GRACE Report on ABWE Investigation: January 2013

(Note that any former-MKs wishing to volunteer for the Child Protection Task Force must contact GRACE directly. GRACE’s email address is included in the update.)

ABWE Announces Leadership Changes

The changes include the board seeking and receiving the resignations of Don Davis and Russ Ebersole, as well as removing any board members active in 1989 from any existing current ABWE boards.

1. ABWE has not only failed in the past to address child sexual abuse properly–as they have admitted–but their mishandling continues to this day with half-hearted internal investigations with secret outcomes, as demonstrated in the Simms Showers investigation. We ask for thorough investigating by true third parties in the future, for a full disclosure of the Simms Showers report(s) and any future reports, including a response from the accused, with only victims’ names protected. We also agree that the child abuse policy/guidelines at ABWE should be balanced enough that there are protections built in for both the accuser and the accused. We hope that ABWE will allow GRACE to inform such policies and allow for input from adult MKs.

Below you will find suggestions for your emails (please speak from your heart) and a list of contacts to choose from. We encourage you to make your voices heard.

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little—do what you can.”   —  Sidney Smith

Points to Bring Up:

• The Simms Showers investigation. We’re concerned about the vague number of cases, the quality of the investigation, and lack of transparency. How can we be sure ABWE did due diligence when they have not in the past?
• The importance of transparency in regard to child sexual abuse. Protecting the identity of alleged pedophiles who cannot face legal action because of statutes of limitations and foreign soil issues may impede the protection of the children around them today. Is there a standard by which ABWE would take any names public? Would they, for example, ever have gone public with Donn Ketcham were it not for this blog? Offer your thoughts in your letters.
• The important role of churches and individual supporters in calling ABWE into accountability. As it is, ABWE answers only to its board. But it’s board should answer to you. Your money funds their mission, and it is your support that allows them to continue. Churches and church members have every right to require transparency and accountability of the mission boards they support.

Here is a list of contacts you can consider writing to. We suggest that you focus on the ones related to your own church (or state, if applicable) and that you include your church name in the email and cc it to your church pastors as well as the board of ABWE (board@abwe.org). If you have more suggestions of organizations and leaders we have missed, please let us know.

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• GARB National Representative/Rev. John Greening: jgreening@garbc.org
• NAE President/Rev. Leith Anderson: info@nae.net
• CBA National Network Facilitator/Rev. Stan Rieb: stan.rieb@rmcba.org
• Regular Baptist Interim ED/Rev. Clint Cook: clint.cook@generalbaptist.com
• Converge/Rev. Jerry Sheveland: info@convergeww.org

GARBC Affiliations by State:

Arizona
Arizona Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Terry Green: tgreen@victoryarizona.org

Arkansas
Ozark Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Dale Schatz: rvdschatz@cox.net

California
California Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Ron Schrock: CarbcRep@gmail.com
Rev. Herb Rogers: rogeh5@aol.com

Colorado
Rocky Mountain Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Doug Wise: preach13@juno.com

DelMarVa (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia)
DelMarVa Baptist Fellowship
Rev. Jim Johnson: delmarvarep@gmail.com

Florida
Sunshine Baptist Fellowship
Rev. Chuck Pausley: charlespausley@gmail.com

Illinois/Eastern Missouri
Illinois/Missouri Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Bryce B. “Bernie” Augsburger: bernie.augsburger@gmail.com

Indiana
The Crossroads Fellowship: A Baptist Network of Churches, Inc.
Rev. Doug Schroeder: dschroed@indiana.edu

Iowa
Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Joseph F. Hayes: admin@iarbc.org

Kansas/Western Missouri/Oklahoma
Mid-Continent Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Bob Glover: pastorglover@sbcglobal.net

Michigan
Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Kenneth E. Floyd: marbcken@aol.com

Minnesota
Minnesota Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Darrell R. Friar: marbc@juno.com

Montana
Montana Regular Baptist Fellowship
Rev. Jerry Buchanan: jrbuchanan@centurytel.net

Nebraska
Nebraska Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Pastor Bryan Clark: pastor@gretnabc.com

New Jersey
Garden State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches
Pastor Lex DeLong: pastor@wbchurch.org

New York
Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches
Dr. Jim Vogel: jvogel@esfrbc.org

Ohio
Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Dr. W. David Warren: dwarren@oarbc.org

Texas
Lone Star Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches
(Contact information not available.)

Washington/Oregon/Idaho
Baptist Network Northwest
Rev. Don Duty (Contact info not available.)

West Virginia Fellowship
Freedom Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches
Rev. Tim Amundson: tamundson@frontiernet.net

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Association of Regular Baptist Churches 
Rev. Ed Fuller: diane0325@gmail.com

• In the initial hiring process of missionaries several things should happen:
  • Thorough background checks of prospective missionaries
  • Thorough sexual abuse prevention and response training
  • Waivers signed stating that the mission knows of no allegations of abuse regarding any of the coworkers (nationals and missionaries) on the field where the missionary will serve and that they will be notified immediately in writing if any come to light at any point, even if no longer with the board. [NOTE: Addendum in light of some insights from a friend. Let's call this a "commitment" or "covenant" not a waiver, and let's include supporting churches in this covenant. That supporting churches will be notified immediately and with specificity of any breaches of morality clauses by any missionaries they support.]
• On the field several things should be considered:
  • Discontinuing the forced “aunt” and “uncle” tradition, which creates a false sense of intimacy and trust before trust has been earned
  • Don’t allow the team to make decisions for individual families. Families must maintain their autonomy as an independent unit, capable of making their own choices of what is best for their children in all matters: education, housing, friendships, etc.
  • Consideration for the impact a male dominant culture can have on young girls, if the missionaries are stationed in such a culture. (For example on the Bangladesh field girl MKs lived very sheltered lives, while male MKs enjoyed a lot of relative freedom. A greater effort could have been made to ensure that while girls were safe, they were also not internalizing the unhealthy messages of the surrounding culture regarding their value, their voice compared to males.)
  • [Addendum: A friend mentioned just now the importance of MKs being able to contact a third party on their own to tell, without fear and intimidation. A hotline via email if not phone. A way they can speak up safely. They should all know this contact info from heart or have it posted in their MK school. Amen!]
• At the home office several things should always be in place:
  • Total transparency regarding allegations of abuse and investigations into abuse. (All churches must know, all missionaries must know.)
  • A commitment to report all allegations in the US and abroad, if foreign soil issues exist.
  • A commitment to never interview a child without parental supervision. [Addendum: Per an insightful comment below, when the accused IS the parent, other arrangements must be made. And the interviews should always be done by third-party professionals.]
  • A commitment to never withhold information regarding  a minor from a parent.
  • A strict zero tolerance policy regarding their morality clause.
  • A true third party to investigate all claims after they have been reported to legal authorities.
  • Legal support for any missionary families who want to press charges against a fellow missionary for child abuse.

So that’s a starting place. Do you have any thoughts or anything to add, especially those of you who are missionaries or former MKs?

But there is great stuff here. Including …

These truths about childhood sexual abuse and its effects have enormous implications for pastors. They will keep a pastor from telling a victim, “That was such a long time ago. Why don’t you just get over it and move on?” These truths will remind a pastor that survivors are often sexually promiscuous or struggle with chemical addiction, so he can address the underlying issue and not just the obvious behavior problems. They will also prevent him from shaming the survivor for her sinful actions, and thus adding to her despair.  Equally important, the informed pastor will realize he must always refer sexual abuse victims for additional help.

Please check it out and let us know what you thought: “Innocence Lost” Helping Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Marnie C. Ferree

Please take time to read and share your thoughts with us:

What to do when your minister is accused of abuse

1) Remain open-minded.
The natural human instinct is to recoil from alleged horror, and to immediately assume that the allegations are false. But the overwhelming majority of abuse disclosures prove to be true. In every case, the proper and Christian response is to remain open-minded.

2) Pray for all parties involved.
Every person involved deserves and needs prayerful support.

3) Let yourself feel whatever emotions arise.
You may feel angry, betrayed, confused, hurt, worried and sad. These are all natural, “typical” responses to an allegation of sexual abuse. None of these feelings are inappropriate or “bad.” Don’t “kick yourself” for feeling any of these emotions.

4) Remember that abuse, sadly, is quite common.
It’s far more widespread than any of us would like to believe. Experts estimate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be molested in their lifetimes.

5) Don’t try to “guess” or figure out who the accuser is.
Abuse victims, like rape victims, need their privacy to recover from their trauma. Openly speculating about who is alleging abuse is essentially gossiping, and helps to create a hostile climate that will keep other victims (even those abused by non-clerical perpetrators) from coming forward.

6) If you do know the victim(s), protect his/her confidentiality.
There are many good reasons why abuse victims are unable to publicly come forward. Often, the person wants to keep his/her elderly parents or young children from suffering too. Don’t compound the pain he/she is in by disclosing his/her identity to others.

7) Understand that abuse victims often have “troubled” backgrounds (i.e. drug or alcohol problems, criminal backgrounds, etc.)
Instead of undermining the credibility of accusers, these difficulties actually enhance their credibility. (When someone is physically hurt, there are almost always clear signs of harm; so too with sexual abuse. The harm is reflected largely in self-destructive behaviors. One might be skeptical of a person who claimed to have been run over by a truck but showed no bodily injury. Similarly, one might be skeptical of an alleged molestation victim who always acted like a “model citizen.”)

8) Don’t allow the mere passage of time to discredit the accusers.
Stress to your fellow parishioners that there are many good reasons why abuse victims disclose their victimization years after the crime. In most instances, victims come forward when they are emotionally able to do so, and feel capable of risking disbelief and rejection from precious loved ones, including family members, church leaders, other authorities, and fellow church members. Sometimes, they are psychologically able to do so only after their perpetrator has died, moved or been accused by someone else. Sometimes, they have been assured that their perpetrator would never be around kids again, but have learned that this isn’t the case.

(In other cases, it takes years before victims are able to understand and/or acknowledge to themselves that they have been sexually violated. This is a common defense mechanism.)

9) Ask your family members and friends if they were victimized.
Many times, abuse victims will continue to “keep the secret” unless specifically invited to disclose their victimization by someone they love and trust. Even raising this topic can be very uncomfortable. But it must be done. It may be very awkward and your family members may even act resentful at first. But soon they will remember that you really care about them, and will see your question as a sign of that care.

10) Mention the accusation to former parishioners and parish staff now living elsewhere.
They may have information that could prove the guilt or innocence of the priest facing allegations. This is especially important because sometimes abuse victims or their families move away after experiencing abuse.

11) Contact the police or prosecutors.
It’s your duty as a citizen to call the proper civil authorities if you have any information (even if it’s “second hand” or vague) that might help prove the guilt or innocence of the accused.
It’s your duty as a Christian to help seek justice and protect others from harm. Remember: abuse thrives in secrecy. Exposing a physical wound to fresh air, clean water and sunlight can be healing. Exposing sexual crimes is also ultimately healing. And remember that police and prosecutors are unbiased professionals with the skills and experience needed to ascertain whether an allegation is true or false.

12) Don’t allow other parishioners to make disparaging comments about those making the allegation.
Remember, the sexual abuse of children has terribly damaging effects. As a Christian, you want to help prevent such victimization. And you want anyone who is in pain to get help as soon as possible. Critical comments about those who make allegations only discourage others who may have been hurt. Such remarks prevent those who need help from reaching out and getting it. Show your compassion for abuse victims. Tell your fellow parishioners that hurtful comments are inappropriate. Remind them that they can defend their priest without attacking his accuser.

13) Educate yourself and your family about sexual abuse.
There are many excellent books and resources on the subject. There are also good books specifically about molestation by clerics (Jason Berry’s Lead Us Not Into Temptation, Frank Bruni & Elinor Burkett’s Gospel of Shame, and the Boston Globe’s Betrayal). Check out the web site for clergy abuse victims: SNAPnetwork.org

14) Support the accused priest PRIVATELY.
Calls, visits, letters, gifts, and prayers – all of these are appropriate ways to express your love and concern for the accused minister. Public displays of support, however, are not. They only intimidate others into keeping silent. In fact, it is terribly hurtful to victims to see parishioners openly rallying behind an accused priest. You may want to publicly defend a priest, collect funds for the minister’s defense, and take similar steps. Please don’t. Express your appreciation of the minister in a direct, quiet ways. Even if the minister is innocent, somewhere in the parish is a young girl being molested by a relative or a boy being abused by his coach or youth leader. If these children see adults they love and respect publicly rallying around accused perpetrators, they will be less likely to report their own victimization to their parents, the police, or other authorities. They will be scared into remaining silent, and their horrific pain will continue.

15) Don’t be blinded by the pain you can see.
The trauma of the accused minister, and those who care about him, is obvious. You can usually see it in his face, his posture, and his actions. But please try to keep in mind the trauma of the accuser too. Because you rarely see his/her pain directly, it’s important to try and imagine it. This helps you keep a balanced perspective.

16) Try to put yourself in the shoes of the alleged victim.
It’s easy to identify with the minister.. Most Christians have met dozens of ministers and know them as warm and wonderful individuals. On the other hand, few Christians have met clergy abuse survivors. In the gospels, Jesus calls us to identify with the hurting, the vulnerable, and the innocent, the hurting. Try, as best you can, to imagine the shame, self-blame, confusion and fear that afflict men and women who have been victimized by trusted religious authority figures.

17) Use this painful time as an opportunity to protect your own family.
Talk with your children about “safe touch,” the private parts of their bodies, who is allowed to touch those parts, what to do if someone else tries, and who to tell. Urge your sons and daughters to have similar conversations with your grandchildren.

18) Turn your pain into helpful action.
In times of stress and trauma, doing something constructive can be very beneficial. Volunteer your time or donate your funds to organizations that help abused kids or work to stop molestation.

19) Keep in mind the fundamental choice you face.
On the one hand, at stake are the FEELINGS of a grown up. On the other hand, at stake is the PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SPIRITUAL AND SEXUAL SAFETY of potentially many children. If one has to err in either direction, the prudent and moral choice is to always err on the side of protecting those who can’t protect themselves: children. Remember too that it’s easier for an adult to repair his reputation than for a child (or many children) to repair his/her psyche and life. Another way to look at this: Being falsely accused of abuse is horrific. But actually being abused, then being attacked or disbelieved is far worse.

20) Ask your pastor to bring in an outside expert or a therapist who can lead a balanced discussion about sexual abuse.
Therapists understand and can answer the questions you and your fellow parishioners are facing, and help you deal with the emotional impact of this trauma too.

21) Urge your all church employees to follow these guidelines too.

For more information:
SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com
Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com

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I think #14 is interesting. I agree the way in which you stand by someone you believe is innocent will strongly affect abuse victims and their ability to come forward. But I don’t know that total silence in public is what is called for.

Tell us what you think.

- Tamara

I waited, not so patiently, I know. But I believe God’s timing was impeccable. Thank you, Ed.

Please read it. It’s great: The Price

– Tamara

ASK ABWE …

1. To release the Simms Showers report without victim names. (This should include how many people were contacted and interviewed, so you can determine how thorough it actually was.) To inform current and sending churches only is not enough. All churches who supported these men, should know. Beyond that, we believe their former coworkers must know and any other affiliations they hold, such as GARBC.

2. Ask for proof of how each alleged pedophile has been handled: proof they have been let go, proof they have been reported to authorities.

3. Ask if the mission fields where each man served have been investigated. The national children matter as much as MKs. Please do not allow ABWE to overlook this vital step.

4. Ask when they will give the Bengali pastors a proper investigation. There are many allegations of sexual misconduct and missionaries turning blind eyes and continuing to give paychecks–your money–to the pastors. This matter must be resolved. Those they have wounded deserve justice as well.

5. Ask what has been done with any administrative missionaries who mishandled these cases of missionary child sexual abuse in the past. Again, names and proof that they have been handled and are no longer on payroll.

And as many of you have asked, “Should we stop sending money to ABWE?” etc., our answer, as always, must be that we do not want innocent missionaries stranded on the other side of the world. Do what you can to make sure your missionaries are supported, even if you choose to no longer send your money to the home office.

Lastly, encourage your missionaries to become educated about this matter. Remind them how important this matter is for THEIR children. It is not ancient history until ABWE’s behavior changes.

Thank you.

- Tamara