Church Chaos

I was asked to leave a meeting last Sunday -- but even if I'd stayed, I couldn't have done as much harm as happened (I had intended only to sit in quietly).  It was a Church Meeting in my old city Church.  The interim minister invited friends to stay.  Usually then there is a statement that a meeting is duly convened, that there is a quorum, and so on -- but there was none of that. 

• The treasurer took control from the start -- although a treasurer is usually prohibited in a Congregational Church from leading.  He declared that I was not a member or an adherent of the Church -- to which I whispered to the interim minister: "That's a bit of a shock.  I didn't know.  I've kept up my attendance faithfully."
• As best I could hear, the first thing the minister said in reply was both huge and false, about my affiliation to a body I didn't belong to.
• Someone declared that the interim minister had been duly appointed by the Board.  If this is true, it is unlawful in a Congregational Church. It is the Church Meeting which must appoint him.
• The treasurer then belittled a document which proved that the Church was my controlling body by law: "I'm not even going to read that."  But the law is the law. 
• Then he launched into a string of false accusations, refusing me any reply -- above all, saying that I had planned all this.  I had not.
• There was no indication as to who was really asking me to leave. The treasurer of course, and someone seconded him but he ignored them, and it all degenerated into a chorus -- his father being the loudest, and all overriding the Chair.
• An elder briefly took over, seemingly granting himself permission.  It appeared to me that he couldn't distinguish between procedure and "obeying this House". One respects procedure so that the House may exercise its authority.
• Finally the treasurer shut down the meeting without rescheduling, on his personal authority: "I refuse to carry on ..."  In Congregationalism, this is not permitted.  Only the Church has the authority to terminate its meeting. 
• A deacon said: "We decided, we decided!"  There wasn't any decision about anything that I could discern.  People apologised to me, and invited me to attend the Church Meeting again, while one or two shouted abuse.

And to think that this is one of the major properties on the Atlantic -- governed by chaos.  More than this, the Church didn't seem to see its own condition.  It is in no condition to make important decisions in a Congregational way.  When I spotlighted changes in the finance rules last year, which dismantled accountability, I predicted there would be an attempt to put me out.
 
OBSERVATION: This is not to denigrate anyone -- facts are facts, and there simply aren't many facts besides -- not about the meeting anyway.  If I got anything wrong, do drop a comment here.  Unexpected help came from the Presbyterians.  They kindly and carefully advised me.