The Church of the Nazarene Dept: Council Office Council Date: October 5, 2009 Date: September 29, 2009 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: 09/12/2009 MCC Agenda Item # N1 B, Council approved motion to require that registered sex offenders not be allowed on the premises of the Church of Nazarene Church. Recommended Motion: That the Council rescind the motion which required that Pastor Rhone be advised that he may not have Mr. Hoyt or any other registered sex offender on his premises at any time, and that if he can't agree to that, the City will stop paying rent to him and will find another location for that Operation Phoenix Center. � U P4 its P Signature Contact person: Phone: Supporting data attached: Ward: FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: Source: (Acct. No.) -0- (Acct Description) -0- Finance: Agenda Item No. 7 Iro-s-oq MEMORANDUM 1015109 TO: Mayor and Common Council, City of San Bernardino California FROM: Clergy of San Bernardino (undersigned) RE: Ultimatum Issued 9/21/09 As clergy of diverse communities, we hold differing viewpoints. We are united, however, in our concern for the moral and spiritual well-being of our city. San Bernardino is where we have been called to serve, and we expect our elected officials to support us in that service,just as we support them. We object in the strongest possible terms to the actions taken at the last Council meeting: • We object to the inflammatory way in which this was handled. The Council asks us to open its meetings with prayer, yet failed to consult us in this situation. If problem-solving had been the goal, the council could have contacted the pastor for pertinent information. Evidently, publicity was the goal, and we find that offensive. • We understand that some members may have felt compelled to vote for this ultimatum, since the topic of children at risk is political poison, but doing the right thing and speaking truth even when under pressure is part of their job, as it is ours. • We grieve that the reputation of David Rhone and his faith community have been damaged, especially since council members are fully aware that they have partnered with our city, served its children faithfully, and have an excellent record. This is unjust. • We will not comply with the outrageous demand that those who come on to our properties or into our sanctuaries submit to background checks before doing so. Some of us have welcomed members of the Council into our sanctuaries as visitors, and we have shown you hospitality. We will do no less for those who come to us in need. We call on the Council now to show integrity. We call on them to: • Rescind their action of September 21 regarding Master's Plan Church of the Nazarene. • Apologize to David Rhone and to his church for harming their reputation without cause. • Ask our City Attorney to apologize in writing for acting in ways not justified by the facts. As someone who spent years as Director of the Home of Neighborly Service, he should have been particularly aware of the need to avoid action that would hinder the work done by faith-based organizations. Finally, we ask that in the future, the Council remember who its allies are. We, like the Council, work with limited budgets to address massive needs. We are insulted that the Council would impugn our good sense, or our vigilance in protecting children 9 9 P 9 entrusted to our care. We understand the need to have child protection policies in place, and know that it is our moral and legal obligation to do so. We ask that the Council refrain from issuing ultimatums to individuals and groups who have demonstrated trustworthiness. The council has treated us as adversaries rather than friends. This is where we believe God has called us to serve. Further, our U.S. Constitution protects our right to practice our faith in response to that Call. Please know that whether you rescind your action or not, we will stand on the laws of this country and the call of God as we determine who and how we will serve in this city. Respectfully, Entered Into ReC. at MCCICDC Mtg: �e s e Rev. John Frederick—Faith Bible Church by: Evangelist Jerry Musgrove—Decently & In Order Ministries Agenda Hem N , 23 Pastor Richard Elwell—University Park Church by: /�? 0(_„Alz, Pastor Larry Lee—The Gathering Place City Cie CDC Secretary Pastor Michael Hoover Pastor Jonathan McCormick City of San Bernardino Rev. Petra Malleis-Sternberg - SBUCC Rev. Pamela Moore f Rev. Steven Martinez Rev. Eric Lederman—First Presbyterian Church Rev. Sandy Tice—First Presbyterian Church Pastor Ray Turner—Temple Missionary Baptist Church Minister Robert Strong—Ecclesia Christian Fellowship Bishop Philip R. Powell—The Centre at Highland Pastor Rick Alanis, Jr. —Victory Outreach Pastor James Elliott Holmes—Trinity Christian Fellowship Church Pastor Percy Harper—St. Mark Baptist Church Mrs. Helen Harris—Temple Missionary Baptist Church Pastor David Rhone—Master's Plan Church of the Nazarene Ms. Loistine Herndon—Temple Missionary Baptist Church Rabbi Hillel Cohn—Congregation Emanu El Sister Maureen Chicoine—Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church Deacon Stephani Congdon—First Presbyterian Church Rev. Sally Burton—First Congregational United Church of Christ Rev. David Starr—St. John's Episcopal Church Sister Patricia Haire, CSJ,PhD Father Paul Breton—St. Michael Parish Rev. Robin Hyde—Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene Rev. Nori Kieran-Meredith—St. Michael's Ecumenical Catholic Church Deacon Linda Pederson—St. John's Episcopal Church Rev. Alan Jenkins—Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Cathedral Rev. Bob Caddell Trudy Freidel—Inland Valley Friends Meeting (Quakers) California Street Church of Christians Calvary Chapel Church Temple CME Crestview Baptist Church Grace Baptist Church Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Greater New Jerusalem C.O.G.I.C. Highland Hills Church Immanuel Baptist Church Judson Baptist Church Life Changing Ministries New Hope Missionary Baptist Church New Life Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Samuel Mathias 'The undersigned clergy, though not from the City of San Bernardino, are sufficiently concerned to attach their names in support. Pastor Todd W. Renegar—The Bridge Church of the Nazarene- Bloomington Pastor Friday Nnah—New Beginnings Church -Chino Pastor John Stevenson—New Beginnings Church- Chino Pastor Owusu Hodari—Predestined in Christ Church -Ontario Pastor Casey Jones—Walk by Faith Church—Rialto Pastor Emory B. James—Ephesians New Testament Church—Fontana Dr. Felix Rodgers Jones, III—All People Unity Baptist Church - Redlands i �I POINT OF VIEW Youth center should not be at church By Gay Attorney James Penman chug council did not vote to could or could not tell ttend facilities separate from stheir places of of these I have strong personal beliefs about worship services. Rather, the pastor depend on govern ent funds.ies city government's relations with was given a choice. churches. Among those beliefs are: Although I did not speak in support In every ins nonce, impose its signs the San Bernardino City Council of the motion and did not have a obeliefs,n not to proselytize or should not locate taxpayer-funded vote, I understand the underlying gi children's programs at churches legal problems for the city, including otherwise permit any religious instruc- where religious services are regularly extensive liability should it continue tion or worship to occur in connec- held; the San Bernardino City Council to operate a children's program at a h program. with the government-funded should avoid issuing ultimatums to church where the pastor, althoug If ou accept government money, churches; churches should not accept aware of a registered sex he a offender's you accept government control. fled to notify t pP P or programs at status, fa fS a city government funding f p gr Once the center was there, th sites where worship services are regu- city and school personnel of the had an absolute duty to ensure that larly held, and if pedophiles are not man's presence. the children who attended were as in prison they should be encouraged Government money always comes safe as possible — not reasonably safe, to worship in the church of heir with government strings attached. probably not prbably safe but as safe as is choice, provided full disclosure is Government money is heavily regu- n f o made and all steps possible are taken lated and the recipients of such funds possible. One child, we are informed, was to protect the children in the congre- must adhere to those regulations. already molested as a result of as gation. Therefore, I would personally ing to that city program. The alleged On Sept. 21, the City Council oppose my church — and I am a e etrator now sits in county jail became aware for the first time that a former member of my congregation's awaiting trial. Imagine the result had registered sex offender had been church council - accepting any gov- another child been harmed while working for some months at the site erument money for programs to be drawn to the center as a participant of the city's Operation Phoenix Cen- conducted where our congregation in a city youth program at the same ter. The center is presently physically regularly meets for worship. location. connected to the building that houses understanding of he lawoand he my Nothing the council said, or did, the church sanctuary. would be accepted as an excuse by Although the pastor of the church knowledge that almost inevitably, e child's parents or by the commu- knew the man was a registered sex situations such as the one presentl y hh and rightfully or offender, he failed to inform the city, facing the city and the church are Churches and governments need to the administrators of the elementary bound to arise. understand and be prepared for the school that was also connected to the The city must keep children as safe inevitable consequences of entering same building, or the parents of the as possible, regardless of where the into a relationship such as that which children attending the school and/or city's youth programs are located. presently exists between the church in the city s Operation Phoenix center. The church must not permit any question and the City of San Bernar- At the council meeting on Sept. 21 government entity to tell it who can dino. the council unanimously voted as and cannot worship at the church or If I were a member of the church follows: "that Pastor Rhone be to whom the church may or may not council I would vote to tell the city to advised that he may not have (the minister and counsel. relocate its program elsewhere. If I registered sex offender) or any other That is not to say that churches were a member of the City Council I registered sex offender on his pre- should not administer programs pr( would not have voted to place the mises at any time, and if he can't funded by he government, p city's youth program there in the first agree to that the City will stop paying that they are not at the site of a place place. rent to him and will find another where worship services are regularly Place- location for that Operation Phoenix held. Many churches own and operate James Pemnan is San Bernardino city attorney Center." community centers, shelters, half-way and a candidatelor mayor. 4 z3