Saving Our Spiritualist Churches SOS: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue Report

Transcription

1 National Spiritualist Association of Churches Saving Our Spiritualist Churches SOS: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue Report Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue was the title of a workshop presented on Thursday morning at NSAC Convention 2016, held in St. Louis. Delegates were given a Questionnaire handout to complete, interactively, as the workshop proceeded. NSAC President Christine Krithades and Trustee James Ehrhart conducted the workshop. More than 115 attended and there were 102 completed questionnaires returned for compilation. 90+ percent is a significant return. Several delegates did not answer all of the questions. Four short reports with a few selected answers appeared in NSAC News, November 2016 through February This document is the complete report. Each comment begins a new line. All comments received are included verbatim, edited only where there was repetition. We are grateful to delegates who came to the rescue. The complete results are available as a PDF file upon request. 1. Who are you? 13 delegates stated they were a church member only. 76 stated they were members of a church and also serving their church as follows: 24 Ordained Ministers; 16 National Spiritualist Teachers; 6 Licentiate Ministers; 18 Certified Mediums; 10 Commissioned Spiritualist Healers; 40 non-credentialed mediums; 49 noncommissioned healers; 19 pastors; 17 pastoral committee members; 51 church board members; 21 serving on various committees in their churches. 2. How often do you attend your church s religious services? 77 reported they attend weekly; 8 twice a month; 4 monthly; and 9 seldom. 3. What advice can you suggest that may encourage you or others to attend more frequently? Responses were for better or improved Music: 50; Religious Service Speakers: 53; Platform workers (mediums and healers): 39; Chairpersons: 5; Ushers or Greeters: 19. Commenting on question above: 47. Better training, if prepared speakers often Better education of platform workers. The music is dated. It is difficult to find modern music for traditional songs. Potluck weekly; unfoldment class weekly. We have very good attendance and a variety of excellent speakers and well-known presenters who draw interest. More educated workers. Newer, more contemporary music. Community outreach. Need to advertise more. Social hour (coffee and donuts) following the service to build fellowship with members and visitors. Location closer to home. My church offers everything I need. My attendance does not depend on church, only needs of my family and my own schedule. Music, better variety, more modern. Speakers who speak more on Spiritualism. We have a church that has a child s room with sound so they don t miss anything. Get excited about your religion. More music. The blue hymnals are antiquated. Even the readings are outdated. Speakers that speak on Spiritualism. Newcomer packets with inspiring content. Special commemorative events, social events and education after church. Chairlift for stairway to religious service area. We need a new hymnal with more modern, upbeat music. Some hymns from current hymnal are acceptable remove Christian-based hymns. Local social services: soup kitchen, AA, Red Cross and so on, social activities. Our church does a pretty good program weekly. Maybe less or fewer non-nsac or Spiritualist speakers. Higher standards for those speaking and for mediums. We use different music that has been well received. Fellowship time. The music from the blue hymnal. I m sick of the same old songs and dirges. We could use some more up-to-date music. Seek lively, energy-filled hymns. More modern music and songs. More ride share and better contact with absent members. On education vs. experience. Stay in alignment with NSAC. Classes. Better speakers attract better attendance. We need to have an official greeter who welcomes each person and assigns a member to answer questions for first-time attendees. Attendance is better when there is a good speaker.

2 2 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue Microphones if affordable for speaker a lot of members are soft-spoken and then there are members that are hard of hearing. At our church, I would say some board members be more aware of being polite and of people s feelings. Better atmosphere people can feel negative energy. Conform to NSAC standards. Just more variety of platform workers. The hymnal needs serious updating. Recorded background music needs approval. Less internal politics, paranoia, and power dynamics/control/negativity. More workshops and guest speakers. All of the above (music, speakers, platform workers, etc.) make religious services more joyful and changing often makes it more interesting. Different speakers weekly. 4. Do you, a church member, have ideas for the better education of our lecturers, speakers, mediums, healers, and teachers? Could you share your ideas in a few words. Commenting on question above: 62. Emphasis on core Spiritualist teachings. Too often a new age book used mediums not ready to serve. Training by qualified person covering NSAC requirements should be verified. Perhaps a member of MPI could periodically visit the church or camp to reinforce rules and bylaws. Classes, mentoring, encourage MPI classes. Continuing education; more convention workshops; packaged workshops available from NSAC office/department of Education/Missionaries. Continual opportunities for workshops and seminars platform workers training with NSAC information and updates. At least an associate degree with psychology, English grammar, science, philosophy. NSAC-sponsored U-tube videos, also encourage participation in local toastmasters and interfaith organization. Pastor is a good teacher. Funding MPI studies a big challenge. A toastmaster type induction into platform speaking. Education and networking, NSAC webinars. Training, encouragement, preparation, select people who are personable. I love how our churches run. Very inclusive, communal, supportive of where people are in their lives. I love the openness and love there. I have a ton of ideas that will not fit on the page but the best idea is Teamwork and reaching all churches or workers. Get excited about your religion! Make MPI available online; or CEUs from NSAC online. Standards should be the same in every church. Require the spiritual talk to be on Spiritualism; 10 minutes is an insult to our foundation. Reduction of teaching our philosophy should not take precedence over messages. Learn prayer and meditation so Spirit can and will teach you for benefit of both sides of the veil. Education support and resources are needed in all those areas, above. The standards of mediumship seem too low. When I attend outside classes, the mediumship is more developed. Classes offered. Our church has classes five days a week. Church could sponsor trips for education of members. In giving messages please watch what you say to not offend anyone. I know a couple of times that people were offended by a message and vowed never to come back. NSAC missionaries can help. CEUs provided nationally (convention) and or regionally on a regular basis. Continuity. Our board of directors make up their own rules whenever they want to suit themselves. Better oversight and more regular assessment by Morris Pratt and NSAC. More classes, official classes taught by dynamic speakers. Yes, circuit teachers paid by NSAC. Online, once-a-month have a class for all of us to attend like a workshop pertaining to all of the above (stated in question). Visits from NSAC board members to help us answer questions about our religion. More classes offered through NSAC, offered throughout the U.S. Hire a real pastor. No pastoral committee members should be on the board. Encourage new and upcoming healers and mediums to share a testimonial on why they have chosen Spiritualism. MPI course doesn t seem to address the actual practical training in mediumship and healing that people need. Better formal training is needed. Feedback and refresher courses. We need updating. Board members should be encouraged to attend the churches they represent and offer classes as should the assigned missionaries. Don t wait to be asked. Always share with church congregation and also get their thoughts. Continuing education credits and affidavits for credentialed workers. Also must conform to our rules on NSAC platform. No message to platform workers or political rallies hidden in sermons or address. I was appalled at both of these by board members no less. People who (don t know better) must be trained in protocol prior to serving on the platform. Encourage all interested to take MPI and work on it, complete it and test for credentials. People need to sit under a qualified medium. Everyone on same page about respect for each categories.

3 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue 3 All have the information but we have non-educated people teaching inappropriate material doesn t conform to NSAC bylaws or teachings. More workshops at convention to help train noncredentialed healers and mediums. Home churches (circles). Continue with MPI teachings. Those that do not study MPI want to be on the platform and healing chairs without any training and if not will cause havoc within the church. Understanding the teachings which are accepted by NSAC. End founding pastor syndrome it s killing our religion. Better education: teach how to pass the test (just as they do for Real Estate test). Stay to the subject for healers or healers will not go for test. JC never needed a paper, who was greatest healer. Test should be about healing!!!! Follow the NSAC teachings better for best practice for healers and mediums. Have a missionary come and give a class after observing our Sunday service. All healers must be required to follow the NSAC Healers Do and Don t. Interactive workshops and webinars. Perhaps a yearly seminar at convention with certificates. Have NSAC Board of Trustees visit NSAC churches more often. Teacher should have teaching abilities or have opportunity to take how to teach workshop. 5. Does your church s religious service follow typical NSAC order of service? Explain and advise. 95 delegates answered yes to this question; 5 answered no. Comments on above question follow: 30-minute meditation and healing; 3-minute meet-andgreet. We have at our church a half-hour healing service before the regular Sunday service begins. The NSAC order of service follows. Healing service is 25 minutes, followed by 5-minute break. General service one hour long following healing and break. My understanding is that we follow the NSAC except we recite the prayer of St. Francis and the 23rd Psalm. It s a stale, Christian format. Add musical presentation, poetry to match spiritual talk. Healing service is a separate service held one-half hour before regular service. For the most part they do but play favorites with who can serve. Healing in middle of service (healing in back of church not up front). The only difference is in the music. It is more uplifting and Spirit-oriented not Christian. The service is ritualistic. Always the same format; always same boring music; always same lunch following. Always about NSAC, using Summit, Spotlight and Manual. With a little variation. Make available small worship booklets and or personal devotional booklet (would really like latter). Does not confirm to NSAC standard includes bible verses and poems. Our order of service has service cards so people can follow service. Christian feeling with prayer of St. Francis and 23rd Psalm. Too long with ritual speaking. 6. Does your church have a pastor or pastoral committee? 49 delegates stated they have a pastor; 39 a pastoral committee; and 11 stated they have both. Comments: Team of pastors. President of board acts as pastor. No pastor or pastoral committee; board runs it. No pastor; non-functioning pastoral committee. There is disunity in the pastoral committee and the church board. 7. Do your church members vote to appoint position of Pastor or Pastoral Committee members? 49 delegates responded that they vote directly for pastor; 11 do not. 23 delegates responded that they vote directly for members of their pastoral committee; 17 do not. Five delegates reported that they do not know; two stated the pastor and pastoral committee are appointed by their board president; one delegate responded, haven t a clue. Comments: Do not know. Appointed by president. Members vote for pastor; pastoral committee appointed at annual meeting. Votes to appoint; but gets changed throughout the year without our (members) opinion or vote. We do our best to keep our pastor well while we try to get a member ordained. Haven t a clue. We will vote by membership when we have a pastor assigned. No voting on pastoral committee at this time; this is board business. Appointed by board. Members vote to approve board s appointment of pastor or pastoral committee. No. Pastor appointed by board without member vote. Board-appointed pastoral committee. Not clear. Church board recently did not move to membership for vote on application for pastor that was submitted. Membership wanted to retain a pastoral

4 4 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue committee and board did not offer membership the choice. 8. Does your pastor or member(s) of your pastoral committee also serve on the church board of directors (trustees)? 70 delegates responded yes that their pastor or members of their pastoral committee also serve on their church board; 25 responded no. Comments: But they can. Too much overlap. Board functions essentially as pastoral committee. Board members are voted in by church members. The pastoral committee chair continually goes to the president for what they should do. But goes to all meetings. Pastoral committee are on board. Haven t a clue. Not on board but attends board meetings; voice but not vote. Don t know. Yes on board but pastor does not have a vote. Major conflict of interest! This practice has to stop! LM is president. Yes, due to small membership. Do not know. 9. At your annual meeting, do you elect officer board positions (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, others); or does the board elect these positions after election to the board? 87 delegates responded that members of their church directly elect board members to specific positions. 14 do not. Comments: Board gives first suggestions; final vote is given to members. Pastor tells everyone who to vote for! Also there is a sect and wants to be in control of the money. ego. Members are given proper notice of annual meeting and elections; subject matter or important meeting to attend. If someone drops out board elects. Seldom same board member from beginning to end of year. Don t know. If board members cannot continue to serve board may appoint until September or March membership meeting then members nominate and vote. Ask for volunteers. Legal need to give membership proper notice, place, date, time. Board fills vacancies. Unfortunately, only board members come to the meetings! All members of the board are re-elected yearly by church members at the annual membership meeting. Members elect people to serve; elected people decide who will serve in which position. At our annual meeting it is our members who choose and vote on the officers. We notify our members by mail and . Board members elect officer positions per our bylaws. NSAC removed pastor/assistant pastor/board in Appointed replacement board. No membership meeting until October 30, 2016 (since December 2013); will report only for this initial meeting. They intimidate anyone who runs or wants to run against anyone they want in that position. I have myself observed this. 10. In your church, is the Pastor or member of the Pastoral Committee also the President of the board of directors (trustees)? 26 delegates responded yes; 75 no. Comments on above question follows: The pastor is our secretary. President is member of pastoral committee. 11. Many NSAC churches are lacking a Pastor. Could you suggest how this may be remedied? Traveling ministers, missionaries, etc.? Comments on above question follow: Mentoring program to build leadership. Traveling ministers or missionaries would be good. Education is key and people who are credentialed should help such as mentor, missionary, or travel. Traveling pastors? Encourage MPI. Not sure. Use Skype to keep in touch with isolated members. NSAC OM and NST could Skype. Encourage MPI lessons. More dynamic educational programs including a variety of teaching and learning opportunities. MPI; it is a calling; maybe circles for groups and pastors. Perhaps helping to fund the traveling ministers and missionaries could alternative and fill-in. Not sure, comes down to maturity of leadership. Missionary helps. A pastor without training is an engineer who runs train off the tracks. To be ordained requires serving other churches instead of plastering Rev on license plates, coffee mugs, etc. Get your members trained via MPI and classes. If president of board has been member for 2-3 years on regular basis, should then be able to carry title of pastor and by then should have been enrolled and completing lessons from MPI. Someone can be groomed to the position at church. If possible, traveling minister; or offer MPI course for free or greatly-reduced in price, then others would be encouraged to become ordained. Traveling ministers. Have a pastoral committee.

5 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue 5 Circuit riders a la original Methodism, by qualified NSAC member. Missionaries would be helpful. In our church they use intimidation tactics and you have no out. Assignment by NSAC of a minister to a church without a pastor, to do a search; to encourage guest, credentialed workers. Provide Pastoral Skills. It depends on the organization. Missionaries, a pastoral board (committee). Missionaries who are actively involved. Share the load; give financial assistance. NSAC fund to help students serve these churches. Missionaries would be nice. One person needs to be the leader. I want to hire a pastor, the board refuses to hire a pastor. The pastoral committee works well. Make MPI Course less onerous. Make Pastoral Skills more available. Missionary teaching classes and promoting MPI among church members. Occasional phone contact from the missionary would be nice. They should have to report to membership at convention if NSAC funds pay for them to visit auxiliaries. Lay minister. Encourage students to take MPI course and get credentialed. Mentoring, we need to train our people with everything we know. Encourage MPI leading to ordination. Many of the churches I ve attended don t see the need for a pastor, that had a pastoral committee. Some were afraid of pastoral interference or power grabbing. I don t feel that a church needs a pastoral committee or a pastor together; one or the other is sufficient. Make the examination process easier. Encourage the use of MPI students to work platform. Do not have non- MPI students or others running the show. Encourage MPI students. Traveling ministers, missionaries, and others. Getting the egos out of the congregation s board and have everyone on the same page. Stop the fear of the board of directors that if they appoint a pastor; then the pastor will have control and the board won t. There can be committees set up to handle most needs while bringing in certified people for certain needs. Traveling missionaries not at expense of church except accommodations. Perhaps there could be a list on the new website of ordained ministers or pastors who are willing to travel and speak, serve at other churches and camps. Promote church members who seem qualified. Adopt a pastoral committee! NSAC should give all churches five years to update bylaws and get with NSAC policy. 12. In your opinion, who really runs your church? 41 delegates responded that their pastor runs the church; 20 said the pastoral committee does so; 32 responded that their board president runs the church; 35 responded that a combination of pastor, pastoral committee, board president do so. Respondents had more than just one choice for this question. Comments on above question follow: Pastoral committee and board. One person on our pastoral committee bullies others. The board of trustees. Most work together. Pastor with president s approval. Board and pastoral committee. President and secretary. Strongest personality. Whoever has the majority. Board has failed in their responsibility; going as far as closing the church and taking members to a non- NSAC church. Board of directors. President along with advice from pastor. Secretary who is also pastor. Board president in conjunction with board. Cross between pastoral committee and board. We as a whole work together to make all run smoothly. We all do! A click of board members with most votes. Members. Pastor brings up suggestions and president says no without discussion or vote of board members. Board only for finances. Good collaboration. Board members suggest and final approval by pastoral committee. Collaborative combination: spiritual = pastor; board = business. Church membership. More on pastor; but they confer. Pastor (platform); board president (church). Very cooperative. The OM who owns the church. Pastor and president are spouses 13. How often does your pastor or a pastoral committee member give the address (sermon) at services? 28 delegates responded weekly; 21 monthly; 43 other various responses. Comments on above question follow: Key fill in when other ministers are on vacation. As needed. Two times a month. Travels a lot to other churches. Every other week. Once every other month. Often, sometimes there are visiting speakers.

6 6 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue Twice a month. One Sunday off a month. Volunteers once or twice a month. Most weeks; but encourages each member to speak. At least once a month one of our students speak. Sunday for pastor; Wednesday for students; plus one guest speaker a month. No pastor. Speaks or chairs weekly; chairs when there are guest speakers. Pastor spoke one time in the past year. We rotate four people to give address. This should be by 5 or 6 people who do it well. One or two times a month. Pastor is always on platform as chairperson is not giving address. 30% to 40% of the time. We have different lecturers every week. Three people on pastoral committee. We have rotation of 7 speakers, 3 times a month. Regularly, every other month. Probably 3 out of 4 weeks every month. Bi-monthly. Do not know. We like diversity in our speakers. All of the pastoral committee, students, and guests. As needed, shared with students. When available our pastor speaks. Also listens when laypersons work to give feedback. Several times a month. We have several services a week. Pastor serves on platform often. Pastor, LM, and MPI student trade off. Intermittently. Occasional speakers with pastor on platform. Seldom. Four times a year unless a special meeting is called. A few alternate between Sundays. Pastoral committee in our church and pastor gets very little time to address. It used to be every week. Now not as often. Thank God that was changed as we were losing members. We meet only once a month. Pastor serves always. Bi-monthly pastor speaks; many guest speakers and members speak. There is a large base of speakers to draw from. Lots. Every other month. We have outside speakers plus MPI students, plus LM and OM. No pastor, different speakers every week. Pastor speaks several times a month unless we have a visiting speaker. Two times a year, plus or minus. We have weekly speakers from church and neighboring area. 14. If a Pastor s or Board President s ego is out of control, for example, could you suggest measures to bring it back to normal? Comments: Continually teach the principles of our religion. Ignore them until they realize the problem or call before board for discussion. Have a special membership meeting to discuss the problems. Must be explained what duties are. Define ego to out-of-control board president. Mediation, checks and balances between board and pastors, pastoral committee. Enforce the bylaws. Ego has no place in church but it is hard to control. They usually crash. Request mediation with NSAC missionary. Only when they pass to spirit. Remind them that they are not the church, but work for the church. Remove from position. This is why I have stopped going since starting in Make position a one-year term and not allowed to run again for three years. Pastor and President are not the problem. It s the members and other board members. The board of directors and the pastor must work together as a unit within two entities with complete separate responsibilities. Hold a special membership meeting to remove him or her from office. Missionaries. If they don t like what happens there is a form of punishment for it verbal abuse, social media posting (negative). NSAC has to check these people. Sitting down to discuss it should clear it up. Trustees and pastoral committee running the church. Ask the members if they are satisfied and if they had any suggestions to improve the pastoral services. Communication between board and church members. In our church the pastor and the board president do not have egos. No one is better than anyone that attends our church. No, it s other board members egos who are in the way. Board and one external NSAC pastor approach and talk to him or her. Members must stand up and demand control of action. Former board president was out of control and was voted out. Speak honestly. Contact missionary or NSAC board rep for assistance. Retirement. I share how much I love my church and there is no room for ego. A 2 x 4 works! There is no place in Spiritualism for ego! If you are motivated, one needs to step up, and reassess your true reason for being on the board or as the pastor. EGO easing God out. Sometimes a third member or board members to come together to resolve and to bring harmony.

7 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue 7 Board must now allow this to happen. Intervention. Ask for NSAC to assign someone to speak with the person. Group intervention is helpful if one-on-one discussion doesn t help. With several board members meet with pastor and try to work it out. File a complaint. Prayer. Therapy. Bring it to their attention. Put together a group of people to have an intervention meeting. Have someone from NSAC Board of Trustees to speak with person. Intervention with help from state association or national. An assessment form that churches could use to evaluate pastor or board president annually. It would help if the missionary could oversee so we don t have to file formal charges. Formal complaint process with auxiliary; ethics complaint process with NSAC; bringing in support from NSAC Conflict Resolution Committee. Board address pastor, with written input; if not resolved, address NSAC Board on issue. Ex-officio for the president at committee meetings allows for the president to have hands in everything. Executive session (needs NSAC guidelines). Persuade to see the destructive result, affect or effect of their actions. Recognize the church is a sanctuary. Board must address with person with a plan to correct. To be willing to release that person from their duties. Yes. Use the correct Robert s Rule of meeting to the board meetings. Right now our board president does not use this. Meetings are run very loose, just says no and is not open to debate. Have the board vote on important issues and the church s vision. Try to talk with them. Have talk with secretary or Treasurer, other trusted church members; some frustrations come out. Ask for help from NSAC. If leaders lead it sets example; but political moves eases God out. NSAC board should set example. Could you make a DVD relating to this? Similar to Christine Krithades DVD on conflict resolution? It would be a tool. Mediation (hierarchical). Mediation with disinterested party. Notify board of what the job description entails per NSAC bylaws. Talk to them directly. Our NSAC officers think they re appointed for life. They have become dictators. Suggest if it is ignored. Pastor and board president at our church are collaborative but if a problem occurred, others are encouraged to speak up open communication. Tricky proposition. Maybe have a respected member of the church speak to her or him. Always stress the church belongs to the members: it is not the pastor s or board s church alone. Use Robert s Rules of Order. Keep loving them. Try to understand the insecurities that cause them to act this way where does an unpaid Founder go next? Give them a vacation. Temporary suspension after talk or discussion. Ask pastor s or board president s friend to help. I wish we had a fix for this problem. Members meeting to discuss issue and how to resolve problem and/or reach out to Missionary Department. Divine order, this too shall pass. Confront person directly and have open communication. By going back to our bylaws and simply state that we will follow what is says in these bylaws. 15. How can qualified student mediums and healers progress if they are being held back by their Pastor or Board? Delegates provided 74 comments; 8 indicated N/A or not applicable; 20 did not respond. Comments: With the need for this, I can t imagine this happening; but would suggest that they contact NSAC Board. They cannot. Egos or grudges play out. Lack of respect by newer workers for Pastor/leader can impact resolution. Have witnessed excessive over-control (in another church) of those trying to advance. It seemed demoralizing and excessive and punitive. It was sad to observe. Perhaps remove excessive limits that exist. Board members should not have control over workers. Ask for mentors from NSAC, MPI. We all encourage them. That is a good way to kill the church. We need enthusiastic folks. Training is still important so finding a happy middle. Our church does not hold back. But we need more intermediate classes made available to mediums and healers. NSAC can offer online course! We need to get into this century. If they feel they are being held back they usually leave. Notice the patterns correct yourself. As a pastor, I have a Wednesday night service which is student night. If, when I am no longer here and my church pews (are full) then I have done my job. Talking with a mentor, teacher/grader why? What (may help) get over rough spots. We have students participate in our monthly Wednesday evening service to gain experience and confidence before serving at regular Sunday service. They can t the pastor s responsibility is to continue to encourage growth and progress of student workers. They can offer to serve at another church.

8 8 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue We have a student medium who thinks she s a medium. She s dreadful. A few of us have complained several times and board shoots us down. Like a good parent, the pastor s responsibility is to encourage and do everything possible to prepare others to learn and participate and grow! Mentorship by credentialed workers. Procedures manuals outlining steps and stages. Stronger board involvement when appropriate. That was me got to another church. Keep smiling! They need to transfer to another church. They cannot. The leadership needs to build! We should always raise people above our level. Law of attraction will step in. Go to another church. Exactly so it does not happen at our church. You should always be looking for your replacements. They cannot progress unless given platform time. Not sure. Has not happened during our current pastor s tenure. Quite the opposite as pastor encourages and supports student advancement. Check with another Spiritualist church in area or nationally. MPI students have priority on the platform. Why held back? Some students need more seasoning. Are they ready? This should not be allowed to happen. Not a problem in our church. Students are always encouraged to participate and are offered classes to help by other healers and mediums. They should not be held back at anytime if they are moving forward in the right manner. None. They don t want to take the Morris Pratt courses. We have student mediums and healers services quite often. We also have a Student Medium Day. Continue to volunteer to participate. Are they really as prepared as they think? Don t assume it s the pastor or board. Students need a voice and connection to NSAC for assistance. Process appears overwhelming to students and losing them. Stress the importance of affidavits. They should be given more time on the platform and healing chairs as they progress with MPI teachings so they can progress with confidence. Contact NSAC if they cannot resolve with church. Notify NSAC Department of Missionaries. Find someone maybe outside of church to be an advocate. This is a serious problem that probably can best be answered by the congregation pushing to allow all qualified to be allowed to work. Depends. Are they being held back due to qualifications or egos? They go elsewhere need to step in as support. Very difficult. Address this at a special membership meeting. Call other churches to see if they can participate at their church. Also communicate with pastor or Board of Directors. We do not have this issue. File a grievance. Go to NSAC Board for recommendation to serve at nearby auxiliary or convention. They encourage Morris Pratt but then they are afraid someone will take over. They can go to the board. Have NSAC Board or local board speak with them. Formal assignment of a mentor from NSAC service clubs. Go to NSAC for help. Many can serve other churches or camps or at NSAC conventions. Move membership where you are welcome! Students are encouraged to advance. Is pastor aware of circumstances where students are held back? Reach out to NSAC and mentors nationwide! Visit other churches; but people should be encouraged to move forward. Let them make mistakes; but must be willing to accept constructive criticism. Be willing to follow NSAC guidelines. If there is a problem I would suggest contact with their National Board representative. Write NSAC for help and intervention. The Board needs to get involved and help the student. Find another qualified person to mentor you. Join another church. Not a problem at our church. Work as a guest at another church to get affidavits. I am always encouraged to continue my study and become credentialed. Not being held back. As a pastor, I feel that no one be held back. Important to keep an open mind and keep our principles over personalities Our church is fair. Communication is the only tool you can use here. An open dialogue is essential to help not only the student but the church and religion as well. Again, check ego at home. Our board never holds us back. They do opposite and encourage and nudge us. New building with classrooms. Seek help from NSAC missionary and appointed Board Representative. Seek help from other NSAC churches In area or nearby. 16. When guest workers are invited to serve your church as a platform worker; class or workshop teacher, who makes the spiritual decision? Are these guests vetted? Does their teaching and platform decorum conflict with NSAC guidelines and our Spir-

9 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue 9 itualist Philosophy? Please answer as concisely as you can. Overall 30 delegates responded that either the pastor or pastoral committee made the spiritual decision to invite a guest worker. Equally, 30 delegates responded that it was a combination of pastor and/or pastoral committee extending invitation and that church board had to approve. Not every delegate responded to this question. 25 out of the 60 respondents, above, indicated that the invited guest worker was vetted (checked out before serving church). 16 guest workers were not. Remainder did not answer question. 22 delegates indicated that the invited guest worker s teaching and platform decorum was in conflict with NSAC guidelines and our Spiritualist Philosophy. Comments were varied and were used to compile the above. Some churches issued disclaimers if it was known that guest workers were in conflict with NSAC guidelines and Spiritualist Philosophy 17. During the past 2-5 years, has a person or persons, without any NSAC Spiritualist credentials, wiggled their way into your church and attempted to wrest control and impose non-nsac teachings? How did your church take care of this? Explain or advise how others may stop this infiltration? 30 delegates answered yes to this question (attempts were made). 45 stated no to any attempt to take control of the church. 4 delegates stated they did not know or were unaware. Others did not answer question. 29 delegates offered suggestions on how they handled attempts. See comments that follow: Ethics complaints, resulting in NSAC Board intervention that removed insurgent leadership and most of their followers left with them. Many persons who attempted to do this were appointed to our church board. If anyone complained they were intimidated to refrain from such. No one imposes some explain/speak about non-nsac teaching. Yes, the church is afraid to deal with it because of a fear of losing members and therefore Spiritualism gets diluted. I left that church. No. Camps need bylaws that require majority of NSAC members on board. Pastor and board members adhere to standards. Our pastoral committee encourages attendance of classes. Learn history of Spiritualism and understand our Principles. Yes, went to the NSAC Board and received no help. Found a bylaw that allowed us to vote them out. No, this has never happened. Pastor and/or pastoral committee must intervene. We have a church member with dual membership try to reach out by inviting our members to their church. They were spoken to that it was not appropriate to do that. First, try a re-education. Is it lack of knowledge? Second, if it is theological, bring before board. Next bring before congregation. Yes, most people are unaware, not interested or in agreement. No, everything is passed by the board and pastor. We follow NSAC rules. Yes, twice. National was contacted and put a stop to it. Yes, we need to have people willing to stand up to this and need protection from church and NSAC. Yes, stood my ground to Spiritualism and was not accepted well. Caused negative feelings. Guest speakers are vetted and when this happens these folks are uninvited or confronted by leadership. Yes, they made complaints about the pastor because of preference of MPI students were given priority. The pastor and board take this person aside and tells them that their ideas or behavior does not conform to NSAC rules and guidelines and is not permitted. No one wants to be on the board. Ego runs board and tells others how to vote. No, but know of instance in our state. Church waited too long to address issue with NSAC. No, we are fortunate to have several OMs and MPI students. They tried; but were removed. Most times they are voted out. Yes, they create conflict, but usually walk away because board and pastoral committee do not let them control. Bylaws require two year membership to be elected. Yes, but very short lived. Called before board for discussion. This happened more than 5 years ago. This couple left our church. Not at our church. Only NSAC credentialed or approved members can teach classes. Review their bio or history. Set standards for membership and workers and stick with it. Call NSAC Board for assistance. The Board of Directors would be in contact with the pastoral team to stop this from happening. Once or twice. We never had them serve the church again. This issue was known by NSAC Board when pastor was there for ten years; but didn t step in until problem became overblown. Our group is too strong-minded to be overwhelmed by such people. No, they won t even let you without their training. We are careful about this. No, but it could happened correct upfront without hesitation. I have a few reverends or Spiritualists who served our church longer than I have been there. But they must

10 10 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue follow and do (abide) by NSAC Bylaws. Pastor should be responsible. No, a try was made by NSAC member. Had talk and they chose to leave on their own. We notified NSAC and received guidance. Yes, one OM chooses the speakers. Often. Talk with them right away. No, we educate our guests immediately. They try but actually the one we had problems with was an NSAC ordained minister. This has not been a problem in our church. Our current leadership has been in power for two years. Before that there were many problems, in fact, totally out of control. Be firm in asserting the rules of what is required in the church. 18. Over the past year, how many persons without NSAC Spiritualist credentials served your church: how many/how often? Non-credentialed Speakers: 36 total; serving from once or twice a year to often (sometimes weekly or monthly), to 90-95% of the time. Non-credentialed Message Bearers: 96 total; serving half of church services, often, to every service. Non-credentialed Spiritual Healers: 150 total; serving one or two times a year, often, to every service. 76 delegates responded to above statistics and the following: 12 responded with none; 10 were unsure or didn t know, 4 responded with the word students. There were 21 comments, as follows: Students used often. No Commissioned Healers at our church. Trained by us or we don t use them. Morris Pratt expensive. Speakers use NSAC guidelines. Only two people. Went through platform decorum at our church and follow NSAC laws. Other than myself, none. Same two all the time, and went through platform decorum with pastor. We have MPI students at our church. Members who are MPI students serve in all three capacities. Countless non-nsac credentialed speakers. Some are not MPI students. Never have non-credentialed message bearers or healers. Not sure. Spiritualist principles are followed. Other NSAC non-credentialed speakers who are church members serve in all three capacities. Yes, without credentials. Members of congregation serve but pastor has member speakers pre-submit sermon. Hardly ever have non-credential spiritual healers serve. Almost always non-credentialed persons serve our church. Speakers: Once or twice a month or more. Less and less non-credentialed workers. Pastor insists on credentials, wherein lies the problem. Only students serve. Non-credentialed speaker on Sunday only. Mostly students. Most are studying NSAC or MPI. Sunday only service: non-credentialed speakers half of the time; non-credentialed message bearers half of the time or more; non-credentialed spiritual healers one or two times a year. We have very few credentialed people. Every Sunday we have non-credentialed workers as a speaker, message bearer, or spiritual healer. Students serve very often. Spiritualists that are outside guests serve rarely. Seven in rotation speak, including 3 from the pastoral committee and four other from the congregation. Not sure if they are credentialed. We have someone teaching mediumship class that is not credentialed. He does not believe in credentials. Six delegates commented that most of their members are not credentialed. 25 non-credentialed speakers serve our church annually. A few speakers once or twice a year. Weekly in all three capacities as they work toward credentialing and obtaining affidavits. Most of our workers are not credentialed but are members of NSAC and trained by other Spiritualist organizations in England. 19. Are any of those in question 18, above, paid by your church for serving? All: 20 paid Few: 14 paid Some: 18 paid None: 43 not paid for serving 29 comments follow: All outside speakers and workshop presenters. Not paid but usually small donation to special guests traveling to church. Few visiting mediums paid. Speakers and message bearers are paid but payment is small, mostly covers gas. All guest speakers. Only speakers traveling 75 or more miles. Pastor and visiting workers stipend. Missionary and visiting pastor paid. All speakers that are not members. Guest speaker paid. Only if they travel to serve. Guest mediums and speakers paid. Only $25 for guest pastors who travel. Speakers only a honorarium, very basic. Speakers paid but most return check to church. All speakers are paid. Well-know speakers only are paid. Ordained Ministers.

11 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue 11 All speakers receive $50. We pay travel expenses to credentialed and student ministers who come from 50 miles away. Pay visiting mediums who give special demonstration. Part of collection (offering). We pay no one but the pastor. Our pastor is only paid $100 a month; but out-of-pocket expenses for the church is 2-3 times that amount. I am gifted, not paid, if the church has the money. Pastor receives housing allowance and stipend. Guest events: visiting guest do a 70/30 split of proceeds. Only if they do a workshop. Just speaker paid. 20. Does your church permit non-nsac credentialed workers to advertise their services on your website, social media, church bulletin, or fliers or business cards displayed at church? If yes, explain. 15 delegates responded yes. 69 delegates responded no. 6 delegates responded don t know. 26 comments follow: Yes, selectively. If deemed appropriate they can be posted on bulletin board at church. If an event held at church it s posted in our newsletter. Yes, in the past. Presently changed to only members of church. Only in specific circumstances verbal announcement at end of service. Yes, limited regular supporters. Yes, business cards on the bulletin board or notices in the newsletter. Business cards only if they do not conflict. No, only vendors for festivals, clairvoyance by students and credentialed people. Yes, if they have an upcoming class. Sometimes. No, we have a board in the kitchen that is not. Business cards only. Yes, on a separate table, very limited. Occasionally. ARE mediums gave a workshop. Yes, business cards in back of church. Seldom. No, we have not had to process this yet. If okay by committee and board. Only on at the second non-church literature table. The first table has only NSAC literature and class fliers. No, we don t have a website that allows that. Via psychic fairs. Yes, usually they are member or have been speakers. No advertising. Yes, on information table. Overall no, We have a bulletin board for use must be approved by board. Assorted fliers of outside events are on one table, apart from our and NSAC items. Not as mediums. 21. Does your church sponsor or participate in mediums days or psychic fairs? If yes, explain. 66 delegates answered yes. 27 delegates answered no. Comments follow: Did two psychic Saturdays in June and August 2016 with more to come. Included non-nsac workers. They are trying to bring in tarot and numerology. On fifth Sunday of the month. Yes, we have festivals. Yes, to entice interested, pseudo-science and non-nsac teachings allowed. Yes, offering 15-minute readings for $20 as fundraiser usually in afternoon following morning services at church. Not yet. Yes, using certified (NSAC) mediums and our advanced student mediums. Yes, psychic fair with students from our church on our church grounds. Yes, mediums day. We are planning one in April with a student service. Every two months. We are going to have our first one in No, not yet. We need more student and certified mediums. Yes, all profit goes to church. Yes, mediums days are our primary bread and butter. Yes, workers are vetted and we use a disclaimer. Yes, we have a few psychic fairs each year. Yes, once a month we have one on a Saturday. Student and credentialed workers at our church. Healing arts pastor with info literature. Yes, we have a psychic fair each month with pastors and others that have taken the classes. Yes, quarterly fundraiser. Student services and message services. We have a mediums day with our own mediums. Yes, until this year, we ve run or tried to have four a year, weather permitting, without much support. At our camp one to 2 days, weather permitting. Yes, twice annually at our facility. Not right now, we have need of workers. Yes, every two months at our church as a fundraising event. Yes, mediums days for fundraiser. No psychic fairs. Yes we do have mediums days as well as a healing Saturday. Mediums days two times a year. For our benefit. Yes, as a fundraiser. Second Saturday of each month. Yes, as a fundraiser we have had mediums days. They are held on Saturday evenings. We only use church members.

12 12 Saving Our Spiritualist Churches: NSAC Delegates to the Rescue Mediums days and psychic fairs are used to raise rent money. Have tried psychic fair for fundraiser and to get our name out. Yes, one to two times a year as fundraiser with mediums days. Only on fundraisers run the by church. Yes, mediums days are great fundraisers. Yes, once a month and occasionally an evening mediums circle. Yes, mediums days with student and NSAC workers. Yes, we used to have psychic fairs; but now just mediums days. We hold a mediums day annually at the church but don t participate in commercial ones. Two mediums fairs annually. We only use NSAC medium and MPI students (they receive no money). Not anymore. Yes, our own festival at our church. Yes, we have mediums days several times a year; but not psychic fairs. Yes, in the past. Recently changed to only members of the church. Yes, we had a mediums day; but not on a regular basis. Yes, good fundraiser. Perhaps one time a year against objection of pastor; but always with disclaimer. Occasionally, our own. Yes, all-message services three times a year no psychic fairs. No, camp does. Why do Spiritualists reduce themselves to association with such? Own (church) mediums day. Participated in New Age Expo with information table and pastor readings which generated some new visitors. Yes, but only at our church so we don t break rules. We do this as a fundraiser; but not psychics. No, only vendors for festivals, clairvoyance by students and credentialed people. At our church festivals. 22. If yes to 21 above, do you post a disclaimer in a prominent area stating NSAC does not endorse the use of tarot cards, crystals, pendulums, Ouija board, palmistry? 31 delegates responded yes. 36 responded no. 3 said they didn t know. 20 comments follow: Yes on anything not related to NSAC. We would. No, but now we will. We do sometimes, our church space is rented to someone who holds a workshop. A disclaimer is announced. Sometimes. But birds of a feather flock No, explained it verbally. No, but we don t use them in church. No, not that I am aware of. These things do not belong in a church service. No, but we do not have these types of readers. Don t know if posted; but use our own mediums. Posted at camp and on computer. Disclaimer always posted. This board is not church related. We will when we have one. If posted, not really visible. No, because we do not have these tools. Yes, but they are not allowed. We put NSAC disclaimer on our flyers. None of them are above. Told that I am a problem when I object. Always. Sometimes. Not done at my church. No, only use NSAC mediums and student mediums. We will. 23. Many of our church buildings are in physical decline; rented meeting space is becoming more expensive. Any suggestions that have been successful at your church or any general advice? 33 out of 102 delegates (about 33%) responded to this question with the following comments: Property committee. Libraries offer free meeting rooms. Plan ahead. Minimize expenses. Treat it as you would a business. We rent. Work with known churches for space. Rent from other churches or non-profits like a healing center or herb center. We all work at keeping things in shape. Not at this time. Income is frugal. We have been blessed with a great landlord. Our concern is that we don t know how to expand. Our building needs major repairs of cracks. Right now we cannot afford repairs. We need help with maintaining our churches. Hang on it gets worse. We increased number of fairs; applied for grants from Historical Society an had soup-a-thons. Keep asking everyone to look for cheaper places to rent or buy. We have rented our facilities for AA groups, weddings, meetings. We work hard, and our past members worked harder to get our building. We are blessed. We moved to a cheaper location and ended up with more members. Our church building is one major eyesore owing from financial disaster. No funds to make repairs.