What has to happen? Reforming our culture

[Dan Z]

The more important discussion is how are AB organizations going to respond to make sure that new JMasts don't creep into our midst and be given positions of unsupervised control over children. And how is AB culture going to evolve to make sure that these problems don't fester in secret like they have in the past.

Ken asks some salient questions here. This thread is for constructively discussing how we reform our culture to address the scourge of sexual abuse (and cover-up).

[Ken]

I don't have any answers. I grew up in the Mennonite culture, kind of trading time between my mother's family which was in the PA Conservative Mennonite Conference (which I now understand was not particularly conservative in the context of this forum) and my father's family which was mainstream Mennonite Church. As I reflect back over the years on this topic I really can't put my finger on this ever cropping up in my own world. But upon reflection I do recall a few older awkward single men whom the girls kind of avoided. But we also know the abusers are also not necessarily the ones we think meet a certain profile. I wonder how much I missed and was oblivious to over the years. I was aware of the various scandals over the years like J. Howard Yoder. But they never pushed into my own particular world. But maybe (or perhaps likely) I just didn't see it.

I do think we can draw a distinction between institutions and "culture". Often in these sorts of situations it is the institutions that have to take the lead and then culture will come around. Racism, for example. It took reforming institutions from top down such as the desegregation of the Armed forces under Truman, and the desegregation of the schools under order of the Supreme Court and enforced by the Federal Government to start the process of change. And eventually society and culture came around, even though we aren't all the way there even yet. There were plenty of people who argued that it simply "wasn't time" and that "Americans weren't ready" for these sorts of changes. But if you wait for everyone to be ready for change it will never happen. I would suggest that a similar approach here. AB instutitions simply have to make this a priority and get out and front and lead on this issue. And it is going to make a lot of people uncomfortable. And is going to require things like powerful men stepping aside to listen to women, which is something they may not be very used to doing. But without leadership from the top, and institutional effort in organizations like CAM and other AB organizations who have governing structures, nothing will ever change.

[ABC 123]

Ironically the Charity churches started and gained momentum as a reformation of sorts. Apparently it is not working as they had hoped.

[hillperson]

One thing I know is light overcomes darkness.

The secrecy shrouding abuse must be broken and there needs to be light in the dark corners.

To often in my growing up years I’ve heard about different incidents only to be told -don’t tell anyone. I think that’s where abuse goes on and goes from one generation to the next. It only takes one predator to do a lot of damage.

[hillperson]

I think victims should be protected til they want to come forward but predators should be known to the community.

[hillperson]

Also when bringing light make sure you have hard facts...... and that’s where it can be tricky.

[paulyoder]

I would propose that step# one needs to be that ALL crimes are reported to law enforcement.

[RZehr]

I would propose that step# one needs to be that ALL crimes are reported to law enforcement.

Sounds easy enough. I invite you to participate in the thread and poll. http://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2051

[ken_sylvania]

I would propose that step# one needs to be that ALL crimes are reported to law enforcement.

You'll make sure you take the lead on that by self-reporting every time you speed, right????

[Dan Z]

I would propose that step# one needs to be that ALL crimes are reported to law enforcement.

I'm not against reporting crimes, especially crimes of (sexual) violence against others, but a reporting partnership with law enforcement authorities seems to encroach a bit on my understanding of two-kingdom theology. Caesar is not always to be trusted. For example, should the Chinese Christians turn each other in for violating prohibitions on religion? Should the Christians of WWII Germany have turned in those who harbored Jews?