Let's look at some of the parameters defining the May 20 "vote" scheduled by the secessionist group illegally occupying the facility at 631 N. Tejon Street.
"Voting will begin on May 20th and continue for six days, through Saturday, May. 26th. All voting will be done in person, much like voting in an election. Parish members in good standing will present themselves, with ID, to a teller in the parish office, except on Sunday in the Great Hall, and, if properly registered as a communicant, will be allowed to cast a secret ballot voting to stay in the Anglican Communion or walk apart with The Episcopal Church. Results will be announced in church on May 27th. Times for voting are listed below:
Sunday, May 29th - 8:00AM to 1:00PM (Taft Hall - excluding worship times)
Monday, May 21st - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Tuesday, May 22nd - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Wednesday, May 23rd - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Thursday, May 24th - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Friday, May 25th - 12:00PM to 6:00PM (McWilliams House)
Saturday, May 26th - 9:00AM to 1:00PM (McWilliams House)"
This procedure is taken from the recently mailed May/June Nigerian Tidings (not to be confused with the Online Tidings published by Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church).
A careful reading of the procedure shows that nearly anyone not in favor with Nigeria can be easily excluded or results of their vote ensured:
1. "Members in good standing..."
This may require that you continued to contribute to the secessionist church after the vestry vote.
In the Episcopal Church, it means regular attendance, so participation matters, but CANA may define this differently, especially considering the Grace Concerns group pledge withholding.
2. "...if properly registered as a communicant..."
This was described by Jon Wrobleski in the Mar. 14th (Saturday) meeting to require re-registration as an Anglican.
He did not describe what this entailed and I am at a loss to understand what it means. otherwise. As an Episcopalian, you are already an Anglican.
3. "...cast a secret ballot..."
It appears that the secrecy may be in the results.
Now, Bob Balink will apparently be doing the counting, he voted with the former vestry to secede to CANA. This is not an independent monitor.
The arrangement is reminiscent of past vestry elections involving nominations from the floor, subject to secret ballot vote.
The sum total of all of these requirements may be that you must be donating to CANA, even if you disagree with the proposed association with this organization, you must have somehow re-registered as an Anglican, even though, as an Episcopalian, you are already an Anglican, and even if you manage to accomplish all of this without compromising your principles, you must accept the result of your participation without independent audit or public acknowledgment of each vote.
We need to face the fact that the secessionist group illegally occupying the 631 N. Tejon facility has already determined current property control and access.
The May 20 vote is merely a procedure by which those parishioners who wish to join them can be identified.
The result was determined on March 26 when the former vestry voted to leave The Episcopal Church and join CANA.
Any "vote" activity is merely window dressing designed to demonstrate the validity of the vestry action, no matter what the actual result of the poll of the parishioners.
The vestry and clergy aligned with CANA have already shown they cannot be trusted.
You are urged to boycott the illegal vote so this activity is not validated with your participation.
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4 comments:
I haven't stepped foot on the Tejon property since the secessionist vestry voted for the split in March and I have not contributed financially in any way, but I was called last week by one of their vestry and reminded of the upcoming vote and encouraged to come and participate. He left a message on my phone so I couldn't ask any questions. What do they mean by 'member in good standing' because they certainly can't think I am one of their members. There is no way to believe the count when it is all over so I don't plan to validate it by participating.
I too had a message on my answering machine from a member of the CANA vestry. This person had been to my house, been contracted to work on the house (very well done, also). He also knew that I work at home, he had access to my office phone number, yet chose to call and leave a message on the house phone specifically inviting my wife to vote. I suppose that I am one of those that Don+ wishes to "cull" from his flock.
I too received a message from one of Armstrong's vestry henchmen reminding us to vote. Interesting that we even got a call. We didn't receive one phone call from anyone at Grace Church since we quit going there over a year ago (due to Armstrong's 'holier than thou' attitude) - but now all of a sudden, they are interested in our votes???? Give me a break. These are mean people who are blindly following a corrupt and evil man.
Just MAYBE the CANA vestry was trying to get an accurate vote and was REALLY inviting us all to vote. Has anybody considered tha may have been their intent??
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