Thank you AG and others. We are not sure who Spider hunter is but if they are indeed our cousin then they have not let Esme or l know. Sure the Largs situation may implode spoon enough.
Share more when it's more expedient.
Mirmac

My situation was rather different from Esmes but the gas lighting was significant by ' She who shall not be naned'. As l said l will share when more expedient.

" May God bless those who reach out to him and may God help those who should not ever be on a church platform*.

Hi Mirmac,

I too have asked Esme and we don’t know who you are. We suspect we know who you are but if you’re a cousin you’re keeping it awfully quiet as you haven’t said anything about being on the forum.

Please check the WhatsApp group chat if you really are who you say you are.

SH

Just dipped in to the Forum out of curiosity to see what I might be missing. Greatly saddened to discover it's becoming utterly farcical - well on the way to losing all credibility. Makes me wonder if there might be a "mole" at work - or more than one. Glad I've opted out.

Phoebe 2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just dipped in to the Forum out of curiosity to
> see what I might be missing. Greatly saddened to
> discover it's becoming utterly farcical - well on
> the way to losing all credibility. Makes me wonder
> if there might be a "mole" at work - or more than
> one. Glad I've opted out.

Completely agree, it’s clear from the posts by various accounts that it is the same person claiming to be different people.

I would imagine those at the pulpit who have spent years putting down this forum are rubbing their hands with glee at the moment. Very little of the recent posts by some new comers has been constructive and the way other posters have been treated when challenging them has been saddening.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Hello again and welcome to the new posters.

There are two strands in recent posts, the first concerning what is claimed to be personal experience of emotional abuse implicating the leadership of the church, and the second concerning alleged financial mismanagement of church funds. I want to say a bit more about the latter.

It has come to my attention that one of the leaders in the once-thriving but now much diminished Glasgow branch has started an appeal for funds for the Glasgow church. Now this needs to be unpacked.

If I were a member still of that branch, I would be far from happy at being tapped for money, beyond what I would be already giving as some form of 'tithing'. The Glasgow branch should not be financial dire straits. Far from it, it should be rolling in money.

If, as has been suggested, up to two million pounds was transferred to shore up the private business headed by Alison Speirs, including funding her pension pot and that presumably of other members of her 'gang' who were part of that ill-conceived and ill-fated enterprise, then much of this money would have come from the regular contributions of members of the Glasgow branch.

Although there were few in big jobs in the Glasgow branch (or any branch), there were many in reasonably well-paid occupations such as schoolteaching, occupational therapy, physio, small businesses and the like. They will have contributed massively to the church coffers. That money should have been used in the main towards the Glasgow branch, to its maintenance (and it is a very beautiful listed building in the most exclusive area of the west end), to its activities, perhaps towards pensions for some of its loyal subjects, especially those who remained single.

Clarity is essential where money is concerned. It is - if the allegations are correct, or even anywhere near correct - outrageous that huge sums were without the congregation's full knowledge and consent secreted into what I believe was a great folly, the cheap private school - a folly which (as I've said ad nauseum, but I repeat it because I have heard since my last post that even someone close to the action had no knowledge that I had opposed the school from day one and been more or less drummed out of the regiment for doing so) may yet prove fatal to the entire 'movement'.

Now I am going to say something which hurts me to say, because he is a good man and used to be a friend. But the obscurity needs to be stripped away. If the leader of the Glasgow church to whom I am referring was indeed on the directors' team over several years when these alleged misappropriations were taking place, and, even if he objected, failed to resign, then he cannot now in good conscience stand before the now impoverished congregation and ask for money, because he should have made sure that congregational giving over the years was largely kept for the Glasgow branch.

I believe that, on the contrary, he must offer his resignation to the church. Let me repeat: I am saying this only if the money was indeed misappropriated and if he was a director during the alleged misappropriations.

Moreover, steps should be taken to recover what can be recovered from those who benefited from all this money.

If the allegations of financial mismanagement are inaccurate, then he or someone else in the know needs to come onto this platform or some other public platform and say so.

Even if money was not secretly transferred in huge quantities, nevertheless the school - which never benefited the wider congregation - has now ignominiously closed after only 20 years: proof it was wrong ab initio.

The leadership needs also to make clear to the press that it was not closed due to the recent VAT imposition, which is what the papers are saying. That is a convenient excuse but it is not true. The business was, if the allegations are sound, financially failing throughout.

The silence is now deafening.

Ditto for the 'emotional' (for want of a better word) mismanagement that many - perhaps more than 100 souls - have been alleging over what is now decades. The PR letter sent by the directors simply does not cut it, and the statement that only a few people on this platform have any complaints is an egregious falsehood. One hundred is not a few, by any stretch of the imagination.

Phoebe 2
‘ Greatly saddened to discover it's becoming utterly farcical - well on the way to losing all credibility. Makes me wonder if there might be a "mole" at work - or more than one. Glad I've opted out.’

I believe some of the recent posts may indicate that there might be a ‘mole’ at work. I don’t believe the forum is losing credibility because those of us who are sincere will not allow a few or one person to try and negate the fact that Alison Speirs needs to be held accountable.
Thanks Alistair for reminding us all about mismanagement of church finances by AS to help build her legacy or kingdom. That alone which is public should cause forum readers to ask why this should have been allowed to happen. May have said it already but I know of at least two instances where thousands (20+) of pounds were transferred to Cedars from two different SMC’s without consultation with the congregation.

Going back to Spyderhunter I do find your post confusing!
You posted:

SpyderHunter
‘Flo Bu brought a RADIO. A radio! Flo’s just humming a tune, and Spiers loses it. “MUSIC IS SIN!” she roars, snatching it and SMASHING it on the floor. Flo’s stunned, and Lamb Chops—Lorna, the nasty duplicate—giggles, “Rebel!” Spiers points at Flo, “VESTRY, NOW!”
So, off to the vestry we go, cos Spiers says it’s a “group lesson.” Me, Flo, and poor Amy are dragged in………..Amy’s crying, cos Lorna blamed her for the radio’

What I don’t understand is this incident would have happened many years ago.
The problem I have is the age difference between Flo Bu and Amy (and probably Esme as well). Depending when this happened Amy would either have been a baby or at least still a child. No?

Why was Amy included in the alleged incident with the radio? You state Flo Bu had the radio and was ‘humming’ along to it!
My understanding is that the two age groups didn’t mix unless it was a teacher / pupil relationship. So why were they along with Esme taken in as a group?
Aimee is about 26 years old….do you know the age of Flo? Unless there’s a Flo Bu that we don’t know about who is of the younger generation !! If there is, Flo Bu will be very happy because I’m sure she doesn’t want to be highlighted in any part of the forum. She is a lovely person and doesn’t need her alleged experiences to be shared by someone else. But maybe this is your tactic.

AG

I agree with Amazing Grace that this Forum isn’t losing credibility and that there are many sincere contributors on here. This is a great Forum which has helped so many ex-SMC members over the past 14 or 15 years. I am certain that it will continue to be a site where people can have a voice after years of being held back and silenced.

Thanks for your treatise concerning the financial situation in the Glasgow branch-church, AlDuff. Like yourself, I can scarcely believe that the Treasurer (I presume) has appealed to the Glasgow congregation to give money for the necessary upgrading and repairs of the church building. Sadly, I think that a number of devoted followers in that church will want to and will in fact give money towards this. But I can’t see how even that amount of giving will bring in all the funds which are required for the upgrade and roof repairs. We wait to see what will happen.

SMC Glasgow has lost so many of its attendees, as we read in one of Pauline’s letters. But no wonder, when one reads on this Forum about the way some folk were treated by the leaders especially by A Speirs. You only have to read Liz25’s post on the previous page to get an example of the shocking favouritism towards one person and the total lack of support for another, and without good reason too. Self-righteousness, lack of wisdom, betrayal and injustice are words which come to mind when reading Liz25’s post; after all the time and effort she had put in to serving in SMC over many years, this is the way she is treated. Well, SMC has lost so many decent and gifted people through its lack of concern and care for them. They don’t deserve to have them.

Hi AG,

Not Aimee, it was Amy. I don’t know how to name her aside from Amy, not the daughter of Andy. It is also not my story.

Best,
SH

The moment is righ to share just a bit.
Esme confirmed she did not write the post from Spyder hunter, but agrees with the majority of what has been written apart from starvation and most people know F BU is about 80 years of age.
But anyone that's lived through that is a Cuz, so welcome.
Following the writing style of AG this is a fraction of my story.

1: Parents were not well thought of in SMC,
As they didn't attend too many meetings
and refused to be controlled by 'she who
shall not be named'. The
opposite of my aunt and uncle.
2: l was to attend the dreaded cedars,
almost incestuous cabal.
3: l was bright, l will just put it out
there the academic Geek as others saw it.
4: l excelled in all subject even sport.
5: We tried shows at school and music
events. I was eager to be part of that.
6: Mrs AS hated, loathed that l was bright
as all the top prizes were really for the
children of parents who ' bent the knee,
who grovelled and attended every meeting.
7: l requested to be in the play. AS
demanded l meet her in the Vestry after
Sunday. I had just had my 18th birthday
was due to leave school in a few months.
Why was this happening?
Why did l not leave?
For those not in such a place these are
obvious questions. It is never easy when
you havenot known extensive socialising
outwith SMC/ Cedars.
8: l am sure you can imagine l politely
Declined the knee treatment. AS was fit
to burst, l could see she was raging.
9: My uncle Z was furious l declined prayer.
The concept of choice was alien to him.
10: On Monday l noticed my IT teacher seemed unhappy with Me, he is the son of AS. My English teacher was off sick and no luck LS was sent to cover and seemed irate at me. Oh she brought her 2 little poor wee pupils with her.
Guess what she sent me to see her mummy because l was ' "rude' that meant l corrected her, politely when she got something wrong. We all knew she was not bright.
11: l was made to wait an age at the door of
AS, she who shall not be named.
She went on the charm offensive.
But, essentially she made it clear my life would be made H... For the next 3 months as her son, daughter, best friends and numerous relatives taught in the school. So perhaps l should rethink the need for prayer. My nightmare was ongoing:

No control
Taken by my uncle to endless meetings.
AS and all staff apart from Jo were related to As in some way. Cross one staff member and they were all crossed and pay back would follow, perhaps detention or worse dropping of the grades. But, worse of all: "We will have this sorted on Sunday in the Vestry.
" Why was that ever allowed".



There is much more but that will be for another session.
Pheobe this may seem trivial to you and for that l say sorry to you. But surely each individual can only share as they have experienced. From my Gran l did hear it was wonderful then the very dark cloud of AS and cohorts arrived.
Oh some of May put reviews on CON Largs!