City Harvest Church member Simon Teoh, an investment banker, is critical of where the $310 million investment by City Harvest Church into Suntec will go.
He wants to know how much would be spent on the lease and how long it would last.
Troubled by the church’s response not to answer such questions on the grounds of a non-disclosure agreement with the consortium. Mr Teoh has called for more accountability and transparency from the Church.
He wrote in to the Commissioner of Charities asking for the confidentiality clauses to be rescinded and that City Harvest Church would amend its Constitution so major business deals can be put to a vote among ordinary church members.
We publish the entire letter from Mr Simon Teoh to the Commissioner of Charities here.
Dear Commissioner,
I am writing with respect to the City Harvest Church investment and expenditure of $310 million for the purchase of shares in a company which owns 80% of Suntec Convention Centre and the rental of exclusive areas of the same (plus related moving and renovation costs). This was reported in the Straits Times twice over the last two weeks, including the recent queries raised by your good office.
As a member of the public and the church, I like to highlight to the Commission that todate, members (both non voting and voting) of the church have not been apprised by the Management Board of the church (“the Board”) of the salient terms of the $310m planned expenditure/investment.
Instead, the Board is pressing ahead with utilising the church’s Building Fund (totalling $65 million as end Oct 2009) and committing the church to large future liabilities ($245 million, being the difference of $310m and $65m in the Building Fund) without consulting the members/executive members at the recent AGM. No EGM has been scheduled and I am led to believe that the deal is closed.
In addition, over the last two weeks, the Board has been seeking financial commitments/pledges from its 30,000+ members to raise monies to meet the said liabilities. I do not think this is ethical, especially considering the large number of minors and vulnerable members (eg old, uneducated) in the church.
The excuse given at the recent AGM and in the public sphere for the lack of disclosure is that the Board is bound by confidentiality clauses in an agreement with the Sellers and / or Suntec management. I believe that as a large, public organisation, the Board should not have agreed to such clauses in the first place.
Although the Board is authorized as per the church’s constitution (which I only recently learnt) to commit to any expenditure it deems fit, I believe this “carte blanche” authority and the Board’s poor judgement in agreeing to the confidentiality terms with the Seller runs counter to best practice standards of disclosure and transparency as per the Commission’s code of governance for charities and IPCs (Code).
I quote section 1.3 and 8 of the Code (emphasis made are mine):
Section 1.3: Accountability to Donors
“General Principle: The charity and its fund raisers should be accountable to their donors for the donations received
1.3.1 The Charity and its fund raisers should ensure that donors received informed and ethical advice about the charity, intended use of donation, value and tax implications of potential donations”
Section 8: Disclosure and Transparency
“General Principle: As the charity operates with public support through both donations and the use of volunteers, it should be transparent in its operations to maintain the integrity of serving for public trust and community good instead of personal gain. As such, the charity should demonstrate its openness to the public by providing the public with information about its mission, structure, programmes, activities, performance and finances.”
I love my church but am puzzled by the lack of transparency and accountability by the Board who is tasked to look after the members’ collective interest. I am not suggesting any impropriety but I believe in transparency and accountability, which protects and promotes public confidence.
I humbly urge the Commission to balance the impact on public interest and the public’s confidence in Singaporean charities verses the Board’s desire to complete the deal and require the church’s Board to seek the approval from the deal’s counterparties to mutually rescind the confidentiality clauses so salient terms can be disclosed.
Secondly, I hope that the Commission will also request the church’s Board to undertake a review of its Constitution to find ways to promote more accountability and transparency to its members. For example, to make it a requirement for material proposals such as material investments and expenditure (say for sums greater than $0.5 million or $1 million) and detailed historical financial accounts be disclosed and be put to a vote by its ordinary members.
I am confident that you and members of the public will agree that $310 million investment/expenditure affecting 30,000+ members of the public are significant numbers/figures that need to be protected through appropriate disclosure and joint decision making.
I look forward to your action in the name of public interest.
Best regards
Simon Teoh
___________________________________________________
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The majority judgement in In Maggbury Pty. Ltd. v. Hafele Australia Pty. Ltd.(2001] HCA 70; (2001) 210 CLR 181, they DO NOT support a ‘carte blanche’ prohibitions.
There are legal reasons for this.
CHC leadership is indeed admirable and honorable to have risen to the occasion to put forth a very succint response to the members over the Easter weekend.
Sitting in the audience, I was moved to tears to see almost every hand went straight up without hesistation when Pastor Kong polled for support of the Suntec deal. It takes both courage and conviction to do so, for the service is webcast live to millions around the world. It had demonstrated tremendous unity in the spirit and trust in the leadership as a church. This definitely represented the majority of the church members, with 7 services over 3 days.
So, while each of us are entitled to our opinions, I sincerely hope that the few voices who had concerns would acknowledged that your opinions are really quite obscure. I hope that you will respect the views and sentiments of the many many more members and individuals, who are fully in support of the Suntec deal. We have absolutely no issues with the terms of negotiation that had taken place in the contract nor the $310m that needs to be raised.
Praise the Lord for giving us the capacity to do so!
One of my sons became a member of CHC….and He intimated with me He regretted so.
I wonder how many young people are in the same situation?
They felt conned.
I feel sorry for the young members who joined such an Organisation without understanding ramifications….I just hope this Organisation does not turn out to be like PTL of USA (Jimmy Baker/Tammy Baker Infamy) or Pat Robertson of California (who was caught with a Whore) or Jim Jones Cult where hundreds died …
Bobby,
I cant believe you could cook up a story like that. Anyway, i have a daughter in church, and she is so proud of the church, the leadership, and the suntec deal. I am glad she isn’t so naive and easily conned by false accusers who accuses evey preacher who runs a big ministry to be a conman..such a baseless statement without any basis at all. I feel sorry for your daughter to have to depend on guidance from you..
Holly and all
At least we see Simon being aboveboard and not concealing his intent. Are you sure you are castigating the right person? How do you find it possible to support a person who copies other people’s original articles and posts them as his own Daily Devotion. How can he print them in his own book and sell them @$14? How can he claim on the book sleeve he is ‘sharing his insights from the Bible…” If they are copied how can they be claimed as his insights? If any other pastor unknown to you did the same thing, what would you call him?
Remove the log from your own eye before you point out the speck in another’s eye
If there was tremendous unity, why not use a secret paper ballot? Asking people to put up their hands in a webcast and mass situation is simply emotional blackmail. I am not impressed
I just forgot to include the website which shows the proof of the copied articles … http://cheatgrace.blogspot.com/
pardon me, bobby, it is a son, not a daughter that you supposedly have in chc..
Dear Bobby Tan,
How ridiculous n ignorant you are by getting all the facts wrong in your comment.Firstly,Pat Robertson’s ministry is not in California and neither does he live there.Secondly,It was Rev.Jimmy Swaggart who was caught with a whore and not Rev.Robertson.Moreover,the down fall of PTL was caused by one man and his disobedience to the word of God.Just a reminder,PTL is a TV ministry and not a Church which has a congregation.You have wrongly accused your brethren.If you are truly a Christian,should you not do the right thing in accordance to what the bible teaches about the accuser.
Tee, you never run out of skepticism. You sound like a Christian to me, so you should know the principle of being prepared to be judged if you keep on judging others. If you have no weakness or sin, then go ahead and cast as many stones as you are entitled to..
You are right Preston. These guys are throwing any stone they can grab and at any direction they can…what a pathetic lot
I see a lot of emotions in this thread but this is a question of law and society – the relevance of religious-business concoction mix, appropriate or otherwise.
Please lahhh Son of Zeus. Don’t use the Bible to hammer me into fear and submission. There is clear evidence of what has been done by YOUR megachurch pastor. I present evidence, not subjective opinion, for you to see about misrepresentation by your loved one. If this is a song, he would have beem sued for breach of copyright for starters. I guess misrepresentation is the kindest word I can use.
But then Pharisees have always been like that, refusing to see the evidence of character deficit before their own eyes. They only concentrate on their good works like building bigger temples and giving large amounts into the offering box as proof of their deluded faith
The funny thing is nobody dared to take on the questions I asked but only know how to throw Bible verses at me. It is so typical of legalistic Christians, when cannot answer, resort to rhetoric and hot air.
Excuse me, kids, may I interrupt?
1) The building has nothing to do with plagiarism AT ALL. It is 2 different issues, and only morons put them together.
2) Since Simon has been really transaprent about his views, why not also share with the press and us all – waiting for his reply that how significantly he has contributed to the growth of the church? (or maybe not even a single cent – but has sat there and consumed a space and to enjoy the aircon which he doesnt pay for.) Of course, only he himself can answer.
3) It is foolish to suggest a voting session in the midst of an Easter service. Fact that the Pastor asked for hands is good enough and his people indeed stood by the truth and by him.
(If YOU were given a chance, a show of hands who are on YOUR SIDE, Simon Teoh and Daniel and his d-followers, I doubt you even get 0.01% of the entire population.)
4) Tee Kay Hetch, it is not that no one DARED to take on the questions, but it is that to me it kind of lowers the level of intelligence to revert to silly questions like that. Whatever mentioned is above, and read JENALINE’s reply.
5) Be a man, boys, we are just talking about THE BUILDING.
6) Anyone unhappy? Just not contribute!! I think the CHC-ians will be happy to have another seat for people more appreciative than you.
End of topic, kids.
Tee Kay Hetch,
You are a hero. I think you are like Moses in the desert…Be resolute and I believe many members are with you only they are so long taken in it will take a long long time to be objective again.
Recently a Church Group Southern Baptist Church in Arizona operated a Real Estate Ponzi Scheme which supposedly invested in SHOPPING MALLS and Office complexes and defrauded hard working, faithful church members of almost S$1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Dollars) and when a faithful parishernor voiced his discontentment He was threatened with death and called “White Trash”….The Leaders were eventually convicted and jailed but unfortunately it left many faithful much much poorer..
CHC Church Leaders should not be afraid to tell the truth if they have nothing to hide and no other mysterious agenda.
YES! CORRECT.
Don’t try and put words in our mouths and speak for us. WE ALL AGREE TO THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES TO CHC BUILDING. Simon Teoh and gang DO NOT SPEAK FOR US, OR REPRESENT US AT ALL.
Tee Kay Hetch,
You can never get through to the sheeple in the church…once they run out of logical reasoning and arguments …they wield the Bible and throw the Book at you…
Leave the congregation if you must…and cancel your giro donations if you have not done so yet….
Good luck with your crusade against thousands of bible wielding sheeple. The have been refering to church members as sheep and the Pastor as a Shepard and Jesus as a Shepard…if you do not behave like sheep you are not suitable …better leave….To question the Leader is not acceptable. Unquestioning faith is a prerequisite.
Dear Bobby, thanks for replying. But do refrain from using baseless accusations. Remember not all act like that. But I like the part you say about him leaving. I agree, it is a democratic society. Happy? Stay on. Not happy? Just leave. Simple as that. Don’t have to stay and haggle on like some housewife in the wet market. Am I not right Bobby? :)
Simon Teoh should also direct his query to the owner of ARA Harmony Fund, why they need to gag CHC for 2 years.
How much are they trying to squeeze CHC and for how long.
http://www.ara-asia.com/home/home/
Poppy is right that the building has nothing to do with plagiarism AT ALL, and they are two different issues.
I think CHC is entitled to invest in whatever the congregation sees fit. It is their right to ensure that the money is put to most effective use. Nobody wants their church to be in the red.
The plagiarism revelations are interesting though. It brings up some questions about the pastor. Maybe some attention should be paid to it.
PA
You are absolutely correct….Leave if one must…no point staying on if is so disillusioned….
There are a thousand and one sects of Christianity and Religions…
As long as the members are happy they are the ones who will enjoy or be victimised as the case may be.
(like the recent case of the Ssouthern Baptist Church in Arizona’s Ponzi Scheme where the Faithful were misled and lost their life savings).
Hi Poppy, thanks for venting your spleen. The question that still remains is whether character deficit is or is not an important criteria in the person you choose to follow. If a person canot be faithful in small things, can he be faithful in larger things? Imagine, copying some articles and misrepresenting them as your owninsights from the Bible? Is not a Daily Devotion article like some personal revelation from God gleaned from daily prayer and scripture reading. In that case, would not someone who has misrepresented someone’s word from God as his own be considered a false prophet?
If it was a non-CHC pastor, would you remain quiet? I doubt so. Call me a moron, its OK. I don’t mind being a fool for Christ. :)
Legalistically claiming they are different issues does not cut any ice. Obedience is better than sacrifice and character wins over performance in God’s Kingdom. Isn’t that what we learn from the Pharisees’ example? Or is just that you cannot deny the objective evidence before your eyes and so you have to resort to such legalisitic divisions
BTW I am not a CHC member, having been there only once :)
actually mic o mic, I hardly care about how CHC sheep choose to be fleeced. After all, it is in the nature of sheep to be fleeced. They have to answer to God for the resources they are entrusted with.
But I am totally unimpressed by the venting of emotional pressure on your own member. Just because he does not toe the party line, you people tell him to go in very unkind words? Is that what brotherly kindness is about? Is that what loving your enemies is all about? Is that what doing good to those who belong to the household of faith is all about? Or maybe you are just a true reflection of your shepherd?… or butcher maybe? LOL
mic o mic. sorry i just realised you may not be a CHC member. Well so far I have asked a lot of questions about the pastor. Its only the legalists who insists my questions have no relevance :)
Did the church collected $23 million recently in hardcash or pledges in respect of the building fund ?
Talking about money, prosperity preachers will never preach to you the following Bible verse. If you know this, you will never want to give to the rich ever again.
Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
It is more than a month and yet we have individuals questioning the SCC deal. They are voicing out that they are not comfortable with what was being done and require clarifications.
Why should forums/blog abuzz with CHC and cast their doubts on the NDA ? Can the various christian bodies voiced out openly their reservation or support their moves ? Stop all the talk about God’s love and be practical.
If the consortium have to issue a legal reminder to CHC not to disclose further information, then the identity should be the main reason for the NDA. The stake % and the share price are secondary.
The special purpose investment company ( in which the name is also unknown) should be created to mask the identity of the consortium. Many claimed to know who are the investors and if such is the case, their listco in Singapore might be dragged into the picture.
Why should the church be involved in such complication and perhaps tarnish the christian body as a whole.
Hi Bobby Tan,
You are spitting poison at Christian churches again.In your previous comment you lied about Rev.Pat Robertson and his ministry and you twisted the facts about PTL tv ministry.Again,I believed you deliberately twisted all the facts about this ponzi scheme in a particular Church to discredit Christianity.Do you want me again to give you the real facts about that scandal.I have no desire to make you a fool out of yourself.If you do,let me know and i shall expose you again how deceitful you are.I doubt you have any fear of God in you.
Dear Preston, do you think a megachurch pastor should copy another man’s article and post it on his own website which carries his own name as his Daily Devotion. Isn’t that twisting the facts and misrepresenting himself as the writer of that particular revelation? Futhermore, to include the said articles in his own book and claim they are ‘his insights from the Bible” and then sell each book at $14? Do you think such a man has the fear of God in him to profit from another man’s labour? The website http://cheatgrace.blogspot.com/2010/03/3rd-example-of-cheatgrace-pastyors.html even gives photo evidence so there is no twisting of facts of mere opinion but hard facts. What do you think?
Other Christians can save your breath, CHC only listen to their own. Any objections will fuel only more redicule. Leave the judgement to God, if you do believe in the same One… otherwise, we shall wait and see who’s version of God is more accurate, while none has a perfect reflection of God. Hmmm? Did I hear freedom of expression? Come on! Don’t be ridiculous! rofl
It is this disunity that divides the church futher, even the apostle Paul would say.
lalala…. not bothered at all on the “right to know”, not a member, and possibly will never be a member of CHC to comment on their “home affairs”… just holding dearly on my “right to think differently”, but, nonethelessly, CHC does have the “right to be ignorant” of my thinking, lol
Despite being whacked verbally by loyalists to CHC, there is no lack of critics who aired their views in Pastor Kong’s blog. The church need to seek God’s wisdom on this matter as time and resouces could be used better in the furtherance of God’s kingdom. I can imagine the plight of the existing members who have to face their colleagues, friends and families. How are they going to explain when they are being taught to spread the gospel message to the world.
I don’t understand why there is so much disconcert on this. In fact nobody was forced to tithe/give offerings/give building fund. “Members” who don’t share the same vision anymore can just simply leave. People who think the members who stay are idiots/victims then so be it. For in the same way they judge others, they will be judged.
Just for the records, I am not a CHC member.
Frankly, I dont understand why everyone loves judging CHC?
Like “hohoho” said, it’s home affairs. Pastor is answerable to God and to the church.
So people, dont worry for God is not mocked, He will not let us off if we are really as bad as you all say we are. Really.
“For in the same way they judge others, they will be judged.”
I have no problem with that. If I deem a person who tries to sell a piece of stone (which he claims possess magical healing abilities) a swindler, then I am prepared to be judged a swindler as well if I sell a similar stone while making a similar claim.
Even if the stone seller claims that his God has empowered the stone and he truly believes that, he is still a swindler because he has not tested the stone’s abilities before selling it. If someone asserts that we should leave him alone as we should respect all religion and that his clients are willing believers of the same religion, then I disagree because society needs to be protected from swindlers.
FYI, Wicca is a religion and Wiccans have been known for selling enchanted items or spells and unless you believe in witchcraft, they clearly do not work.
Now replace the stone with a bottomless wishing well and healing ability with ‘prosperity’ generating ability.
If you think that a Wiccan selling an enchanted stone to a lowly educated elderly is wrong, what do you think the promise of God repaying riches to its members‘ tithe giving can look like to an outsider? Has this claim been properly tested? Some of CHC’s members are elderly and easily manipulated youths. Can nobody judge or contest the claim because it is a private affair? Sadly, it cannot be challenged legally according to existing constitutions and owing to sensitivities about religion.
Please stop saying people are judging CHC. It paints an unfair picture of critics and makes CHC look like a victim.
For those who requesting “if you don’t share the vision, please leave” or “this is an internal matter so outsiders butt off”, please refrain. If you are members, you’re really doing the church a dis-service. We are a family so we should care what one part of the family thinks. We love God and we also love men (believer and non believers alike). That’s the two biggest commandments from Jesus.
Tee Kay Hetch
Your allegation against a megachurch pastor that copy another man’s article and post it on his own website which carries his own name as his Daily Devotion is quite serious. There is a potential legal liability that you may face as a result. I also noticed that you have pursue the matter for quite a while and sincerely hope you have done sufficient research.
Preston
I cannot understand why your senior pastor could chose to remain silent on Mr Tee’s allegation. Suggest that your senior pastor stepped forward to confirm or deny the allegation. If Mr Tee’s allegation is found to be untrue, he should be given the opportunity to withdraw his statement and apologise accordingly.
We are brothers in Christ and belong to the same father.
-saint
You properly misquote others. Nobody said “if you don’t share the vision, please leave” or “this is an internal matter so outsiders butt off”. Is that the first thing you do if you don’t agree/understand something; to go to the media? Why shouldn’t CHC be given the chance the clarify themselves when they can instead of all this gossiping. Were you there when they sign the agreement with suntec?
Hey jurong,
Never in any of my comments that i proclaimed i am a member of CHC.The fact that i have never been one.I am not a loyalist to Pastor Hong or his Church building.However i am a loyalist to the all body of Christ including yours too.Are we not a family?Would you spit poison at your own loved ones.How would you feel when some false accusers spitting poison at your church without any substantiated evidence.Even if you or your pastor/s or any member in your congregation have some misgivings,would you not like someone to be there to stand beside you and give you a helping hand.This is what i call unconditional love.There is always a proper place to voice our grievances within the body of Christ.Certainly,this website is not one of them.Yes you are right;we are brothers in Christ and belong to the same Father.Because of that,we should not bicker at other churches.
Jurong, well said. The photographic evidence is there on the website. The articles can be read off the photos. Unless people can believe it was photoshopped? The links to the Daily Devotion is also there. You just need to compare and see the evidence fits the questions asked and if the articles are copied word-for-word. What other research needs to be done? To see if there are more word-for-word copies of other articles?
Should a man face a legal liability for telling the truth? Would a ‘man of God’, who is supposed to fear the Lord, use man’s legal means just to suppress the truth about himself?
Hey Tee,
Nit-picking and church-hopping come hand in hand.There is no such thing as a spotless church while we are still in this world because we are still a broken body.By chance if you found one,please let me know as i would like listening to sermons which are original and unadulterated.Perhaps,you may be already belong to a spotless church.All preachers and pastors get their sermons’ materials from many sources;the Bible,someone else writings,sermons and theologies.If i am correct then in your tunnel vision,all clergy men and women are guilty of copy rights.Indulging in nit-picking will never allows you to settle well in a church permanently.Have you heard of a term called “spiritual nomads”
Good morning Preston. You are wrong (as usual). This is not a matter of nitpicking but objective truth. If you look at theological writers (assuming you read Christian theological books), you will see that all the writers ascribe the source from which they get their ideas. Either they footonote/endnote or they mention it directly as they raise the point.
If you listen to other preachers (assuming that you do), you will notice that when they always refer to the source from which they get their points, either a commentary, another preacher or the book where they read the point. An ethical preacher will even say ”I heard that…” or “I read on the internet…” if he cannot remember the source. The aim is always never to take credit for the work of others. After all, the preacher is a man of God, how can he misrepresent that his revelation is from God when he is actually copying another person’s revelation from God.
Anyway, I think you have missed the point totally. The point is misrepresentation (the most kindest word anyone can have). What your megachurch pastor has done is to copy word-for-word articles. He posted them on his Daily Devotion website and he did not credit the source. He printed them in his book and then on the book-sleeve said he was ‘sharing his insights from the Bible’. He has copied word for word and yet dare claim they are his insights? By your reasoning, that means we can also reprint other people’s works into our book under our name and sell them on the open market and profit from them? We can steal other people’s music and release records selling them? If your megachurch pastor had just credited the source where the article, there would not a problem. But he did not. Did he then present the truth about himself when he sold the book at $14?
Preston
There were several of your postings on this and other threads. Your position toward the church was quite defensive and protective. There is nothing to be ashamed of being a member of any church.
Tee Kay Hetch
There is an exposure due to your “persistence”. Take note that the Charity Commissioner will not addressed the issue on copying the works of another. I am not a legal practitioner.
Andrew leung
I do believed that the owner of ARA Harmony Fund will not reply to Simon Teoh on the need to gag CHC for 2 years. He is just a member. The 2 years expiry date for the NDA is indeed a puzzle with no mention in the church’s latest statement.
I think ARA/Suntec is trying to protect their business interests from the Las Vegas Sands Convention Centre opening soon.
I think Pastor Kong is very hardworking in coming up with a devotional material for his congregation. He should credit his sources if he intends to incorporate another person’s work. Probably he does not value the devotional material as important to building up a person’s faith but just go through the motion of reading. So he just cut and paste.
Maybe the blogger who discovered this, would care to write in to the original author, CHC or Straits Times.
Singapore is trying to be an intellectual property hub. I hope we can create more intellectual property of our own.
sheeezzz from NDA to UCQ (uncreditted quotations). go to Kong Hee’s blog and take each other out, this is washing dirty laundry in public…