Heitzig Returning to Calvary

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)

July 2, 2006 Sunday

Heitzig Returning to Calvary

BYLINE: DEBRA DOMINGUEZ-LUND Journal Staff Writer

SECTION: FRONT PAGE; Pg. A1

LENGTH: 504 words

After months of controversy and operating under the reins of interim leadership, Calvary Chapel Albuquerque returned to its roots Saturday.

Skip Heitzig, who founded the Albuquerque megachurch, was named as senior pastor during Saturday's evening service at the church, 4001 Osuna NE.

The announcement was made by Interim Senior Pastor Dave Row, who has led the church since March.

"We have come to this decision as a pastoral staff after much prayer and careful counsel," Row said to the congregation.

After the announcement, a majority of the congregation stood and applauded. "I expected this," said Jackie Sherwood, a church member for about 12 years. "I have no hard feelings about the decision."

Heitzig was not present for the announcement, but a letter from their new leader was read to the congregation, saying he welcomed the invitation to once again serve the church.

The announcement of Heitzig's return was to be repeated at the church's three services today - 8, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Heitzig, who left in 2004 to lead Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was involved in a power struggle with Calvary's former senior pastor, Pete Nelson.

Nelson was Heitzig's handpicked successor, but their relationship soured. In his resignation letter in February, Nelson cited a power struggle with Heitzig regarding appointments to the church's board of directors and financial decisions.

Heitzig resigned from the church board in March after a group of church members asked him and other out-ofstate board members to resign.

The group also sought more transparency in financial and personnel dealings. Since then, the church's board of directors initiated three audits - all conducted by outside entities - addressing financial, organizational and pastoral issues.

According to Tom Garrity, a Calvary spokesman, the audits had provided the group with an "all-clear move forward in selecting a permanent senior pastor."

Speculation about Heitzig's return as Calvary's senior pastor - a post he held since founding Calvary Albuquerque in the mid-1980s until early 2004 - had been circulating on Internet Web logs and among church insiders since his resignation from the board in March.

Last week, Heitzig also fueled speculation of his return when he apologized during a Calvary service for his role in the power struggle.

Philip Brent, an Albuquerque middle school teacher who has attended Calvary for about 18 years, said he had his fingers crossed that Heitzig would return.

"He's probably one of the best Bible teachers in America," Brent said. "And it concerns me that in the past, he's been portrayed as a money grubber. Truth is, the church never even asks for offerings - it only has donation boxes in the back.

"Calvary is such a big church, and I'm not surprised if there's mixed feelings or animosity about who the new pastor is by some," said Brent, who added he believes both Heitzig and his church received unfair press coverage in the past. "For the most part, though, I believe people want Heitzig back."

LOAD-DATE: July 3, 2006

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: SHERWOOD: Church member for 12 years not surprised

GREG SORBER/JOURNAL A majority of Calvary Chapel Albuquerque members stood and clapped when it was announced Saturday that Skip Heitzig will return as senior pastor. Heitzig founded Calvary Albuquerque in the 1980s.

HEITZIG: Church founder is named senior pastor

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal

Is Heitzig Back? Calvary's Future Revealed Tonight; Church set to announce identity of new permanent senior pastor

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)

July 1, 2006 Saturday

Is Heitzig Back? Calvary's Future Revealed Tonight; Church set to announce identity of new permanent senior pastor

BYLINE: DEBRA DOMINGUEZ-LUND Journal Staff Writer

SECTION: METRO & NEW MEXICO; Pg. E1

LENGTH: 294 words

Rumors about whether former Calvary Chapel Albuquerque founder Skip Heitzig will return as the church's senior pastor will either be quashed or validated tonight.

Calvary of Albuquerque's Interim Senior Pastor Dave Row will announce who the group's new permanent senior pastor will be during a 6:30 p.m. service at the chapel, 4001 Osuna NE.

The major announcement will be repeated for the church congregation at three services Sunday - 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Speculation about Heitzig's return as Calvary's senior pastor - a post he held since founding the group in the mid-1980s until early 2004 - has circulated on Internet Web logs and among church insiders since his resignation from the church board in March.

Last week, Heitzig apologized to Calvary's congregation for his role in a highly publicized struggle for control of the megachurch that eventually led to his resignation from the board of directors.

A Denver pastor recently contended Heitzig had "buyer's remorse" after moving to California and became reluctant to turn over the reins at Calvary to his hand-picked successor, Pete Nelson.

That triggered a power struggle that led to the surprise resignation of Nelson on Feb. 19, according to the report by Pastor Tom Stipe of Crossroads Church in Denver.

The power struggle between Heitzig and Nelson became public when the Journal obtained a copy of Nelson's resignation letter that outlined a list of grievances against the Calvary founder and the board.

The controversy came to a head in March when a group of church members asked that Heitzig and other out-of-state board members resign. The group also sought more transparency in financial and personnel dealings.

The church has been operating under interim leadership since Nelson's departure.

LOAD-DATE: July 3, 2006

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: JOURNAL FILE Last week, Skip Heitzig was a guest speaker at Calvary Chapel Albuquerque.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal

Report Examines Calvary Dispute; Heitzig Calls Claims Inaccurate

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)

June 27, 2006 Tuesday

Report Examines Calvary Dispute; Heitzig Calls Claims Inaccurate

BYLINE: Copyright © 2006 Albuquerque Journal BY JEFF PROCTOR Journal Staff Writer

SECTION: FRONT PAGE; Pg. A1

LENGTH: 1018 words

A Denver pastor contends Calvary Chapel Albuquerque founder Skip Heitzig had "buyer's remorse" after moving to California and became reluctant to turn over the reins at Calvary to his hand-picked successor.

That triggered a power struggle that led to the surprise resignation of Pastor Pete Nelson on Feb. 19, according to a report by Pastor Tom Stipe of Crossroads Church in Denver.

Stipe also writes that Heitzig had financial motives and that he and other board members tried to "recast" the circumstances under which Heitzig left Calvary for Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano.

Heitzig shot back Monday, saying Stipe got only one side of the story, mischaracterized Heitzig's motivations and should not have released the report.

Stipe could not be reached for comment Monday.

Heitzig addressed widespread speculation that he would return as senior pastor of Calvary - which he founded in the mid-1980s and served in the top spot until early 2004.

"I know the rumor has been swirling around, but I have never been given an invitation," Heitzig said in a telephone interview with the Journal from California.

"I love (Calvary;) I love Albuquerque and the people of Albuquerque. I want the best for it, and I'm glad to be part of the church.

"If (Calvary's board of directors) invites me to return permanently, that's something I will have to prayerfully consider with my wife and with the people I love and who hold me accountable."

A power struggle

When he left Calvary, Heitzig recruited Nelson from Crossroads in Denver, where Nelson had served as associate pastor under Stipe for three years.

Heitzig remained as chairman of the Calvary board of directors - a post Stipe's report says he planned to keep for a year. But the report notes that Heitzig was later appointed a " 'perpetual' board member and chairman of the board."

After presiding over growth in attendance and tithes for two years at Calvary, Nelson stunned the congregation with his resignation. Neither he nor other Calvary leaders would say why he was leaving.

But a power struggle became evident when a copy of Nelson's resignation letter emerged. It outlined a list of grievances by Nelson against Heitzig and the board.

In March, the controversy bubbled over when a group of congregants asked Heitzig and other out-of-state board members to resign. The group also sought more transparency in financial and personnel dealings.

Since then, Heitzig and two other out-of-state directors - Paul Saber and Raul Ries - have stepped down. Gino Geraci, who also lives out of state, remains on the board.

According to Stipe's report, after Heitzig's departure as senior pastor, he and the board attempted to recharacterize Heitzig's departure from " 'leaving' to 'having been sent out as a missionary.' ''

And, according to the report, Heitzig and the out-of-state board members relegated Nelson's role in the church to "custodial pastor" and stymied his efforts to choose his own directors.

Heitzig has denied interfering with Nelson's duties as senior pastor. And on Monday, he said that "my hope is still that I can meet with Pete. I love him deeply and consider him a brother."

Stipe contends Heitzig wanted to remain in control of Calvary for financial reasons and "buyers remorse."

"Things (at Ocean Hills) clearly had not gone as Skip had hoped," Stipe wrote. "The continued success of (Calvary) when compared to the issues at Ocean Hills must have given rise to Skip questioning his decision to leave.

"It was about the finances. Without financial support from (Calvary) Skip's national radio ministry, 'The Connection,' could not continue in its present form. There is also evidence that the operation of Ocean Hills is at least partially dependent upon contributions from (Calvary.)"

Heitzig denied that Ocean Hills is in trouble.

"The church is healthy financially and in its operations," he said. "In fact, it has more than tripled in size."

Heitzig said that, to the best of his knowledge, The Connection has been "breaking even - paying for itself." Calvary financial statements, show that The Connection lost $378,349 in 2005, and $600,810 in 2004.

Reimbursement

of tithes

Stipe's report also says there is an "underground move by many former (Calvary) members to demand a reimbursement of their past tithes and offerings."

Heitzig said he's heard of no such thing.

"I've spoken to thousands of people when I was in Albuquerque, and I didn't hear anything like that at all," he said. "I wouldn't call that an underground movement; I'd call it two people."

During two recent trips to Albuquerque, Heitzig conducted three services at Calvary. On Saturday, he apologized to the congregation, saying: "If my leadership style has hurt any of you or pained any of you, I deeply apologize."

Heitzig said Stipe's report was one of three done by pastors affiliated with Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship (CCOF), which, among other duties, "provides materials that will define the Calvary Chapel philosophy to individual fellowships."

Stipe's report was based largely on board minutes but also included information from Calvary sermons, financial statements and letters written by former board members, Heitzig and Nelson.

The other two were done by pastors from Las Vegas, Nev., Heitzig said.

Those reports were not made available to the Journal, but an overview of the three reports by CCOF leader Paul Smith, was.

"We find no evidence of sin or wrongdoing on the part of the board of directors, Skip Heitzig or Pete Nelson which would preclude you continuing friendship and fellowship with CCOF," the letter states.

Heitzig said the two Las Vegas pastors interviewed him and other "key players." He said Stipe never attempted to contact him.

He said all three reports were to be given to Smith - not made public.

The Stipe report was posted on a Web log, phoenixpreacher.com.

"This is church business, and the board is trying to do things with due process and with an open hand," Heitzig said. "It's just discouraging that this has to be dragged through the public arena again. I think the good people of Calvary Albuquerque are tired of it being in the media."

LOAD-DATE: June 27, 2006

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal

Heitzig Says He's Sorry; Controversial pastor apologizes if leadership style hurt anyone

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)

June 25, 2006 Sunday

Heitzig Says He's Sorry; Controversial pastor apologizes if leadership style hurt anyone

BYLINE: JEFF PROCTOR Journal Staff Writer

SECTION: NEW MEXICO & THE WEST; Pg. B1

LENGTH: 629 words

Calvary Chapel Albuquerque founder Skip Heitzig on Saturday apologized to the congregation for his role in a highly publicized struggle for control of the megachurch that eventually led to his resignation from its board of directors.

"If my leadership style has hurt any of you or pained any of you, I apologize deeply," Heitzig said from the Calvary pulpit, from where he was giving an evening sermon as a guest speaker. "This has never been Skip's church. This has always been and will remain the Lord's church."

A man in the congregation stood up and shouted, "Thanks for apologizing, Skip," after Heitzig's remarks.

Meanwhile, speculation on Internet Web logs and with church insiders has swirled since Heitzig's resignation in March that he may return as senior pastor - a post he held since founding Calvary in the mid-1980s until early 2004.

"Skip is a candidate by virtue of the fact that he is the founding pastor," Chip Lusko, a Calvary pastor and spokesman said Saturday evening. "But that is a board decision and not for me to comment on."

None of the board members was available for comment Saturday; neither was Heitzig.

However, with the completion of three audits that looked at Calvary's finances and organizational methods, the board "will proceed with its search for a senior pastor," Lusko said.

"There will be a church meeting (tonight) and we will present the audits to the church body. And from there, we will move forward."

Dave Row has served as interim senior pastor since March 22. The appointment was to last 60 days.

Pete Nelson, Heitzig's handpicked successor, stunned the congregation by resigning Feb. 19. Neither he nor other Calvary leaders would say why he was leaving.

But a power struggle became public when the Journal obtained a copy of Nelson's resignation letter that outlined a list of grievances against Heitzig and the board.

The controversy came to a head in March when a group of church members asked that Heitzig and other out-of-state board members resign. The group also sought more transparency in financial and personnel dealings.

Since then, Heitzig and two other out-of-state directors - Paul Saber and Raul Ries - have stepped down. Gino Geraci, who also lives out of state, remains on the board.

Heitzig has appeared as a guest speaker at least twice since his resignation in March, Lusko said. Heitzig conducted a communion service June 14 and will take the pulpit this morning for two services.

"One of the reasons I came (Wednesday) and tonight was because many of you have said, 'You have been silent the last few months. Where have you been?' '' Heitzig said to the congregation. "I do trust the local leadership here ... the pastoral staff ... the board.

"I resigned from the board of directors here to give them a chance to go through a process. I wanted to step out of the scene because of the media flurry you were getting hammered with."

After Heitzig's sermon, which focused on the Bible verse John 3:16, church members had mixed reactions about his return.

"I was very glad to see him here tonight," said Mark Mesilla, 45, of Placitas, who has attended Calvary since 1999. "In fact, I have been hoping and praying and checking the (church) Web site to see if he was listed as a guest speaker.

"I really hope this is a sign of things to come. Yes, I do hope he returns on a permanent basis."

Marleen Gutierrez, 66, of Albuquerque, had a different take.

"I didn't know (Heitzig) was going to be here tonight, and, frankly, I wouldn't have come had I known," she said. "I don't like the way he treated Pete or his secrecy. That is not at the heart of what this place is supposed to be about.

"I have come here and tithed faithfully since 1996, and that certainly will not continue should Skip Heitzig be back here as senior pastor."

LOAD-DATE: June 25, 2006

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: GREG SORBER/JOURNAL On Saturday night, Skip Heitzig returned to Calvary Chapel Albuquerque as a guest speaker. Heitzig will also be a guest speaker for today's services.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

Copyright 2006 Albuquerque Journal

Calvary Holds Off On Naming Pastor

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)

May 18, 2006 Thursday

AROUND THE METRO AREA

BYLINE: Journal Staff Reports

SECTION: METRO & NEW MEXICO; Pg. C2

LENGTH: 678 words

Calvary Holds Off On Naming Pastor

Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque is holding off on naming a new senior pastor as the megachurch is audited, according to a news release.

This week the church board extended the interim terms for Senior Pastor David Row and Administrative Pastor Dale Coffing, the news release states.

The church board is undergoing a pastoral audit and once it is completed, the board will determine a process to select a new senior pastor, the release states. The board is also reviewing organizational and financial audits.

Pete Nelson resigned as senior pastor earlier this year, citing a power struggle with church founder Skip Heitzig.