CAM Molestation Issue

[Grace]

https://trudymetzger.files.wordpress.co ... nkster.pdf

As men under authority they were no longer free to follow their consciences but had to follow the directives of the board and their lawyers.

Wow...just wow. 1945

This just goes to show that it is very difficult to mesh the “two Kingdoms”. I have seen this in the past, when someone within the conservative Mennonite community committed a heinous crime several years ago. Unfortunately when crimes are committed by conservative Anabaptist people, they are taking themselves out from under the umbrella of their core beliefs and putting themselves under the “kingdom” of the state.

And sadly, many times leaders have no knowledge how the criminal justice system works, and because of that, they depend heavily on the lawyers, doing what their lawyers say.

That being said, CAM leadership is between a rock and a hard place. It is true that Failure to protect the resources entrusted to CAM would be poor stewardship. Those resources are used to help and provide for the poorest of poor, for relief work, to provide aid stateside and abroad. etc.

One last thing. I am wondering how this last bit of news about the disagreements within the CAM board, from Trudy helps the victims of sexual abuse, as she so readily claims she wants to help?

[blackfriar]

One last thing. I am wondering how this last bit of news about the disagreements within the CAM board, from Trudy helps the victims of sexual abuse, as she so readily claims she wants to help?

Well, for one thing holding CAM accountable for what they allegedly knew and didn't do may prevent this type of thing in the future, and in that way save future children from this horror.

[Grace]

"blackfriar" wrote

Well, for one thing holding CAM accountable for what they allegedly knew and didn't do may prevent this type of thing in the future, and in that way save future children from this horror.

The inner workings/disagreements about non-resistance with the CAM board won't prevent any child from being molested in the future. Neither is it about holding anyone accountable. All it is..."look at that CAM board, they are using lawyers to help them, so they must be evil". Should they have made it public that a lawyer helped them with their statement? Yes they should have. But remember This probably is uncharted territory for them and mistakes will be made, people will disagree, and certain people will make it their responsibility to tell the world every little detail.

[Bootstrap]

But remember This probably is uncharted territory for them and mistakes will be made, people will disagree, and certain people will make it their responsibility to tell the world every little detail.

I agree with that, but I think it would have been wise for anyone writing a public statement to think about who they are writing to and how it would impact them.

Try reading that public statement, imagining you are:

• A victim of Jediah Mast
• A victim of someone else associated with CAM
• Someone who is not a victim, but knows one well
• A current or former CAM volunteer
• A donor who has given sacrificially to CAM for years
• Someone considering donating to CAM now, as opposed to some other organization

What does it look like and feel like from each of their perspectives? Imagine what is on their heart. Imagine yourself looking them in the eye and speaking directly to them, now read the statement. When crafting a statement like this, it really is good to imagine saying this directly to each of these people, knowing what they must be feeling, and taking responsibility as the leadership team. It's good to use some feeling words because people are feeling. Grieve with those who grieve, mourn with those who mourn, reflect their anger and outrage, sympathize with the victims, show that you get what it looks like from their point of view.

Did the public statement speak to any of that?

It's good to be open that nobody knows how to deal with this when they have to for the first time and they are still sorting this out, but they see that they need to take this very seriously in the future. It's good to think through what they owe each of these kinds of people.

And it's really important to take responsibility as the leadership of the organization. You don't have to know everything on day one, but you do need to keep people informed.

Google "Crisis Communication" or "Crisis Speech" to find discussion of what to say and how to say it, with some examples. Or just think through what's on the heart of each of these groups you serve, thinking about what you can honestly say to them as responsible Christian leadership that intends to make promises they can keep.

[appleman2006]

The fact that they used lawyers to help make the statement is not shocking to me. In fact it was quite obvious and I really do not have a problem with it. What alarms me far more is that at least two men at the head of their organisation are still acting as spokesmen for the organisation before they themselves have given a statement that they were totally unaware of Jeriah's failings before he was sent to Haiti the first time. the second time or any other time.

Right now it is the board's duty to do at least two things before anymore steps are taken IMO.

Each of the board members must make a statement declaring that they were totally unaware of any of this. If they cannot do so they should step down immediately. At that point the ones remaining should meet with each of the executive staff and ask the same question of them. They must then determine that if any of them knew anything and would of had the power to either overrule or even question to authority and did not do so they must be asked to resign.

At that point I think they would then have the authority to take the next steps and I believe the majority of the public could be convinced that the really want to do the right thing for everyone including the organisation.

As I see it if they really cared about the organisation and all involved that is what must happen.

[Grace]

But remember This probably is uncharted territory for them and mistakes will be made, people will disagree, and certain people will make it their responsibility to tell the world every little detail.

I agree with that, but I think it would have been wise for anyone writing a public statement to think about who they are writing to and how it would impact them.

Try reading that public statement, imagining you are:

• A victim of Jediah Mast
• A victim of someone else associated with CAM
• Someone who is not a victim, but knows one well
• A current or former CAM volunteer
• A donor who has given sacrificially to CAM for years
• Someone considering donating to CAM now, as opposed to some other organization

What does it look like and feel like from each of their perspectives? Imagine what is on their heart. Imagine yourself looking them in the eye and speaking directly to them, now read the statement. When crafting a statement like this, it really is good to imagine saying this directly to each of these people, knowing what they must be feeling, and taking responsibility as the leadership team. It's good to use some feeling words because people are feeling. Grieve with those who grieve, mourn with those who mourn, reflect their anger and outrage, sympathize with the victims, show that you get what it looks like from their point of view.

Did the public statement speak to any of that?

It's good to be open that nobody knows how to deal with this when they have to for the first time and they are still sorting this out, but they see that they need to take this very seriously in the future. It's good to think through what they owe each of these kinds of people.

And it's really important to take responsibility as the leadership of the organization. You don't have to know everything on day one, but you do need to keep people informed.

Google "Crisis Communication" or "Crisis Speech" to find discussion of what to say and how to say it, with some examples. Or just think through what's on the heart of each of these groups you serve, thinking about what you can honestly say to them as responsible Christian leadership that intends to make promises they can keep.

You are right in that the statement CAM made concerning this evil, was far from what it should have been; it was a mistake on their part. Hindsight is always better than foresight. And it probably won't be the last mistake they make in the coming weeks and years. So instead of criticizing every mistake they make and making sure everyone knows all about their mistakes, let's pray for them, and thank the Lord we are not in their shoes. Who of us haven't make mistakes and wrong moves in hard situations?

[Josh]

So instead of criticizing every mistake they make and making sure everyone knows all about their mistakes, let's pray for them, and thank the Lord we are not in their shoes. Who of us haven't make mistakes and wrong moves in hard situations?

1. I haven’t “made mistakes” involving diverting funds for years to cover up a child molester. I suspect nobody else here has either.

2. Transparency is part of Christian living. I’ve always confessed my faults one to another and am not afraid for people to know them. I believe an organisation like CAM, and its board members, would also benefit from such transparency.

[blackfriar]

So instead of criticizing every mistake they make and making sure everyone knows all about their mistakes, let's pray for them, and thank the Lord we are not in their shoes. Who of us haven't make mistakes and wrong moves in hard situations?

Mistakes are fine, they happen. Choosing to not be fully honest seems to be different than a mistake.

I also have no issues with them having a lawyer. They should have one. My issue was with their own admission that they can't follow their own consciences, but rather must act in the best interests of the organization, even when that conflicts with being truthful.

[Grace]

So instead of criticizing every mistake they make and making sure everyone knows all about their mistakes, let's pray for them, and thank the Lord we are not in their shoes. Who of us haven't make mistakes and wrong moves in hard situations?

Mistakes are fine, they happen. Choosing to not be fully honest seems to be different than a mistake.

I also have no issues with them having a lawyer. They should have one. My issue was with their own admission that they can't follow their own consciences, but rather must act in the best interests of the organization, even when that conflicts with being truthful.

It conflicts with the belief of non-resistance, for some.

[Grace]

Never mind. Changed my mind about posting what I planned to post.