"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish" -- Luke 14:28-30
IN view of the mistakes made by the AOG in Australia, we wonder whether the AOG in the UK would be better off reconsidering their plan to take out a mortgage of half a million pounds (yes _ £500,000)!
In proposals sent out to ministers, and due to be voted on at an Extraordinary General Council Conference on November 15th, 2001, approval was being sought for this massive loan to finance new offices. It is estimated that the whole project will cost £1,494,600, with AOG paying for and owning 40%. The other 60% will be paid for (at a cost of £896,760) and owned by the AOG Property Trust. In order to do this, the AOG needs to take out a mortgage for a cool half a million, to be repaid over a twenty-year period. The current estimate of the annual cost of the loan is £53,341. Of course, when we say `AOG' and `AOG Property Trust', we should remember that the two are closely joined, though separate legal entities, so ultimately the AOG "proper" may have to foot the entire one and a half million...!Now, for those of you who think that this is a complete waste of money, a handy list of eight "benefits" is enclosed with the proposal.
First on this list and, hence, we assume the most pressing reason, is the following: "Prestigious offices that will be a credit to the Fellowship."Ah _ the pursuit of prestige has led to many a downfall, but what else are we to expect from such a worldly movement?
But, to be fair, let's consider the second "benefit": "An asset whose value will rapidly increase."Of course! But what sort of "asset" and "value" are we talking about here? The answer is clearly financial. Again, the values of the world are paramount, and those of the Spirit are sadly missing. Wouldn't £53,000 a year (using their figures and the artificial distinction between the AOG and the AOG Property Trust) make a big difference to those involved in church-planting?
How many halls could be hired for outreach purposes?
How many students could be supported as they train for the ministry?"
Benefit" three is "Retain advantage of co-operative and complementary support and services to the Fellowship."
Even with my PhD, I don't really understand this! But I do note the use of the word "retain", which suggests that whatever it is, they already have it ... so why spend all this money?The next three "benefits" have been listed, I suspect, just to fill the page. "Ability to host all key meetings.""Ability to hold small conference/training courses.""Ample car parking."Is there really no AOG fellowship able to host small meetings and provide car parking? Whoever wrote this must consider the intended readers to be right idiots."Benefit" seven is another way of saying "benefit" two: "An inheritance for future generations."What kind of inheritance? Again, the answer is financial _ and not spiritual.
Finally, and most ominously, the last "benefit": "Room to expand to serve the Fellowship more effectively."
Now this can be taken several ways. But, and please excuse my cynicism here, I think the words "room to expand" are a clear indication that this is just the start, and later down the line they will want more of your money to build more "prestigious" follies.
STOP PRESS
AT the Extraordinary General Council Conference on November 15th, 2001, approval was indeed granted for this folly to progress. We understand that no amendments to the plans were made.
If you are part of AOG,
don't be surprised when they start asking for more money from you! May be it's time to get out or join us in trying to mobilise a grass roots movement that might rescue a dying cause or at least provide a godly alternative.
(Ed)
"To be a victim of one's own mistakes is bad enough, but to be a victim of the other fellow's mistakes as well is too much." --Henry Miller in THE AIR-CONDITIONED NIGHTMARE.
[ TOP ]
Appeared in Issue CETF 7.2 January 2002
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
