My motive for publishing this on line for the 'world' to read is two-fold;
-To reveal and make known the FACT that Spiritual Abuse does occur in every denomination.
-It needs to STOP - ministers, priests, rabbis and anyone in a position of leadership needs to be held accountable for their awful, outlandish behavior.
Disclaimer: The following statements are my opinion based on my own life experience. They are a true reflection of my feelings based on documents I possess in print which are signed. Based of the Right of Free Speech and every Americans right to speak their opinion.
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I served a local, very small congregation whose attendance fluctuated between 50 - 90 precious saints over the past two and one half years. The average age was 75 and most of these precious folks exist off modest social security benefits.
The minister 'earn' $91,000+ (combined benefits / salary) a year - a figure which is out of line given, the size of this congregation, the fact that the church is not growing and was failing, both in participation, membership and finances. A few members were barely able to keep the doors open.
Though my title was Director of Music Ministries, I was only 'allowed' to chose the choir literature and the minister chose everything else. Seems odd as I would never dream of choosing the sermons for a minister to preach.
The attached document speaks for itself.
The minister was inept with so many skill sets that many congregants have left over how I was treated.
Knowing that the minister was given an edict to either get the church to grow in numbers and financially or else "this church location would close and the denomination would simply merge this congregation with a sister church 2 miles away".
I offered to help the church grow and assisting with their website and other forms of marketing - and was not only turned down, I was given an annual review - after 2.5 years and made to look in print ridiculous. The assertions have no base of truth - especially when coupled with the attached 60 emails from the minister.
Here are a few samples from the 60 printed directly from emails I was sent on a weekly basis. (the emails were converted from a pdf to word to some things look unusual but the intention is very clear in the body of the text)
"
Sunday, December 19, 2010 6:46 PM
Message body
Art:
Thank YOU. The cantata was wonderful. Your selection of the music, and your directing of the choir made it all happen!! I hope you can enjoy the Christmas holiday, get some rest and renewal.
Rev. Linda
Thank YOU. The cantata was wonderful. Your selection of the music, and your directing of the choir made it all happen!! I hope you can enjoy the Christmas holiday, get some rest and renewal.
Rev. Linda
Rev. Linda RobisonPalisades United Methodist Church
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
Message body
Dear Ones:
Just a note of appreciation for the beautiful music you created for worship this morning. You each are such a gift to our church and to God
Blessings,
Rev. Linda
Just a note of appreciation for the beautiful music you created for worship this morning. You each are such a gift to our church and to God
Blessings,
Rev. Linda
Rev. Linda RobisonPalisades United Methodist Church
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
To: mraspiano@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011 12:55 PM
Date: Monday, April 25, 2011 12:55 PM
Message body
Dear Art and Choir members:
I want to thank you all for your contributions to our Lenten and Easter worship experiences this season:
The Easter cantata was marvelous. A special thank you to Ellen who worked with our children that Sunday, leading them in their hosanna song. And thank you to Art who directed us all.
Thank you to those who provided singing for our Maundy Thursday dinner and communion...and especially to Donald and Maggie for contributing their beautiful duet.
And Easter Sunday was glorious!
Please know how much you are all appreciated. The congregation has made such wonderful comments to me about the music this season.
I know what dedication it takes for each of you to make this commitment to the worship experience each Sunday.
Easter blessings, Rev. Linda
Subject: Gratitude
From : Rev. Linda Robison (revlinda@palisadesumc.org) To : mraspiano@yahoo.com;
Date : Sunday, August 22 , 2010 3:01 PM
Dear Art: 
Iwas with gratitude this morning as Iwitnessed your graciousness in welcoming Tustin Transfer and your willingness to accompany them. Thank you for your flexibility. I hope you enjoyed the music. The congregation certainly appreciated the worship service this morning. Have a good week.·1 am certain the music will be wonderful next Sunday as well. See you when Ireturn.
Blessings, Linda
Rev. Linda Robison
Palisades United Methodist Church
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach,CA 92624
949-496-5502
|
From : Rev. Linda Robi so n (revlinda@palisadesum c.org) To : mraspiano@yahoo.co m;
Date : Sunday, October 24, 2010 5:08PM
Art:
The music was wonderful this morning.....an please pass on to the choir members that they sounded absolutely fabulous. They had the power of a much bigger choir. Thanks for all your efforts and dedication.
Re: the mics. Iguess you need to run everything by Jan, the President, before approaching the choir of anything. rm sure we will work it out eventually.
Blessings, Linda
Rev. Unda Robison
Palisades United Methodist Church
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502
revfinda@palisadesumc.org
Dear Maggie and Donald:
Thank you both for the meaningful gift of music you gave us this morning. I heard wonderful comments about the service and many were about the two you and the choice of songs. They fit the service so well. I thank God for the two of you and your gifts.
Blessings,
Rev. Linda
Dear Maggie and Donald:
Thank you both for the meaningful gift of music you gave us this morning. I heard wonderful comments about the service and many were about the two you and the choice of songs. They fit the service so well. I thank God for the two of you and your gifts.
Blessings,
Rev. Linda
Rev. Linda RobisonPalisades United Methodist Church
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
27002 Camino de Estrella
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949-496-5502revlinda@palisadesumc.org
These are just a few examples of hundreds of emails that I received over a 2.5 year time framework. The consensus was consistently, the minister, the congregation and the board loved my work with the choir and virtually no issues of complaints. Seem more than in congruent with the evil, manipulated job performance review I received on Oct. 3, 2011.
If you wish a copy of my review which is 12 pages and or the 60+ emails of totally positive comments, I would be happy to email them to you or print them out and mail them. my email is; mraspiano@yahoo.com
Suffice it to say, God will be the final judge in the episode and I do not envy this minister being judged by God the Almighty in her use of what I coin at Spiritual Abuse and the use of supposed power to cause hurt and harm in the life and ministry of not only myself but others who I witnessed horrific behavior.
Art Scott
October 6, 2011
To Whom It May Concern:
I have concluded over 2 wonderful years of Music Ministry at PUMC. I am sad, perplexed and feel very abused and violated, not by my choir or congregation, but by its Pastor and current leadership. Some might call it Spiritual Violence at its worst.
Attached you will find my two year performance review which occurred this Sunday with Pastor Linda R., Maggie S. and John A. being the only people present and according to what I was told, the only feedback solicited were from those three individuals. The choir, choir president, members of the congregation were not asked their feedback or opinion. I find that odd. To me reviews are public information and especially if they are accurate and a true representation of an employee’s history, there is and should be nothing to hide.
The motive of how this review was written was structured to cause me to resign. Period.
I find this so out of character for my work speaks for itself and my review was accomplished from hearts with evil intent and written out of spite, rage and jealously.
Also attached is a cross section of positive, consistently affirming emails in print, dated, from the hand of Pastor Linda. Since 2009, none of the emails I have ever received agree with the comments rendered on my Performance Review.
Honesty and fairness are a big deal to me as I am sure it is to you. In this situation was not treated honestly or fairly as a person, an employee and fellow staff minister at PUMC.
My performance review on Pastor Linda includes the following statements I believe to be true and very accurate.
1) I was never given ongoing negative feedback to the extent that is indicated on this review. If these statements had any validity, I would have been dismissed as an employee months if not years ago.
I was never given ongoing assessments over a 2.5 year period so if something was done wrong, I could and would correct it immediately. The emails from Pastor Linda speak for themselves.
Pastor Linda has trouble separating her professional MFT experience at Orangewood Home for Abused Children from the Church world. In a counseling and psychological setting having professional boundaries where it is illegal and unethical to have dual relationships with patients / clients is accurate.
She is so off base to think it is appropriate to segue boundary issues of not having a dual relationship to a church environment, I find it frankly funny and pitiful. To her, this is just a job.
In a church environment, unless someone is having a sexual relationship with a congregant that would absolutely be inappropriate in any job / work environment, especially a church. Calling choir members, sharing a meal, etc., should be encouraged and any minister who was confident in his / her people skills would not be threatened by a fellow staff person developing and maintain a close fellowship and relationship with all church members!
The whole intention of Christianity is based on fellowship and becoming a part of each other’s lives, with respect and Christian character. To imply this standard to me as an employee speaks of simply professional jealousy.
Had Pastor Linda put such an issue in my contract or required this professional boundary issue as requirement for employment, I would have never accepted the job. She did neither so to require it 2 years after the fact is ludicrous.
At my review Sunday when this issue was addressed I told all three parties present that in 35 years plus church ministry experience I have never had one pastor every mention of make an issue of professional boundaries. Period. Professional jealousy is this issue here.
3) My church experience of 35 years plus contains not just my gifts in Music, but I incredible gifted in the areas of marketing, church growth and the internet / webmaster. Over most recent weeks I offered to assist free of charge, outside the arena of my job description to help with our bleak, unattractive website and was turned down numerous times. It is very apparent to me that Pastor Linda was severely threatened by my professional and church background and her ego would not allow her to embrace my willingness to help as a layperson.
Rather than embrace my skills and solicit my free help, and let me be an even greater asset to the PUMC, Pastor Linda chose to be afraid of me and the positive things I could offer PUMC; Her direct revenge on me by manipulating a dishonest and unfair Performance Review, validates her severe inadequacies and lack of being an honest and fair leader as a Senior Pastor.
At my review her behavior behind closed doors was hysterical at times and out of control; she screamed at me three times “Art this church will never be a mega church”. To me this simply validated that though in rhetoric Pastor Linda says she wants PUMC to grow, the reality is, she does not and her day to day behavior support this. I have never once heard the words disciple, or discipleship or even evangelism mentioned in one sermon over 2 years….that’s over one hundred sermons.
I was annoyed that Maggie told me 6 times repeatedly that “I sounded so insecure”. How weird to be berated and treated like I had done something awful or wrong. Come to find out that Maggie has a history of being extremely close with every Pastor assigned to PUMC and according to some congregants “enjoys the power trip”. Maggie sounds a little insecure to me. For her to collaborate with Pastor Linda on my Performance Review shows me also that they have a friendship which goes far beyond the church walls.
Frankly I was appalled that Maggie and John did not call Pastor Linda on the false allegations contained in my Performance Review. Draw your own conclusions based on the documents attached.
Point in case, though on paper we may have had 30 people join the church over the past two years, many have left, never attend past joining, etc. My last Sunday, October 2, several choir members told me there were only 50 people in the congregation. Something is dead wrong in a city with over 49,000 people!
When I first came on board and Pastor Linda was appointed to PUMC, she told me she never envisioned PUMC growing and it would “always stay a small church”.
Most recently she also told me that the Bishop had given her an edict that if PUMC did not grow and keep up with their giving and apportionments, “PUMC would close and merge with St. Andrews”. As an employee it felt like I was on a sinking ship and she had just thrown me a life preserver.
At my review she denied very making those statements. I am blessed with an incredible memory and when it comes to job security, helping a church grow, etc., you make your own assessment. I have only the truth to render and nothing to gain by being dishonest.
I encourage you to also read all the emails that I have included that were sent to me since 2009. Apart from periodically asking my advice on hymns and running a few salient facts back and forth through emails, I found nothing in the hundreds of emails that at all come close to the ridiculous allegations you see printed on my Performance Review. Frankly I felt I was at a lynching parting and was having a noose hung around my neck. I should never have been treated in this manner. Period!
Words like Thank You, the Choir did great, the music was GREAT were a constant theme that not only will you read from her emails, you have been present yourself, and have witnessed not only the quality work I and the choir / special groups have performed. Many of you send me emails and remark to me Sunday after Sunday what a blessing the music has been to you.
I wish each one of the best that God has to offer.
I will miss you greatly.
All the best, Art Scott
Here is a copy of my review (12 pages total)
After the review you will find over 60 emails from Pastor Linda sent directly to me consistently praising my work with the choir / the music; glowing, warm affirmations. None of this coincides with the negative remarks in my review.
Here is a copy of my review (12 pages total)
After the review you will find over 60 emails from Pastor Linda sent directly to me consistently praising my work with the choir / the music; glowing, warm affirmations. None of this coincides with the negative remarks in my review.
A copy of my review (12 pages total) and all supportive documents are available upon email request.
After the review you will find over 60 emails from Pastor Linda sent directly to me consistently praising my work with the choir / the music; glowing, warm affirmations. None of this coincides with the negative remarks in my review.
I let one musician friend read this on the East Coast and her immediate feedback was; "Art this woman sounds like she is Schizophrenic." You can draw your own conclusions. After 35+ of church music and ministering to and with many pastors, staff, choir and congregations I have found this behavior to be a trend with a small number of ministers. I appreciated the works of men of God like David Johnson and Jeff Van VanVonderen. In his book "Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, The: Recognition & Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority within the Church".
To quote this book; "Spiritual Enslavement, No one should leave church feeling manipulated, controlled, shamed, or condemned. But places of shelter and encouragement can become abusive if spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their needs for importance, power of spiritual gratification."
I have had friends all over the world tell me of similar experiences. The damage these type of people cause just as harmful if not more so than sexual or physical. What seems so ironic in my story is the minister is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Pretty scary that someone who had 25 years supposedly as an effective counselor to abused kids in a local orphanage now has turned to the 'ministry' to inflict her own abusive behavior behind the 'cross'.
I will continue to shout from the mountain tops for the rest of my career how wrong Spiritual Abuse is and to use everything in my power to stop it whenever I hear of or witness I it!
After the review you will find over 60 emails from Pastor Linda sent directly to me consistently praising my work with the choir / the music; glowing, warm affirmations. None of this coincides with the negative remarks in my review.
I let one musician friend read this on the East Coast and her immediate feedback was; "Art this woman sounds like she is Schizophrenic." You can draw your own conclusions. After 35+ of church music and ministering to and with many pastors, staff, choir and congregations I have found this behavior to be a trend with a small number of ministers. I appreciated the works of men of God like David Johnson and Jeff Van VanVonderen. In his book "Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, The: Recognition & Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority within the Church".
To quote this book; "Spiritual Enslavement, No one should leave church feeling manipulated, controlled, shamed, or condemned. But places of shelter and encouragement can become abusive if spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their needs for importance, power of spiritual gratification."
I have had friends all over the world tell me of similar experiences. The damage these type of people cause just as harmful if not more so than sexual or physical. What seems so ironic in my story is the minister is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Pretty scary that someone who had 25 years supposedly as an effective counselor to abused kids in a local orphanage now has turned to the 'ministry' to inflict her own abusive behavior behind the 'cross'.
I will continue to shout from the mountain tops for the rest of my career how wrong Spiritual Abuse is and to use everything in my power to stop it whenever I hear of or witness I it!
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