SINGAPORE — Expressing disappointment at the conviction of six church leaders and members today (Oct 21) for misusing church funds, City Harvest Church’s (CHC) management urged the congregation to stay united and move forward from the episode.

On their part, members and employees of the mega-church said they will continue supporting the church leadership although some said its operations may need to be reviewed.

In a message posted on CHC’s website and Facebook page shortly after the court delivered its verdict this morning, Ms Sun Ho, who is CHC executive director and pastor Kong Hee’s wife, thanked congregants for their support.

She also urged them to continue praying for the six offenders.

“The judge has rendered his decision and, naturally, we are disappointed by the outcome. Nonetheless, I know that Pastor Kong and the rest are studying the judgment intently and will take legal advice from their respective lawyers in the days to come,” said the one-time pop singer.

“This protracted season has been extremely difficult, not just for the six, but also for all their families and friends, as well as for our congregation ... Let’s stay the course with CHC 2.0. God is making us stronger, purer and more mature as a congregation.”

Ms Ho, who was recently ordained as a pastor for the church, also noted that CHC’s operations have been managed by a new board since 2012 and new members are voted into the board at its annual general meetings. Currently, Ms Ho is CHC’s executive director, and Aries Zulkarnain and Bobby Chaw are executive pastors.

The Commissioner of Charities suspended Kong and four of the co-accused — Tan Ye Peng, Chew Eng Han, John Lam and Sharon Tan — from their executive membership positions at the church in June 2012. Kong has also relinquished his position as a board member and “not been involved in any executive decisions since then”, said CHC.

Today, church members and employees said they were disappointed with the verdict but will continue supporting the church leadership.

Ms Lee Yilun, 32, who attended the hearing at the State Courts today to show support to those in the dock, said: “We definitely still stand with them and trust the leadership.”

Mr Samuel Chieng, 35, who has worked for CHC as a translator for three years, said the church “will still move forward” although the outcome was not what he had hoped for.

Some members, however, urged the church to review its operations.

Accounting student Tommy Ng, 24, said the management’s “playing with the books” is against the law but he still felt their acts are borne out of “missional intentions”.

“If the person leading the church did something wrong in the eyes of the law. I will not feel that there is a need to change church or religion. There just needs to be a change of leader, or maybe the way they operate ... more transparency and a better external auditor,” he added.