As for Joe "Beard"'s whiny letter:
I'd have done the exact thing RTF did. Want to quit? I'm taking over the accounts so you cannot ruin the brand in a fit of rage. It's *exactly* how business works; I've done the same thing to employees' accounts when there are sudden legal issues, firings/quitting, etc. They apparently didn't have a contract in place to fall back on. Remuneration and legal possession was undefined, it seems. Joe didn't pursue it legally and 2 years later wants to make a stink. This is par for the course in CMtv's methodology. Who knows the other side, RTF's portion of the story. Joe's timing is suspect, his claims are rather vague, and frankly he comes off like someone who needs to learn a few things in life.
When I discerned a vocation years ago, I read some of the bi laws of the order I was interested in, and I recall a bi law that stated something along the lines of, the superior(or that religious in the order whom it concerns) cannot build a religious house or mission and basically complete, or come close to completing it, and then decide to dismantle or desert it before it has even served its purpose. JoeBeard may fit this bill. I do believe you Gardener would act as Mike did. And, I am not saying that is a bad thing. You were both in the military. And, in the military, if you are a deserter, you are to be treated as an enemy(perhaps even enemy number 1). Joebeard and Mike were partners it sounds, and Joebeard wanted to desert the mission. Why wouldn't Mike treat him as such? And, the mistake is not necessarily Joebeard deserting, or Mike strongarming the operation into his own possession. The mistake was at its founding, but it is a little late for that. And, it only makes sense for Mike to do what he did if he really believes in RTF, which is quite obvious. That is not a bad thing. I cannot say much else knowing next to nothing about Joe"beard". But, I can say this. To cite the psalmist, "he who eats bread with me, will raise he heel against me." I think that is all that is happening here. Friendship is great, but friendship cannot replace what may more belong to a marriage(modernity in terms of outreach and operation regardless of the means and end). When it tries, it fails bigtime. BTW, this is coming from one who has deserted ventures a time or two. And, it something I try to avoid at all costs. One must be faithful to prayer and practice prudence. Because, there were things I thought I loved, that I near mastered, that I now cannot even bear the mere experience of anymore as a result of deserting. However, I believe it was for the best. You cannot serve both God and mammon.