CAM, Giving and Financial Integrity

[Ernie]

I think RP's post should be turned into "white paper" document with a title and so forth, on how to handle concerns.
Anybody interested in helping make that happen?

[ragpicker]

Nobody wins when someone tries to be an investigative journalist and do a full on exposé. I firmly believe that any person or organization that operates in the shade will never see the light of day. God has mysterious ways of exposing scams, or so I've seen.

But everybody can win if those who think they see improper conduct are willing to approach those they think did wrong and ask about it.
I have been on the receiving end of people making wrong assumptions about what they thought they heard. It's quite painful to have made a decision to operate legally, requiring additional time, hassle and expense to bring a specific operation into compliance, only to hear feedback from those only minimally involved that "ken_sylvania ignored the regulations in [specific operation] because it was more convenient to him." Or to have done a deal with a customer and have gone above and beyond my obligations (and customer was happy) but find out later than an individual again only marginally involved has been spreading stories saying that I deceived the customer and didn't provide the product that I was supposed to have provided.

I'm in a position to observe quite a bit of this from "the inside" of a very large business organization, as well as from close proximity to a ministry or two. Seeing how much of this goes on has changed me. I recoil in horror at the fact that I used to do it myself.

[ragpicker]

I think RP's post should be turned into "white paper" document with a title and so forth, on how to handle concerns.
Anybody interested in helping make that happen?

If anyone wishes to grab it, edit it, etc. they are free to do so. No credit needed. Only thing, do not edit it and then attach my name to it except as "inspired by something ragpicker wrote" type of thing. But no credit needed. I might work on it myself later.

[RZehr]

I think it would be great to see the name “Ragpicker” as an author.

[steve-in-kville]

Wow. I didn't realize so many folks here were secret CAM board members

The specific incident took place nearly 8 years ago. I'm not gonna name names, as the representative from CAM was just the messenger and most likely isn't even involved with CAM anymore. I was asked to provide financial info, on my employer's letterhead, stating something that actually didn't happen to "square the books" for the accountant.

Clear as mud, I know.

[ragpicker]

Wow. I didn't realize so many folks here were secret CAM board members

Perfect example of trying to marginalize valid concerns by mis-characterizing them as being from group 3. I'm going to take it as you joking though, because I thinks that's how you meant it.

It seems you're more interested in spreading a chip on your shoulder than resolving a problem. I hope I am misunderstanding you.

[steve-in-kville]

As I stated before, just tired of keeping secrets. I have no agenda. Put me in whatever group that is.

[ragpicker]

I think it would be great to see the name “Ragpicker” as an author.

Oh the conspiracy theories that could be spun from that.

[ragpicker]

As I stated before, just tired of keeping secrets. I have no agenda. Put me in whatever group that is.

Like I said earlier, I understand being tired of keeping secrets. I applaud you. I hope you can move from keeping secrets to not keeping them with integrity. I think I laid out a good case for how doing it without integrity looks like. You do it however you wish. Machs mich nix aus.

[Ms. Izzie]

I think there can be a Group 4 in some situations where somebody voices a concern. Group 4 really don’t care. They are having a good time and as long as their life is good, the concern doesn’t affect them and therefore, is just a nuisance.

Also, those who have gone through trauma do have truth, but may not be able to operate in a manner which gives them authority (professional, careful thoughtful, accurate, eschew all innuendo, etc.). If they wait to tell truth until they are healed enough to operate in a manner which gives them authority (professional, careful thoughtful, accurate, eschew all innuendo, etc.), it may be too late to save others from the same trauma they have experienced.

So those who are interested in truth, at times, can’t simply wait to be convinced by somebody who they deem as credible because of the manner in which the person is giving their concern.

Compassion and love of truth and people may mean that it gets really uncomfortable at times and yet, truth is sometimes found in the muck. Important truth, soul-shattering truth, ugly-looking truth………truth that can only be found through sticking with someone who doesn’t have it together. Maybe God has prepared you to find the truth and help heal a broken heart.

I see the value in much of what Ragpicker wrote. I just want to give a caution at scrubbing things down, putting it on paper, and possibly missing a chance of helping a struggling soul whom God cares for.