Dear Brethren:
We are certain that you are aware of the discord between Michael Rood and Jamie Louis. What you likely do not know is that a panel of elders has convened to explore the facts of the dispute, attempt to mediate a resolution, and report to the brethren on the questions that have been raised. To date we have:
- Interviewed Jamie Louis, and the bookkeeper.
- Received access to the ministry’s financial statements and the on-line accounting system. We have reviewed financial reports and are reviewing the accounting records.
- Reviewed the legal documents that formed A Rood Awakening! Ministries.
- Listened to the full recordings of the A Rood Awakening! Ministries Advisory Board meeting posted on Michael Rood’s web site and the subsequent telephone conversation with Michael Rood.
- Reviewed other correspondence related to the dispute.
We still need to interview Michael Rood so that we may have a complete picture of what happened, and why, and how it affects you.
We ask that you have patience as we perform our task. Four of us are fully employed in regular jobs and ministry, and this investigation is how we spend our evenings. We also ask that you pray for peace between Jamie and Michael, and for YHVH to grant us wisdom as we continue the investigation. Please refrain from judgment or public pronouncements until we have completed our work. You may access the following links for more information:
· An initial letter (below)
· Monte’s teaching on Judges.
Your brothers in Messiah Yashuah
Monte Judah, Lion and Lamb Ministries
Phil Vellekamp, Lion and Lamb Ministries
Todd Bennett, Attorney and Author
Allen Dodge, Beit Emet Ministries
Neal Brenner, Beit Emet Ministries
Dear Michael and Jamie:
We are aware of the discord in "A Rood Awakening". It saddens
us. The two of you have been an effective team
showing people that they must return to YHVH and Torah. Our
concerns are that the way you are dissolving your partnership does not
bring honor to YHVH and does not follow his procedures.
Those of us who feed and lead flocks are going to be pressed to explain
this to our folds, and we are at a loss to describe the way in which
you are breaking up. Your public example may well make it harder
for us to lead our flocks. We have prayed to YHVH for guidance
for you and us, and to reconcile you to each other so that you can move
forward in a way that satisfies HIM. We now have a recommendation
for you.
What we suggest to you is that charges and counter-charges on web pages
and the airing of disputes in public through e-mails and web pages does
not follow Torah and honor YHVH. In Debarim 1:9-18 it says:
Deb 1:9 "And I spoke to you at that time, saying, '''''''"''''''I am unable to bear you by myself.
Deb 1:10 YHVH your Elohim has
increased you, and see, you are today as numerous as the stars of the
heavens.
Deb 1:11 YHVH Elohim of your fathers is going to add to you a thousand
times more than you are, and bless you as He has spoken to you!
Deb 1:12 How do I bear your pressure and your burden and your strife, by myself?
Deb 1:13 Choose men, wise and understanding, and known to your tribes, and let me appoint them as your heads.'
Deb 1:14 And you answered me and said, 'The word which you have spoken to us to do is good.'
Deb 1:15 And I took the heads of your tribes, wise men and known, and
made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, and leaders of
hundreds, and leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens, and officers for
your tribes.
Deb 1:16 And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'When
hearing between your brothers, judge righteously between a man and his
brother or the stranger who is with him.
Deb 1:17 Do not show partiality in right-ruling, hear the small as
well as the great. Do not be afraid of anyone's face, for the
right-ruling belongs to Elohim. And the case which is too hard for you,
bring it to me, and I shall hear it.'
Deb 1:18 And I commanded you at that time all the words which you should do. "
There are those in our movement who can act as judges,
performing a diligent inquiry and ruling on your strife according the
will of YHVH. We urge you to do the following:
Each of you identifies the same number of judges, one or two, to whom you
are willing to submit. These judges will jointly identify one
more so there is an odd number in total, no more than 5. These should be
men of YHVH and Yahshua who follow Torah. They should be the
leaders of their ministries so that they understand the mechanics
of running a ministry. At least one should be the administrator
of his ministry's Corp Sol, or an attorney who understands the legal
obligation and process of dissolving a Corp Sol. None of them
should be involved in the leadership of any incarnation of "A Rood
Awakening" or in your current employ or advisory groups.
Modern technology will ease the burden on those chosen to judge.
GoToMeeting.com can be used for visual presentations. They also
have a central phone number for call-in conferencing. Computer
files can be e-mailed. There really should not be any need for
anyone to travel or for everyone to be physically present in the same
place.
Submit yourselves to these men. Give them permission to question
you, your staffs, advisers, bookkeepers, and accountants. Let them examine
your
records. Have an independent audit of your financial records, and
submit the findings of the audit to them. They shall
judge between you and tell you the path to follow. They will
prepare a report to be posted on your respective web sites. The
report will no doubt assist people who need help deciding how to give
financial support in ways that satisfy
....... YHVH. Both of you and
the rest of us will follow their judgment.
The alternative to this approach is for you to play out your
dispute in public, trying to convince people through
their flesh. This is a losing proposition that only gives opportunity to the adversary.
With love in our hearts, and our prayers we submit this to you.
The Elders of Beit Emet Ministries and our wives
Ben and Ruth Ehrhardt
Rabbi Robert N. and Barbara Gordon
Allen and Susan Dodge
Neal Brenner and Ruth Wagner
