Complaint Review: College Community Congregational Church

I am writing a rebuttal to the strange ripoff report #477385 that purports to be about College Community Congregational Church in Fresno, California.  I am the current pastor of the church named in the report, an authorized minister in the United Church of Christ, the denomination to which the congregation belongs.  On August 1, 2009, I began serving as the intentional interim pastor of the congregation named in the report; the ripoff report is listed as having been submitted August 7, 2009.

It is hard to know where to begin my rebuttal but how about this?  There has never been anyone named Robbone, the alleged author of the ripoff report, listed on rosters of the congregation, whether as a member, friend, or visitor of the church.  The category that Robbone indicated as having relevance to the named party in the ripoff report was home based business, a category unrelated to the church named in the report.  In response to they claim they are gay friendly which is not the case, I would state that the congregation engaged in a long study process, years ago, and the members voted to declare the church Open and Affirming in 1998. A vote to be an Open and Affirming congregation in the United Church of Christ means that there is no prejudice or discrimination practiced by the church based on a persons sexual orientation.  The churchs financial policies, procedures and record-keeping are all consistent with the law, best-practices, and ethics and are subject to independent audits by experts contracted for service.  The church has a SafeChurch policy which identifies strict procedures that it follows in order to protect potentially vulnerable persons (e.g., children and youth, persons with disabilities) in the course of congregational life.  Criminal background checks are conducted on employees and other safeguards are practiced in the life of the church.  The pastor who preceded me at the church served with distinction and now serves another congregation.  The United Church of Christ holds its ministers accountable and requires that we live according to the highest ethical standards.  No minister in the UCC would retain ministerial standing (e.g., authorization to serve as a minister) if ethical, moral or ministerial standards were breached.

It is unfortunate that the reputation of College Community Congregational Church UCC in Fresno, CA may be potentially damaged by the strange ripoff report #477385.  It is unfortunate that the reputations of those persons named or alluded to in the report may be potentially damaged.  But, as a pastor, I also find myself reflecting on Robbone and what a damaged human being s/he seems to be.  I myself will pray for Robbones journey toward healing and wholeness, love, and peace with justice.