"Although no vote was scheduled for last night's Board meeting, a member of the Board offered a motion to end all contract discussions with Rabbi Kletenik. This motion was not on the agenda nor was I advised in advance that it was to be offered. After a long and acrimonious debate where Robert's Rules of Order was debated as much as the merits of the motion, this motion was approved. Rabbi Kletenik's current contract with BCMH will end June 30, 2013."
The immediate past president of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, has been forced out of his pulpit position:
Dear Fellow BCMH Member,
I am writing to you to report on last night's Shul Board meeting.
Near the end of the meeting was an agenda item to discuss Rabbi Kletenik's contract. It was intended to be a preliminary report from a committee consisting of Richard Berger, Marlene Kaplan and Louis Treiger. I had asked this committee to meet with Rabbi Kletenik and develop a synopsis of a proposal the Rabbi made to the Board prior to the last election that was not shared with you. The proposal called for the Rabbi to significantly reduce his compensation and for the shul to bring in an assistant Rabbi. The committee was to work with the Rabbi to flesh out the proposal and present a synopsis at the August Board meeting. Following the Board presentation in August, I planned to convene a congregational meeting to seek your input. This process would have allowed both the Board and the Shul membership to fully understand the proposal and for the membership to have an opportunity to provide input on the Rabbi's proposal to the Board.
However, the Board did not accept this approach. Although no vote was scheduled for last night's Board meeting, a member of the Board offered a motion to end all contract discussions with Rabbi Kletenik. This motion was not on the agenda nor was I advised in advance that it was to be offered. After a long and acrimonious debate where Robert's Rules of Order was debated as much as the merits of the motion, this motion was approved. Rabbi Kletenik's current contract with BCMH will end June 30, 2013.
I spoke to Rabbi Kletenik last night and informed him of the Board's decision. I will allow him to speak for himself at a time and manner of his choosing.
Please feel encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas with me or other board members as we move forward. It is too soon to suggest a process, but as one is developed, I will be in touch with you.
B'Shalom
Chuck Broches
President, BCMH