Denomination Defends Staffer, Strips Degrees
May 2, 2016: Pastor Paul Charles’ mistake, said the Adventist denomination’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) today, is that he studied at unaccredited institutions. This is the latest development in the aftermath of newspaper articles in South Africa with accusations about fraudulent graduate degrees claimed by leaders of the Adventist faith in Africa. Adventist Today has published previous reports on this story.
In a statement dated May 3, the SID said that it had reviewed the accusations with a consulting committee that had concluded that “Pastor Charles undertook his studies at unaccredited institutions and consequently, he does not possess any accredited qualification [but] has not misrepresented facts about where he obtained his qualifications.” The committee asked him first to “cease and relinquish the use of any titles associated with those unaccredited degrees [and second] to complete his studies at an accredited institution.”
The statement adds, “that Pastor Charles has elected to relinquish the titles associated with those degrees does not, in our view, diminish his calling as a Pastor within the Church.” Charles had said on a number of occasions and in various media that he earned a Ph.D. from Canterbury University, an institution regarded in both the United States and the United Kingdom as a diploma mill, and the Freedom Institute for Theological Studies and Research, which has no internet presence, phone number, or address.
Pastor Gordon E. Christo, a former administrator and currently director of family ministries for the Southern Asia Division, has released an open letter defending the Freedom Institute, saying that he knew it to be a legitimate educational institution and that its lack of accreditation by the Indian government is not unusual. Christo has considerable experience as an Adventist educator in India including struggles that Adventist institutions have had gaining government recognition.
Given previous revelations by the various media outlets, this statement issued by the South Indian Ocean Division raises more questions than it answers.
it would be better for Paul Charles to offer to step down from the position of influence in a very large division in order to remove doubt that he has unfairly benefited from the added status afforded by his educational claims.
In consultation with the Division and his home Union Conference they should also publish a plan for him to complete the appropriate Undergraduate studies at the earliest possible time.
This would also be an appropriate time for him to make a personal statement about this issue. There has been a significant breach of trust and basic principle of integrity for anybody with a pastoral calling would now require some action to rebuild this trust.
What steps does the SID plan to put in place to safeguard themselves and their employees from further damaging revelations akin to these?
For the past 15 years Adventist laymen, pastors and leaders have tried to correct the lies by Charles regarding his doctorates but without any success. He must be Adventist’s BEST conman ever! He was hopeless as a Communication Director at the SID, telling the newspaper reporter ‘no comment’, resulting in a disastrous and very negative write-up about Adventists on the front page of the New Age newspaper. We are waiting to see the disasters that occur under his leadership should his appointment to the GC be finalised. This is such a serious matter that he should be summarily stripped of his ordination. We simply cannot afford lying and deceitful pastors. Where is the integrity, honesty and truthfulness amongst our pastors? When will they stop getting their degrees from degree mills that offer fake degrees at a price? Something will have to be done to stop the cover-up of fraud and deceit at the SID. When I was young, ministers who acted with indiscretions were sacked on the spot. Now there is a banding together to safeguard the fraudsters and a cover-up of lies and deceit!
Clearly there are still myriads of questions around this matter. Gordon E Christo has testified in a letter uploaded in the SID website about the existence of the Freedom Institute in the 1990s. Without casting any aspersions on his and, being cognizant of the extensive experience he seems to possess on Adventist education in Idia, It would have been good if he could also confirm the Freedom Institute’s address as well as an indication that he ever visited the facility? What documentation does he have which supports the existence of this institute at that time, if it existed at all? Given that it no longer is traceable, what explanation can he provide for its sudden disappearance from the face of the earth? Is it not strange and indeed curious that Mr Christo goes to so far as to defend Paul Charles as having not produced his own certificates nor forge any signature on it yet he (Christo) he is responding to a request regarding the veracity of the existence of the institution? How did he get that far in his testimony without the first question being raised with him in the first place?
Hi dr. Bernard [DELETED WORD] how are you I hope you’re doing well I am replying or answering your very very unloving letter about the pastor in SID. it seems that you have no forgiveness or Mercy for him in what is happening in his life it would seem that you are quick to condemn him and quick to condemn others for their wrongdoings. Please remember that the Bible says by whatever measure you judge others you will be judged by that measure as well. God does not require man to have educational degrees. It is not man who qualifies man. It is God who qualifies man.
“Now there is a banding together to safeguard the fraudsters and a cover-up of lies and deceit!”
Let’s give this a chance to play out fully before we bandy about such accusations of church officials. If all the allegations are found to be true then it is time to take stock. Depending on the action of church officials we can make an evaluation.
Are you suggesting that the matter is still open?
The statement issued by the SID on this matter skirts around the core issue. In so doing it makes a mockery of the reason for existence of this high church office. Adventist administration does not have in its structures something called “consulting committee”. Instead it has either ADCOM which is mandated to administer the affairs of the division between sessions or EXCOM which is mandated to manage the day to day activities of the office. It is strange that SID can simply arrogate to itself powers to constitute another structure outside the two formal ones mentioned. Worse that SID takes counsel from a strange steucture. Who constitutes it’s? What were its terms of reference? Who does it report to? All theses questions have been left to conjecture yet they form the nexus of their mandate.
It is known that in 1998 PC was on his second year of study at Spicer Memorial. On the same year he had to go back to his conference to do practicals which he successfully completed. It is unclear if he completed his studies at Spicer. Strangely his Masters certificate is dated 1998. What does this say & mean? In addition to this, in which institution did PC study and obtain which degree/diploma – Spicer Memorial College, Cranbury, or Freedom Institute and which years? All this still remains a mistry. If PC does not possess any accredited qualifications as the statement states, does he possess any qualifications at all? Has SID exhausted & concluded this matter in such a holloway?
On several occasitions PC was requested to submit his degrees to SAQA for verification. He blatantly refused to so. This, to my mind, indicates that he knew that his so called degrees were sub-standard. It is sad to see that the SID left the matter unfinished. If PC was a pastor in a local church, he would have been dismissed from the employ of the Church due to fraud, dishonesty and injuring the reputation of the Church. As I read and understand the Bible principle, leaders in the Church, due to their position of trust, when guilty of serious Misconduct, must be judged at a higher punitive standard.
This “consulting committee” intrigues me. Who appointed it? Why the secrecy about its composition? Was its task to manufacture some rationale for dithering over the long-standing allegations? Did they put their heads together to work out a method for protecting PC? Or are they trying to protect George Christo’s past performance?
If PC is such a brilliant student why did Christo recommend he go to a diploma mill rather than an accredited institution? Christo should be able to clear up many of our questions. Will Christo please come forward and assure us that PC and his wife really completed their courses of study at Spicer? And were their grade point averages sufficiently high enough to warrant recommendation for further study?
We are left with the impression that PC is so dull that he has to resort to diploma mills. Christo may try to hide behind privacy rules but if both he and PC have nothing to hide then they will quickly tell all in the name of honesty and integrity.
The Division states: “Pastor Paul Charles’ mistake, said the Adventist denomination’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) today, is that he studied at unaccredited institutions”. At Division level people are supposed to know what they are talking about. Do the folk at the Division know the difference between ‘unaccredited institutions’, ‘diploma mills’, and ‘fly-by-night institutions’. Does not seem like it. Who is the Education Director at the SID? Surely he should be able to clarify these basics! Or was he not on this ‘Consulting Committee’, whatever that may be. Seems like a wonderful committee to cover up fraud and deceit! The Freedom Institute is a ‘fly-by-night’ institution, since apparently it is in existence one year, and then flies away overnight the next year and leaves not record that it ever existed. The SID focussed on this fly-by-night institution and ignores the present existence of the diploma mill knows as Canterbury and which is still in existence. Is it not fraud and deceit for a senior church official to submit qualifications that he bought from a diploma mill?? Or have church leaders become so immune to sin that simply nothing constitutes fraud and deceit anymore? Where are the theses that Charles submitted which states that it was submitted in full or partial satisfaction for his two Ph.D’s? No where can any such book, document or project be found. Did the SID Consulting Committee looked for it? Is it…
Under the heading “Leadership” one can find a GC document with the name “Transparency and Accountability – A Global Commitment of Seventh-Day Adventist Church Leaders”.
http://www.sidadventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transparency-Book-SPREADS.pdf
Where is the transparency and accountability in matters relating to this case?
Harald,
There are several issues in our Church that say one thing on paper, making them “look good.” But then, we also know that what is on paper is frequently not what is practiced. A couple of examples are:
– “Our doctrines are based only on the Bible.”
– “Our official belief and teaching is that salvation is by grace alone.”
“Where is the transparency and accountability in matters relating to this case?”
There has not been any viable accountability in the SDA church for years. The elitists rule and they make themselves the “untouchables.”
WOW…., Bill!!!!
Is it really you saying that?
Finally one thing that we fully agree on.
Be well.
Uh… just think of the tens of thousands of clergy who have masters or DD/PHD and are part of the 99% of Christianity that are deceived about the Sabbath commandment or some other doctrine. I go listen to one, often, who has a PHD in theology and presents contradictions about the bible SUNday after SUNday.
One can have warped higher education in heresy, mythology or whatever. Actually a masters or PHD means that they just know some specialty subject more than one who has a bachelors.
One might have a PHD in underwater basket weaving yet can be clueless on how to manage their finances. When one is a non degreed person and is devoted/consecrated to the will of God , they have an ear for error that these institutional intellectuals spout.
The controversy is not about peoples gifts, dedication , or capabilities. It is about honesty. Intellectual, academic honesty.
I my opinion, “consecration to the will of God” does not make up for academic fraud and dishonesty.
This case is actually good news for many people. Finally there is a relief for those who commit fraudulent acts, in the sense that they are no longer punished for the wrongs they do.
One scenario I am thinking of is the case of a treasurer embezzling money from the Church coffers.
Well, if (IF!!) he/she is caught the only action will be to tell that person not to do it anymore. That’s it!
If utilizing a fraudulent title is not a problem, why should other fraudulent actions be questionable at all? Just tell everyone “not to do it anymore.” Period!
Knowing well how our system works , I wouldn’t be surprised if former Dr. Charles – now just a PASTOR Charles again – would soon be promoted!!!
Also, I wonder if both, “Dr” Paul Ratsara and “Dr” Paminus Machamire would be willing to testify under oath that they know nothing about who (other than Ratsara) actually wrote a significant part of Ratsara’s dissertation…. Maybe someone will, again, be told “just don’t do it again”….
More on it:
Then there is the Advocate Boyce Mkhize , who is the SID legal counsel. He is the one who has been pressuring and threatening Clinton Plaatjes in several ways. Clinton is the one who actually worked hard on this case to expose all the academic fraud now being investigated. Clinton is still working on the Ratsara case, since there is apparently a dissertation ghostwriter that needs to be properly identified.
Well, anyway, who is the Advocate Boyce Mkhize? Here are a couple of samples, worth reading, believe me!
http://m.fin24.com/fin24/Economy/Parastatal-boss-exposed-after-bagging-R44m-golden-handshake-20150405
On accountability
http://lowvelder.co.za/191044/mega-progressing-on-bulk-water/
On integrity
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/lawyer-must-repay-r16m-award-1525077
Friends with benefits
http://www.ziwaphi.com/content/politics/ceo%C2%80%C2%99s-ex-colleagues-land-top-jobs
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
It was Paul Ratsara who brought this guy into the SID.
What a great blessing the SID staff must be to the Church, isn’t it????..
Even before we keep the context of non-accreditation of private institutions in India, my wonder is how an act of fraud such as this one can be argued not to have been committed ? Definition of fraud is given as “A false representation of a matter of fact—whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleadingallegations, or by concealment of what should have been disclosed—that deceives and is intended to deceive another so that the individual will act upon it to her or his legal injury.” Paul Charles has committed fraud. That is a serious offense for which he should have been subjected to a disciplinary enquiry.
It’s worse that there are strong indications that he does not have a junior degree. How did he simply jump to a Master’s Degree without a junior degree. It it does exist, why does it not form part of something that he prides himself with? This may also provide evidence to the fact that he has since become adept at committing fraud even when he was studying albeit in strange institutions. How on earth SID has the audacity to drive this totally misdirected and misleading explanation of such a gross deceit and hope that the SID church must continue to trust them, eludes me.
In addition thereto there does not seem to be any controversy that Paul Charles (1) committed fraud by lying in respect of his qualification throughout the past 15 years; (2) knew that his representation was and continues to be untrue; (3) he intended to deceive the church and; (4)
Don’t be surprised in Paul Charles is suddenly promoted, with an increase in his salary. This has happened many times before, and could happen again.
BREAKING NEWS
The prophet was right: MORE OF THE SAME!!!
Didn’t I say several times that Paul Charles will end up being PROMOTED in some way?
Well, a parakeet who specializes in SDA history (…) just told me that 15 years ago Paul Charles took the church to a labor council to force them to employ him because he was more qualified than anyone else. The church then tried to settle the matter and then offered him employment based on his qualifications which turns out now he never had. What can be more fraudulent than this???
But now, another parakeet, who specializes in fraud and prophecy (…) told me that they will have an EXCOM in a few days in which the recommendation is to send Paul Charles to study in the Philippines fully paid with tithe monies. Now, this will be the best reward a fraudulent person can get, much better than a promotion since it’s kind of paid vacations for several years.
Another question is, What is the plan for after he graduates (if ever…) regarding his job? They must already be promising him a secure job for after his gradua…., I mean, “vacation.”
I will continue feeding my parakeets very well, so they keep telling us more about this SCANDAL!
Have followed the comments here with sadness. How is it that an employee of an organization is publicly exposed (if true), internationally.
Why would not this situation be handled by the person in question’s department head?? Many accusations of lack of ethical and professional
standards of an individual within a church related role, yet no one associated in a working relationship with the gentleman in question, appears to have spoken to the issue. There are slanderous offerings by some, if unsubstantiated, should be attended to. The truth of the matter
should be rendered publicly, on all venues, where the issue has been
presented. The employee’s hiring facility has an obligation to put this issue
to rest, accepting the blame for permitting it such worldwide attention.
“The employee’s hiring facility has an obligation to put this issue
to rest,”
His boss, Paul Ratsara, has refused contact with and clarification to Clinton Plaajes, who is the main person pursuing this goal of finding out the truth. What Ratsara has done is utilizing the Church’s attorney to actually “warn” (aka threaten) Mr. Plaatjes for digging into this mud. But Clinton is stronger than that and is still keeping ther course.
It’s interesting that some time around August/2015 I emailed P Ratsara asking him how could I have access to a copy of his dissertation. Do you think I got an answer? You are right…, I didn’t!!!
Those people will do absolutely nothing to clarify and clean this issue. It appears that they are all involved in some kind of “strange business” and will protect each other as much as they can. The only solution is to let them ALL go, and replace them with a new crew.
Dear Earl
As with George, there are parakeets that give reliable information:
Since April 2014 letters were written, firstly directly and privately to Paul Charles in the spirit of Matt 18.
When he rejected the attempt to seek a solution and referred it to his boss, the matter was referred to the SID Leadership to seek a resolution.
When that did not materialize it was escalated to the GC. From there nothing further developed.
So to assume that this is being paraded in public without the internal church channels having been followed.
After the internal channels failed, a lay church member then picked up the issue and tried for over a year to sit around the table to talk. When that failed, it ended up where we are now – with it having become an international scandal.
Those involved in trying to seek a solution have been vilified and denigrated. The leadership, as you correctly state, need to resolve this – rather sooner than later.
Yes, my parakeets are highly reliable. I have currently 24 of them, and all are good “predictors” not to say “prophets.”
Hoping that referring a certain scandal to the GC will help to solve the problem is just an illusion. The political forces in our Church (denomination) are such that in order to remove the lid to expose it to the public one needs to rely on lay church members who have the guts to deal with it because they have no strings attached.
This fiasco at the SID is another example of maneuvers aiming to protect the people involved in those scandals.