Academic Excellence, Christian Integrity and a Call to Upright Leadership
by Wandile Bangisi, May 24, 2016: The Adventist church in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) has been engulfed in allegations of academic dishonesty in the past few weeks. These allegations found their way to a newspaper in South Africa, The New Age. The story has also been covered by Adventist Today and by Spectrum, the journal of the largest association of Adventist academics.
More questions seem to surface as days go by. Metaphors that involve reptiles are being used. Some have pictured the story as one of focusing on dealing with lizards (academic dishonesty), but discovering that a large crocodile is emerging (fraud, lies, deceit and blatant corruption).
On the surface, it seemed that the issue was a case of academic qualifications acquired at an unaccredited institution. Normally, one would expect the holder of the qualifications to admit that indeed there was an error of judgment in acquiring such. However, it took a whole fifteen years for an admission to be made. It is also ironic that the church, not the individual involved, made the admission. To this day we have not received a word of admission from Pastor Paul Charles of any error in acquiring such unsubstantiated documents without clear proof that he has a bachelor’s degree. That the said institution where he acquired such documents does not seem to have existed is cause for serious concern.
The SID executive committee, which recently met to discuss this issue (along with other agenda items), has not released a public statement to the church at large. That silence may only taint the name of the SID further. Why is Charles not placed on precautionary suspension, pending completion of an investigation or a disciplinary process? Surely it can’t be business as usual?
The SID’s lack of openness and transparency on this issue may give credence to the rumors and allegations involving the SID president concerning his PhD from the University of South Africa (UNISA). The university has confirmed that the degree is legitimate and that it was conferred at a graduation on September 8, 2014. However, attempts to get access to the dissertation from the university library and anywhere else have proved fruitless. The sooner the president clarifies issues surrounding his dissertation, the better. There are allegations that it was co-written or ghost-written by some yet unnamed person(s). What’s the veracity of that?
It is in times like these that upright Christian leadership is required. Admit fault where appropriate. Deal decisively with issues on the basis of Christian ethics. Be consistent in the application of policy provisions. Do not set any precedent that cannot be sustained by policy in the long run. To avoid any prejudice or bias, an independent committee made up of individuals other than members of the SID executive committee or administration needs to be appointed to look at all the allegations.
Wandile Bangisi served the Adventist denomination as a pastor, hospital chaplain and secondary school Bible teacher, and is currently in private practice as a pastoral therapist and relationship counselor.
There have been major developments on this story in the past 48 hours. One of Paul Ratsara’s staff has confessed to having written five of the six chapters in his doctoral dissertation, and Paul Ratsara has offered to resign. Ted Wilson, who was actually present, asked him to sleep on it
In my view Ratsara’s 0ffer to resign should be accepted. There may be a place somewhere that he can be reassigned but the integrity of the hierarchy must be preserved. If Wilson does not accept the resignation those who have been denigrating Wilson’s administration will be crowing, unfortunately.
This puts a big cloud on Ted. I mean a bigger cloud.
Robert,
Ted Wilson is in a very delicate position. If he accepts Ratsara’s resignation he puts himself in a questionable position as well, for the following reason:
In 2014 he was informed about this situation, via emails that one person sent him hoping he will intervene. He didn’t, he rather decided to “sleep on it” himself, but never woke up!…
Yes, Ted Wilson covered it up hoping it would go away.
After a few informative (whistleblowing) emails his further emails were blocked and the SID lawyer sent him a threatening email hoping he would stop spreading the facts to the public. The issue finally made it to the newspapers and now, suddenly, everyone is panicking. Hilarious!!!
Therefore, do you see TW’s problem? If he agrees that “Dr” Rat has to pack and go, probaly TW should also do the same. Which could actually be a blessing to the Church, a new opportunity to reverse this train that is speeding up into the past when we actually need to be going back to the future.
For an update and more detail I would suggest you read the Spectrum report:
http://spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/05/25/updated-southern-africa-indian-ocean-division-president-paul-ratsara-offers-resig
I believe it reflects badly on The GC president Ted Wilson. I have to wonder as to how deep the rot is.
It has been widely reported one of Ube Vice Presidents of the SID, Dr Hopeson Bonya, admitted to have written 5 of the 6 chapters in PRs Thesis. Another report says Pastor Paul Ratsara has offerd to resign.
For further details read this:
“spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/05/25/updated-southern-africa-indian-ocean-division-president-paul-ratsara-offers-resig”
Ted Wilson’s reported claim that only an Annual Council can replace a GC Vice President was disingenuous or misunderstood.
The GC President or Secretary can convene a special meeting of the Executive Committee at any time, with due notice. And Ted knows this because it happened within his sojourn in Silver Spring, to handle the situation with the late Robert Folkenberg. And that was a major logistical and PR headache that Ted wishes to avoid, or failing that, spin it to minimize institutional damage.
Since this is a Division President who would need to be replaced, the Union Conference representatives from the last GC Nominating Committee would also be invited to participate in the process. And these are the very men (no women allowed) who stood-up to Ted Wilson in the special Division Executive Committee meeting convened by Ted, because unlike the Division officers, they do not report to him.
For those who care to observe, here is being played-out the original and still highly relevant, need for Union Conferences. Only Union Conferences can act as a check on the power of the General Conference. Divisions are subsidiaries of the GC, whereas Unions have their own constituencies.
In the past I known of several instances of mis-feasance and mal-feasance at individual institutions as well as Local and Union conferences. This is the first time I have seen such open allegations at the Division level. However, given that in other parts of the world, the cognizant Divisions have not intervened to clean-up messes in their subordinate conferences, it should be no surprise that the rot has ascended higher into the organization.
That being said, I am convinced that the vast majority of denominational employees and leaders, are person of good intent who are serving their churches as best they can. How unfortunate that the actions of a minority of employees and leaders, can reflect so unfavorably upon the entirety.
And how unfortunate that Ted Wilson, who should be concerned about the integrity of the worldwide organization that he leads, seems to more concerned about preserving its facade. Institutional chauvinism is not just about male prerogatives, but about the prerogatives of hierarchical authority.
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And let us all be thankful for those Division and Union officers, who have had the courage to stand for their convictions in the face of intense pressure from “the top” to “rally around the flag” of “organizational loyalty”. Clearly they understood the meaning of the Apostles who said to the Sanhedrin, “We ought to obey God rather than man”. There have been far too many committee meetings where few if any had the courage to openly oppose their “bosses”.
This case is a major scandal, not only because of the fraudulent, fake degrees involved but also because the GC President, Ted Wilson, knew about it since 2014 and did nothing to correct it. If someone had not taken the issue to the newspapers it seems that the cover up would have continued.
Now we will see… If Ted Wilson is untouchable…
Jim Hamstra wrote,
” …the very men (no women allowed) …”
It is so discouraging to still have this mark on our Church, the discrimination of women being officially practiced.
It is also disturbing that Paul Ratsara lied to the TOSC when he did not report the true results of his Division’s BRI but rather stated his personal beliefs on the issue. And what is worse, NOTHING HAPPENED.
For some reason the expression “in cahoots” keeps popping up in my mind when I think of that event. Not a single word from Tew Wilson to denounce the unacceptable, misleading behavior of one of his VPs.
How can a Church be spiritually healthy when all these things happen and become common practice and not denounced by the top leader? What kind of spiritual model is this for the 18 million members?
It’s ridiculous to indicate women are discriminated against. This old saw indicates to many that a GC decision made properly is not meeting the whims of the feminists.
SINCE 1969, we have witnessed malfeasance in every authority position within the SDA Church. This may be “par for the course” in all “not for profit organizations, as in all other “for profit” organs. “Follow the money” is the answer to most truth in action. Biblical caveat is “The love of money is the root of all evil”. In “for profit organs” performance is measured by the INCOME STATEMENT. In non-profit organs, the measurement of performance has various criteria for evaluation, often the raising of money. In the church, most depts. are, perhaps, measured by groups, as the Dept. head usually has influence in selecting their lieutenants, to guard their backs. Should their be faults in the Dept. All members support
each other, hence the “whistle blower” enters, for some egalitarian reason??????? Now when this occurs
“battle strategies” are put in action, defence and offence.
The question arises, what action should prevail for the organ, as a whole???? If the dept. in question, has been highly successful in operation there generally is an in house, on the QT, there is usually a slap on the fingers, and a request that the offending problem be removed. However, when the issue is known at large, generally heads will roll. How far up the line depends on how egregious is the issue????
There is no question: The buck stops at the President’s office; there is no other place to go. A captain, not underlings, is always responsible for the ship.
Come on, Elaine. You know better than that. It’s just a cliche to say the captain is always responsible for the ship. Individuals are
Responsible for the things over which they have, or should have, knowledge and control. Good captains delegate and assign responsibility which is independently carried out by hopefully responsible people. What you really mean, Elaine, is that the captain of the ship is always responsible when the captain is an Adventist administrator. That way, you get a two-for – can both the malfeasor and his boss.
I agree with all of the comments lamenting the lack of integrity. But I guess I am less indignant than others because I am not surprised. Why do we expect superior integrity of our institutional leadership? Of course it’s a good thing. And of course disciplinary action should be taken. But these leaders are politicians.
Good spiritual leaders don’t usually make the best institutional leaders. And human frailty and temptation abound no matter how far one moves up in a hierarchy. instead of self-righteous piling on, we should deal with this situation with humble resolve, recognizing that God only knows the heart, and say, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
Again, it’s not that the situation and the cover-up, if there is one, should be ignored. It’s just that it needs to be addressed without self-righteous moral opprobrium. “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” It’s the verbal stone-throwing here that bothers me.
Educational attainment has become the key to attaining status in our denomination. Work as hard as you will for the Seventh-day Adventist church and without the proper paper degrees you will remain nobody.
In the US a woman will never be considered for commissioning as a pastor without the specified, prerequisite degrees. So much for the equal calling of God. No paper no job. Don’t bother to apply.
In Africa its a ludicrous situation. I know an extremely successful, hardworking evangelist and mission director, who is in his mid-fifties and taking time away from his work and family to pursue a masters degree. He has to study in another country. Its a gigantic waste of time and money. But no paper and all the jobs you might do, you can never do, you aren’t qualified.
Talk about prejudice. Its the worst. It brings out the worst in people too.
While I agree with this statement, Nathan, how is this effectively accomplished? If reports are to be believed, Pastor Wilson has been aware of at least some of the facts since 2014. If we take a utilitarian approach, it’s the “piling on” or the reaching of a tipping point or critical mass or whatever you wish to call it that provides the motivation for Pastor Wilson or the organization to act. Is it possible that the current powers that be have been using the patience of the saints as a tactic for maintaining the status quo?
It is absolutely possible, Michael. And certainly my personal biases make it likely. If there is sufficient evidence, an independent panel needs to conduct an investigation. But the focus needs to be on malfeasance and breach of duty. Breaches of trust are really important and can disqualify an individual from leadership. Once such matters become public, those involved in any coverup probably should not be trusted. Again, I can’t overstate that there is a difference between doing what needs to be done with tears in our eyes, knowing God has the final word, and gleefully piling on, using the misfortune of others as an occasion to suggest that we have keen moral insight and superior integrity.
No argument here about the preference to deal with the problem without glee. You use the words “absolutely possible.” Do you have knowledge of the evidence being collected and a discussion about the appointment of an independent panel? It seems prudent to proceed (with or without glee). Just because I see no evidence that this process is likely doesn’t make it so. I’m inclined to conclude, however, that until an as yet unknown number of respected Adventists add their voices to the call for change, change will not happen.
I mistook Nathan’s ‘absolutely possible’ as referring to the possibility of a likely solution, but I now see that is was in response to my question addressed to him in the previous comment. So I take some of my last reply back and add my voice to those who have previously expressed a wish that there was a correction mechanism in the computer program that runs this blog. 🙂
Nathan,
The church isn’t a navy, of course, which is the point you make.
That said, in the U.S. Navy, if the ship runs aground, the captain’s career is over and the person is retired. Run’s aground. Not sinks. It does not matter that there are two levels of command between the captain and the person steering the ship. The captain’s career ends when the ship runs aground.
It does not matter if wind or current conspired against an enlisted sailor at the helm, the captain’s career is grounded with the ship.
The open question is this, did Elder Wilson’s personal take command of the Division to save the President as president link the presidential destiny of them both with the GC Executive Committee?
It is as you note a matter of trust.
Hi Bill,
All those involved in that embarrassing fiasco and fraudulent behavior are now acting exactly like a student who was caugh cheating on an exam. The student took the risk, was caught, and now is crying saying that he is very sorry. But no matter what he says, he will get a zero score on that test.
But because of the Adventist tradition, all of them are looking for a promotion and payed moving to another place.
Ted Wilson is the one with the biggest frustration, because in his case he can’t get a promotion – which is very unfait. After al, he was able to keep the information secret since 2014, and he should be given credit for that, right???
I hate this weird new layout in the comments section on AToday.org. It is impossible to see who is responding to whom, because the comments are not indented or nested. Whoever transferred the data to this new WordPress theme forgot to check the box on the setup screen to “indent responses to comments.” It is very easy to do: just click on the checkbox. I loved the old AToday layout where it was clear who was reply to whom in the comment section. Please correct this problem. Thank you.
Its time for all elections in church structures, conferences, unions and divisions to follow election procedures and methods where every member participates in a secret ballot. The candidates must canvass themselves and make themselves known to the members they serve.Delegates chosen by
the churches to represent their members
interest is no longer a just and fair process.