To:     Michigan  Conference  Ministers  and  Office  Staff  

From:     Jay  Gallimore  

Date:       July  1,  2014  

Subject:  Dr.  Samuel  Pipim’s  Rebaptism  In  Ohio  

Dr.  Pipim  was  recently  re-­‐baptized  in  Ohio  after  being  disfellowshiped  for  a  moral  fall  about  three  years  ago  in  Ann  Arbor  where  he  still  lives.  His  ordination  was  also  annulled.  Before  resigning  his  position,  he  

was  Campus  Ministries  Director  for  the  Michigan  Conference.  Regrettably,  he  complicated  the  matter  by  lying  to  conference  officials  and  his  local  church  elders  about  the  extent  of  his  moral  falls.  This  ended  up  with  his  earlier  scheduled  re-­‐baptism  being  canceled.  

Obviously  this  cannot  be  considered  an  ordinary  case.  The  damage  done  to  the  cause  of  Christ  by  the  

moral  falls  and  then  lying  about  them  to  church  leadership  was  enormous.  Dr.  Pipim  had  been  an  ordained  minister  and  thousands  looked  up  to  him  for  spiritual  guidance  from  around  the  world.  He  again  expressed  his  sorrow  to  us  and  we  forgave  him  and  trust  the  Lord  to  do  so  as  well.  However,  the  

lying  had  eroded  trust.  We  knew  that  it  would  take  time  for  the  local  church  to  be  able  to  say  to  the  world  church  that  the  issues  had  been  “resolved  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt.”  In  addition,  he  also  needed  time  to  rebuild  his  spiritual  walls  that  had  been  devastated  by  his  behavior.  He  was  certainly  not  

in  a  spiritual  position  to  try  to  minister  to  others.  

Sadly,  Dr.  Pipim  and  some  of  his  supporters  continued  to  insist  on  his  rebaptism.    This  divided  the  church.  We  supported  Pastor  Christien  Hodet  and  believed  he  made  the  right  decision  not  to  re-­‐baptize  him  at  this  time.    

We  had  heard  rumors  that  a  church  in  Ohio  was  going  to  baptize  him  anyway.  Disappointingly,  the  

pastor  of  the  Ohio  Church  by-­‐passed  Pastor  Christien  Hodet  and  emailed  the  Ann  Arbor  church  clerk  directly,  applying  pressure  for  the  church  board  to  act  concerning  Dr  Pipim’s  re-­‐baptism.      

It  is  my  sincere  belief  that  Dr.  Pipim  should  have  taken  the  humble  position  we  recommended.  Had  he  

laid  down  his  own  active  independent  ministry,  waited  patiently  for  the  Lord,  and  left  the  timing  to  his  local  church,  then  I  believe  he  would  have  eventually  been  re-­‐baptized  in  the  Ann  Arbor  church.  In  the  past  we  have  asked  our  churches  in  Michigan  not  to  have  him  speak  in  our  pulpits  and  that  request  still  

stands.  Because  once  the  ordination  has  been  annulled,  rebaptism  does  not  necessarily  reestablish  spiritual  leadership.  

Even  though  we,  along  with  Pastor  Hodet,  did  not  think  this  was  the  time  or  that  he  was  ready  for  re-­‐baptism,  especially  given  the  strong  push  from  him  for  re-­‐baptism,  we  care  deeply  for  him  and  his  

family.  It  is  our  prayer  that  all  who  have  been  wounded  and  hurt  by  these  sorrows,  including  him,  will  find  in  Christ  peace  and  restoration.