Doug Anderson Comments on the Situation Surrounding the Special General Assembly

These actions by the Priests and Metropolitan are hurtful, unnecessary and divisive. Their actions and inaction are undeniably the single largest factor in causing major unrest, mistrust and disunity in the Salt Lake City community. They don't seem to understand the importance of listening to people and acknowledging them. Even if it is just listening to the people and acknowledging their concerns (even if they end up doing nothing). Just empathizing and being the leader and consoling father and priest figure that the people want and look up to.

They are not listening to any concerns and addressing their concerns however legitimate. It would be nice to be flawless in our actions and thoughts and would be nice to be right or righteous 100% of the time. But they are not, we are not, the people with concerns are not.

Instead of education, empathy, forgiveness, guidance, and leadership from our clergy and parish council, what we are actually seeing, hearing and experiencing are threats and issuance of punishment (in writing), belittlement (in sermons), threats (in letters), character assassination (Parish Council letters and Metropolitan's letters against Mr Bapis, and Foundation Board of Directors sic, 2009, 2010) and more obstructionist, mean and unbecoming behavior from our leaders.

Instead if guidance, education, leadership and cooperation, the community experiences demands with threats, unyielding ultimatums, demands for obedience, inflexible stubbornness through action and inaction by the Denver Metropolitan, Salt Lake priests and the Salt Lake parish council.

I am sorry I feel this way, but this is the fact.

I do not question God’s word, but I really question these parts of organized religion that demand 100% obedience to men not God; but men that are not perfect and may not or cannot see their human flaws.

Police attending a church meeting and organizational meeting is significantly disturbing. This should really cause those clergy, and men and women Salt Lake leadership that organized this meeting and preordain it's outcome, to reflect on their actions that brought these circumstances to this juncture.

Best Regards,
Douglas Anderson