John 18:20 reads "Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing". Jesus lived a life such that none of his actions needed to be hidden or done in secret. This standard applies to the leadership of God's church.
We as the Church and especially the Presbytery are obligated to abide by the law of the land as long as it does not violate God's law. Matthew records how Jesus handled just such an issue in the seventeenth chapter. Verses 24 through 27 read as follows:
"And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
With the above scriptural basis established let's establish some specific facts about the financial records of Willisburg Ky. From March 2002 to March 2003. The documents and facts here can be confirmed by the local church clerk at Willisburg Ky.
- Bro. Estep was the appointed pastor.
- Enclosure 3 details the Funds Paid to and Expenses Paid on Behalf of the Pastor during the above time frame. The first page of Enclosure 3 is a summary of said funds and the remaining pages show monthly details and totals.
- I also have copies (front and back) of all the cancelled checks referred to in Enclosure 3 for corroboration. In the interest of the privacy of the local church I will NOT post images of checks.
After honest consideration of the document in Enclosure 3 the following questions arise:
- If Bro. Estep was the appointed pastor why are there only two checks earmarked tithes for the entire year?
- Why are the majority of checks written to Bro. Estep earmarked "Expense"? Why is the memo portion of the check on many occasions not in the Clerks hand? Where are the receipts for the expenses?
- Why are a number of the checks signed over to a third party?
- Is it normal Church procedure to write checks directly to the Pastor's creditors? Pay his bills with a church check? It is normal for the church clerk to write on average 9 checks per month just to the pastor or his creditors?
- Are these "irregularities" connected to the Social Security assistance mentioned in an earlier post?
