Documents Support Possible Extortion, Threats of Malicious Litigation
from: Sharon
Howarth sharonhowarthauthor@gmail.com
to: Mike
Stonbraker <mstonbraker@northalabamaumc.org>,
Jenna Ward
<jward@northalabamaumc.org>
date: Thu, Apr 26,
2012 at 10:12 AM
subject:
URGENT FORMAL NOTIFICATION
mailed-by:
gmail.com
letter of NO Confidence re NW District Superintendent.docx
13K View Download
Attn: Mike Stonbraker, NW District Superintendent
4.26.12
Pursuant to the ‘investigative’ meeting of today’s date, in
your office:
I hereby formally notify you and your convened ‘committee’
of my position of NO CONFIDENCE which prevents my daughter__________________ and
myself, Sharon Howarth, from attending any previously scheduled investigatory
or procedural meeting without the presence of an impartial third party and
specifically without the advocacy involvement of the General Commission on the
Status and Role of Women, of the United Methodist Church.
The following statements will serve to elucidate my position
of NO CONFIDENCE in the NW District Superintendent’s oversight of my April 12,
2012 complaint against Greg Reynolds’ ministerial sexual misconduct:
1. the material facts of my April 17,2012 meeting with Mike
Stonbraker, during which he foisted duress, obfuscating and manipulative
tactics, upon my person when I attended the meeting in good faith, at his
request, in response to my complaint to Bishop William Willimon,
2. the material facts of that meeting, to wit, Mike
Stonbraker’s demonstrations of a complete and abject lack of regard for and
pastoral concern for myself as a long-standing female employee of the NW
District churches I have worked for, as a parishioner within that United
Methodist Church District, and as a mother of the young woman (herself, also a
parishioner) who was witness to and recipient of Greg Reynolds’ unwanted
ministerial sexual misconduct,
3. the material facts in that meeting, of Mike Stonbraker’s
witnessed statement minimizing Greg Reynold’s sexual misconduct, ostensibly
stating that “not touching” my daughter, instead rather “just looking at her”
did not support a construct of the same magnitude of sexual misconduct, which is
in direct conflict with the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline’s duly
mandated parameters of appropriate ministerial sexual ethics,
4. and last, but not least, Mike Stonbraker’s outright
threats of financial and legal reprisal directed at myself, when I physically
attempted to leave the meeting and his office, in order to speak to a GCSRW
advocate and to obtain godly counsel from my husband and a spiritual advisor,
the DS stating that if I “walk out that door this check won’t be waiting here
and you won’t be meeting with me anymore”, referring to the severance check
that had been prepared and signed for me to pick up from the DS’s office and
making clear references to heightened litigious reprisals by stating “then
you’ll have to meet with the NW District’s attorney,” Mr. McElheny.
No loving parent would ever be willing to subject their
daughter of any age, to such demeaning, threatening and perverse demonstrations
of improper use of power and position.
I am unable to be in contact with the GCSRW general
secretary until after our UMC Charge Conference is over, thus I will not be
able to facilitate further contact with the NW District Office, until such time
as I am able to consider further advice, support and spiritual nurture afforded
me through the GCSRW’s duly appointed services available to me as a parishioner
and lay staff worker.
Very truly yours,
Sharon Howarth
Cc Bishop Willimon’s office
GCSRW general
secretary
___________________________________________________________
Sincerely,
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___________________________________________________________
from: WillWillimon
wwillimon@northalabamaumc.org
to:
sharonhowarthauthor@gmail.com
cc: Ron
Schultz <rschultz@northalabamaumc.org>
date: Thu, Apr 26,
2012 at 3:48 PM
subject:
Email / Mrs. Howarth
Dear Mrs. Howarth,
I am in receipt of your email correspondence today regarding
Reverend Mike Stonbraker, North West District Superintendent, and Reverend Greg
Reynolds. Be assured that I am working thru the Cabinet and Board of Ordained
Ministry to find a just resolution for all parties in these matters.
Sincerely,
William H. Willimon
Bishop, Birmingham Area
____________________________________________________________________________
Text message documentation regarding legal maneuverings around suddenly constructed severance "release", severance pay and denominational leaders' knowledge of the former employee's vulnerable position, i.e., hunger, poverty, need for medical assistance.
Me-
Van-+12564151193: FWD: Yes - both were made aware Keep The Faith 1:02 PM
Me-.+12564151193: FWD: ok thank you . 1:04 PM
____________________________________________________________________________
Text message documentation regarding legal maneuverings around suddenly constructed severance "release", severance pay and denominational leaders' knowledge of the former employee's vulnerable position, i.e., hunger, poverty, need for medical assistance.
After waiting 24 days for the new severance release I was
promised on 3/20/12 and 5 days after it all severance issues including payment
were supposed to have been addressed, I meekly contacted Van Brown SPRC
chairman to find out what the delay was, why I hadn’t heard from him and when I
should expect some closure.
The following are exact order and forwarded copies of the
text messages between us, which I believe materially show how I have faced
control, manipulation and retaliation for doing the right thing in reporting
Greg Reynolds sexual misconduct and inappropriate employee/gender harassment
toward me.
These all occurred on Friday 4/13/2012 in the approximate time
frames stamped below from my cell phone record.
I initiated contact to Van Brown-
12564151193: Arranging to leave keys in envelope with N________ A_______ to give to u or whoever u designate, after I pack and move my belongings
this afternoon. Any release yet? I expected to have gotten it and severance pay
as we discussed to happen on 4/9/12... My family now out of food, and more than
slightly affected by the delays in this process- Can u remind me who was at
sprc vote on 3/4? I have been working on report for DS, as I promised u and was
unclear who was at that mtg- your best recall is fine for my report (if u
forget anyone we can surely make corrections). We are continuing to pray for u
Van! In His grace and love, Sharon 11:50 AM
Van Brown’s answer sent to me
+12564151193: FWD: Hey Sharon - sorry about the delay on the
release-waiting to hear from atty on whether or not can adjust original
release-hope to have resolved today???? 12:29 PM
And then Van’s answer to my other question-
12564151193: FWD: As best I recall all members of the SPRC
were present - Tom, Don, Paula, Brenda, James, Tony, Loren, Greg & myself
Keep The Faith 12:45 PM
My answer -
+12564151193: FWD: Van that is not what u discussed with me-
u said u were planning to get an independent release "prepared"
without needing a vote or sprc involvement. are u now saying that u went back
to pastor's father and greg about this? even after u agreed with both Bruce and
myself that the release submitted was inappropriate and of questionable
motivation? I dont want to pre or misjudge wta u are saying but I am frankly
confused about what would've changed what u said u planned to do in our mtg of
3/20/12...please explain this. 12:48 PM
Van-
+12564151193: FWD: I went to my atty and after reviewing the
release we had she felt it was NOT too encompassing and would not prepare a new
one for me so I contacted the NW Dist Of the UMC atty and he is the one I am
waiting to hear from now Keep The Faith 12:53 PM
Me-
+12564151193: FWD: do either of the attys understand that the reporting process about the pastor's sexual misconduct (according to the sexual ethics definitions and covenants proscribed in the book of discipline) was already initiated months ago? 12:53 PM
Van-+12564151193: FWD: Yes - both were made aware Keep The Faith 1:02 PM
Me-.+12564151193: FWD: ok thank you . 1:04 PM
I PROVIDE BELOW THE TEXTS IN THEIR ORIGINAL HTML ORDER FROM
MY GOOGLE VOICE PHONE ACCOUNT, WHERE I FORWARDED ALL THE TEXTS TO KEEP A RECORD
OF THEM. MY EDITING ABOVE, WAS SIMPLY TO MAKE THEM MORE READABLE AND VISUALLY
SEPARATED.
+12564151193 Add -
Florence, AL
4/13/12 1:04 PM 9 seconds ago
+12564151193: Arranging to leave keys in envelope with
Nathan Alred to give to u or whoever u designate, after I pack and move my
belongings this afternoon. Any relea 11:50 AM
+12564151193: se yet? I expected to have gotten it and
severance pay as we discussed to happen on 4/9/12... My family now out of food,
and more than slightly affected 11:50 AM
+12564151193: by the delays in this process- Can u remind me
who was at sprc vote on 3/4? I have been working on report for DS, as I
promised u and was unclear who w 11:50 AM
+12564151193: as at that mtg- your best recall is fine for
my report (if u forget anyone we can surely make corrections). We are
continuing to pray for u Van! In His 11:50 AM
+12564151193: grace and love, Sharon 11:50 AM
+12564151193: by 5 pm today everything hidden will be in the
light...u know my family needs prayer- Nathan does, and some of our leadership
will along with the pastor 11:59 AM
+12564151193: and his immediate and extended family in the
coming days- I pray for all at NV knowing I did not cause this and praying 4
God to work His will and His 11:59 AM
+12564151193: glory- continued confidentiality for a few
more days or weeks may be needed from u while the leadership works this out-
but I knew we needed u 2 pray. 11:59 AM
+12564151193: Lord have mercy in Your grace and by the
precious blood of Jesus! Sharon 11:59 AM
+12564151193: FWD: Arranging to leave keys in envelope with
Nathan Alred to give to u or whoever u designate, after I pack and move my belongings
this afternoon. Any 12:12 PM
+12564151193: release yet? I expected to have gotten it and
severance pay as we discussed to happen on 4/9/12... My family now out of food,
and more than slightly aff 12:12 PM
+12564151193: ected by the delays in this process- Can u
remind me who was at sprc vote on 3/4? I have been working on report for DS, as
I promised u and was unclear 12:12 PM
+12564151193: who was at that mtg- your best recall is fine
for my report (if u forget anyone we can surely make corrections). We are
continuing to pray for u Van! In 12:12 PM
+12564151193: His grace and love, Sharon 12:12 PM
+12564151193: FWD: Hey Sharon - sorry about the delay on the
release-waiting to hear from atty on whether or not can adjust original
release-hope to have resolved today???? 12:29 PM
+12564151193: FWD: As best I recall all members of the SPRC
were present - Tom, Don, Paula, Brenda, James, Tony, Loren, Greg & myself
Keep The Faith 12:45 PM
+12564151193: FWD: Van that is not what u discussed with me-
u said u were planning to get an independent release "prepared"
without needing a vote or sprc involvemen 12:48 PM
+12564151193: t. are u now saying that u went back to
pastor's father and greg about this? even after u agreed with both Bruce and
myself that the release submitted w 12:48 PM
+12564151193: as inappropriate and of questionable
motivation?I dont want to pre or misjudge wta u are saying but I am frankly
confused about what would've changed wh 12:48 PM
+12564151193: at u said u planned to do in our mtg of
3/20/12...please explain this. 12:48 PM
+12564151193: FWD: I went to my atty and after reviewing the
release we had she felt it was NOT too encompassing and would not prepare a new
one for me so I contacted 12:52 PM
+12564151193: the NW Dist 12:52 PM
+12564151193: FWD: Of the UMC atty and he is the one I am
waiting to hear from now Keep The Faith 12:53 PM
+12564151193: FWD: do either of the attys understand that
the reporting process about the pastor's sexual misconduct (according to the
sexual ethics definitions and c 12:53 PM
+12564151193: ovenants proscribed in the book of discipline)
was already initiated months ago? 12:53 PM
+12564151193: FWD: Yes - both were made aware Keep The Faith
1:02 PM
+12564151193: FWD: ok thank you . 1:04 PM
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