Monday, August 10, 2015

Straight Talk…! From Chuck Cooper, Christian Writer/Blogger rvchuck@msn.com July 1, 2015




 Straight Talk…!
  From Chuck Cooper, Christian Writer/Blogger                                      
    rvchuck@msn.com                                                                                         July 1, 2015



LifeWay’s Glorieta Baptist Conference Center
Forces Unfair Theft of Residents’ Homes

(Part One)

Author’s Note:  it is NOT my intent in writing this investigative blog to damage or demean the reputations of either LifeWay Christian Resources or the Southern Baptist Convention by exposing what I believe was “ungodly” treatment and financial extortion of former property owners at Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, NM.
             My ONLY intent is to inform Southern Baptists so they will voluntarily apply enough pressure on LifeWay and SBC executives and trustees to correct the emotional and financial damage their decisions have forced on loyal, trusting homeowners and churches.  I pray those decision makers will, after the fact, take the high moral and scriptural ground and fairly compensate all leaseholders for the houses and buildings they built, purchased or improved.
             I have no dog in this hunt other than telling the stories of how these fellow Christians have been treated. I leave any consequences of my efforts up to the readers.
                                                                                                                        -- Chuck Cooper
         Their stories are true; they are real people; their stories are personal and their accounts are heart-breaking. The treatment they received from their beloved Southern Baptist denomination is disappointing, infuriating, ungodly and sinful, but spiritually enlightening for some. 
........... All are among the some 65 former home and building owners (about half SBC Churches) who built or purchased existing units on leased land owned by Glorieta Baptist Conference Center in Glorieta, NM.
            All believe they have been financially swindled and defrauded by LifeWay Christian Resources, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention headquartered in Nashville, TN. (The Southern Baptist Convention is the world’s largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the USA with nearly 16 million members as of 2012.)
            “Swindled” and “defrauded” are strong words; you decide if they are appropriate when you learn the details of what LifeWay decision makers did to its loyal, trusting Christian homeowners.
            What follows has been collected from the homeowners, court documents, letters from Lifeway and Glorieta 2.0, as well as from published articles in Baptist publications.

            The BACKSTORY: (Here’s enough of the “background” to acquaint you with what LifeWay/Glorieta forced on its trusting homeowners.)
            Since 1952, when the Glorieta encampment was established by the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board (now Lifeway Christian Resources, Inc.), Southern Baptist individuals and churches were strongly encouraged to invest in the ministry by leasing building lots on which to build and maintain personal residences, homes and lodges.      
            During the next 63 years, the Glorieta ministry developed many innovative and exciting Gospel-based programs and events for folks of all ages. More than 200,000 attendees claim Glorieta as their spiritual home where they developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
             Beginning in 2011, LifeWay executives began seeking possible buyers for the sale of the 2,400-acre Glorieta Conference Center.  Citing changes in church practices, rising costs and a volatile economy, LifeWay offered to sell the 2,400-acre facility to other SBC entities and Baptist state conventions. Because Lifeway would not indemnify any of their sister entity buyers, none were interested. 

          The SALE: But, on June 13, 2013, Marty Smith, LifeWay communication director, published the lead article in LifeWay’s online newsletter “Facts and Trends” announcing that LifeWay trustees had approved the sale of Glorieta to a group of Texas-based Christian camping investors named “Glorieta 2.0” for one dollar.  You read that correctly, the sale was for $1.00!
            In his announcement, Mr. Smith reported that Jerry Rhyne, LifeWay vice president and chief financial officer, previously told homeowners that “one of the most important requirements for any sale of Glorieta was that the new owners would provide options that were fair, reasonable and prudent.” Several leaseholders have verified that Mr. Rhyne made similar statements to them.
            Based on the options offered by Glorieta 2.0 below, it is evident that Mr. Rhyne’s promises were empty ones and that his definitions of “fair, reasonable and prudent” by Glorieta 2.0 is a far cry from the definitions of leaseholders. 

          The OFFERS: Shortly after the announcement, an email to leaseholders from Anthony Scott, the on-site representative of Glorieta 2.0, advised that all leases would expire on Sept. 30, 2013 and presented the following options: 

·        Donate your property outright.
·        Lease the land for 12 years and then donate your home.
·        Accept $40,000 for your home.

            Infuriated at what they considered to be totally unfair and “ungodly” offers, some 100 local Glorieta campus leaseholders met for nearly four hours on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 with Scott; Hal Hill, then director of Glorieta Conference Center; Jerry Rhyne, Lifeway CFO; Art Sneed; and David Weekley, Director of Glorieta 2.0. Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research, a division of LifeWay, moderated the discussion.         
            During this meeting, Glorieta home and lodge owners expressed their concerns about the offers and asked why the sales agreement did not protect their financial investments in Glorieta. David Weekley expressed his surprise upon arriving on Glorieta Campus that the $2.5 million dollars set aside in the Glorieta 2.0 Business Plan to purchase leaseholder homes and lodges was inadequate. Mr. Weekley said, "The real value for the 65 homes and lodges was $12 million,” but his business plan was firm in offering only $2.5 million.  Why?
            Three days later, Glorieta 2.0 offered the following “Revised, Amended and Restated” options in an unsigned letter on Glorieta 2.0 letterhead.

            OPTION 1: A one-time buyout for $30 per square foot, with a minimum $40,000 and maximum $100,000 payment, regardless of the appraised value. If accepted, must vacate premises by Dec. 1, 2013. (Does it seem strange, even deceptive, that this option is based on square footage   rather than on a percentage of appraised value? Customarily, construction costs are based upon square footage and selling price is based upon appraised value.

              OPTION 2: A new 12-year lease at $1,800 per year plus utilities with annual cost of living adjustments. At the end of the lease, the building will go to Glorieta 2.0 as a donation. If the leaseholder opts out of lease before it expires in 2025, they would forfeit a pro-rated amount of the Option 1 offer.

               OPTION 3: Donate the building to Glorieta 2.0 if you want a tax deduction but advise Glorieta 2.0 by Sept. 1, 2013.

Added to the re-stated options was a provision that “truly permanent residents” would be allowed to continue leasing at $1,800 per year after the 12 years and can stay “as long as you want and are physically able to be a permanent resident there.”  An additional caveat states that if a homeowner under this agreement is deemed physically unable to function, their home would be automatically donated without compensation.  How sad.

  Bottom line for leaseholders from Glorieta 2.0: “…we are trying to go the extra mile to make this work…in order for us to be good stewards this is as far as we can go…this is a big stretch for us.   ---  from Glorieta 2.0 “Dear Glorieta Friend” letter

  Bottom line for leaseholders from Glorieta: Good luck in getting a fair compensation.  “I would have never signed the original lease.” --- Jerry Rhyne’s reply when a homeowner asked him in 2011 how many employees owned homes at Glorieta.
            In spite of a provision in the leases for the parties to seek “mediation” in case of differences, officials from both LifeWay and Glorieta refused requests from leaseholders to do so.
            The provision says: “Any dispute, controversy or claim arising under, out of, in connection with or in relation to this Agreement, or the breach, termination, validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, shall be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation.”

            The LAWSUIT: Failing further successful negotiations with LifeWay, a majority of homeowners officially appointed homeowner Kirk Tompkins as their “Attorney General” after the lawsuit was filed against LifeWay seeking a jury trial.
            The suit was filed on Sept. 4, 2013 in the U.S District Court of New Mexico but was later dismissed after 20 months, without prejudice, for lack of standing citing that Tompkins could not bring the lawsuit because he was not a member of the ecclesiastical group that included Lifeway or Southern Baptist Convention.
            The plaintiffs have since appealed that ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In fact, Tompkins filed his brief June 25, 2015. He said this is the same Appellate Court that reversed the lower court decision in the Hobby Lobby lawsuit, but he says he doesn’t expect a ruling any time soon. A jury trial decision will provide the discovery for additional Lifeway records, minutes of meetings, and contracts important to disclosing the truths presented in the lawsuit.
            All former homeowners except Tompkins, Buck Cheshire, Pastor Glen Strock, and Amarillo First Baptist have accepted the buyout offered by Glorieta 2.0 and vacated their homes and lodges. A majority of these homes and lodges are now occupied by Glorieta 2.0 staff as part of their compensation.
The $1 SALE?: The “million dollar” questions (pun intended) remain.

  1. Why did LifeWay agree to sell the 2,400-acre facility for the “giveaway”                   price of a mere $1.00?
            2. Why did LifeWay negotiators approve a sales agreement with Glorieta                  2.0 that   did not include Mr. Rhyne’s promise to protect its homeowners with                  options that were fair, reasonable and prudent?
 
            LifeWay President Thom Rainer addressed the $1.00 sale in his report to church messengers attending the 2014 SBC annual meeting. According to an Associated Baptist Press report published in the Baptist Standard on June 13, 2014, Dr. Ranier said: “We could have sold Glorieta for several million dollars, according to the appraisal, but it would have been sold to a commercial entity, and we don’t know what would have been at the place called Glorieta.”
            He later noted: “I would rather sell Glorieta and see the gospel continue than to see a casino go on what is this sacred ground.” Since Glorieta sits on off-reservation land, the building of a casino there is impossible without jumping through very complicated state and federal hoops.
             Dr. Rainer’s “casino” comment is nothing less than an empty attempt to justify not selling to a major corporation for “millions”.
            Also according the Baptist Standard article, a Glorieta homeowner and retired pastor/missionary, quizzed Dr. Ranier point blank: “So I’m asking you, Dr. Rainer, would you provide a fair market value to homeowners and churches that were invested in the campus of Glorieta?” Dr. Ranier expressed sympathy for the homeowners, but provided no answer to the question.
            In the interest of fairness, I attempted twice to get comments and answers from Dr. Ranier to use here – once by e-mail and once by registered letter.  Neither request has received a response at this time.

            The RESOLUTION: It appears that only intercession by Holy Spirit or a court of law or both will ever provide a resolution to this continuing issue which continues to fester in the minds and hearts of the offended.
            Unless, of course, you Baptist readers will share and discuss this report with your pastors who, in turn, will apply enough pressure on LifeWay and SBC leaders to voluntarily correct this wrong.
            Or, perhaps your pastor, like one I know, will cancel his church’s LifeWay account until this issue is fairly resolved. When orders for materials from LifeWay decline enough, the bottom line will determine the LifeWay response.
            Or, as Mr. Tompkins asked me rhetorically: “How long would it take LifeWay to change its policy and pay fair value to Glorieta homeowners if one well known Southern Baptist executive or pastor complained publicly?”
            Perhaps you, personally, could help generate an answer to that question! 

 Stay tuned!
There’s more….a whole lot more… more about this issue that space doesn’t allow revealing here.  Part Two is coming soon.  It will reveal the heart-wrenching, highly emotional stories from several former homeowners, including the incredible financial devastation they are enduring.




Straight Talk…! From Chuck Cooper, Christian Writer/Blogger rvchuck@msn.com August 5, 2015



Monday, August 10, 2015


 Straight Talk…!
  From Chuck Cooper, Christian Writer/Blogger                                      
    rvchuck@msn.com                                                                                              August 5, 2015



LifeWay’s Glorieta Baptist Conference Center
Forces Unfair Theft of Residents’ Homes
(Part Two)

Glorieta Homeowners Tell Their Stories


Author’s Note:  It is NOT my intent in writing this investigative blog to damage or demean the reputations of either LifeWay Christian Resources or the Southern Baptist Convention. I am simply revealing what I have learned from my ongoing investigation that I now consider as “ungodly” treatment and financial extortion of former homeowners at Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, NM.
             My ONLY intent is to inform Southern Baptists so they will voluntarily apply enough pressure on LifeWay and SBC executives and trustees to correct the emotional and financial damage their decisions have forced on loyal, trusting homeowners and churches.  I pray those decision makers will, after the fact, take the high moral and scriptural ground and fairly compensate all current and former leaseholders for the houses and buildings they built, purchased or improved.
             I have no dog in this hunt other than telling the stories of how these fellow Christians have and are being treated…by their church!  
                                                                                                                        -- Chuck Cooper

          Shortly after the public announcement in early June 2013 that the Glorieta Conference Center had been sold for $1.00 to Glorieta 2.0, a Texas-based camping organization, an email to some 65 Glorieta homeowner/leaseholders advised that all land leases would expire on Sept. 30, 2013. 
            Anthony Scott, the on-site representative of Glorieta 2.0, offered the following options for the acquisition of the cabins, lodges and residences which had been built or purchased from other leaseholders or directly from LifeWay and were improved and maintained by the homeowner/leaseholders.

             1. Donate your property outright.
             2. Lease the land for 12 years and then donate your home.
             3. Accept $40,000 for your home.

            Infuriated at what they considered to be totally unfair and “ungodly” offers, some 100 local Glorieta campus leaseholders met for nearly four hours on Tuesday, 
July 9, 2013 with several LifeWay and Glorieta 2.0 officials to express their concerns about the offers and asked why the sales agreement did not protect their financial investments as Lifeway executives repeatedly promised.          
            Three days later, and after LifeWay added an additional 140 acres adjacent and across I-25 to be included in the sale to Glorieta 2.0, they offered the following “Revised, Amended and Restated” options in an unsigned letter on Glorieta 2.0 letterhead

             1.  A one-time buyout for $30 per square foot, with a minimum $40,000 and maximum $100,000 payment, regardless of the appraised value. If accepted, must vacate premises by Dec. 1, 2013. 
 
             2.  A new 12-year lease at $1,800 per year plus utilities with cost of living adjustments. At the end of the lease, the building will go to Glorieta 2.0 as a donation. If the leaseholder opts out of lease before it  expires in 2025, they would forfeit a pro-rated amount of Option 1 offer.

             3.  Donate the building to Glorieta 2.0 if you want a tax deduction but advise Glorieta 2.0 by Sept. 1, 2013. (This allowed leaseholders only 20 days to make this life-changing and financially devastating decision.)

            Imagine you were one of the Glorieta homeowners!  Experience your responses!  Feel your frustration!  Your disappointment! Your anger! Your pain! Your disillusion! Your unbelief! Your fears! Your despairs!  Your unrelenting sadness at what your Southern Baptist denomination leadership did to you!
            As you read their stories below, please understand that all of them had built, purchased and improved structures they owned on land leased long-term to them by Glorieta Conference Center. 
            Please note that some of these former homeowners are willing to speak out with details in spite of a threat from LifeWay for retribution if they do so. LifeWay also prohibited its own Trustees from speaking out about the issue by requiring each of them to sign secrecy agreements. (Wonder what they are afraid of?)
            Those willing to tell their stories believe they have a spiritual command to hold LifeWay accountable for what they believe is “un-Christian” behavior.
            All testimonies here have come from personal discussions with former homeowners or extracted from public court documents. 
Nothing here is hearsay!


NANCY BROYLES

TOTAL LOSS = $70,000 below appraised value!

          Purchase price: $117,500 (2002)

            Major improvements: $15,000
                 New flooring in the living, dining, kitchen, and bathrooms; new countertops
                 in  the kitchen and bathrooms; new bath/kitchen fixtures; improved                                    plumbing fixtures and new hot water heater; driveway improvements.   
                      
            Total Investment: $132,500

            Fair market value:  $110,000 appraisal.
                        Offered $125,000 a year earlier.

            Compensation: $40,000 
                        Furnished 1,047 sq ft home.

            As a teenager in the 60s, I went to Glorieta with the youth group from Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth.  We attended Music Week and Youth Week, and I have fond memories of the times I was there.  After I married in the 70s, my husband and I took our three young children to Glorieta every summer.  Again, I have wonderful memories of special family times there.
            “My husband died in 2001, and as a young widow, I was looking for a place to find comfort.  I finally realized I would find it at Glorieta….. the place of sweet memories I had shared with my family.  So, that summer I went to Glorieta and began serving as a volunteer, and while there I found a cabin for sale.  
            “I was able to purchase the cabin in 2002 for $117,500.  Over the years when I went to Glorieta to work as a summer volunteer, I made improvements that
totaled $15,000.  
            “It was important to me to keep my cabin in good condition because it had become our home away from home for my family.  I wanted to fix up the cabin for my growing family to enjoy, and my grandchildren absolutely loved coming to visit
me in the summers!  At the time, it was worth spending the money on my cabin, because I thought I would have it ‘forever.’
            “But, when the homeowners were notified that we would be asked to leave, my cabin was appraised for $110,000.  A year earlier I was offered $125,000 for it.  
            Because of the rumors and uncertainty about what was going on at Glorieta, I did not sell my cabin to the young family.  I could not do that with a clear conscience.
            “Then came the summer of 2013.  It was an awful time, and a time of disbelief that our homes were being taken from us without fair compensation.  I had invested a lot of time, energy, and money on my Glorieta home, and had to give it up.
            “Unfortunately, the LifeWay leadership and several businessmen don't seem to have a conscience when it comes to taking advantage of people.  I will never understand how the leaders of LifeWay could treat us like they did, and have a clear conscience.  It seems like someone in the bunch would have spoken up to make things right…… but it never happened.
            “I was paid just $40,000 for my Glorieta home – furnished!”

† † †


DONALD AND BRENDA BURR
(Per 2013 Court Affidavit)

TOTAL CASH LOSS = $117,000!

            Purchase price: $155,000 (2005)

            Major improvements: $6,000 +  

            New kitchen cabinets; an island; sink, faucet, tile work; new light fixtures,
            ceiling fans, light switches, tank-less hot water system, plumbing for washer                and dryer, utility sink and electric lights.

            Total Investment: $161,000


            Fair market value:  Unknown.
                       
            Compensation: $44,000 (includes $4,000 for improvements)

           We first became aware of Glorieta in 1973 when Donald came here with the church on a Ski Bible Study trip for the first time. We volunteered for the first time in
September of 2003, working in the Dining Room wiping tables, etc.  Our joy was meeting like-minded volunteers and serving others while allowing GOD to work in their lives.
            We became aware of private homes on the campus while volunteering in 2005. Before trying to buy, we conferred with longtime residents as to how they operated with a lease agreement where one owned the house but not the land.
            Since no one had had a problem, and being encouraged by several, we proceeded to purchase a house realizing they had not had any problems functioning with such a lease.
            We went ahead and paid cash for the house built in 1966. The house of 1,000 square feet was in good condition.  We paid the asking price of $155,000. We trusted that all would continue in the future as it had in the past 60 years.
            During the past eight years, houses have been purchased and sold at fair market value.  Some houses owned by GCC have been sold to private individuals at fair market value.
            Now, we find to our dismay, we have no viable options other than the ones deemed fair and equitable by both Lifeway and Glorieta 2.0.  These homes, that we sacrifice, are to be used to their advantage and give houses for their staff, families who will pay to come to the camp events, which they will provide for a price.       
            The 12-year lease they offered is prorated so that the houses belong to them at the end of the lease or we can go ahead and give them the house now. 
            Our intent for our home was to enjoy a summer home in a beautiful and serene atmosphere, share it with our children and grandchildren while serving.
This is no longer an option as our children cannot inherit the house in our deaths…it will belong to the new owners. 
            Neither will our children be able to use it without many stipulations and rules should we accept the 12-year lease.
            Our goal of this affidavit is to alert others of the inequity of the situation being imposed on a few in order that the buyers or the sellers benefit at our expense. We are seeking for justice to be handed to the guilty party or parties.

†††


 CHARLES J. AND KAY H. GOODYEAR
(Per 2013 Court Affidavit)

TOTAL CASH LOSS = $50,000 to $75,000!

           
            Purchase price: $130,000 (2009)

            Total Investment: $130,000

            Fair market value:  $150,000 to $175,000
                       
            Compensation: undisclosed


            We began coming to Glorieta Conference Center as small children and continued as teens and young adults. We were so blessed and felt God’s presence in the place. We had a life-long desire to acquire a home here where we could come during our retirement years and have a safe place to bring our children and grandchildren.
            In 2008, a representative of Glorieta showed us several properties that LifeWay was selling. Prices were beyond our means since a total cash purchase was required.  Mortgages were not allowed. An inheritance in 2009 allowed us to continue pursuing the purchase of a home that could be passed down to future generations.
            As regular visitors to GCC we had noticed a decline in attendance and the reduction in the number of major conferences.  So, we were concerned about the financial state of GCC and asked pointed questions before our purchase.
            We were assured in 2008 by Art Snead, a GCC manager, that GCC’s current operations and future were “stable”.  In 2009, we were told by Hal Hill, GCC Director, that GCC’s cash flow was cash positive almost every year for the past 25 years, although they ran a “book” loss due to depreciation and LifeWay corporate expense allocations. He said GCC operations “could continue for years at the current level.”       
           He repeated this statement in 2011 shortly after it was announced that LifeWay was considering the sale of GCC and again in 2012 when GCC announced would reduce its full time operations to June 1 through September 1.
            We understood that the lease of land to homeowners was to help protect and control the Christian community environment.  We were required to provide a letter from our pastor certifying that we were active participating members in our local Southern Baptist Church.
            We signed a four-year lease and understood our lease to be readily renewable as they had been for the previous 55 years.  No one had ever been denied a renewal.
            We purchased our home in September 2009 at an investment of $130,000 and have made improvements costing $8,000. The home now has a value pursuant to appraisal estimates of like kind homes within 20 miles of $150,000 to $175,000.
            We were also led to believe that our investment was protected by LifeWay in that we would receive buy-outs that were “fair and equitable” if our lease was terminated.
            Since the receipt of a letter sent to leaseholders at GCC in mid-June 2013 advising us of the potential sale to Glorieta 2.0 we have been bullied, threatened, and intimidated to accept pennies on the dollar for our homes.
            Jerry Rhyne, CFO of LifeWay, threatened lessees in a July 9, 2013 open meeting that, if this deal didn’t go through, the property would be sold to commercial developers and we’d all be gone.
            In a meeting in our home on July 15, 2013, we were told by Anthony Scott of Glorieta 2.0 and Hall Hill, GCC Director, that if anyone filed legal action the deal would be killed for everyone.
            In that same meeting we were told that everyone they had visited had accepted the options except one lessee.  From talking to several people whom they’d already visited, I knew this to not be true. I considered these comments as an intimidation tactic to squelch any opposition and cow everyone into accepting as well.           During that meeting we also gave them results of our online investigation of comparable square foot prices.  My research revealed a $109 square foot average in nearby Pecos; in nearby El Dorado the average square foot rate is $206.
            The very next day, in an email from Anthony Scott to us only, he wrote: “Many are using your square foot numbers and are not happy with our offer.  Is it your desire that we walk?”  Clearly, this was an effort in intimidate us into silence and acceptance.
            On August 20, Hal Hill sent an e-mail to all leaseholders saying access to the grounds would remain “as long as those agreements are in place.”  We took that as a threat to cut off the access to our property if we didn’t sign on to one of the new options since GCC might claim our current agreement was “no longer in place.”
            Thom Rainer, LifeWay President, has failed to answer a single e-mail, certified letter or phone call regarding LifeWay’s decision and reasoning!
†††


Author’s Note:  This is but three of the incredible stories from trusting homeowners who have been financially and emotionally damaged by unfair treatment from LifeWay.  Part Three, coming soon, will include several more heart-breaking stories.