Okay, this is a bit passed sell-by date. But some comments and articles decrying the uncivil atmosphere at the recent AWARE EGM reminded me of something similar I had witnessed years ago.

I was once a member of this mega church located somewhere in the prime district of Orchard Road.

After the previous minister left at the end of his contract, a new one was brought in as his replacement. All was going well; he was vibrant (though not young), filled with enthusiasm and brought a much lacking passion back to the church. The young came back in droves, brought back by those who were there all this while. Everyone was filled with the fire of the spirit (I can't believe I just used that term).

Wow... church activities really shot through the roof. Church camps, bible studies, musicals, fellowships, prayer meetings, etc. all saw record attendance and involvement.

And mind you, this was a "conservative" non-charismatic/Pentecostal type church which does not practise faith healing and speaking in tongues. Meaning, a church that is supposed to be more straitlaced and sedate, hence, supposedly lacking in passion. In short, the church was transformed to something no one thought was possible.

Yup, my life was centred on the church then. I was there practically every day after school on top of the usual Saturdays and Sundays.

One fine day, a bunch of church leaders decided that this minister had to go. I don't really know the reason why (and I still don't), it's just that they had enough of him and his ways. I was too young then to know the politics that was going on behind the closed doors of the leadership meetings.

What I did know was that the leader who had rejuvenated the church was suddenly fired for no apparent reason.

And like a headless chicken, the church was left running around in circles with no one knowing what was happening.

Of course things didn't go the way according to plan. Members demanded an EGM to find out what was happening and voice their opinions. Lines were drawn and enemies made. Even I got into fierce disagreements with my mother (who I saw as siding the other camp) and my sister who couldn't be bothered and felt (wisely I may add) that I should stay uninvolved.

Gosh, the EGM was the most raucous I had ever seen. I don't remember booing and jeering, but I do remember shouting matches, interruptions one after another, quoting of bible verses against each other, banging of tables and pews, and a whole bunch of other unpleasantries.

As a young member of that church, I was extremely discombobulated by the situation. The church that formed the centre of my life was in disarray, its head beheaded.

In the end, the leadership got its way and the minister was sent packing. The church as a result was split with one section leaving to form their own outside of the original denomination.

As far I know, enmity made then remains to this day. Even though they may speak of loving each other, their actions (or inaction) speaks otherwise.

Looking back, I can confidently say that each party saw themselves as the righteous one and the other threatening the unity of Christ's body. Who was right? Who was wrong? I don't know and I don't bother anymore. That is a past that I had exorcised and thrown into a bottomless pit.

So what's the point of this post? Well, it's more of an exercise of recollection for me on one hand, and on the other, to point out that religious EGMs can be as uncivil as secular ones when passions flare and everyone felt they had a lot at stake in the outcome.

Labels: religion, singapore