Trudy Metzger/Steve Stutzman

[JohnH]

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.

Are you sure? My understanding is that his preying on young boys was known, but there was a belief him getting married would straighten him out. As opposed to a more sensible policy of “anyone who has a history of preying on young boys isn’t a good candidate for a mission”.

[Grace]

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.

Every person on Facebook has a personal Profile page. That person has the ability to delete any comment people post on their page. Trudy can't control what people say, but she certainly can delete the name calling, slander, and other unseemly posts. So, she does have control over what appears on her Facebook page.

[JohnH]

Every person on Facebook has a personal Profile page. That person has the ability to delete any comment people post on their page. Trudy can't control what people say, but she certainly can delete the name calling, slander, and other unseemly posts. So, she does have control over what appears on her Facebook page.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect Trudy to become some kind of censor. In addition, there are quite a few other groups she doesn't control where these same discussions go on.

[temporal1]

Every person on Facebook has a personal Profile page. That person has the ability to delete any comment people post on their page. Trudy can't control what people say, but she certainly can delete the name calling, slander, and other unseemly posts. So, she does have control over what appears on her Facebook page.

i’m not tech savvy, FB savvy, or generally savvy.
i believe FB users can+do delete, block, etc., IN ADDITION, they can renounce content - even while allowing it.
my impression was, the posts were noticed+appreciated. i left the page.

anyway. as an outsider, i noticed this going on when Ernie first alerted the forum of the FB activities.
i haven’t returned.

P.8 / i appreciate I Timothy.
SIN is THE culprit. SIN loves divisiveness. The onus is upon SIN.

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

Last sentence, i think WE ALL need this reminder. Esp to prevent SIN from delighting in us.

[Grace]

Every person on Facebook has a personal Profile page. That person has the ability to delete any comment people post on their page. Trudy can't control what people say, but she certainly can delete the name calling, slander, and other unseemly posts. So, she does have control over what appears on her Facebook page.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect Trudy to become some kind of censor. In addition, there are quite a few other groups she doesn't control where these same discussions go on.

It is reasonable, since she responds to many of the posts on FB. I am unaware of the other groups, and you are right she has no control over what is said there.

[temporal1]

It is reasonable, since she responds to many of the posts.

As well, my impression is, she’s somewhat of a professional, counseling, advising, writing, if by default? In my view, this impacts responsibility.

Grace, i appreciate your consistent recognition of and appreciation for, her important work.
i pray for God’s will in resolving this matter - esp for benefit of victims.

SIN is THE culprit.

[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.

Are you sure? My understanding is that his preying on young boys was known,

I don't know of anyone who thought he was still preying on boys who was ok with him being involved in missions. They thought he had quit for good.

but there was a belief him getting married would straighten him out.

I've heard this before, maybe from you, but I don't know if this was fact or not.

As opposed to a more sensible policy of “anyone who has a history of preying on young boys isn’t a good candidate for a mission”.

Correct. I think many leaders now understand this who did not understand this before.

[JohnH]

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.

Are you sure? My understanding is that his preying on young boys was known,

I don't know of anyone who thought he was still preying on boys who was ok with him being involved in missions. They thought he had quit for good.

Maybe that's part of what I simply cannot fathom / understand; regardless of forgiveness, I don't understand thinking it is OK to send someone who has done such things into a mission situation. Maybe there was a different mindset that is very different from my own mindset.

Part of the problem Trudy faced in trying to expose this was that some people insisted it was "unforgiving" to bring up the past things he'd done as supporting evidence that they may still be going on. However, the truth is that people who prey on multiple children tend to be repeat offenders, so it is actually quite prudent to look at past history. Trudy was spoken of very, very poorly back then for her role in exposing what Jeriah Mast was doing. Considering the rest of the plain world got it wrong... it would seem that Trudy should be given a lot of grace (perhaps as much as has been given to supposedly repentant child molesters) for how she does things. Criticism of Trudy's methods perhaps should be reserved until the rest of us have been getting it right for a while.

[JetsforJesus]

I have been pretty disappointed in the conservative anabaptist response to abuse in the past few years. Maybe it was an undertone growing up and I just never realized, but seeing men in authority acting like I have seen on Facebook pretty much destroys any respect I ever had for that segment of the Mennonite culture

[barnhart]

I have been pretty disappointed in the conservative anabaptist response to abuse in the past few years. Maybe it was an undertone growing up and I just never realized, but seeing men in authority acting like I have seen on Facebook pretty much destroys any respect I ever had for that segment of the Mennonite culture

I have come to see sexual abuse is a subset of power abuse. This is why I would like to see Anabaptists commonly practice a one strike policy for leaders and sexual abuse. Once authority has been abused in that way, I don't think a church should ever hand it back. God can raise up new leaders. The repentant can go on to serve in ways that do not put them in position of authority.

As far as people showing their character on Facebook, maybe this can be a moment to reconsider who is put in positions of authority. I knew a man who thought he was gifted to be a pastor and told people about it. When the time came to ordain, his name did not surface. This is wise.