CAM Molestation Issue

[Wade]

Will Rodenhuis came by last night and he said he had no details or idea what was going on down there except was told that Jeriah had some “moral failings” and it was taken care of. I talked with my brother Leland Zehr today (who was mentioned in the Herr audio) and he didn’t know anything at all.
They were both “over” Jeriah down there and didn’t know.

Okay - so they would have know he was in contact with a lot of children but didn't know anything was happening.

Did they know that he had previously sexually assaulted children but was believed to have repented before going?

[Dan Z]

Will Rodenhuis came by last night and he said he had no details or idea what was going on down there except was told that Jeriah had some “moral failings” and it was taken care of. I talked with my brother Leland Zehr today (who was mentioned in the Herr audio) and he didn’t know anything at all.
They were both “over” Jeriah down there and didn’t know.

Wow

[RZehr]

I think I personally still believe that CAM will eventually do what is expected of them. I’d like to think they’re leadership is trying to do their best and not being self serving. I do feel all lot of pity for the leadership. These men probably were placed in these positions with little to no consideration on how exactly they would handle something like this. And I’d like to think that they actually believed this sin was taken care of in genuine repentance and would not happen again. If that is the case, I think we should try to extent grace to the leadership. I don’t really like how good men can make an honest mistake and then be publicly flogged and renounce for that mistake or lack of judgement. However, even if my assumptions of leadership integrity is correct, the ones with knowledge who were part of making the decision of sending him back down there really should resign.

However, if it is as Josh and Joshua have charged, in that they knew and covered up and obfuscated the matter to save face or themselves or something like that, then obviously that is a drastically different can of worms.

I am not really impressed with how the Shankster account sounds. If that account is accurate, then CAM is still going backwards. But I don’t think we have heard CAM leaderships side at all yet. Even the letter was apparently vetted by the lawyer.
We have heard a lot from the peanut gallery, and armchair quarterbacks are pouring out of the wood work. And it does sort of bug me and saddens me how hundreds of people who aren’t in the trenches of the nonprofit missionary world now line up to take their shot at what I assume are upright, honest, well meaning men who simply made the wrong judgement call.

I’m not really saying definitely that CAM leadership is clear in this. I’m saying that I personally don’t know for sure who knew what when, so until that time I’m not really into blasting indiscriminately at CAM or their people. I have and had quite a few family members serve on CAM projects and missions and so I know CAM is a lot more than a few men at the top who intentionally or not made bad decisions.

I’d like to think eventually the whole truth will come out, and I support and expect to see some resigning. I also don’t really blame some of you for feeling a lot different that this if you have better and more knowledge than I. If the truth is as it appears, it is bad. I’d just like to actually hear the other side before I grab a torch and pitchfork.

[RZehr]

Will Rodenhuis came by last night and he said he had no details or idea what was going on down there except was told that Jeriah had some “moral failings” and it was taken care of. I talked with my brother Leland Zehr today (who was mentioned in the Herr audio) and he didn’t know anything at all.
They were both “over” Jeriah down there and didn’t know.

Okay - so they would have know he was in contact with a lot of children but didn't know anything was happening.

Did they know that he had previously sexually assaulted children but was believed to have repented before going?

I really don’t know what CAM leadership knew. But I would be shocked if no one in the CAM leadership knew. The only thing that could make sense is if someone really downplayed and minimized and watered down what he was actually doing. Maybe they didn’t know the extent? Maybe they were just told it was a “moral failure”?
But my actual money would be that someone (probably more than one person) knew what he did, but we’re assured by someone (his church or preacher?) that his repentance was genuine, that he wouldn’t do it anymore, maybe because he got married.
Pure speculation on my part. I’m just trying to think if there is any possibilities other than straight up evil.

Or are you asking if Will or Leland knew? No, neither of them had any inkling whatsoever that he had been before, or was at that time doing anything of the sort. When pressed what “moral failure” meant, Will R wasn’t given any details, just assured that it was all taken care of and in the past. I’m not exactly certain how the timelines matched up. I think Leland was probably the director in 2011-2012 and then someone else was, and later Will was.

[Aurien]

I think I personally still believe that CAM will eventually do what is expected of them. I’d like to think they’re leadership is trying to do their best and not being self serving. I do feel all lot of pity for the leadership. These men probably were placed in these positions with little to no consideration on how exactly they would handle something like this. And I’d like to think that they actually believed this sin was taken care of in genuine repentance and would not happen again. If that is the case, I think we should try to extent grace to the leadership. I don’t really like how good men can make an honest mistake and then be publicly flogged and renounce for that mistake or lack of judgement. However, even if my assumptions of leadership integrity is correct, the ones with knowledge who were part of making the decision of sending him back down there really should resign.

However, if it is as Josh and Joshua have charged, in that they knew and covered up and obfuscated the matter to save face or themselves or something like that, then obviously that is a drastically different can of worms.

I am not really impressed with how the Shankster account sounds. If that account is accurate, then CAM is still going backwards. But I don’t think we have heard CAM leaderships side at all yet. Even the letter was apparently vetted by the lawyer.
We have heard a lot from the peanut gallery, and armchair quarterbacks are pouring out of the wood work. And it does sort of bug me and saddens me how hundreds of people who aren’t in the trenches of the nonprofit missionary world now line up to take their shot at what I assume are upright, honest, well meaning men who simply made the wrong judgement call.

Have you questioned why we haven't heard CAM leaderships side at all yet? What would be the reason for them to only issue a statement written or largely directed by their lawyer?

From reading many various comments on this story is seems to me like a lot of the "peanut gallery" and "armchair quarterbacks" as you call them are people who were sexually abused themselves and had their church handle it very poorly or not at all, or people who have close friends or relatives who were sexually abused and were not helped by their church. Have you ever suffered sexual abuse and then had your church gloss over it or ignore it completely? It's a very painful thing to experience. If you read the comments on Trudy Metzger's Facebook posts and contrast them with the comments on Christian News Facebook post about the abuse you will see that those commenting on Trudy's posts are in fact being quite merciful. I have not seen one person on Trudy's posts calling for things like castration or the death penalty. Most of them simply desire that the victims would receive help and healing and that Jeriah would face the consequences of his crimes. They also desire that CAM would be open and honest about their failures that allowed Jeriah to have continued access to young boys.

[temporal1]

RZehr:
.. I’m just trying to think if there is any possibilities other than straight up evil.

Possibly the learning curve is recognizing how bad “straight up evil” can be, esp how seductive, what illusions and delusions it masters.

As i read+read this week, the parallels with the Catholic Church priest scandals of the 1990’s resurface (continuing today, 20+ years later). The enabling, the ignoring, the trusting, the denial, the assignment of men with prior history of abuse to new locations/new victims!

The hope is to study history, not ignore it, and not repeat it!

There are patterns that go across denominations.
They appear in small, independent groups, to the RCC. When this happens, it must be recognized, in their shoes, very likely, most people would be vulnerable to making the very same mistakes.

You are correct: For outsiders, it appears black+white!
Something must go haywire, the closer one gets (to that evil).

i don’t see pitchforks so much as people wanting resolution. apathy would be far worse.
“doing what’s always been done,” is not working.

i empathize with your position. it’s rough.
normal, well-adjusted people are not prepared to deal with sociopaths or psychopaths.
the most successful ones are intelligent and completely charming, that’s how they get away with it.
most of us are no match.

[RZehr]

I think I personally still believe that CAM will eventually do what is expected of them. I’d like to think they’re leadership is trying to do their best and not being self serving. I do feel all lot of pity for the leadership. These men probably were placed in these positions with little to no consideration on how exactly they would handle something like this. And I’d like to think that they actually believed this sin was taken care of in genuine repentance and would not happen again. If that is the case, I think we should try to extent grace to the leadership. I don’t really like how good men can make an honest mistake and then be publicly flogged and renounce for that mistake or lack of judgement. However, even if my assumptions of leadership integrity is correct, the ones with knowledge who were part of making the decision of sending him back down there really should resign.

However, if it is as Josh and Joshua have charged, in that they knew and covered up and obfuscated the matter to save face or themselves or something like that, then obviously that is a drastically different can of worms.

I am not really impressed with how the Shankster account sounds. If that account is accurate, then CAM is still going backwards. But I don’t think we have heard CAM leaderships side at all yet. Even the letter was apparently vetted by the lawyer.
We have heard a lot from the peanut gallery, and armchair quarterbacks are pouring out of the wood work. And it does sort of bug me and saddens me how hundreds of people who aren’t in the trenches of the nonprofit missionary world now line up to take their shot at what I assume are upright, honest, well meaning men who simply made the wrong judgement call.

Have you questioned why we haven't heard CAM leaderships side at all yet? What would be the reason for them to only issue a statement written or largely directed by their lawyer?

From reading many various comments on this story is seems to me like a lot of the "peanut gallery" and "armchair quarterbacks" as you call them are people who were sexually abused themselves and had their church handle it very poorly or not at all, or people who have close friends or relatives who were sexually abused and were not helped by their church. Have you ever suffered sexual abuse and then had your church gloss over it or ignore it completely? It's a very painful thing to experience. If you read the comments on Trudy Metzger's Facebook posts and contrast them with the comments on Christian News Facebook post about the abuse you will see that those commenting on Trudy's posts are in fact being quite merciful. I have not seen one person on Trudy's posts calling for things like castration or the death penalty. Most of them simply desire that the victims would receive help and healing and that Jeriah would face the consequences of his crimes. They also desire that CAM would be open and honest about their failures that allowed Jeriah to have continued access to young boys.

I don’t know what is going on at CAM. I agree with what some have said about attorneys. It’s fine to consult, but CAM better not be hiding behind legalities and lawyers. It’s really not right to do that. I’m baffled as to why that would even be close to reality.

I don’t know what everybody’s personal experiences are. Nor does everyone know mine.
But I do really know that all people who have been abuse are not taking the same positions on this. It’s not as if the victim are all on the same side and only other people can be found calling for restraint.
I don’t have Facebook, haven’t read the comments, didn’t even know about this fiasco at all until this thread was created.
I share the desire for CAM to be completely open and honest and to make needed changes. My guess is Josh and Joshua’s accusations will be shown to be pretty correct. But I think I’ll reserve judgement for a bit, simply because of the seriousness of the accusations. If this doesn’t get resolved properly, I could see some of my family members no longer serving under CAM.

[Wade]

Will Rodenhuis came by last night and he said he had no details or idea what was going on down there except was told that Jeriah had some “moral failings” and it was taken care of. I talked with my brother Leland Zehr today (who was mentioned in the Herr audio) and he didn’t know anything at all.
They were both “over” Jeriah down there and didn’t know.

Okay - so they would have know he was in contact with a lot of children but didn't know anything was happening.

Did they know that he had previously sexually assaulted children but was believed to have repented before going?

I really don’t know what CAM leadership knew. But I would be shocked if no one in the CAM leadership knew. The only thing that could make sense is if someone really downplayed and minimized and watered down what he was actually doing. Maybe they didn’t know the extent? Maybe they were just told it was a “moral failure”?
But my actual money would be that someone (probably more than one person) knew what he did, but we’re assured by someone (his church or preacher?) that his repentance was genuine, that he wouldn’t do it anymore, maybe because he got married.
Pure speculation on my part. I’m just trying to think if there is any possibilities other than straight up evil.

Or are you asking if Will or Leland knew? No, neither of them had any inkling whatsoever that he had been before, or was at that time doing anything of the sort. When pressed what “moral failure” meant, Will R wasn’t given any details, just assured that it was all taken care of and in the past. I’m not exactly certain how the timelines matched up. I think Leland was probably the director in 2011-2012 and then someone else was, and later Will was.

Thank you for replying RZehr.

My intent and reasoning in asking is trying to understand the thought process of people within the CA culture. I'm confused how if anyone knew about even past offenses and his repentance was even indeed genuine why he would be placed in such a position of temptation? I want to hope this doesn't normally happen. To me the fact that he was even sent out as a missionary is so troubling.
It has an affect hugely on my family, with me seeking out fellowship with CA's. I want to hope that if when such sin happens that the accountability continues and repentance doesn't just become a similar to some Evangelicals "once saved always saved" license to sin.

[RZehr]

I don’t know who okayed him to return to Haiti. But I’ll say this as probably unrealistic optimism: There are some people, some leaders I know very well and highly respect who are quite easy to fool. These are preachers who love people, who always seem to see the best in people and take people at their word. These preachers are best when coupled with others who are not like this.
Could it be that the person who green lighted JMs return is one of these people who just honestly believed JM? I have no idea, and I find this implausible myself.

While I believe in forgiveness, I don’t know of many people who would think that it would be acceptable to ever, ever, ever send JM back to Haiti if they knew what he was doing, no matter what, and no matter if they sincerely believed he was repentant and changed. It’s just a ridiculous and unwise idea as many have said. It doesn’t matter if decades go by. Just no. So why did CAM do it? I’m told JM knew that language and was very knowledgeable. Maybe CAMs judgement was clouded by his abilities and deceived by his smooth words and convincing testimony.

I’m 100% for CAM being held responsible for their actions and lack thereof once it is laid clear.

Another thing that tempers my and many others outrage and emotions are a couple things. First, we have learned that people are just people and will make mistakes and will also commit gross sins. While we do give each other the benefit of doubt to a certain point, we are quite aware that none are perfect. So while occasionally something like this comes along and knocks out socks off, we generally re-center fairly quick.
Another thing is we are immediately reminded that we too are sinful creatures and but for the grace of God go I. That has a tempering affect.
And we look at Jesus response to the woman taken in the sin of adultery, the very act. Jesus didn’t respond the same way the men were. We want to act in love and grace, which is not to be mistaken with apathy. Although I reckon we fail at this too. We fail so much. And with failure comes humility. And it is difficult to condemn if I’m convinced that I’m really no better than the bad guy, that I actually have more in common with him than Jesus.
This is not to say we always respond out of all this wonderful stuff I just wrote, but I do think it is not uncommon in our culture.

[Bill Rushby]

Conservative Anabaptists too frequently dismiss professional psychology as irrelevant on the theory that Christians know better. IMHO this is a mistake! Pedophilia is not a simple matter of sin-repentance-forgiveness-it won't happen again. The human mind is much more complicated than that.