I am a member of the Community Church of East Williston (not an officer) who regularly attends services on a Sunday at CCEW. I also attend Bible study and prayer sessions during the week.
I thought that Pastor Parkinson’s Sunday sermons for the most part were good and had no personal grievance against him until he announced his resignation. I had heard no gossip about him or his family up until then. Since his resignation I did hear gossip not from other church members but from the pastor’s wife.
The article written by Mr. Tedesco was not at all called for and for Pastor Parkinson to make some very self-serving statements was, to say the least, not what I would expect from a pastor and his slant on his views of his “style” was very one sided.
When a pastor takes the call to serve he should be more attuned to his other duties, which I am afraid disappointed quite a few of the membership. In my view CCEW has been very patient with the pastor but to no avail.
In defense of the officers and members of CCEW who are trying to keep the congregation together, I would say that rather than poison-pen letters from people such as Ms. Kirk who seems to have a lot of gossipy claims and little to back it up, I would say “Shame on you.” This is not a very Christian way to act at all. CCEW needs your prayers, not one sided criticism.
We at CCEW wish Pastor Parkinson, his family and followers all the best in Christian love and season’s greetings.
In the book of John 13: 34-35 Jesus gave us a new commandment “That we love one another as He has loved us”.
Incidently, if you wish to fellowship with us on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. you will be warmly welcomed.
Peter Burnside
Mineola
