The Leaven Spreads, The Northside Baptist Story: Dr. Cecil Beach, Product of BJU
Quote of the Day:
"The two schools I have had the priviledge of serving are the results of the systemic implementation of the philosophy, policies, and procedures the BJU education faculty instilled in me." Dr. Cecil Beach, in a feature article in the BJU Review.
"I find it insulting and unprofessional to have my motives and attitude continually questioned and to be subjected to various forms of individual and family harassment. I do not agree with the principles of nepotism and biased favoritism which seem to be integral parts of the Northside management philosophy."
(By a benificiary of the Bob Jones University "philosophy, policies, and procedures" as imparted by the BJU education faculty.)
"...Northside Baptist is not the issue. The Northside situation is simply a manifestation of the BJU-styled leaven infecting independent churches. To say that I am appalled and ashamed of yours and Bob Jones III's reactions to the exposure of sin is an understatement."..."You refused to squarely face the major issues, the deeper problems rooted in the ungodly philosophies and practices of BJU and its leadership. You ignored the leaven being spread by graduates like Dennis Clements, Mark Woodhall, Barry Formanack, John Nelson, Reese Yandle, Dean and Roxanne [Jones] Robinson, Bill Bethea, Cecil Beach, Robert Vallier, etc. The hypocrisy and philosphies you ignore at BJU affect many more people than I ever will." (July 12, 1999 letter to Dr. Fremont, BJU Dean of Education, who oversaw the training of Dr. Cecil Beach.)
COMING TO A BOB JONES UNIVERSITY- AND FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL- APPROVED CHURCH NEAR YOU: SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL AND THE ABUSE OF THE BRETHREN
THE NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH AND SCHOOL STORY
I am leading into the Northside Baptist Church and School Story gradually because it is an involved story involving THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF CHURCH FUNDS, EFFORTS TO CONCEAL FINANCIAL WRONGDOING, THE ABUSE OF CHURCH MEMBERS WHO SOUGHT TO REVIEW THE CHURCH BOOKS, THE HIRING OF A FRAUDULENT "CPA" TO PLACATE THE CONGREGATION, MY WIFE'S, FATHER'S, AND MY OWN "SURPRISE" EXCOMMUNICATION AS A RESULT OF MY ATTEMPT TO REVIEW THE BOOKS, THE FILING OF A CIVIL LAWSUIT TO TRY TO OPEN JOHN STEVEN'S FINANCIAL RECORDS, THE MOLESTATION OF CHURCH CHILDREN, ETC.
Through-out the scandals that rocked Northside Baptist Church were Bob Jones University-trained graduates, like the esteemed Dr. Cecil Beach, who aided Dr. John Stevens. I kept Dr. Bob Jones III apprised of the situation until he started returning my letters! Bob Jones III has no use for information that does not fit into his scheme: the furtherance of Bob Jones University and the recruitment of more students.
An integral part of the Northside Baptist story is the leadership-style exhibited at Northside Baptist Church and Northside “Christian” School. I often wonder if the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International has seminars for their members on how to abuse and alienate people who don't show personal loyalty to the man at the top.
Years ago, I recall an article from BJU’s magazine, BJU Review, featuring certain graduates and their praise for all the great training they received at BJU and how that training had led them to success. One of those articles featured Dr. Cecil Beach. Dr. Cecil Beach is in charge of Northside Christian School. In the BJU Review article, Dr. Cecil Beach lavished praise on BJU and the training he received at Bob Jones University. Dr. Cecil Beach said, "The two schools I have had the priviledge of serving are the results of the systemic implementation of the philosophy, policies, and procedures the BJU education faculty instilled in me." And, this is how the leaven of Bob Jones University spreads. And, it is not a benign, people are affected by the philosophies and attitudes imparted by the Joneses and Bob Jones University.
On April 6, 1992, the following letter of resignation was tendered by a woman I will call “L. G.”, a stellar Christian woman and an excellent employee who worked under Dr. Cecil Beach. (Stevens and Beach will likely remember her full name, if you would like to find out her identity.) But, her name is not so important for purposes of illustration regarding the true nature of the training Bob Jones University provided eager students like Cecil Beach. Her letter gives a valuable insight into how the Bob Jones University training comes across when a BJU graduate leavens a so-called “Christian” day school, Northside Christian, with the lessons learned at BJU.
Note particularly the hostile, coercive atmosphere Dr. Cecil Beach and Dr. John Stevens created at Northside Baptist Church and School. It really is not that different from what I just heard occurred at BJU in 2005 and her experience as a BJU staffer. Bob Jones University-trained fundamentalists often hurt people in the Body of Christ while milking their fundamentalist ministries for all they are worth. This is how one of Dr. Bob Jones III's recommended preachers, Dr. John Stevens, and a Bob Jones University graduate, Dr. Cecil Beach, run an independent, fundamentalist Baptist Church. This is how a Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International Big Wig operates and this is fine with his religious cronies in the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International.
L. G.'s letter of resignation, one of many resignations between 1990 and 1992 at Northside Baptist:
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
7800 Northside Drive
North Charleston, SC 29420
April 6, 1992
To Whom It May Concern:
With deep regret, I find it necessary for health reasons (physical, emotional, and spiritual) to terminate my seven-year employment with NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. Deep regret, because I have truly enjoyed my work; yet, I feel that I am being harassed and systematically forced into resigning.
My motivation has been to serve the Lord and I no longer believe that I can maintain the high standard of ethics and achievement to which I am accustomed. The administration has made unilateral changes in policy and procedures; inequitable labor practices and prejudicial discriminations have become an increasing concern.
• Dr. Beach and Dr. John Stevens placed Mrs. Beach and Mrs. McGinnis (both relatives of Dr. Beach) on office staff and payroll without proper [deacon authorization] application being made.
• Dr. Beach and Dr. Stevens developed a hierarchy of positions in the school office without original approval by the deacon board and the knowledge of other school employees. This hierarchy placed Mrs. Beach in the lead position, giving her a significantly larger salary than other school staff.
• Employee benefits for Mrs. McGinnis as a volunteer included tuition assistance which violated current policy in force.
• To alleviate financial burdens, on November 6, 1991, Dr. Beach suggested that I consider taking the summer off without pay. When asked if Mrs. Beach and Mrs. McGinnis were also given this option, Dr. Beach informed me that he and Mrs. Beach were accustomed to two pay checks, and that Mrs. McGinnis now had a mortgage payment to consider.
• Current bookkeeping methods have resulted in inaccurate charges being made to school accounts.
Votes on church/school issues made by me as a church member [at Northside Baptist Church] have been questioned and viewed as loyalty or disloyalty to the church/school staff.
• Dr. Beach regularly questions my motivation for working at the school based upon how my husband and I vote in church.
• Dr. Beach told me to inform my husband to curtail participation in church business meetings.
• My children have been questioned privately without their parents’ knowledge or consent regarding personal family matters.
In my seven years of service, the quality and performance of my work have been above reproach. I have received frequent praise about my work and attitude from Christian educators, school parents, teachers, and church members. I was selected to lead a seminar on the functions of a school secretary at the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools convention.
I find it insulting and unprofessional to have my motives and attitude continually questioned and to be subjected to various forms of individual and family harassment. I do not agree with the principles of nepotism and biased favoritism which seem to be integral parts of the Northside management philosophy. Therefore, I am making my resignation effective four weeks from today, May 1, 1992. I desire to work two weeks of my notice, and request the last two weeks as my accrued paid vacation.
L. A. G.
Dennis Clements moved into west central Illinois a few years back. The man gives me a bad feeling. He looks at my niece and some other young girls in a way I have trouble describing. help. does anyone have solid inf on this......
Editor: I don't have any information on Dennis Clements in that regard. Perhaps a reader can give you information. I only know that Dennis Clements couldn't be trusted as a deacon, an assistant pastor, as a Christian brother, or as a man (male, in his case) to do the right thing.
If you are uneasy with the way he looks at your niece and other young girls, I would voice those concerns to the childrens' parents.
mark
Posted by: Name Withheld by Request | October 07, 2008 at 09:37 AM