Corruption in Methodist Church in India (MCI)

 Today is the D Day. As I type this blog time should have been out for our very beloved Bishop N.L. Karkare (NLK). But did it happen? Did he resign and go as he had given in writing that he will take VRS on 15^th Jan, 2021 and leave the office? This was his undertaking given on 24^th November 2020 as a compromise to avoid being placed under suspension pending enquiry, may be as persuaded by his other colleagues in the COB (Council of Bishop), who thought, a bit naively that he will stay true to his words and go. But not our beloved Bishop! He and his coterie had other plans. Since that day his supporters have been felicitating him and celebrating his victory over the COB and the system. He has been heard boasting that he will stay for two more years as Bishop and serve the people! I know along with me you also must be wondering whether these so called bishops had divine call and came into MCI to serve the Lord or did they hear their belly rumbling and came into the church and started making money as the opportunity presented itself! 

A huge disappointment with COB. Even though I knew it was no use and that even the enquiry instituted by COB was only an eye-wash, still when Col. Dayal requested me to speak to the President COB, Bishop Philip Musih and Secretary COB, M.A. Daniel, and also because I came to know that a group from NLK was going to Hyderabad on 5^th January to meet with the Secretary, and that all the other 5 bishops are going to be there, I spoke to both of them regarding NLK demitting his office on 15^th January 2021. On 4^th January, I spoke to Bishop Phillip Musih, President of COB who tried to explain to me they could not suspend NLK on 24^th November 2020, because there was no unanimity among the bishops. So they went for the VRS option. But he was firm that the corrupt NLK has to go and that he has told the Secretary to convene a emergency meeting of the COB on 16^th to take a decision in the matter. As for the 5^th January meeting, he said if we want we can always come and explain our stand in the meeting as I had requested. He also clarified to me that the Enquiry Committee will be submitting their report by 11^th January.

When I spoke to Bishop Daniel the same day, he explained that it was an informal meeting, mainly to sort out this problem of NLK who is now claiming that he signed the letter under duress and is filing cases against all the bishops harassing them. When I asked him about NLK leaving on 15^th as he had promised, Daniel said that NLK has to do that and that COB cannot force him to go. When I pointed out that President has asked him to convene the meeting of COB he feigned ignorance and said he was not aware of it. Still I continued to argue with him that if NLK did not leave on 15^th the COB will face worse consequences than that threatened by NLK. Then he said, please talk to the President and that we can come another day and not on 5^th because it might create confusion.

I could sense that Bishop Daniel has changed. When I had spoken to him before the October and November meetings in 2020, he was very supportive of our demand that COB has to take action against NLK. But how did he change now? He gave any number of excuses why no action can be taken on NLK. Did NLK book him also with his resources? God alone knows. Col. Dayal was also closely following my discussions and was calling them and insisting his point of view that COB must take action against NLK. We both exchanged notes and as he had indicated that the whole matter be kept confidential, I did not even inform Mr. Alexander Samuel, who is the other member of our Task force of three, based on the 12 member Core Group formed to fight corruption in MCI. But we met Pastor Mathew George and also Bishop Sampathkumar and kept them informed.

Again I spoke to Bishop Daniel to give us (Col. Dayal and myself) time to come and represent before him at Hyderabad. When I pointed out all the corrupt deals of NLK and that COB has to take action as directed by the High Court, Bangalore and the Supreme Court, he was still dragging his foot pointing out to the stay given by Bombay High court and the other case filed by one Guruprasad in Bangalore. When I assured him that Bombay case stay order can be vacated and our Bangalore Advocate can do that and also tackle the case filed by Guruprasad, he was still not eager to do anything solid. He was suggesting that only General Conference could send NLK home and that they are trying to do that. He said he might be coming to Bangalore on 13^th and that we could meet him there. By now I knew the direction in which the wind was blowing and that Secretary will not do anything being afraid of NLK’s machinations, still I persisted.

I took it up with President Bishop Musih on 8^th January again. He again said in spite of several reminders and instructions Secretary has not issued notices to convene the emergency meeting of COB. He further said there is a move to isolate him and to convene a regular meeting of the COB giving 21 days notice to pass a resolution in that meeting to remove Bishop Musih from President-ship and to have the next senior and more pliable Bishop Daniel appointed as the President. Two bishops Anil Servant from Bombay and Yesurathnam from Chennai have given such notices. Though I sensed his own stand in COB is weakening because he is standing firm on punishing NLK, I requested him to call for COB if necessary directly and take action. Of course he can count only on Bishop Mondal for support. The other three will be against him.

On 11^th Col. Dayal sent to the President a draft as from the President quoting Rules 384 and 455, where by President can call for the emergency meeting if just two members ask for it and if Secretary for any reason will not call for the meeting, President himself can call for such a meeting. We both called the President to follow it up with him. Bishop Musih was very defensive and said two members have already asked for a meeting, not an emergency meeting but a regular meeting, its one agenda being removal of him as President COB. He requested us to take up Guruprasad’s case, as it was mainly against Bishop Phillip Mushi saying that he is tainted and had no moral right to appoint an enquiry against NLK.

It transpires that the entire lot of Bishops, all the six of them are corrupt and are involved in some case or the other. Of course nothing to beat our man in Bangalore, NLK, who is the king of all! The others cannot hold a candle to him. So within the COB lines have been clearly drawn between Bishops Musih and Mondal on one side and Daniel, Anil Servant and Yesurathnam on the other. Two against 4 (including NLK), and nothing much could be expected from such a divided COB, with all of them reeling under corruption cases. Anyway we both were getting ready for the 13^th meeting with Bishop Daniel who informed me on 12^th evening that he is coming with Bishop Yesurathnam from Chennai and one Mr. Williams, the Assistant General Secretary, Executive Council on 13^th and will be staying at Hotel Pride and that we could meet them there and present our case. We agreed.

Meanwhile a huge drama was getting played at KMC (Koramangala Methodist Church) under Pastor Mathew George. When Bishop Daniel told the Pastor they will be coming on 13^th the Pastor wanted them to meet the PC. He told us that we can meet them after the PC, for he wanted the Bishops to feel the heat from the PC! Well, we both agreed. But it later turned out that the Pastor wanted them to come to KMC if they wanted to meet the PC. Though Bishop Daniel was agreeable to that, the other two did not agree. Then the PC KMC decided that since the bishops are not interested in coming to KMC to meet them, they are also not interested to go and meet them in the hotel. Then I told the Pastor, in that case Col Dayal and me will go and meet them in the hotel, because they have come after all because of our requests. Pastor agreed with it. Next day early morning I informed the Pastor that we are going to the hotel to meet them at 11.30 the time given to me by Bishop Daniel. A little later pastor called me and said, the PC has also decided to meet the bishops and will also be coming to the hotel to meet them! Pastor has told Bishop Daniel in the meanwhile that Shanthakumari is not in the PC and that she is in a group formed by some people and only that she is representing.

On 13^th when we met Bishop at 11.30, some 8 to 9 PC members of KMC were already there and the Bishops as appraised by the pastor, wanted to meet the PC members first and then may be they will give Col. Dayal and me time. I was shocked! Till I organized the meeting Pastor never told me why are you doing this as you are not even a member of the PC. After my persistent talks with the President and Secretary, COB and the meeting date and venue fixed, I become an outsider, not to be given importance to. Is this a use and throw policy practiced by some very clever beings on this earth against trusting people? Let God be the judge.

Well, you know the rest. As the meeting with PC had just started, me followed by Col. Dayal barged into the meeting and with their permission joined the discussions. You know what went in the meeting from our reports posted on the WhatsApp groups. It was clear at the end of the meeting though all of us insisted for the removal of NLK in 15^th January as he had given in writing, the Bishops wanted to convene a General Conference (GC) within six months in which NLK will have to go. But knowing their conduct so far, there is no guarantee that GC will be held even after six months. True to his boastings NLK might stay for another 2 years, empty all the coffers of the churches in Bangalore and Karnataka, sell more church properties and accumulate money for another three generations of his, like politicians do, unless the Lord in his mercy to us strikes him down before that.

But God is the creator of the church. It is His church and does not belong to any Bishop, or District Superintendent or Pastor, corrupt or otherwise. Lord has prophesied in Ezekiel 34:2-10, that “Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep.” “My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek them.” So the Lord says, “I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep.” Verses 11-16 says, He Himself will search for His sheep, rescue them, feed them with good pastures. Yes, when the bishops and clergy who are the shepherds do not take care of the people, the sheep, God Himself will take care of them and punish the evil doers.

Habakkuk cried to the Lord, “Why are you silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?” (Hab.1:13) The Lord answered “there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.”(Hab. 2:3).  So let us wait, there will be an end to this looting of churches and inaction by the COB. End will come and till that time “the righteous live by their faith.” (Hab.2:4). But a warning to the shepherds who are fattening at the expense of the Lord’s churches, a time will come when Jesus will return and judge between the goats and sheep, the sheep separated from the goats and gathered into the kingdom of God, whereas the goats will be cast into the eternal fire. (Matthew 25:31-41). So “repent and do the works you did at first;” return to your first love, if you had one. Or else Christ “will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”(Rev.2:4-5)

There is always hope at the end of the tunnel, with the Light of the world, Jesus Christ showing us the way out of darkness. Let’s trust in him and wait. Amen.