During the inauguration of the Healthy Living Center in Chiapas on December 20, 2021, Pastor Elie Henry, president of the Inter-American Division (IAD), expressed his desire for God to manifest Himself at the center so that all who visit can find something unique. However, an investigation by Adventist Today revealed a conflict of interest involving the Healthy Living Center and Chiapas Union Mission (UMCh) President Ignacio Navarro and his team, potentially benefiting them to the tune of over $1 million.
Despite initially denying any wrongdoing, the IAD issued a statement in December 2022 from its headquarters in Miami, Florida, announcing that financial investigations would be conducted by the General Conference Auditing Service (GCAS). However, an audit revealed that Navarro and his associates had engaged in suspicious transactions during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, including the purchase of a property for $570,000, which was more than double its original price. The auditors also collected testimony from current and former employees, as well as reviewed property and car transactions.
The investigation further revealed that Navarro had purchased premium cattle and horses during this period. Additionally, the audit found that the Healthy Living Center construction project involved the acquisition of a 1,600-square-meter lot for $1.1 million, which was originally owned by Navarro’s wife for just $12,000. The IAD administrators present at the inauguration blessed the project without mentioning the suspicious cost or the beneficiaries.
The investigation also uncovered that the land chosen for construction was not acquired after careful study but on the urging of the Navarros, and that it had poor characteristics, requiring leveling and rerouting a creek crossing the property. Construction was stopped during the GCAS audit but later resumed. The transactions related to these projects are listed in the property documents provided by Adventist Today’s investigation.
It is alleged that materials acquired for the construction of the Vida Sana Center were used to build a two-story house on Navarro’s 400-square-meter lot, which is located next to the center.
The Inter-American Division (IAD) made a loan of $7.7 million to the Union Missionary Church (UMCh) in 2012, which was later revealed through internal documents obtained by Adventist Today. The loan was made in dollars, as the IAD is located in Miami and the US dollar is a stable currency in the region. The total debt with interest amounts to $9.4 million, resulting in a profit of $1.7 million for the IAD.
The loan allowed the UMCh to appear financially stronger than it was. In regions like North America, trust funds (donations of property and assets) provide liquidity for projects or loan repayment. In Latin America, loans were often accomplished by diverting tithe, camouflaged as donations to the loan fund. This practice is not authorized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s policies.
The IAD remained silent on the matter, despite allegations made by Adventist Today. The report delivered by GCAS auditors confirmed these allegations. In response, IAD administrators met with union mission administrators and local field presidents in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, on December 4, 2023. However, instead of addressing the issue, they extended an invitation to Navarro and Bouchot to take over the North Mexican Union.
The leaders of the eight fields within the Chiapas Union opposed this decision, arguing that a constituency meeting should be summoned to expose the problems to the entire membership. The IAD administrators ultimately decided to leave things as they were, withdrawing their approval for Navarro and Bouchot’s leadership but not addressing the issue publicly. It remains unclear how much the IAD knew about Navarro’s business dealings.
The report raises questions about the IAD’s motives and whether it had something to hide. Why wasn’t the GCAS auditors’ report presented to the constituents in Chiapas? The situation highlights the need for transparency and accountability within the Adventist system, which often struggles with corruption and conflicts of interest.
The problem with GCAS audits lies not only in the fact that auditors are not detectives searching for corruption, but also in the secrecy surrounding their findings. Despite paying no fees, the audited organization does not have access to these reports. Instead, they are kept from constituents and administrators make decisions without transparency.
Although auditors are paid by the higher level of the organization, there is no obligation to release these findings to the constituency. This lack of transparency creates an appearance of hiding problematic matters. The fact that administrators decide how these findings will be used, rather than sharing them with church members, makes it easier for issues to remain hidden.
In the case of the Chiapas Mexican Union Mission, financial anomalies were found and reported by GCAS auditors. However, it remains unclear if action will be taken or if the information will be shared with constituents. The IAD Executive Committee was provided with this information, but its response has not addressed the problem.
In conclusion there is a need for transparency in these fields, and that the laity should have access to reports regardless of their content. It is time to demand openness and empowerment so that changes can be made as needed. The lack of transparency in GCAS audits creates an environment where problems may continue to go unaddressed.
Source: AToday.org
