Following the uproar over City Harvest Church’s (CHC) plans
to move to Suntec Singapore and the police investigation of
several church leaders over the misuse of funds,
problems continue to plague the megachurch.
A report by The Straits Times (ST) has found that
church weekly attendance has fallen by more than half in over a
year and several senior staff members have also resigned.
Internal records show between June and September last year,
weekly average attendance was near 15,000. In December 2009, the
church recorded a weekly average of 28,000 attendees, according to
its annual report.
When queried, the church spokesperson said any changes to
attendance would be posted on its website.
Since last year, three senior staff have also left the church.
Two pastors, Mr Tan Chee Kiang and Mr Darren Tan left to start
their own churches, citing personal reasons. Both had worked in CHC
for over 10 years.
Two months ago, music director David Yem also resigned.
The church, however, will be continuing with its controversial
$310 million move to Suntec Singapore. It is expected to begin
its services at Suntec’s convention halls on March
19.
However, plans to build a 12,000 seater auditorium has also been
temporarily shelved, according to sources. Two of the three
convention halls will be set up to seat about 7,500 worshippers
instead, with the third hall set aside for a children’s church.
The church has also scrapped plans for the convention centre’s
sixth and seventh floors to be used exclusively by
CHC. Now, the church can only hold its services there on the
weekends.
The church spokesperson confirmed the move to Suntec but
declined to give further details, including whether the church is
still paying $310 million for the deal, reported the same
paper.
Last July, the Urban Redevelopment Authority released
guidelines restricting the use of commercial buildings for
religious purposes. There is a 20 per cent limit on the total floor
area used for religious purposes and a two-day limit on the number
of days a week religious activity can be held in a commercial
venue.
The regulations were released after news of
CHC’s purchase of Suntec made local headlines.
Church leaders, including founder Pastor Kong Hee, are
still under investigation by the police for alleged misuse of
church funds. The inquiry is not related to the move to Suntec.
The church has so far tried to improve its internal processes by
commissioning an external review of its financial controls and
setting up an independent advisory board.
22-year-old Samuel Loh told ST he stopped
attending CHC services last October because he felt the leaders
were not forthcoming with its business dealings.
But 32-year-old member Amelia Lee said she would continue
standing by her church. “Where it goes, I will follow,” she
said.
-- Yahoo!
