Betts came to the Washington National Cathedral about three years ago. This popular choir had been singing for the 9 AM service for about 9 years. One choir member described Chris as a "masterful" director. Another choir member described him as both "Christian" and "musical."

Betts' choir mourns his unhappy departure as well as the sorrow of the choir's own demise. One choir member wrote on on social media how even a portion of the large salaries of Budde and Dean Gary Hall could have saved both Betts' job and the choir. Together this part of the music program cost about $150,000. Choir members state there was no discussion about these aggressive actions. Dean Hall has planned a meeting about this after church services on August 9.

Betts was "one of the top organists in the country." Complaints about the leadership of Budde and Hall abound. One member said, "Their priority is catering to the tourists." She continued and said and this was "very short sighted to eliminate a volunteer choir." Another stated that this takes away much of the substance of the Cathedral congregation.

Instead of the wonders of J. S. Bach's music at the Washington National Cathedral, we seem to be left now with a Joni Mitchell song, "They paved over paradise and put up a parking lot."

The Washington National Cathedral built an underground parking lot with a debt of about $34 million. Speculation exists that as more payments on this debt become due, more extreme measures will be taken. A long-time leader at the Cathedral told me that all of the financial problems at the Cathedral stem from this poor business decision. Leadership had anticipated profits from this parking lot that did not materialize.

Other news from Cathedral Hill also raises questions about Budde's leadership of both the Diocese of Washington and the Washington National Cathedral.

The Diocese waged a lengthy yet successful court battle to get control of the approximately $28 million Soper Trust. Longtime Governance Officer Ann Talty was let go.

At the 2015 Diocesan Convention one topic was the need for annual parish audits, a procedure so customary that it raises questions by the fact it is discussed. The decades-old Herb Cottage at the Washington National Cathedral closed last month. Now Budde fires Chris Betts.

Spiritual malaise lies behind all of these problems. Budde's sermons give little gospel hope. Instead, when listening to Budde's sermons, she spews New Age ideas and David Whyte quotes and talks about gender issues and other ideas that are a dime a dozen all over the Internet. For those interested in that, let them go find them. Christians want to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Budde speaks little to none of that.

So Budde's "drive for power" as described by another in the Cathedral community is destabilizing this institution beyond even the financial issues. Some brave souls now say Budde must go. Others question how long she will stay as diocesan bishop.

Budde's latest power move firing in Chris Betts and disbanding of the Cathedral Voices has created a new river of controversy. An anxious Washington National Cathedral community now waits to see what will happen next.

Persons who wish to learn more about what is happening in the Diocese of Washington and the cathedral can get in touch with Sarah at: sarahfrancesives@gmail.com

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