CAM Molestation Issue

[steve-in-kville]

Yeah...I really don't think it is jobs or money.

This is where I respectfully disagree. And that is how this problem will get solved.

"Any problem that can be fixed with money is no longer a problem, but an expense."

[Dan Z]

Ernie, Perhaps this is being hushed by the Menno community because so many Menno jobs are at stake seeing as CAM is the employer of how many Mennos (I think I read 900 somewhere)? Perhaps the true test of American Mennonite Christianity is when their job is at stake?

I don't like speculating like this about people's motivations. People who don't like Mennonites already will of course believe these kinds of characterizations, when CAM likely responded in a very human if imperfect way. Any of us, Menno or not, may have made the same mistakes. And yes the mistakes must be amended and acknowledged. One could likewise question the motives of those who seize on scandals, speculate about conspiracies, and appear to enjoy seeing terrible things brought to light, but I don't think that is a profitable exercise either.

Agreed Mike. From all I personally know of the long-term character and commitment of CAM and the men involved in decision-making concerning Jeriah's re-appointment, this is a mistake (yes, a HUGE one) not a conspiracy...even though those who wish to discredit CAM and the Conservative Mennonite community may try to opportunistically frame it as something else.

[RZehr]

Ernie, Perhaps this is being hushed by the Menno community because so many Menno jobs are at stake seeing as CAM is the employer of how many Mennos (I think I read 900 somewhere)? Perhaps the true test of American Mennonite Christianity is when their job is at stake?

Or simply money in general. Take the money away from the Mennonites and they will dissolve in five years.

I disagree with both of you here. First, it isn't being "hushed by the Menno community". And most of those jobs are very low wage jobs and these employees could find better paying jobs in a heart beat right now. We have right now the lowest unemployment in years. By and large, those employees are not working for CAM for the money. They are working for CAM because they believe in what they are doing. They are willing to accept lower wages from CAM in order for CAM to use more money for the missions.

Qualified people aren't exactly clamoring to go work for CAM, which may in part be why they made the terrible decision to send JMast back down there.

Many of these are not coveted jobs, but sacrificial. And if these employees lose confidence in CAM, the wage is not high enough to retain them. According to Forbes, the top earner at CAM is about $100,000. Think about that for a minute. The top earner of a 900 employee international "company", hundreds of millions of dollars, and the "CEO" makes only $100,000!?!? https://www.forbes.com/companies/christ ... 2548145076 They aren't doing it for the money.

[Ken]

Ernie, Perhaps this is being hushed by the Menno community because so many Menno jobs are at stake seeing as CAM is the employer of how many Mennos (I think I read 900 somewhere)? Perhaps the true test of American Mennonite Christianity is when their job is at stake?

I don't like speculating like this about people's motivations. People who don't like Mennonites already will of course believe these kinds of characterizations, when CAM likely responded in a very human if imperfect way. Any of us, Menno or not, may have made the same mistakes. And yes the mistakes must be amended and acknowledged. One could likewise question the motives of those who seize on scandals, speculate about conspiracies, and appear to enjoy seeing terrible things brought to light, but I don't think that is a profitable exercise either.

Agreed Mike. From all I personally know of the long-term character and commitment of CAM and the men involved in decision-making concerning Jeriah's re-appointment, this is a mistake (yes, a HUGE one) not a conspiracy...even though those who wish to discredit CAM and the Conservative Mennonite community may try to opportunistically frame it as something else.

In criminal law, a conspiracy is simply an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, or to aid and abet in the commission or cover-up of a crime.

[puttincomputers]

Long time no see, folks!

I just had to chime in here. It is a welcome sight to see CMs cleaning house. This is long overdue. How much of a house will be left? That is hard to say. I suspect only a small remnant of men might remain. There is so much abuse that is hidden and so much abuse that has been DEFENDED by local churches (the latter happened to my extended family).

If you want to see my hot take on the issue, see my blog post.
http://unknownpossibilitiesawait.weebly ... es-scandal

[Josh]

Long time no see, folks!

I just had to chime in here. It is a welcome sight to see CMs cleaning house. This is long overdue. How much of a house will be left? That is hard to say. I suspect only a small remnant of men might remain. There is so much abuse that is hidden and so much abuse that has been DEFENDED by local churches (the latter happened to my extended family).

If you want to see my hot take on the issue, see my blog post.
http://unknownpossibilitiesawait.weebly ... es-scandal

To what degree do you feel this is a conspiracy versus a widespread cultural problem?

I think it’s a widespread cultural problem that can quickly turn into a coverup. For example, here on MennoNet, I don’t think ernie and mike are conspirators at all. Yet from my perspective they could feel that way, as they were reticent to discuss these details because it “felt wrong” to them. That seems cultural.

A conspiracy could indeed take advantage of plain peoples’ reticence.

[mike]

Long time no see, folks!

I just had to chime in here. It is a welcome sight to see CMs cleaning house. This is long overdue. How much of a house will be left? That is hard to say. I suspect only a small remnant of men might remain. There is so much abuse that is hidden and so much abuse that has been DEFENDED by local churches (the latter happened to my extended family).

If you want to see my hot take on the issue, see my blog post.
http://unknownpossibilitiesawait.weebly ... es-scandal

Thanks for including this in your post, which puts your response in perspective. It is always good be clear about where one is coming from.

Essentially, I believe the entire Conservative Anabaptist system is corrupt by nature, not because evil people have infiltrated it. It is time to be scriptural and practice Revelation 18:4. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

[RZehr]

Long time no see, folks!

I just had to chime in here. It is a welcome sight to see CMs cleaning house. This is long overdue. How much of a house will be left? That is hard to say. I suspect only a small remnant of men might remain. There is so much abuse that is hidden and so much abuse that has been DEFENDED by local churches (the latter happened to my extended family).

If you want to see my hot take on the issue, see my blog post.
http://unknownpossibilitiesawait.weebly ... es-scandal

There is a lot of things on your blog post about how we think and value that I disagree with. Welcome back.

[joshuabgood]

Essentially, I believe the entire Conservative Anabaptist system is corrupt by nature, not because evil people have infiltrated it. It is time to be scriptural and practice Revelation 18:4. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Because of your experiences, and being from the same community originally, I understand your feelings and am not surprised. That said, I think the conservative Anabaptist vision (as it exists in my mind =), is a compelling one.

[puttincomputers]

To what degree do you feel this is a conspiracy versus a widespread cultural problem?

I think it’s a widespread cultural problem that can quickly turn into a coverup.

I agree! It is a widespread cultural problem that folks seek to hide. Why do CMs typically seek to hid this problem? I believe it is because CMs take pride in the supposed fact the rules and regulations supposedly prevent these issues from occurring. When it doesn't work, people try to hide that fact so as to remain in the bubble that feels good to them. It's scary to question your own worldview. Especially, when daring to question is, by rule, going to lead to your own expulsion from the only community you know well.