Posted on: Monday, April 28, 2003

Kahu vote scheduled at Kawaiaha'o Church

Advertiser Staff

Kawaiaha'o Church is moving forward with the nomination of the Rev. Kaleo Patterson as kahu.

Church moderator Frank Pestana said he's tentatively scheduled a "call sermon" and vote for May 18, when the congregation of the 700-member Hawaiian church will hear the activist and minister speak at a special service at 9 a.m.

Patterson was nominated in October, but the process was stalled after an allegation of impropriety was lodged. The complaint was investigated by the Hawai'i Conference United Church of Christ's Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches.

"Basically, they said they couldn't find anything that would jeopardize his standing as a minister in good standing in AHEC," Pestana said. "So we can move forward."

Patterson said Friday that he intends to spend the next few weeks in small meetings with members of the congregations, beginning as early as tomorrow.