WEST CHESTER — Some church members are so displeased with their pastor’s performance that they have asked a judge to intervene.

A hearing is set today before Chester County Judge Paula Francisco Ott, during which members of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Coatesville will ask Ott to order a church election followed by an evaluation of their pastor and, in the meantime, to prevent the pastor from spending any church money, according to court documents.

In the court petition, church trustees Nathan Bookman, John Bell and Reade Hamilton, along with unnamed church members, allege the Rev. Malcolm L. Finkley has acted inappropriately in numerous ways since he was hired a year ago.

The petition was filed after Finkley threatened to have certain members — who reportedly are trying to have Finkley removed — arrested if they returned to the church.

Earlier, church members attempted to have harassment charges filed against Finkley for the letters, but the Coatesville Police Department did not believe the letters warranted such charges.

Finkley became the church’s pastor last August “and was greeted with the unalloyed good will and affection of the entire congregation. It was not long before he had destroyed that good will and alienated the affection of a majority of the congregation,” the petition states.

According to church by-laws, Finkley was working under a probationary period of a year. During that time, church members claim, he has made poor decisions, including spending $17,000 to audit and revise church by-laws.

The church members say Finkley will not allow them to revise his new version of the by-laws in his alleged attempt to “make it very difficult to ever dismiss him.” Church members allege Finkley’s draft by-laws, which were not approved by the majority of the church, allow him to choose his own successor.

“Petitioners believe and therefore aver that it appears this anything-but-humble man of the cloth is trying to start some sort of dynasty,” the petition states.

The church members also accuse Finkley of changing the church’s door locks and refusing to give keys to trustees. The deed for the church property was issued to church trustees in 1917, the petition says.

In addition, the members criticize Finkley for hiring his wife as the church’s administrative assistant at an “excessive salary.” Members also criticize Finkley for allegedly opening a new church bank account without the trustees’ approval and for preventing trustees from holding an annual business meeting.

Members said they unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with Finkley prior to filing the petition. Bookman, who tried to negotiate with Finkley, “was finally rewarded for his efforts by Pastor Finkley purporting to have him stripped of his authority to count collection money and sign checks at a purported financial meeting on April 23, 2007,” the petition states.

In the petition, members ask the court to order an election of trustees, deacons and officers, then order an evaluation of Finkley’s probationary period and, in the meantime, forbid Finkley from using church money.

Before filing a court petition, church members attempted to have Finkley charged with harassment after the pastor sent letters to members July 2, asking them not to return to the church, otherwise they would be arrested. Finkley was never charged, and later he defended the letters.

“As minister of the gospel, it is my responsibility to preserve the sacredness of worship, which includes ensuring safety of all who attend our worship services. While all are welcome to worship, especially our members, it was only after several threats, unruly conduct and being advised by law enforcement officials that we were forced to send letters intended to protect and preserve the sanctity of the church,” Finkley wrote in July.

Also, after the arrest threats were made public, many church members have defended Finkley and praised his performance. Those members have said the members who are criticizing Finkley have not been happy with many pastors who have gone through their church doors.

The hearing is slated for 1:30 p.m. today.

For more on Coatesville, go to: http://coatesvillesidebar.blogspot.com.