CAM Molestation Issue

[Aurien]

What I am curious about is: In Plain churches if "moral failings" happen is it common that all that is said to the congregation is that the person had a moral failure? with the excuse to keep details out? Or is the congregation actually told this person sexually abused children?

Typically there would be some sort of discreet language such as that used publicly over the pulpit. But it would not be a secret to be kept. Seems like some people want all the gory details that would make penthouse proud. Others would only need to be informed of what happened and the extent of it, and assurance that it is being correctly handled. Others do not want to know details and whatever is publicly announced is sufficient for them.
I'd say it is extremely rare that only the leaders would know, and if it was sexually abusing children, I can't imagine everyone in the whole community and in every church for miles around not knowing. I know of two Anabaptist men (not from the same church or same fellowship group) sitting in prison right now here in Oregon for sexually abusing their daughters. There was no attempt at all to protect or hide what they did from the community. I personally discussed it frankly with non-believers. But neither did we see any need to take out a billboard advertisement along the I-5 corridor to ensure everyone knew. Nor did we invite the local media to do interviews.

"Discreet language" is not enough when it comes to sexual abuse. There's no need to provide "gory" details but there's a difference between naming the abuse for what it is and saying things "that would make Penthouse proud." The Jeriah Mast case for example. Saying "he sexually molested young boys" is not a gory detail. Saying he sodomized them is not a gory detail. Saying something like, [REDACTED BY MODERATOR - Inappropriately Graphic Description] is not even a "gory" detail but also probably isn't something that needs to be said like that to the public. Saying, "sexually molested, sodomized or raped should be sufficient for most people to know.
Yes I know I probably shocked some people with my use of the words penis and anus but how do you expect to remove the secrecy around sexual abuse if you can't even say anatomically correct words without blushing? If a child is taught that everything regarding sex and anatomy is a shameful things then they're not going to speak up when they've been sexually abused. Neither will an adult who is taught that such things are shameful.

How many of y'all read things in the Bible and then go tell God that he has inappropriately graphic things in the there? If I posted Ezekiel 23 here would you redact that for inappropriately graphic descriptions?

[Ernie]

For the record, I don't feel like the way conservative Anabaptists have handled these matters is good, but neither do I think that the world's ways of handling these matters is good. There is a third way. I may write about that sometime.

Please do. I would like to read what you have to say on this.

Looks like someone else has beat me to it.

Asher Witmer writes: https://www.asherwitmer.com/when-christ ... x-scandal/
"Millennials are all about fighting for causes, and right now the trendy cause is sexual abuse victims. Sometimes I wonder, however, if those of us joining the bandwagon of bringing to surface hidden sexual abuse scandals truly care about restoring people in their connection with Jesus?
Because simply blasting these types of stories without a Gospel-centered framework through which to sort through this kind of atrocity coming from people who claim to be spreading the Gospel can cause someone to stumble in their faith.
I’m not suggesting sitting back and doing nothing. That has already caused many to stumble (and fall) in their faith.
Neither am I proposing simply extending grace to perpetrators and withholding consequences. Such crimes must be punished and properly dealt with!
We need deep transformation in the church.
...
What I long to see are conservative Anabaptist churches where victims can share their stories and the community grieves with them, believes them, and does whatever it takes to help them experience safety and find healing.
I long to see conservative Anabaptist churches where perpetrators are confronted, forced to reckon with the consequences of their actions, and surrounded with a group of people committed to gently helping them find the freedom and wholeness they also need."

[Sienna]

For the record, I don't feel like the way conservative Anabaptists have handled these matters is good, but neither do I think that the world's ways of handling these matters is good. There is a third way. I may write about that sometime.

Please do. I would like to read what you have to say on this.

Looks like someone else has beat me to it.

Asher Witmer writes: https://www.asherwitmer.com/when-christ ... x-scandal/
"Millennials are all about fighting for causes, and right now the trendy cause is sexual abuse victims. Sometimes I wonder, however, if those of us joining the bandwagon of bringing to surface hidden sexual abuse scandals truly care about restoring people in their connection with Jesus?
Because simply blasting these types of stories without a Gospel-centered framework through which to sort through this kind of atrocity coming from people who claim to be spreading the Gospel can cause someone to stumble in their faith.
I’m not suggesting sitting back and doing nothing. That has already caused many to stumble (and fall) in their faith.
Neither am I proposing simply extending grace to perpetrators and withholding consequences. Such crimes must be punished and properly dealt with!
We need deep transformation in the church.
...
What I long to see are conservative Anabaptist churches where victims can share their stories and the community grieves with them, believes them, and does whatever it takes to help them experience safety and find healing.
I long to see conservative Anabaptist churches where perpetrators are confronted, forced to reckon with the consequences of their actions, and surrounded with a group of people committed to gently helping them find the freedom and wholeness they also need."

However, there are a multitude of those older than millennials who are pulling out swords and fighting this one. We are simply tired of an old way that does not work! I happen to think those fighting for this one are those who themselves were abused. The social media is finally an avenue for victims to speak out and they are doing so. It will change the landscape.

[Sienna]

Ernie,
How do any of us take this to CAM?
Who there will meet with us?
What accountability and assurances can be provided that what we say will be taken seriously?

With the amount of energy this situation is consuming, (in addition to the full time work these men were already doing) it may be awhile until you could meet with someone. I think it would be considerate to give them some space.

You could write a letter to CAM asking to meet with a couple board members and executive committee members as soon as they have time to meet with you. You could take some church leaders along with you.

In the meantime, you could write a up a polite statement like Dan Z wrote, send it to CAM by mail, fax, or email; ask that it be delivered to the Board and/or Exec. Committee, and ask for a confirmation that they received it.

It would seem that writing a public statement and signing it would get it out there. Sending statements to Trudy seems to work.

[Sienna]

And I say this with all kindness and love, but your position as an employee of CAM of course, and there is nothing wrong with it it just is what it is, perhaps influences your discernment.

It is possible.
But I have had my own disappointments with some aspects of CAM and I have not shied away from acknowledging them publicly.
On another occasion I asked for a hearing. The overseers listened well and made changes accordingly.
I can only talk from my experience. I can't speak for others.

The problem here wasn't the screening. That's a non-issue. Leaders at CAM knew. The problem was the burying and non-reporting of the issue. And in so doing endangering the welfare of some of the most vulnerable children on earth.

That is what boggles the minds of some of us 900. In our departments, this would not have happened.

I am curious, what would it take to make you consider dropping your support?

If there are no new policies, no new accountability procedures, no new layers of review, and no help for the victims. (as a result of this ordeal)

Light drives out darkness. I have very little confidence that absent public exposure, any substantial shifts would be forthcoming.

That is where we differ. I've seen substantial shifts happen in the past whenever there was negligence or naivete.

But why would you even want to salvage an institution that is corrupt at the highest level of oversight? My understanding is that there are no term limits for the board, nor does the board even know much of what happens. Let those within who are outraged start a New thing. Moreover, this was handed to law enforcement and the FBI, I doubt if they will check MennoNet for advice on what to do with CAM.

[Dan Z]

CAM Board has just produced a statement stating that two executives know about Jeriah's abuse of minors since 2013. These two (Eli Weaver & Paul Weaver) have admitted their error in judgement. They have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

[appleman2006]

I just saw this as well. This is a good start. I am praying that they continue to make good decisions and do the right thing.

[queserasera_2]

CAM Board has just produced a statement stating that two executives know about Jeriah's abuse of minors since 2013. These two (Eli Weaver & Paul Weaver) have admitted their error in judgement. They have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Well, that's certainly an improvement....

[Dan Z]

But why would you even want to salvage an institution that is corrupt at the highest level of oversight?

This statement (and others like it that I am reading) makes me think that you don't know CAM, its ministry, or its people at all.

Regarding CAM, I think a few well-meaning but naive & misguided and very human leaders made a horrible choice a while ago to believe that repentance and marriage and maturity and spiritual healing and church discipline somehow changed a depraved mind. And perhaps there was something in the culture that elevated these fellows too high for their own good. They gave a predator access to those they were committed to serve. I know they are suffering deeply for their error, and they'll bear it the rest of their days. Why and how this happened needs to be investigated - and changes need to happen for sure. But to call CAM leadership "corrupt at the highest level of oversight" just doesn't line up at all with my 30 year experience with CAM as a donor, fellow mission worker in Haiti, and a brief time as a CAM mission worker in the 90s. You don't know CAM's people.

This is a great big tragic mess - no question. It hurts us all in the Conservative Mennonite community deeply and we will do some serious soul searching for sure. But what I am seriously beginning to struggle with is the cynicism, the conspiracy mongering, and the disenfranchised griping that I am hearing that is attempting to take the acts of a depraved heart (which we all universally condemn) and the leadership failure of a few CAM executives, and transform it into a sweeping condemnation of the Conservative Anabaptist community. Yes, a few of us have fallen - give us a hand up. Don't spit on us while we're down.

[Judas Maccabeus]

CAM Board has just produced a statement stating that two executives know about Jeriah's abuse of minors since 2013. These two (Eli Weaver & Paul Weaver) have admitted their error in judgement. They have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

Good start. I am sure their lawyers are boiling mad over this. No lawyer would ever let a statement like this see the light of day.

It is obvious that the next step will be to look at their procedures, candidate selection and management training. These areas are likely where the failures really occurred. Assuming CAM survives this, it may well be a better organization than we see today.


J.M.