By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
Todd Bentley’s infamous remarks saying that the death of British MP Malcolm Wicks was “the Lord’s justice” were, as noted in Bene D’s transcript here, were reportedly inspired by a dream that he had regarding the date Sept. 29th.
Bentley allegedly was told by God that the day would be very significant for some reason. I thought to myself–well maybe, given that, he would want to get the word out on that very day and afterwards, so that his friends could be watchful.
So, I had a look on his Twitter feed and found that on September 30, right after this crucially important dream, he was tweeting messages like this:
Todd Bentley ?@IamToddBentley
Down 60 pounds since this pic at 270 http://instagr.am/p/QNgng4NF1e/
I’ve had a look at all his “tweets” from Sept. 29 onwards tp when I am posting and I haven’t spotted any mention of his dream, or of the passing of Malcolm Wicks and how sorry he may be about that.
There are tweets about what he eats, where he is going on his travels, his new digital book and such. He tweets about other dreams that he has had, so it can’t be that he doesn’t mention such things on his Twitter feed. He even tweets that his second wife Jessa went to a “salon for celebrities” and now looks like “Jessica the rabbit” (sic).
These various things are more significant than the particular dream and why Malcolm Wicks may have died. That was saved for a meeting that would later be saved in video form on Bentley’s website. So that we could be made well aware that he evidently aspires to inspire fear of crossing him–the possible Shaft of evangelists. Shut yo mouth, anyone inclined to restrain him.
Why wouldn’t Bentley have tweeted about that as well as Jessa’s new hairdo and his workout regimens?
Surely it is not because he is making up the dream after the fact?
Has Prof. Alvin Plantinga of the University of Notre Dame, arguably the most important thinker about the problem of evil in our lifetime, been prominent in the news media, on all the talk shows, in all the bien-pensant columns? I haven’t seen a trace of him.
My cousin Kent Annan, who helps to run the worthy Haiti Partners organization (which my wife and I support), has spoken to sold-out rooms at the Urbana Missionary Conference on this question the last couple of days, so clearly people are interested in the issue in some respect or another. But, as Kent himself would be the first to say, he is not a theologian or a philosopher, and his wonderful book, After Shock, is much more a cri de coeur than anything approaching a theodicy. That’s what IVCF/IFES decided to put before their searching university students.
When a Christian church in Newtown did bring in a resource person to speak to the issue, they brought in…not an answer-giver, but another reassurer, popular author Philip Yancey–another good man who trades in fellow-feeling much more than he offers substantial constructive reflection.
And, yes, I’ve written a book on the question that has sold fairly well over a decade, and my phone has been completely silent. No one–no one locally, no one regionally, no one nationally–wanted to discuss the issue with one of the few Canadians who has written a reputable volume on the issue of God and evil.
I wonder if our lack of substantive engagement with the problem of evil is due to our tacit realization, which perhaps Brother O’Neil recognizes, that if we did ask God a serious question about why the shooting happened—or why, now, two separate innocents have been pushed in front of NYC subway trains—God might return to us a serious answer:
In 2009 I followed a blog by James Duncan, an associate communications professor at Anderson University. He had criticised a bill board campaign by New Spring Church, headed by a guy named Perry Noble. What happened from there became gripping reading, and sadly, real life drama. He is a clear, descriptive and careful writer, and I began to get a picture of the self-preservation culture of a mega-church that crushes those perceived to be in the way.
Duncan paid dearly for daring to question Noble and his mega-church. In early December of 2009, Duncan wrote a summary post that haunts me to this day: Holy rage at the Spring. In the post he outlined the escalating campaign of harassment directed at him and his family. Vulgarity threats, fake twitter account, a faked resignation letter to his employer, real life spill over…things got so bad Duncan went to the local sheriff. No one in leadership at New Spring Church took a public stand against what the finally identified church security guard was doing.
Genuinely fearful of physical harm befalling my family or me, I reported the harassment to the Anderson County sheriff’s office on July 24. The detective who investigated the case, himself a member of Newspring (who disclosed that fact to me at the outset with an offer to recuse himself), served search warrants on Twitter to get the IP of the person who was posting the content, then on Research in Motion to get the name of the subscriber to the Blackberry device that was being used for the account.
The man behind the harassment was Josh Maxwell, a full-time security staff member at NewSpring. Three other volunteers (Milstead, Eric Elgin, and Travis Dickson) also confessed to their involvement in the harassment, though none were as involved as Maxwell.
I met with an assistant solicitor for the county in October to see what charges might be warranted. For various reasons, the solicitor could only press a single charge against Dickson for distribution of pornography. I had already decided that if Maxwell, the main driver of the campaign, was not going to be charged, it wasn’t fair for him to get off while his friend, who was only briefly involved, was held legally accountable. I told the solicitor that I would not press the charge.
The security guard confessed and was fired allowed to resign. New Spring Church issued a half baked statement. New Spring fanboys told Duncan to move on: “Shut up, they explained.”
And then suddenly that December of 2009, James Duncan’s blog went dark.
Last time I posted here, I gave you a few details about the campaign of harassment that NewSpring staff and volunteers engaged in against my family and me because I dared criticize Perry Noble. In 2010, we did take legal action against Perry, NewSpring and others, and that process was resolved a couple of months ago. Over the next few days and weeks, I’ll be updating you about what I learned about what was happening inside NewSpring’s executive suites in 2009 based on documents and testimony acquired over the last couple of years.
In November 2011, Prairie Bible Institute President Mark Maxwell went to media with a story of historical abuses at the Three Hills school, and the school released a statement that administration went to the RCMP.
Recently, there have been presented alleged instances of abuse by individuals connected with Prairie Bible Institute.
To the extent of our information, the incidents in question date back several decades, and the individuals purportedly involved are no longer at Prairie. Nevertheless, we feel it is appropriate to respond and to emphasize our commitment to seeking truth and transparency.
We have taken a file containing many of these allegations to the RCMP, discussed the alleged incidents with them and assured them of our full co-operation should further inquiry be necessary.
Media far beyond Alberta picked up the story. What wasn’t noted by PBI was that the ‘file’ was group abuse survivor Facebook pages which were taken to the local RCMP detachment The file was handed off to a specialized unit in the Calgary RCMP detachment.
It was clear from the beginning that PBI had made it’s decision about how the allegations would be handled by the school, and PBI has stuck to their plans. Students and staff have not commented publicly with the exception of the 2012 student president who went on Facebook to talk with survivors.
As an interesting aside, I’ve wondered if that student was publicly called out in a veiled way by Mark Maxwell in one of his updates, for chatting with PBI abuse survivors. While this students communication with PBI survivors was at times clumsy, it was apparent he was sincere. The student body president has not communicated with PBI survivors since.
As news of a group of former PBI staff kids and students discussing physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual abuse online spread, and the calling of accountability by abuse survivors spread, current PBI students called a chapel meeting to pray for the survivors and for their school. It is completely understandable that current students were concerned, a possible lawsuit had been mentioned, and students needed to know their credits were not being threatened in any way and that their school year was safe. That November 23, 2011 chapel service was taped. It was interesting. Two administrators stood up and read several emails of support from various ministry colleagues and alumni, some who blamed the devil for the ‘attack’ on PBI. It was difficult to listen too. Intentionally or not, the way leadership chose to present, made a clear line between the school and abuse survivors, reinforced the us/them mentality common to many Christian institutions, and further alienated beleaguered PBI abuse survivors. It was apparent the institution would be protected at all costs. That has been the case over the past year. For reasons I can’t fully explain, the black and white approach is embedded in the culture of PBI. I was sickened over the slant being taken in chapel, so I contacted someone whose email had been read.
The person I contacted was surprised their email had been used to imply support for the school, stating that they had not given permission for their email to be shared publicly.
I was left wondering how many other email writers who were used that day would have expressed that same concern if they knew their emails were made public in a way that made PBI’s response to past abuses look good to students and anyone else watching. Would some of the email writers have been as uncomfortable as I was at the alienating of PBI abuse survivors?
As media coverage died down that November/December, Mark Maxwell released a newsletter to alumni outlining the three steps PBI would be taking.
Top of the list was the use of alumni to ‘help’ PBI survivors who had congregated on Facebook.
1) Alumni: We have a truly amazing group of Alumni around the world. Many of them have offered to help in any way possible. A dozen of them have committed a great deal of time to working with those alumni who have stories of pain and injury. This group cares about Prairie as well as the need for the injured to find healing. Their efforts may include raising funds to help cover some of:
- the costs of travel if someone would like to come back, either to share with us or the third-party group; and
- the costs related to reconciliation and healing.
- Subject to legal constraints, Prairie will allow these funds to pass through the school so that donors can benefit from a tax deductible receipt. Those who would like to share their stories of pain and injury are invited to contact this team
Initially PBI board member Linda Brinks was assigned to be a contact person for PBI abuse survivors who wished to contact the school. That turned out to be a less than ethical idea right from the time of the initial press release:
At a recent meeting, the Board selected Linda Brinks, one of its members, to be a point of contact for survivors.
Should any individual feel that he or she has been the recipient of abusive conduct by a Prairie staff member while enrolled at Prairie and prefer to not take this to the police, that individual can contact Linda Brinks directly at (xxx). Our board chair, Bruce Miller, will also be so informed and will provide guidance as necessary.
The message: suck it up survivors, we’ll share your information between us at will. Communication between administrators of the Facebook group for PBI Abuse Survivors and PBI administration was already strained and hostile. Now abuse survivors were being told that if they spoke to Brinks, their communication, concerns and pain would be passed on at the very least to the board chair. It turns out that board member Brinks (who is a public health nurse and who should have rethought her loyalties and her professional ethics) was quite chatty. Linda Fossen:
Remember when Mark assigned the nurse from the board to be our point of contact? He encouraged all survivors to confidentially contact Linda Brinks. I had a survivor tell me that she did call and talked to Linda briefly and within a half-hour of that call, Mark Maxwell was on the phone inviting himself to visit this survivor in her home! She was horrified and told him no! One of the first things he said was “I heard you made a call to Linda Brinks”.
Shortly after being assigned as the PBI contact, Brinks disappeared. PBI merely said she had stepped down as the abuse survivor contact for ‘personal reasons.’
Enter the alumni ’Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team’. If you type Prairie Bible Institute into the sidebar search field on the right here at BDBO, you can see several posts on this group of alumni. I have been critical of the concept from day one. I have also been critical of motivation. I contacted a couple of mental health professionals who specialize in abuse, prior to firing off posts on this team, and nothing will change what professionals recommend. It doesn’t matter if a few alumni on this team have good intentions and even some training, the team and it’s purpose is a form of control. It turns out, this ‘team’ itself being controlled, and no amount of flowery language and public reassurances is going to change that.
The Survivor Fund Project initially made it’s approach to PBI abuse survivors online stating that any alumni who wished to donate should send money to PBI so a tax receipt could be issued. This alumni team seemed reluctant to reveal who they were, but after being approached in January 2012, a team member answered some basic questions
Survivors chatting on Facebook were aware that a minister in the southern US had decided to raise $5000.00 to give to this project/team. In December 2011, Ruth Maxwell, PBI President Mark Maxwells sister, spoke at this guys church and I often wondered if she was handed the funds to give to PBI for this team. I wondered how involved Ruth Maxwell was, but there was no way of knowing, for despite the public reassurance the ‘team’ only wanted healing for survivors, and wanted to operate transparently and honestly, it took some time before team members were publicly named. Once again, a warning bell went off for survivors and those of us observing. One named team member was Miriam ‘Mim’ Phipps – the aunt of Mark and Ruth Maxwell and daughter of PBI founder L. E. Maxwell. She is currently listed as a team member on the ‘team’ website. Most of the 20 were never named. One instrumental member who is not named is Ruth Maxwell.
The Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team stated among other things:
“The conversations are confidential; it’s your story to tell, not ours.”
“It is confidential between the survivor and the listener who is walking with that survivor.”
There are at least 20 people available to listen to stories, and from them, 2-3 people who will handle the distribution of funds. We have already had a number of people come to us and receive real hearing and understanding, and are moving forward in their healing journey.
Our goal is that all will find this to be a place of acceptance, support, recovery, and healing, as we offer to listen, respect, love, and share resources to help one another to grow in grace.
In reality, things were quite different, and if the two Maxwell’s who are running this team were reporting to the PBI president, the behaviour online by these two ladies and named members of the team makes sense. Both have blocked PBI abuse survivors on Facebook, refusing to communicate with many of them. Linda Fossen:
Getting back to the healing team. Remember the survivor who got a pre-paid trip to Three Hills and had a “glorious” experience meeting with Mark Maxwell? That was all very much orchestrated by Ruth Maxwell and Mim Phibbs. Funny isn’t it that no other survivor was ever offered this? I remember Mark doing a radio interview with the survivor and saying that she was from “one of the grand families of Prairie”. So apparently nothing much has changed at PBI. In grade school, I remember feeling out of league with those whose names were Kirk, Olson, Maxwell and Rendall. If you weren’t related to them, you definitely were not in the inner circle. It was evident on the playground in third grade.
In keeping control of the healing team, Prairie is able to control what the public finds out. I truly believe in my heart that PBI knows the scope of the abuse of children that was perpetrated by its staff on campus – but they want to squelch that information in order to protect their reputation. When a survivor told Ruth that her abuser was a student and not staff, Ruth replied, “Oh good, that’s so much better.” Better for whom? Better for PBI that’s who! Ruth’s response is telling and really indicative of the attitude of the administration.
The teams public assurances the team was not connected to PBI rang hollow at the time, and are certainly hollow now. Fortunately, PBI abuse survivors (with the known exception of the one) did not approach the team, trusting their gut instincts and holding back. There is something to be said for hyper-vigilance born of childhood trauma.
There is another side note to the control and flow of information, and perhaps speaks to how tight the Maxwell clan may be and how often they communicate to ‘manage’ what they perceive as damage to the institution. The involvement of this family with this team explains the clumsy and slow release of information to abuse survivors.
Did a team spokesperson have to have their copy checked by Ruth Maxwell or Mrs. Phipps prior to making it public? I strongly believe the Maxwell ladies call all the shots with The Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team., and I believe they are in contact with Mark Maxwell. So much for transparency, honesty and good faith. Ruth Maxwell remains friends with the minister from the southern US – he was reported to police for harassment of survivors. There were a few angry, vitriolic and bullying alum who went way beyond disagreement with the goals of the survivors, and beyond disagreement with the fact PBI abuse survivors were speaking up. Their opposition has been ugly and I believe PBI administration has been complicit. While the school is not responsible for the behaviour of adults who attended the school, no PBI admin spoke up and asked these thugs to stop. PBI has preferred to colour survivors as a problem, and paint the institution as victim.
A former PBI alum, who worked in a helping profession and who is a survivor of abuse, wrote Mark Maxwell in September 2012, regarding proposed changes to the PBI harassment abuse and assault policies, and offered assistance.
Prairie’s current abuse policies, revised in 2010, are posted on our employment page and can be accessed directly here. These are being revised to incorporate what we have learned in the past year as well as best practices in place at other colleges and universities.
This person is skilled in policy writing and abuse issues. The goal was to bring to bear whatever possible positive influence she could. The PBI President responded quickly and politely. Six days later, in a somewhat bizarre twist, this former alumni received an unsolicited email from Mrs. Miriam ‘Mim” Phipps of The Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team. Coincidence? It’s possible Mrs. Phipps reads BDBO, but anything is possible, including communication between the Maxwells. I doubt we’ll ever really know, the public and PBI abuse survivors were not supposed to know of Maxwell involvement with the alumni team in the first place. If this alumn, who reached out in good faith, had not been healed of past trauma, what would that unsolicited contact have done emotionally and spiritually?
The PBI policy revision was the third goal listed by Mark Maxwell in November 2011. To date, the policy remains unchanged.
I’m ending with an excerpt from PBI’s Harvester Magazine Winter 2013, “A Note from the President” which ends where this all began. This is the on-going ‘God is on the side of PBI’ belief, the us/them approach to abuse survivors. There is continued projection and blame toward those who found their voice and who speak up about their past abuse while they were at Prairie Bible Institute. No one can deal in good faith when they are manipulated, blamed, and branded as attackers on the side of the devil.
It is easy to lose sight of the fact that countless young men and women have found new life and growing spiritual maturity during their time at PBI, due in no small part to the impact of Prairie faculty and staff both now and in years past. Many of them were instrumental in shaping young lives for the glory of God. We also thank our alumni and friends who have stood with us and given support and advice. It was so encouraging to see the Prairie family come together this summer at our Homecoming celebrations.
An unfortunate result of the social media attacks has been a decrease in donations at a time when they are much needed. And yet it is so evident that God is continuing to work in this place, preparing men and women to impact a needy world. There is a great opportunity here and we are committed to being a part of what God is doing. We’d love to have you join us.
By Rick Hiebert All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
No one can say that Hollywood is a boring place, eh?
It seems that Bible-themed films might be a bit of a trend these days. The latest idea is that Brad Pitt is perhaps set to play Pontius Pilate in a movie.
That wouldn’t seem like the nicest part for a star like Pitt to play, but the linked article suggests that Pilate may be treated sympathetically.
Tip of the hat to this reporter, who is quite the wag:
“…Pitt hasn’t committed to the role and could still wash his hands of the project…”
And Nicolas Cage might have another name actor of sorts to join him in that remake of Left Behind. Chad Michael Murray, of One Tree Hill fame. I’ve read speculation that he would play the “Buck” part while Cage would play the “Rayford Steele” role.
This leads me to remember Jack Warner’s alleged remark when he heard that Ronald Reagan was running for governor of California. “No, no, Jimmy Stewart for governor; Ronald Reagan for best friend.”
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
What’s new with Fraytene Grasseschi these days?
Well, those who follow her Canadian political initiative MY Canada (as it is now named) may be interested that the former Faytene Kryskow is forming local chapters of that group in several Canadian cities.
Called MY City, you may check out more about these local groups at their page on the MY Canada website here. It’s implicitly politicalas locals may be “volunteering for MPs in your city”, among other options.
It’s a good way to find and enlist people to help with national priorities of My Canada.
And I would think that there would probably be a lot more people who wind up volunteering for Tory MPs than for Liberals, New Democrat or Bloc MPs, but that is just anm educated guess on my part.
Faytene’s Facebook Wall No. 2 announced just a few days ago that two branches of MY City have just started.
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
A brief e-mail from Todd Bentley’s ministry this afternoon reveals that the TV network thinks it quite alll right for the evangelist to appear on their network again starting tomorrow morning.
One of his helpers writes:
We are very excited to be announcing Todd Bentley’s return to GodTV. Rory and Wendy Alec believe the time is right for Todd and Jessa to join them in Israel to address the GodTV audience. This will be a time of restoration for many and we believe the Lord will show himself in a powerful way.….
Rory and Wendy Alec are the owners/guiding force behind GOD TV. This would naturally imply that whatever shenanigans on Todd’s behalf that were broadcast from Lakeland are just water under the bridge now.
The segment with Bentley starts at 10:30 am EST on January 20th.
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
Faytene Grasseschi could be said to have hit the big leagues now.
The evangelist, a regular subject here, is profiled in the next issue of Charisma, the periodical of record for U.S. charismatics.
Charisma’s cover will show a smiling Faytene with the tagline: A Call For Canada: How Faytene Grasseschi is bringing her homeland back to Biblical values with activist intercession.
Where is Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show when you need them?
Will no doubt post on it after I get the paper magazine in a few days.
The Daily Beast has a comprehensive article, Calvary Chapel’s Tangled Webabout Calvary Chapels in the US, and the trail of lawsuits, including background on the latest lawsuit where a Calvary Chapel minister is suing his son Alex for libel, slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy to defame. Alex has been blogging about his childhood and the alleged physical, spiritual and emotional abuse of his step-father, Bob Grenier. Grenier, who was born in Winnipeg, is the pastor at Calvary Chapel Visalia in California. Alex blogs at Calvary Chapel Abuse, and has spent years seeking accountability and polity changes in the association of about 1000 churches. Alex heads to court February 19th to deal with his step-father and his mothers lawsuit. He is not the first blogger to be sued, last year I wrote about Julie Anne and her former pastors lawsuit against her. Julie Anne and her fellow plaintiffs won.
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
A quick update on Faytene Grasseschi’s group’s media policies, while I wait for that cover story on her in the new Charisma magazine to hit newsstands.
I was checking out her group’s stance on Bill C-279 when this notice from My Canada jumped out at me:
Notice to Media & Other Organizations: All content on this site that has been created by 4MYC including: videos, 4MYC articles/postings, 4MYC images and all other 4MYC creative material (unless otherwise identified) are the exclusive property of the MY Canada Association and may not be used for the purpose of reprint or rebroadcasting unless officially authorized by 4MYC. -Thank you.(This policy is to protect the integrity of our messaging and avoid improper use of our material.)
MY Canada
e: admin@4mycanada.ca
Does this apply to the notice as well?
Oops!
Well, this is to be expected, after she chased after Marci McDonald, trying to buy back what the reporter bought from her book table.
Starting in 2010, as I reported in this post, she warned reporters that they might be told to leave events. [Although...I had a quick look at Faytene.ca just now and I didn't spot this or a similar notice. Maybe she has her security just refuse everyone they spot? I don't know...]
The media quoting her without mercy might be a pain in Faytene’s butt, but surely a movement that lives on getting the word out so that people can give amd help can learn to live with it, no?
As a former reporter, I find this really offensive.
Hope Charisma got their mother-may-I from Faytene first. As reporters, the notice should raise their eyebrows at Charisma too.
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
Why is Todd Bentley starting a little bit of a public relations campaign these days? Well, some of it may be due to the fact that some Christians are dismayed by his actions. One English Anglican vicar comes to mind.
Croydon will ring a bell with Bentley watchers. [We blogged on what happened fairly extensively at the time, but I will briefly recap.] Last summer, we will recall, Bentley planned to come to Britain for a series of meetings, one set to be in Croydon. Attention was drawn to Bentley’s onstage persona of doing violent ministry if necessary, and local Labour MP Malcolm Wicks became interested.
Wicks, along with others, lobbied British immigration authorities and Bentley was banned from entering Britain.
Mr. Wicks, who had been suffering from cancer, passed away last September.
And then Bentley opened his mouth in a video posted on his website. Big hat tip to Apprising Ministries for saving the video in question where Bentley can’t get rid of it in their post here.
Todd Bentley and his friend and mentor Rick Joyner basically say that God, like a gangster, had Malcolm Wicks whacked for his efforts to stop Bentley from coming to Britain.
Bene D and I quote Bentley here, but I’d like to quote Rick Joyner’s remarks from a minute or so later in the same video.
Joyner says:
“….So mark your calendar….Mark this day, God is removing opposition from his people. He is going to take the opposition out of the way. Listen, we need to have the pure and holy fear of the Lord come upon us too. I tell you, it os going to be extremely costly to get in God’s way for what He is about to do. We need to take this with the utmost seriousness. We don’t want anybody dying. No Annanias and Sapphiras. But this is serious business. I’ll let people hear it for what they want to hear it.
“…We are moving into a time of Annanias and Sapphiras. We are moving into a time when the fear of the Lord is gonna come…”
While we leave ourselves with the unpleasant image of Bentley and Joyner acting like Robert DeNiro’s portrayal of Al Capone in The Untouchables, I’ll just add that a little later in the same video, a British lady gets up to pray and says “…You know, the enemy [Satan] is scared. That’s the reason [why] that you didn’t get in [to Britain]. He’s so scared…]
Now, returning to The Croydon Today story–thanks to them–you’d understand why Colin Boswell, the local Anglican official, is so aghast.
The reporter quotes Canon Colin Boswell as saying:
“I believe Malcolm [Wicks] to have been one of the most courageous people faced with death that I have ever met and someone speaking such theological nonsense is an insult to his memory,”
Boswell added that he felt that Todd Bentley has “lost any connection with the reality of a loving God”.
“If he thinks that Mr Wicks suffered cancer because he campaigned against him, he might like to go to the children’s ward of his local cancer hospital and tell them what God is punishing them for.”
God, the paper quotes Boswell as saying, “won’t kick you in the face”.
Following lengthy deliberation and prayer, ABWE today replaced G.R.A.C.E.— the victims’ advocacy organization—with a new investigative firm. G.R.A.C.E. was hired by ABWE in May 2011 to independently investigate the tragic child abuse by former missionary Donn Ketcham in Bangladesh more than 20 years ago, and ABWE’s subsequent handling of the situation. ABWE board members and executives discovered that G.R.A.C.E.’s investigative process was “fatally flawed” and would not find the truth, nor advance the cause of reconciliation with the victims.
Association of Baptists for World Evangelism says that they chose a new private investigative firm after complaints about G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments) by victims of abuse. G.R.A.C.E. was due to submit a semi-final report in five weeks. In it’s press release, ABWE called the G.R.A.C.E. investigation fatally flawed.
In the past few months, several individuals who were interviewed by G.R.A.C.E. during the investigative process voluntarily contacted ABWE, unsolicited, to share their concerns. These individuals reported that the interviews by G.R.A.C.E. were not conducted in a professional way or in complete independence and autonomy, as stipulated by ABWE’s contract with G.R.A.C.E.
As a result of these conversations, ABWE believes that G.R.A.C.E.:
Has not utilized acceptable practice and professional techniques in interviews to obtain truthful statements. For example, in its Philadelphia interviews of more than 20 witnesses, many of them alleged victims, it was reported that G.R.A.C.E. housed them in the same hotel and allowed the witnesses to compare stories BEFORE the interviews, thereby tainting the testimony so much that it would not have been admissible in a court of law according to former VA Attorney General Mark Earley.
Has not recorded many of their interviews to ensure accuracy and context of the interviewees’ testimony, which is standard operating procedure for any independent investigation, especially as to alleged victims and key witnesses.
Has provided to interviewees incomplete and inaccurate transcriptions of their interviews.
Has asked clearly leading questions to interviewees, demonstrating what appears to be a strong bias in one direction.
Has added and/or cut out important information, including any favorable information about ABWE, letting the transcript misrepresent facts and not reflecting appropriately what the interviewee stated.
Has confronted some interviewees with blatant and intimidating statements and suggestions, rather than questions, during the interviews.
Has refused to use any standard of evidence (such as preponderance of evidence or clear and convincing as adopted by ABWE) in which to apply the facts to reach its conclusions.
Finally, these wrong investigative tactics and flaws have led victims to withdraw from the investigation with a number of other victims and witnesses expressing similar concerns about the perceived lack of truthfulness of any report due to the fatal investigative flaws. In fact, one of the victims who was allegedly abused by Donn Ketcham has recently withdrawn from G.R.A.C.E. investigation and stated to G.R.A.C.E., “We continue to be very uncomfortable about the incomplete nature of the notes. We were very surprised that G.R.A.C.E. did not record our session in order to get a complete record of the interview . . . Therefore [we] withdraw our consent for G.R.A.C.E. to use any part of our interview both verbal and written in its investigation process.”One of the victims stated to ABWE that she felt thatshe was “re-victimized by G.R.A.C.E.”.
In an effort to address these issues directly with G.R.A.C.E., ABWE shared its concerns in correspondence in November and December 2012, with additional follow up in recent weeks,but to no avail.
It appears the sticking point for the missionary organization is “clear and convincing evidence and preponderance of the evidence.” Fair enough. However, this organization has been facing allegations of abuse that go back a long way in its 85 year history. Historical abuse is not going to generate evidence, which has understandably been destroyed, lost and degraded, if it was even collected at all. Children on the mission field did not have anyone to go to, no one was there to collect evidence or prosecute their abusers. ABWE seems to be all over the map, having hired a law firm to do an investigation while G.R.A.C.E. was doing theirs. According to abuse survivors statements by ABWE have been vague about disciplinary actions taken against adults in their employ who abused missionary kids.
This decision by ABWE to change horses in mid-stream is going to cause an uproar. The goal of ‘reconciliation’ with abuse survivors is not a healthy end goal for anyone who has suffered abuse through a religious organization, and is not as ABWE believes, biblical.
To once again put abuse survivors through interviews with another investigative firm may be less about getting to the truth than wearing survivors down. Pii states it does not release any information about its investigations publicly as G.R.A.C.E. does. Since ABWE is Pii’s client, it appears that the best interests of survivors aren’t as important as ABWE controlling reputation, information and outcome.
The main page for ABWE survivors is here. This has been a long and painful process for missionary kids, who have been pleading for justice and proper policies since the 1980′s.
ABWE has demanded that G.R.A.C.E. release it’s investigative records to the new hire Pii.
In its statement today ABWE used survivors to slam G.R.A.C.E. Abuse thrived in a culture of power fear and silence – it is going to be interesting to see how G.R.A.C.E. responds publicly to being shelved and whether abuse survivors continue to be the priority as fallout from this AWE decision unfolds.
ABWE has offices in the US and Canada, and operates with about 1200 staff in 70 countries.
Each investigation is conducted with a strategy customized to our client’s needs. No two investigations are exactly alike. Throughout the course of any investigation, we work to interview all pertinent parties, subjects or witnesses, obtain and review all data, perform necessary research and surveillance, if necessary. Through the course of our investigations we deliver regular reports to our clients providing updates and seeking feedback. Upon completion of an assignment, our clients receive a detailed report as to our findings.
In 2010 Peter Youngren (Grace TV, World Impact Ministries, Celebration Church Toronto) told ChristianWeek, the breaking fiasco in Finland was ‘frivolous and laughable at best.”
It doesn’t appear Youngren is laughing now.
A Finnish court has found Youngren’s Finland organization AEM guilty of soliciting funds without a permit. Youngren’s wife Taina Youngren ( nee Kuusiluoma), who was chairman of AEM, received a 30 day jail sentence (suspended).
Taina Youngren is a Finnish national who became Youngren’s third wife in September 2011. The Youngrens operate Grace TV and World Impact Ministries out of Celebration Church in Toronto.
AEM has been ordered to pay the Finnish government 49 thousand euros in compensation. That fine works out to $65663.00 Cdn.
In 1993 Youngren and his World Impact Ministries teamed up with the Finnish evangelical group EKM, working together on various crusades. Youngren joined the EKM board. In 2010, the relationship went sour when the EKM board asked Youngren to step away for a year to work on his second marriage.
Youngren refused and took to the mailing list to accuse two EKM leaders and friends of hijacking EKM, holding secret meetings and misusing funds. The letter went out to about 5900 supporters. Youngren had previously applied for a permit for AEM and had been refused.
The EU has strict privacy laws, the list contained EKM bank account numbers. Youngren and his now wife Taina had EKM’s permission to use the list once for a Pakistani crusade update. When EKM asked for the list back, Youngren refused.
In February 2010, he was removed from the board of EKM. Youngren and Kuusiluoma retaliated by sending out another letter in March 2010 accusing the EKM board of stealing mission money.
The two Finnish former friends and EKM board members went to police. Another criminal case is proceeding in Finland.
Youngren told ChristianWeek in 2010 that the list belonged to him.
“I claim ownership because all names on the list have been added at my personal invitation through public meetings and TV,” Youngren wrote. “All the people on the database have received promises from me that they will receive reports and teaching articles. This is my database, which I have allowed EKM to use.”
The Finland courts disagree.
On January 11th 2013, Youngren posted an update on EKM at World Impact Ministries. It appears AEM has been dissolved, any supporters who are left are being directed to his Swedish branch or Canadian operation. This is a Google translation:
Three difficult years of the AEM Association’s activities, will be closed. Life is too short to waste battles that will spring from the human deficiency hit rock bottom. Move forward with the gospel is a busy and precious task, and I want to invest in it all my energy.
…You can follow any ministry events and be in touch with me through the pages of the presentation, or e-mail. Contact ETAL-organization in Sweden and WIM-organization in Canada can be found on the website, so communication is easy in the future.
When ChristianWeek covered this investigation in 2010 Youngren wrote a bellicose letter to the magazine saying he’d started EKM, he wasn’t aware Finnish police were investigating him, and the ChristianWeek identified source was just a disgrundled store front pastor. He ended with this:
Readers must be bored. What has all this got to do with a Canadian Christian newspaper? Is ChristianWeek publishing relevant news or engaging in journalistic sensationalism?
I’d hardly call Taina’s 30 days in jail (suspended) and the hefty fine sensationalism, anymore than I’d call it frivolous and laughable.
On a related note, Peter Youngren’s tv show is expanding into the US on CTN (Christian Television Network) in March. I hope potential US viewers do their homework before donating.
The minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency which has been giving funding to an evangelical organization that describes homosexuality as a “perversion” and a “sin,” said Sunday no further payments will be made until officials review the organization.
“I have asked officials to review this organization before further payments are made,” tweeted Julian Fantino, International Cooperation Minister.
The group was receiving funding from the government of Canada for its work in Uganda, where gays and lesbians face severe threats.
Crossroads had received 544 thousand dollars to dig wells and promote hygiene awareness in Uganda. Crossroads also works in Cambodia, Kenya, Zambia, Calcutta, Sudan, Ukraine and Haiti, and has received 2.6 million dollars from CIDA since 1999.
When the Canadian Press asked about Crossroads position on sexuality, the webpage was yanked.
In the past few years KIAROS, the Mennonite Central Committee and the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace have all seen CIDA funding cut:
CIDA’s shift away from working with long-time and often church-based development partners to financing private sector projects such as those of the mining companies has been in the works for several years.
In November 2009, CIDA cut off funding to the ecumenical social justice group KAIROS, which had been a long-time partner in development. Neither CIDA nor its minister Bev Oda would provide any explanation beyond saying that CIDA’s priorities had changed and KAIROS did not meet them.
Then in February 2012, CIDA turned down a proposal by the well-respected Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) for $2.9 million for each of three years to provide food, water and income generation assistance for people in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Haiti, Bolivia, Mozambique and Ethiopia.
In March 2012, it became apparent that CIDA had also cut off the Catholic organization Development and Peace (D&P). CIDA, which had provided the organization with $44.6 million in the years 2006-11, chopped that amount by two-thirds, to a total of $14.5 million over the next five years.
Crossroads founder David Mainse was known for his lobbying against same sex marriage. CBC archives 1979
While Crossroads has gotten away from political involvement, the recent hiring of Jerry Johnston as Executive Director of Crossroads US and host of 100 Huntley Street is cause for concern. Johnston is a Southern Baptist minister from Kansas who was known in his state for his opposition to same sex marriage and other religious right politicking. I’ve covered the Crossroads hiring of Jerry Johnston here.
The debate about tax payer money going to religious organizations will continue as will debate about tax payer money going to religious organizations which are diametrically opposed to government policy. The Canadian government has said it does not support Crossroads view that homosexuality is a perversion. ”Canada’s views are clear — we have been strongly opposed to the criminalization of homosexuality or violence against people on the basis of their sexual orientation.”
Crossroads spokesperson Carolyn Innis told the Canadian Press that “”It has not been a practice of Crossroads to influence matters of policy in countries in which we are completing relief or development projects.”
The Uganda ‘kill the gays’ bill is opposed by the Canadian government and most Canadian churches. Crossroads sexual sins position is standard Pentecostal fare, the organization leans PAOC, but includes employees from other denominations. To be fair, Crossroads Television System yanked Charles McVety off air when he refused to tone down his anti-gay rhetoric and abide by CRTC rules. Many Canadian evangelicals do not hold the position Crossroads currently holds, and do not believe being gay is a perversion, nor are they opposed to same sex marriage. It is flat out offensive to list sexual orientation in with pedophilia and bestiality, and is a common tactic of the religious right. Nor do many evangelicals believe being gay is a sexual sin, nor do we support reparative therapy.
I see the larger issue as tax-payer funding currently going to a religious group to fund aid in a country currently at odds with Canadian policy. In 2011 Canada supplied 350 million dollars in aid to Uganda. The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill (kill the gays bill) was introduced in 2009. Along with the criminalization of homosexuality, those providing medical assistance or assistance of any kind to GLBT, those who know GLBT could face severe penalities. GLBT would face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Crossroads Relief & Development Facebook
Crossroads Missions
Update: Crossroads Christian Communications Inc response - the webpage in question was archival and should have been gone a long time ago, Crossroads welcomes the review by CIDA, Crossroads has put 35 million dollars into relief and development work in 41 countries, Crossroads supports the Canadian government’s position that strongly opposes the criminalization of homosexuality and violence on the basis of sexual orientation, Crossroads has put 3.2 million into Uganda, Crossroads is not anti-gay….
Investigating historical child abuse in a Christian organization can be messy. Last week in the US, things got a lot messier when ABWE, which botched reports of severe sexual abuse of missionary kids in the field, and delayed and neglected to deal with employees who harmed children, decided to publicly fire the investigative group it had hired.
I’ve posted the G.R.A.C.E. response to their termination by ABWE on Scribd to help out folks who may have difficulty opening a .pdf.
Point by careful point G.R.A.C.E. addresses the concerns ABWE publicly laid out about the supposed flaws in their investigation. Given G.R.A.C.E. was due to release the report in a few weeks, it is even more interesting that ABWE terminated the contract now.
Several things jump out at me in this letter. What are you seeing?
Background:ABWE hired a firm (Pii) which appears to be connected to another missionary group (New Tribe Missions).
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
Although I don’t think they have started making the film yet, the Nicolas Cage reboot of Left Behind has a proposed first poster according to Comingsoon.net.
By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
I figured that Charisma’s coverage of Faytene Grasseschi–she graces their February 2013 cover–would be very friendly. Now I can confirm that it is.
Their cover story on her will be at your local Christian bookstore, if it carries magazines, for another two weeks or so.
Charisma’s imprimatur will probably make Faytene a charismatic celebrity, if she isn’t one already. I’ve already seen a brief notice or two from people who are advising that Grasseschi will be coming to their gathering or church,citing the story for those who might wonder “Who?”
Let’s start to look at it.
A photo on the contents page directs readers to Charisma’s 4 1/3 pages of coverage of Faytene and what she is doing.
The description of the story on the contents page says that “Faytene Grasseschi leads a unique movement of activist intercession that’s shifting Canada–and beyond.” See page 24.
But before we go there, let’s stop by editor Marcus Yoars’ column on page 6. He argues that personal righteousness and holiness, writ large, has the potential to transform a nation.
No arguments from me on that, but a passing comment is worth noting.
He writes:
“…As believers, we understand that “there is none righteous” (Rom. 3:10, yet through Jesus, we have become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21 ). Fully grasping this revelation keeps us in the posture of redeemed server-saints. And just as Christ changed the world by first entering it as a servant, we must mimic His Servant’s heart if we hope to change nations, regions, cities or even neighbourhoods.
Faytene Grasseschi (p. 24) has found this to be true in Canada, where a movement of young believers is blending service-and humilty-with activist intercession. By not only calling for righteousness but walking in it, these believers have become a national voice, in a pivotal season for Canada–with even politicians crediting them for influencing a nationwide shift toward godly values.”
So much for helping Faytene’s efforts towards humility by saying that she is “walking in righteousness.” Hope that pans out to be true and you haven’t jinxed her.
Clearly, Charisma’s editorial policy will be to like her. And given that she sometimes shows qualities that are admirable, especially if you share her conservative values, that is perhaps okay.
It’s okay for an introduction. But it is not definitive. And Charisma’s friendliness has a tendency to be misleading, as shown in their coverage.
Since the editor has introduced the idea of Faytene moving from success to success, let’s briefly look at the sidebar to the main story, in which freelance writer Anthony Petrucci addresses her political work.
“10 Minutes That Changed A Nation” begins like this:
“Though liberals in Canada are stunned by the resurgence in conservative values, Faytene Grasseschi isn’t alone in her ability to trace the cultural shift back to a precise moment in time…”
He then goes on to relate the story of how The Cry Ottawa in 2008′s prayer efforts caused the polls to shift with the Tories going up and the Liberals going down. It is essentially the same as what I heard at The Cry Vancouver, and looking at what I had to quote and argue at the time might be helpful here. Elections following soon afterwards, he adds, resulted in an estimated “40 per cent of the members of Parliament” being “professing believers in Jesus Christ.”
Positive results, he adds, include legislation to combat human trafficking, apologies for historical injustices the “most pro-life caucus in decades” and Prime Minister Harper Harper, an “evangelical” known for his “conservative values and positions.”
For argument’s sake, let’s agree that conservative positions are more Christ-like. [Tommy Douglas and believers in the "social gospel" would bring forth many strong arguments to the contrary--which my progressive friends could more ably argue than I--but I seek to judge by Faytene's own standards.]
Prayer may have indeed helped, but the past few years have been a bit of a “perfect storm” politically, I would suggest. The federal Liberals had ineffectual leadership, and the Bloc imploded, which may have helped the Tories creep upward. Would the rise of the NDP due to their new-found support in Quebec, mean that Canada is becoming more amenable to any ”social gospel” ideals in the NDP? After all, if we are dealing in poll numbers, as the lede here suggests, a bigger “bounce” for the NDP would mean that ”God’s side” is losing ground.
Tory is not synonymous with conservative. From the perspective of someone who is strongly conservative, like Faytene, Tories from the days of R.B. Bennett on down have tended not to be purely conservative.
Take Harper. You’d think that the “most pro-life caucus in history” would be able to persuade the House of Commons to hold formal discussions on abortion. Not pass pro-life legislation, just discuss the issue. But Motion m-312 crashed resoundingly.
If I were to advocate for Faytene’s point of view, I would suggest to her that she advocate policies because they were the best thing to do. But unfortunately, there is always the temptation to build up what little there may be to appear that you are on the crest of a wave, even if it is really in a puddle. Without ”success” though, people are not willing to be patient and reward people with their support, in the interest of a long-term strategy.
Crying “Winner!” very prematurely makes Faytene sound like she is channelling Charlie Sheen. ;)
I hope to address the main story soon. I’ll explain why I feel it is not exactly wrong but at the same time, perhaps not exactly right.
The Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, a US missionary organization with a history of historical child abuse fired its outside investigative team the second week of February, just a few weeks before G.R.A.C.E. was set to deliver its final report.
Okay, G.R.A.C.E. was fired – so why continue to trash them publicly with this Q & A?
This reeks of control, the need to have the last word, the need to justify and minimize internal decisions by ABWE that go way beyond the best interests of former missionary kids and their families. It looks like an attempt to continue years of delay in an attempt to wear down survivors and their families who have asked for a full accounting. As I read this Q & A, all I could think was, I think thou doth protest too much. I come away thinking ABWE does not intend to do any more than they believe they have to. And they spend a lot of time in the Q & A saying what they have done. And in doing so they trip up.
Nothing says control like a Q & A the firing organization puts together to frame this firing. Here are the questions ABWE decided to ask and answer.
What is ABWE doing to protect children and prevent child abuse?
How has ABWE responded to MKs impacted by abuse?
What has ABWE done to help the victims?
Why did ABWE replace G.R.A.C.E. with a new investigative firm?
Is ABWE’s decision to replace G.R.A.C.E. an attempt to hide something or prevent the findings of the report from being released?
If ABWE was so unhappy with the investigation, why did they wait so long to terminate G.R.A.C.E.?
Will ABWE make the final report public?
Who is Pii?
What is the timeline for the investigation to be completed?
Is it true ABWE withheld important documents and key witnesses?
How does this decision affect the victims?
How has ABWE expressed regret and worked toward reconciliation?
What actions has ABWE taken to address those who mishandled the investigation?
Why did it take so long to get to this point?
Why should I trust ABWE?
Oh.
Where to start?
The bad blood between ABWE and G.R.A.C.E. bubbles to the top in the answers ABWE crafts to its questions. It’s ugly. Child abuse is ugly, protecting abusers and reputations is ugly. I’m curious as to who ABWE believes or thinks they are going to persuade with this Q & A. This comes across as a divide and conquer strategy on a couple of fronts; attempting to pit abuse survivors against each other and attempting to pit investigative agencies against each other. The answers to the questions are, even to the most casual reader, CYA. G.R.A.C.E. is out of the picture, and I assume that G.R.A.C.E. isn’t releasing their report because of contractual obligations.
The Q&A spends a lot of time going over what ABWE thinks it needs to do to improve as an organization. I believe organizations can repent, and can change, and I think what is missing here is the recognition that organizations are made up of individuals, leaders and board members who individually have to come to terms with their part in working for an organization with such a sorry history of abuse, bad theology and the diminishing of the worth of the individuals who were so grievously harmed. I think these individuals have to get alone with God and ask Him to search their hearts as to what causes good men and women to protect abusers, and to ask themselves hard questions. Then they can look at what ABWE is collectively and where it is actually going. If their conscience is seared, do they ask themselves if they are healthy as a Christian, and if they can work for this organization. It starts with individuals, just as individuals abused others, just as survivors of that abuse are individuals, infinitely precious and worthy in God’s eyes, above and beyond any organization and it’s goals.
Background is here. The G.R.A.C.E. response to being fired is here. I want to take a look at the answers ABWE supplies to its questions below the fold.
What is ABWE doing to protect children and prevent child abuse?
ABWE acknowledges that they commissioned an independent investigation into the conduct of Donn Ketcham in Bangladesh 20 months ago. ABWE mentions it hired a law firm to look at the conduct of other employees (that report was not made public).
Our goal was to identify all the areas where change was necessary to help ensure the safety of children in the future, and to repent of our past failures.
Why did ABWE replace G.R.A.C.E. with a new investigative firm?
In an update to the original ABWE pr on the firing of G.R.A.C.E. ABWE states:
In the fall and winter of 2012, at least 8 victims and witnesses voluntarily contacted us to express their concerns relating to the G.R.A.C.E. investigation. They felt G.R.A.C.E had left out information, did not record their testimonies, changed their statements, provided inaccurate summaries and asked leading questions. Some of these individuals shared that they had been in touch with G.R.A.C.E. directly regarding their concerns, but they were dissatisfied with the organization’s response to them. As a result, we know that some of the interviewees requested that G.R.A.C.E. not use their testimonies at all.
ABWE says they met with G.R.A.C.E. and say G.R.A.C.E. refused to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the names of these 8, and this refusal led to ABWE questioning the validity of the pending report. From the Q & A:
As concerns grew throughout the investigation conducted by G.R.A.C.E, especially in the past few weeks, leadership at ABWE felt that the objectivity of the investigation was seriously in question. ABWE believes strongly that everyone — from the MKs and the administration, to our missionaries and you — deserves a truthful, objective and complete investigation.
It is our desire to be a better organization; we believe replacing G.R.A.C.E. was a step in that process. As our concerns grew about the investigation and we approached G.R.A.C.E regarding these matters, the relationship became more strained. Following the principles of Matthew 18 we tried to address those issues directly with G.R.A.C.E. — but to no avail. As a result, several months ago G.R.A.C.E stated to us that “perhaps ABWE should reconsider its relationship” with them.
ABWE is acknowledging it’s relationship with the outside investigative firm was strained and obviously got worse. The at least 8 people who complained to ABWE are afraid of retaliation from who? What kind of retaliation? Did the refusal to sign a confidentiality agreement mean that G.R.A.C.E. planned to release names of victims and witnesses, given that naming innocents has not been past practise?
Because we desire transparency, ABWE will publicly release the final investigative report when it is completed by Pii. Because protecting the privacy of the victims is of paramount importance, any information that would be damaging to the victims or would reveal their identities will not be included. No other information will be altered. Two victims will be given the chance to read the report to demonstrate that no changes are made to the document — beyond removing information that would be damaging to victims.
The new firm hired by ABWE is Pii. This firm does not release reports publicly, or to survivors and witnesses, the report (as the 2012 law firm report) is for ABWE eyes only.
During the course of an investigation, it is important that all information remains confidential. Upon the conclusion of an investigation by Professional Investigators International the party/parties who appointed us to conduct the investigation determine what of the information provided to them will be shared.
Once again ABWE goes over the ground it covered (and G.R.A.C.E. responded to) in the firing pr.
We firmly believe that a truly independent investigation should be conducted in a way that is consistent with the highest standards of the industry. The process of collecting evidence should be objective, and key interviews should be recorded and based on unbiased and open-ended questions that seek facts. For this reason, we have begun working with Pii, an investigative firm with a track record of high standards in objective reporting.
What track record? Pii appears to be connected with New Tribes Mission, and there was a brief update on an MK abuse investigation for NTM I believe, which is no longer online. Pii had not gotten very far with it, if I recall correctly. There is no track record. Pii also removed the sentence at the top of its Our Team page. This is the original page, online when ABWE announced hiring Pii.
This is the new one – which distances Pii from New Tribes Mission.
I wonder how long ABWE had Pii waiting in the wings before dumping G.R.A.C.E.? Sadly investigating abuse and historical abuse in Christian organizations is a growth industry. These investigative firms are competing, and it appears a cut throat one. All Pii has to do is get hired, give the hiring organization its report and move on. Trusting the agency being investigated to be transparent and release information as Pii does, is disturbing and has to send a chill through survivor communities throughout the US.
Is ABWE’s decision to replace G.R.A.C.E. an attempt to hide something or prevent the findings of the report from being released?
No…
…Discovering the truth about our organization is more important to us than our public reputation.
It is out of this desire for transparency that ABWE intends to publicly release the unedited report, when it is completed. Because protecting the privacy of the victims is of paramount importance, any information that would be damaging to the victims or would in anyway reveal their identities will not be included. No other information in the report will be altered. Two victims will be given access to the report to demonstrate that no other changes, besides those involving the protection of the victims, are made to the document.
The ongoing public trashing of G.R.A.C.E., the years of delays, the current delays, past behaviours the switching of firms does not build confidence in the above statement. If ABWE can fire G.R.A.C.E. a few weeks away from the report which won’t see the light of day, why would anyone believe ABWE won’t come up with some reason to rinse and repeat?
Whatever the report reveals, we commit to full disclosure.
Oh.
If ABWE was so unhappy with the investigation, why did they wait so long to terminate G.R.A.C.E.?
This is a real corker:
Even though the Board was aware that G.R.A.C.E. was an advocacy group, they expected the investigation to be independent and free from bias.
Since when is being an advocacy group for abuse survivors mean the investigation would not be independent? And why would ABWE believe the report G.R.A.C.E. has prepared isn’t free from bias? What bias? Have people in ABWE read the final report?
We knew that a decision to terminate G.R.A.C.E. could be interpreted as dishonest or disingenuous, and we knew it could greatly affect some of the MKs who urged us to hire the organization in the first place. However, we believe our greatest priority, and opportunity for full repentance, is in discovering the truth.
Well, yes. There is obviously more to terminating G.R.A.C.E. and hiring Pii than survivors and families will ever know about. That goes for the public also. To imply discovering the truth was not the goal of G.R.A.C.E. (and by extension MKs and their families) makes me sick to my stomach. ABWE is inferring they want and have the truth and everyone else doesn’t.
It was important that we weigh all of the information and the consequences of our actions before making a decision of this magnitude. It was not something that we took lightly.
I doubt anyone else is taking the ABWE decision lightly either.
Will ABWE make the final report public?
Yes. ABWE will publicly release the final investigative report. For privacy reasons, we cannot include any references to the identities of the victims.
G.R.A.C.E. does not release the names or identities of survivors. References to the identities of the victims? What references?
Who is Pii?
Experienced investigators who teach around the country, etc. etc.
What is the timeline for the investigation to be completed?
Unknown.
We’ve kept you survivors waiting for years, could be years more. We’ll let you know. This reads like oh well, this isn’t our fault.
Is it true ABWE withheld important documents and key witnesses?
No. There were some documents and records that we were not legally able to release directly to G.R.A.C.E. However we made provisions for G.R.A.C.E. to access all of the records and information. At their request, we also provided them with a list of victims, witnesses and board members for possible interviews.
I can understand medical records can’t be released without the consent of the patient. However, did ABWE give G.R.A.C.E. those lists so G.R.A.C.E. could seek consent?
Medical records can show proof of abuse which stands in a court of law. Is ABWE protecting someone or someones? Even someone who may have been a victim of abuse who went on to become a perpetrator? (Rare, but it does happen)
Further, ABWE offered to make all staff available to G.R.A.C.E. for interviews. G.R.A.C.E.’s complaint that we refused to supply key witnesses was based on a misunderstanding that we could somehow require people who didn’t work at the mission to participate in the investigation. We do not have the authority to mandate that anyone other than ABWE employees speak with G.R.A.C.E. Private individuals were free to choose whether or not they want to be interviewed.
Again, if someone is named as an alleged perpetrator of abuse, it’s prudent to clean house. And ABWE terminated leaders, now private citizens. Catch 22 for any investigator. The terminations occurred when the heat got turned up. What people who didn’t work at the mission? ABWE may be referring to Bangladesh nationals. G.R.A.C.E. isn’t that inexperienced. ABWE can keep saying there are/were misunderstandings as long as they want to. Obviously the relationship between ABWE and G.R.A.C.E. has been strained and difficult, however, this comes across as attempting to paint G.R.A.C.E. as uniformed and incompetent.
How does this decision affect the victims?
As a mission, ABWE has talked a lot about our goals of repentance and reconciliation with our hurt MKs. It seems, however, that in our day-to-day actions we sometimes fail to move closer to those goals. When we decided to replace G.R.A.C.E. we worried about the impact it might have on some of our MKs.
Did you ask the MKs?
As a mission seeking reconciliation, we have a continuing obligation to admit, confess and repent of our failures and mistakes to those we have hurt. Yet we understand that reconciliation will happen at different rates for different people. Therefore, we put no burden on those we have failed to reconcile with; rather, we simply want them to know we are sorry, and we are taking steps to ensure nothing like what hurt them will ever happen again. We will let them dictate their level of reconciliation with us.
If MKs don’t ‘reconcile’ with us, it’s not our fault. We’ve dictated, they aren’t following.
We strongly believe that the MK blog, BangladeshMKsSpeak, should be credited with making ABWE a better organization today than it was two years ago. We are grateful for the voices of those who challenge us even today to continue to grow, uncover sin and learn from our mistakes. We are thankful for those who desire to reconcile with us and help us continue to grow as a mission, and we pray every person impacted experiences substantial healing.
Oh. That comes across as flattery. However, BangladeshMKsSpeak and MKs get to make that decision, not me.
How has ABWE expressed regret and worked toward reconciliation?
Repeats of above.
Why did it take so long to get to this point?
When the allegations resurfaced in 2002, the administrators who were aware of the situation failed to conduct a complete and thorough investigation, or to notify other members of the administration or the ABWE board.
We fired a few administrators, just like we did G.R.A.C.E. They are private citizens now, and not our problem.
Why should I trust ABWE?
Repeat of above.
I don’t have to trust ABWE, why not ask survivors who trusted G.R.A.C.E. and who are now being asked to trust Pii? Do survivors trust ABWE? After what they’ve been through on the field and with this investigation, why would they ever trust ABWE? Why should they have to? And who is “I?” Readers, the public, potential missionaries? Employees?
On Feb. 18 editors of this blog were contacted by a reporter from Christianity Today. We expressed our specific concerns regarding the confidentiality of the Pii investigation to this reporter, and we know that ABWE was promptly confronted by the reporter with those concerns and our allegations regarding Pii. Suddenly, less than a day later, ABWE–who has been unwilling to answer OUR questions about this in the last 10-plus days–is saying the report will go public and slinging more mud at GRACE. This is a stunt by ABWE because of the spotlight of a Christianity Today story, nothing less and nothing more.
