Trudy Metzger/Steve Stutzman

[JohnH]

Thanks for the support from some of you. Just to let you know I haven't communicated with Trudy, nor has she attempted to communicate with me. If she would create an account here, and wanted to private message me, I "might" respond. But I highly doubt that will happen.

I think you should do so, and hear her out. I have found her to be someone who has acted with the utmost of integrity (there are many situations that you don't see and aren't public), in an arena when there, frankly, hasn't been a great deal of integrity on the part of some (not all) conservative Anabaptists.

Take the opportunity she offered you to sit down and have coffee sometime. I'm sure she and you will cross paths at some point.

I most have really hit a nerve with her, that she dedicated a lengthy FB post and resurrected her blog in response to my post here on Mennonet. IMO Trudy's response to my post here in a lengthy blog post said more about her, then it did about me. But some of you might disagree, and that is okay.

Grace, with respect, you've had negative comments to say about Trudy going on for years now. That is certainly your right to do so, but you opened this up to public debate when you decided to post what you did on a public forum. I think it is okay if she at least also responds publicly.

Overall, if it weren't for Trudy, absolutely rotten situations like the Jeriah Mast situation probably wouldn't have been brought to light. Many people complained bitterly about her conduct back then, too. Perhaps it would be wholesome if conservative Anabaptists (and ex-conservative Anabaptists) who currently focus much of their ire on Trudy Metzger would instead focus it on the rotten abusers within our midsts.

[Grace]

I think you should do so, and hear her out. I have found her to be someone who has acted with the utmost of integrity (there are many situations that you don't see and aren't public), in an arena when there, frankly, hasn't been a great deal of integrity on the part of some (not all) conservative Anabaptists.

Take the opportunity she offered you to sit down and have coffee sometime. I'm sure she and you will cross paths at some point.

There are many miles between us, so I highly doubt that will happen.

Grace, with respect, you've had negative comments to say about Trudy going on for years now.

With all due respect I have also mentioned that I believe she does a good work in exposing some very evil actions of some perpetrators. I just don’t agree with some of her methods. I also wished her healing in her health issues

That is certainly your right to do so, but you opened this up to public debate when you decided to post what you did on a public forum. I think it is okay if she at least also responds publicly.

As I said in my prior post, I have no problem with her response to my post. I don’t have a big problem with the untruths, either. She can post whatever she wants.

Overall, if it weren't for Trudy, absolutely rotten situations like the Jeriah Mast situation probably wouldn't have been brought to light. Many people complained bitterly about her conduct back then, too. Perhaps it would be wholesome if conservative Anabaptists (and ex-conservative Anabaptists) who currently focus much of their ire on Trudy Metzger would instead focus it on the rotten abusers within our midsts.

That I agree with.

[Grace]

Steve Stutzman's statement on Facebook today.

I have been urged by friends, and those closest to me and this current situation, to set the record straight concerning accusations leveled at me. I have intentionally not entered the public conflict because it seems unproductive.

I am fully aware of the fact that I am not perfect, and am subject to errors in life and in judgement, and I am fully willing to own those mistakes. It is certainly understandable that people will have other perspectives than mine, but it seems fair that I should set the record straight concerning allegations of criminal activities, or lies that I was accused of.

I have heard allegations of many things in the last 2 months directed at me; rape, break-ins, assaults in Bible School, alcoholism, failure to report, manipulation of officials, and a number of similar things. While none of these are true, they still leave a smear and question mark in peoples minds that I am uncertain how to address.

One of the accusations that was made against me was that I failed to report a confession of sexual abuse of minors . This accusation would mean that I am a criminal and have no moral moorings whatsoever.

There were no meetings with alleged perpatrator prior to the mother of the alleged victims posting on social media several years ago, and there was not a confession about abuse of these children made to me or anyone at Strait Paths at any point.

What does actually turn out to be true, is that the mother of the children had multiple conversations with the alleged perpetrator and others in 2021, prior to the reporting of the CYS case, (2022) discussing that her children were showing indications of having been abused. These conversations went on for months, both verbal, and by text. I have multiple witnesses, and texts proving this. None of this was disclosed to me until after the public accusation of abuse on FB.

There are a whole series of this level of receipts that have informed my opinions. Most of it, I am simply not interested in sharing. Sharing screenshots and texts to stoke a fire does not, IMO, promote the peace and joy of a positive walk with Christ that I desire to see advanced, but rather controversy.

None of it lessens the effects of abuse, especially for those who feel unheard.

I know what it means to experience abuse as a very small child. I know what it means to grow up without a mother. I have acted out towards others, especially during school years, and I know what it means to find freedom, personally, by the blood of Christ. I also know the humility of going back to those people in repentance for my part in the situations.

We have a lot of work to do, and things coming up that need our attention and focus. Our heart here at Strait Paths is to bring freedom and restoration to lives wounded from the past. We know that we don’t always do that perfectly, and where we have missed the mark, we are sorry.

We are not likely to engage in any of this sort of rhetoric on Social Media, now or in the future. This is not a legitimate way to address grievances. If you have concerns with anything legal regarding Strait Paths Personnel, report that to authorities. If you see something that you feel crosses ethical lines, report it to our Board. info@straitpaths.com

I really want to utilize FB as a communication tool, to advertise events, and a positive way to build up the Kingdom. That is what I expect of myself, and anyone who chooses to enter the conversation on my wall.

In light of the plethora of false accusations and allegations against myself specifically and Strait Paths in recent weeks, I have decided the best path forward for us is to forgive.

In the process of all the fray, if I spoke things that hurt you, I apologize. There is plenty of hurt going on in the world already without adding to it, and I want to go forward as a vessel of healing, not injury. If other people spoke things in my defense that were objectionable or hurtful, please accept my apologies for that also.

[JohnH]

Classic.

Did he mention anything at all about being an elder who presided over a senior pastor who has a proven history of exposing himself to minors, and in particularly young Amish girls?

[the-real-steve]

Classic.

Did he mention anything at all about being an elder who presided over a senior pastor who has a proven history of exposing himself to minors, and in particularly young Amish girls?

That's a strange fetish right there

[Grace]

Steve Stutzmasn says in his statement:

In light of the plethora of false accusations and allegations against myself specifically and Strait Paths in recent weeks, I have decided the best path forward for us is to forgive.

In the process of all the fray, if I spoke things that hurt you, I apologize. There is plenty of hurt going on in the world already without adding to it, and I want to go forward as a vessel of healing, not injury. If other people spoke things in my defense that were objectionable or hurtful, please accept my apologies for that also.

I sincerely hope Steve Stutzman and Strait Paths continue choosing the path of forgiveness. Trudy put a very horrid accusatory short video with a modified voice of an anonymous person making a statement that gives no method to verify. There is no way to know if what Mr. Anonymous is saying is true or not. And of course, her followers are posting very hateful comments about SS and Strait Paths. BTW, I do not know Steve Stutzman, and I am sure he has his flaws and has made many mistakes. But the fact he chooses to forgive, and Trudy keeps attacking him on social media, speaks volumes.

That being said, I can completely support Trudy's work in exposing the abuse of children but disagree with her tactics. This would be an example of one of those tactics.

[Valerie]

Steve Stutzmasn says in his statement:

In light of the plethora of false accusations and allegations against myself specifically and Strait Paths in recent weeks, I have decided the best path forward for us is to forgive.

In the process of all the fray, if I spoke things that hurt you, I apologize. There is plenty of hurt going on in the world already without adding to it, and I want to go forward as a vessel of healing, not injury. If other people spoke things in my defense that were objectionable or hurtful, please accept my apologies for that also.

I sincerely hope Steve Stutzman and Strait Paths continue choosing the path of forgiveness. Trudy put a very horrid accusatory short video with a modified voice of an anonymous person making a statement that gives no method to verify. There is no way to know if what Mr. Anonymous is saying is true or not. And of course, her followers are posting very hateful comments about SS and Strait Paths. BTW, I do not know Steve Stutzman, and I am sure he has his flaws and has made many mistakes. But the fact he chooses to forgive, and Trudy keeps attacking him on social media, speaks volumes.

That being said, I can completely support Trudy's work in exposing the abuse of children but disagree with her tactics. This would be an example of one of those tactics.

I wish ragpicker could see this. I know he knows Steve Stutzman. I know people who think highly of him.
I’m not impressed with Trudy’s ways of handling all this.

[I Timothy]

One of the saddest consequences of public battles between SS and TM is that survivors become collateral damage.

When the focus shifted from listening to survivors to attacking each other's credibility, victims will wonder if speaking up is worth the cost. Some feel pressured to choose sides. Others decide it's safer to remain silent.

Advocates will disagree, and accountability matters. But the goal should never be winning a public fight—it should be creating a path where survivors can tell the truth, be heard, and receive justice and care.

TM needs to learn that others say the same things she does. They are peers, not opponents of some big battle.

[JohnH]

One of the saddest consequences of public battles between SS and TM is that survivors become collateral damage.

When the focus shifted from listening to survivors to attacking each other's credibility, victims will wonder if speaking up is worth the cost. Some feel pressured to choose sides. Others decide it's safer to remain silent.

Advocates will disagree, and accountability matters. But the goal should never be winning a public fight—it should be creating a path where survivors can tell the truth, be heard, and receive justice and care.

TM needs to learn that others say the same things she does. They are peers, not opponents of some big battle.

I agree.

However, one thing that tires me is people complaining about other random people and calling them “Trudy’s followers”. She has no control over those people, yet people act like she’s somehow responsible for what they say.

The answer isn’t to centre on “survivors” though; a predator who goes after powerless, young people figures out how find victims who won’t be able to speak up reliably, and survivors are not reliable narrators anyway. The solution is for the rest of us to identify predators and abusers in our midst and deal with them. Oftentimes everybody knows who they are, but nobody wants to act or deal with the situation. Jeriah Mast was a good example of this. His problems were well known.

[Ernie]

Jeriah Mast was a good example of this. His problems were well known.

His sins were known by some. His problems were only known by his victims. Since that ordeal, many Anabaptist leaders have now been enlightened and are realizing that repenting of one's sins does not necessarily do away with one's problems.