Church members will decide Gill's future

The Rev. Kenneth Gill is on paid administrative leave following a Tuesday, Jan. 10 vote by the Longboat Island Chapel’s board of trustees.

Gill told the Longboat Observer that six board members arrived at his church office the next day to notify him of their decision.

“I was quite surprised,” Gill said. “I don’t know what their motivation was, but apparently they wanted me out.”

The board notified chapel members of the vote in an email Wednesday.

“ … on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, the board voted to place the Rev. Kenneth Gill on ‘leave of absence’ effective today, Jan. 11, 2012, through Jan. 31, 2012,” the email stated. “We pledge to you that we accept the trust that you have placed in us and well understand our obligation to fulfill this trust by rolling up our sleeves to restore the warm, loving, peaceful place that we all enjoyed and experienced several years ago.”

The vote took place after months of growing friction between the senior minister and many board members that culminated last month when the board voted 9-2 to hold a Jan. 29 congregational meeting to vote on whether to retain Gill.

Gill told the Longboat Observer last week that he believes the schism boils down to the chapel’s identity as an interfaith church. He said that the church has been an “open-door church” for more than 50 years but that some members have expressed a desire for something more traditional.

Sue Reese, however, who was elected as board president at Tuesday’s meeting, also described a growing philosophical gap between Gill and many members of the chapel.

“We did this to maintain peace and calm in the chapel,” she said.

Gill said that he agreed to leave voluntarily “to avoid a scene,” after board members told him that if he did not leave the premises that they would call the police and that locks would be changed. But he said that the board did not have the authority to place him on leave. He said that, as a board member, he typically attends meetings and only missed the Jan. 10 meeting because of an emergency dental appointment.

“There’s nothing in our bylaws that would make allowance for any action of this type,” he said.

Reese, however, said that the chapel’s board hired an attorney after Gill retained legal counsel. The chapel’s attorney advised that the board avoid discussing any legal matters with Gill and recommended placing him on leave, Reese said.

With Gill on leave, the Rev. Charlie Shook, minister emeritus, preached last Sunday, and according to the board’s email, will continue to do so alongside other guest preachers on upcoming Sundays.

Gill, however, said he still plans to make his case to congregation members at the meeting scheduled for Jan. 29. The vote will require two-thirds of congregants present to vote to remove Gill in order to move forward.

“I’m willing to live with the voice of the congregation,” Gill said. “But it feels like they’re usurping the voice of our congregation.”