To Keri Tombazian, Assistant Clerk of Session, Hollywood Presbyterian Church:

Please distribute the following to Session Members and to the members of the Administrative Committee.


August 16, 2005

To Session Friends and Members of the Administrative Commission,

It is with great sadness that I am compelled to write my letter of resignation as a member of Hollywood Presbyterian Church (HPC) Session.

When I was nominated and installed as elder, I took my vows very seriously, feeling called by God to this responsible position of service.  I was excited with Pastor Meenan’s vision to reach Hollywood, Los Angeles and the world with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and to be a part of this Church as once again, it was having an impact in our community.  Dr. Meenan’s vision of adding diverse forms of worship services increased attendance and attracted people of all ages to the saving knowledge of Christ, just what I had prayed for many years.  I was honored to serve alongside pastors Meenan and Manock as they thought outside the stereotypical “church box’” instead of promoting church as usual.

Now I find the session under the authority of the Administrative Commission (AC), appointed by the Presbytery of the Pacific, coming to us under the guise of lending a hand to heal and resolve the problems they believe our church is experiencing.  Instead the AC has caused turmoil, distrust, manipulation of facts and divisiveness in their dealings with the session and congregation at large.

Despite the length of time the AC has been at HPC, they have not once addressed how they are going to heal and restore our once vibrant church.  Instead they are watching the erosion of HPC and seem to care little if at all.  They are neither able nor capable of healing the firestorm they have created.  The crevasse continues to grow wider and deeper with each passing week that the AC remains at HPC, with no end in sight.

I believe under the direction of the Presbytery of the Pacific, the AC is doing the job they have been assigned, to be “clergy killers” and to turn evangelical churches into political, submissive, social churches under their jurisdiction and control.  I am unwilling to be a part of this deception.  For me to stay on session is condoning their action, which I abhor.  My walk with Christ must be in a place where I can be strengthened as I seek to further God’s Kingdom.  I am called to be a light in the darkness and to let my light shine before men and I can no longer do this under the dire and unfortunate circumstances, as they exist at HPC.

To all Session Members, I wish you well and God’s speed.

Respectfully,

Mary Hersh