The South Pacific Division is in financial trouble because of poor leadership from president pastor Glenn Townend.
Background:
Keith Johnson
President Pastor Glenn Townend is informing church members and pastors that the SPD (South Pacific Division) will develop the land and surrounds which is associated with Avondale University, in conjunction with Johnson Property Group. Keith Johnson the principle of Johnson Property Group.
Australian church members, pastors, and the Cooranbong community are very much against what the SPD and President Pastor Glenn Townend are proposing.
The following map and land in question originally purchased with the leading of Mrs. White when she was in Australia:
The SPD and President Pastor Glenn Townend, in conjunction with the Johnson Property Group previously developed the SDA Flight School and air-strip grounds (now Watagan Park Estate) where over 2,000 land blocks are being developed. On the open real estate market if the Flight School grounds was put out to Tender, instead of an ‘inside’ deal with Johnson Property Group, it would be worth in excess of AUD$200M. So why is President Pastor Glenn Townend selling off our church heritage, and where is the money from the sale of the SDA Flight School grounds?
There is much unease among church members and pastors over the close association with the SPD, President Pastor Glenn Townend and Johnson Property Group (JPG). Church members are also concerned about two (2) prominent SDA church officials who helped put the deal together with the JPG. The ex-Treasurer of the SPD, Mr Rodney Brady, after leaving the employ of the SPD became a consultant to JPG, and Mr Francois Keet’s son obtained a job with JPG, which is certainly not appropriate and a glaring conflict of interest’. Keet is an Adventist HealthCare board member.
Video links of Interest:
The following map of the Estate:
So once again history is repeating itself with our church via the SPD and President Pastor Glenn Townend doing another church land development “without the input of church members”.
Church members are told that the reason for this latest development with the JPG is that SPD needs the money. The SPD over-developed the Sydney Adventist Hospital and are in serious financial trouble.
Location of the SPD head office in Wahroonga (Sydney) with the ‘the San’ Hospital been nearby:
Part of the proposed development is demolishing the SDA Avondale Memorial church which is located at the entrance to Avondale University grounds and surrounds.
History of Avondale Church:
The original Avondale Church was opened around 1896, and Mrs White preached in the original church during her time in Australia.
During construction of the existing church:
The General Conference, church members and pastors should ask SPD President Pastor Glenn Townend “Why is the church history and heritage of Avondale to be bulldozed for Units?”
Church members are asking why the SPD and President Townend cannot sell property in Sydney, or sell property and lease back on a long-term arrangement, to raise funds? Sydney is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world. Instead of selling and developing SDA historical land in the Newcastle area (which Mrs White originally purchased when she was in Australia), our church said “This is not to be sold without the direct vote of the people.” The vast majority of church members do not support the development of this land at Avondale.
Portion of the SPD offices in Wahroonga (Sydney):
Our church history and quotations in regards to the Avondale land in question:
The majority of Ellen White’s visions were probably recorded fairly soon after the prophet received them. Sometimes, however, there might be a delay of days, weeks, or even months, in the writing out of details. This was the case of the 1890 Salamanca vision in New York, and the 1894 “plowed furrow” vision of an incident on land that later became Avondale College’s campus in Australia. (GVEGW 76.1)
In May, five members of the committee visited Dora Creek and Cooranbong, and examined the tract of land which was afterward purchased for $4,500. This tract contained 1,450 acres of wild land, about 500 acres of which was thought to be suitable for the cultivation of grains, fruits, and vegetables, and for pasture. After its purchase, the estate was named “Avondale,” because of the numerous creeks and the abundance of flowing water. The place chosen for school buildings is about three miles west from the Dora Creek railway station, and one and a quarter miles southeast of the Cooranbong post office. (LS 356.2)
The committee must now choose between the report of the scientifically trained man and the words of the angel. They talked a long time. They discussed times in past years when God had especially blessed His people because they followed His counsel. Now He had spoken to them through His angel, and they decided to let His word settle the question. They voted unanimously to locate the school on that property. (SMG 181.4)
A few months later the Australasian Union Conference approved their decision, and the college project was launched. The estate was named Avondale because of the many streams of clear water running through it. The next question was how they were to pay for the land. Money had been borrowed for the down payment, but where would the $4,500 come from to repay the loan and finish paying for the property? Although the church was growing rapidly, there were still fewer than one thousand Adventists in all Australia. They had little money and no rich friends. But the brethren had followed the counsel of God, and now He honored their faith. (SMG 181.5)
…….Mrs. White owned (a home) at Avondale in Australia,…… (EGWMR 108.5)
While in Australia I invested much money in building meeting houses and in establishing the Avondale school. In every possible way I helped to advance the work. At one time when we were in a great strait for means, fourteen hundred dollars came to me for some property sold in America. Not one dollar of this money did I use for myself. Some of it I invested in meeting houses, and some of it I gave for the purchase of a tent for camp-meeting work. The rest of it went into the Avondale Health Retreat. (18MltMs. Lt43, 1903. Par 13)
A. T. Robinson inquired if this section would have any bearing on the matter of handling the estate of the Avondale school, one portion of which is for sale, and the other portion not to be sold without direct vote of the people. (GCB April17, 1903 page 98.5)
Until recently I have not felt at liberty to speak of them, and even now I do not feel free to reveal all things because our people are not yet prepared to understand all that in the providence of God will be developed at Avondale. In the visions of the night some things were clearly presented before me. Persons were selecting allotments of land near the school, on which they proposed to build houses and establish homes. But One stood in our midst who said: “You are making a great mistake which you will have cause to regret. This land is not to be occupied with buildings except to provide the facilities essential for the teachers and students of the school. This land about the school is to be reserved as the school farm. It is to become a living parable to the students.” (Testimonies to the Church, Volume 6, Page 181)
To quote as above:…. “and the other portion not to be sold without direct vote of the people.”
Church members and pastors are informed that the ‘so-called deal’ has already been made with the Johnson Property Group ‘without’ the vote of the people. This can only be described as ‘corruption of our church procedures’, and President Townend should be sanctioned, and this development stopped until an ‘outside’ investigation can be launched.
Church members and pastors have observed for over ten years—since the beginning of the Watagan Park Estate deal—that Glenn Townend, Mr Rodney Brady and Mr Francois Keet have what appears to be a personal and business relationship with Keith Johnson, the principle of Johnson Property Group. This is a very unhealthy church business arrangement indeed.
To register your opposition to this ‘second development’ by our church with the Johnson Property Group please contact the President of the South Pacific Division Pastor Glenn Townend;
Mobile (Cell): +61 2 9847 3333
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“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40).