This letter was published on David Kelly’s Facebook Page

“A letter about my Dad (Pastor Ron Kelly) getting fired. To the people first; to Jim Micheff and the Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists second.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I don’t want that to be me, so here I am with you now. I intend to be as respectful as possible in this letter, but I am not going to mince words. Beating around the bush helps no one.

My dad has spent 35 years as a FIERCE DEFENDER of the Adventist church and ALL of the pastors and leaders within it (including Jim Micheff). It was frustrating at times how strongly he stood for them. You were NEVER allowed to say negative things about them. Period.

There was never a question of whether Dad had the church's back. Or his fellow pastor’s back.

NEVER.

I listened on the phone (I couldn’t be there in person) as Jim Micheff attempted to deceive the Village Church to their face in the Sunday [Townhall] meeting on December 8, 2024.

Here Were The Lies

Lie 1: “Ron Kelly can still work in Michigan.”

Truthful translation: He is fired from working for the Michigan SDA Conference, and what we mean is that if he wants to work for another company or organization in the state of Michigan, he can do that.

Lie 2: “We never said you couldn’t have the insurance for the new building until Conrad Vine was removed from his church offices.”

Truthful translation: I don’t believe we ever said these exact words, but this is precisely what we meant. (Go watch the Village elders stand up on Sunday in complete agreement on this.)

In a court of law, you place your hand on the Bible and swear to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The truth is simple.

These other qualifiers are included for when people try to be deceptive in a court of law without actually perjuring themselves.

“The whole truth.” This protects us from lies [of omission] by leaving things out.

“Nothing but the truth.” This protects us from misleading statements that may not technically be lies, but ARE deceiving.

This is precisely what Jim Micheff did in the Sunday meeting by making these deceptive statements.

Do we need to bring out a Bible and make our conference president swear on it for him to be honest? This is the behavior we would expect from politicians in D.C.

How many lies are acceptable from a man who is the top leader of the Adventist church in Michigan? (I think zero.)

I could go on about the appalling process and many other items, but others have already done a good job covering these. My point is that even by the world’s standards, these men are out of line. Why do we need to break out the world's standards of right and wrong to make a case?

They have attempted to cripple a church that was thriving and doing God’s work. They have done this DIRECTLY against the wishes of those who attend that church.

They have walked all over the advancement of God's work for reasons they can’t clearly state to us besides “It was a difference of opinion.” - Jim Micheff, Sunday meeting, December 8.

They have hidden behind closed-door committees. They have never presented formal charges or given him a chance to answer the charges.

It appears they are attempting to drag this process out until everyone slowly forgets and momentum fades. These leaders are to be servants, not kings, making decisions on our behalf and forcing us to live with them.

I believe these men are banking on the fact that YOU, (YES, YOU READING THIS) won’t do anything!

Personally, this is what I am doing:

I am writing this letter to you now.
I will not give one more penny of tithe to the Michigan Conference as long as this continues. (I will still give it, just not to them.)

I will go one step further.

To Jim Micheff and those who closely participated in this decision and the deceptions.

You have lied to the people. You have attempted to cripple a church doing God’s work directly against the people's wishes.

Do one of the following: