The CAM scandal links and assorted other topics thread

[appleman2006]

I don't know of anyone who thinks the problem is solved. I think the CAM board realizes that this is a long-term project, that of changing policies and culture.

This does seem rather like a shuffle considering Nolan Byler stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors, but is now Vice-Chairman.

An organization that replaces it's entire governing board is like getting into a car with Mr. Magoo. It may not crash, but no one will know where they are going.

Won't even know where the keys are to the executive washroom.

J.M.

Which is why I have never advocated for a total change all at once. And I have no beef with Nolan Byler. In fact I consider him a friend. But having the same chairman for almost 20 years or more especially when the top executive is also the same is a recipe for disaster for any organisation. And for what it is worth I was saying this long before last June.

[Dan Z]

As I see it, Anabaptists are facing a much bigger institutional crisis than CAM or Jeriah Mast. Its a crisis of faith, who do we depend on? What are we committed to? Merely maintaining our favourite tribal allegiance or following God and His word with a sincere heart of love for others doing the same. It seems to me this crisis of faith has left many Anabaptist people struggling with unmanageable depravity. The tribe can always protect you from the world around you, but only Christ can save your soul, and only Gods word can direct your faith.

Excellent post flyingnorm - now I have to go back and find what else you have written to see what I missed.

Your thoughts on self-preservation and tribalism in the CAM milieu are exceptionally insightful. Most importantly I think you have summarized our great struggle extremely well - We have lost track of who we are in Christ, and so other identities have been taking up residency in our hearts and minds (political, cultural, etc.). According to Romans 12, non-conformity starts with the renewal of our minds in rejecting the patterns of this world for a transformed way of thinking that reflects the mind of Christ.

[Aurien]

Which is why I have never advocated for a total change all at once. And I have no beef with Nolan Byler. In fact I consider him a friend. But having the same chairman for almost 20 years or more especially when the top executive is also the same is a recipe for disaster for any organisation. And for what it is worth I was saying this long before last June.

It's discouraging to learn that almost a year after the issue with Jeriah that apparently the only change made to the Board of Directors was to shuffle current people around. It's discouraging to me to read from Ernie that CAM has a new Board Chairman and then learn in a phone call to CAM that the previous Chairman just moved down a rung to Vice-Chair and his place was taken by another Board member. Will any further changes to the Board or top staff involve this same kind of shuffle, or will new people be brought in?
It was especially ironic to hear that news shortly after Steve said this to Ernie,

Just be careful not to be sucked into the oldest corporate stunt known: shuffle top-end management around, give them new titles and call it good and problem solved.

[Neto]

I do know that some leadership used to read what people were writing on social media including MN, and then they quit, because they didn't want to be influenced by a vocal minority.

Keep in mind its often the "vocal minority" are the ones to be afraid of.... they don't follow the crowd and think for themselves.

...and can't seem to fit in anywhere...

I'm not sure about the grammar in the last part of your sentence, doesn't the "and" link "think for themselves" back to the "don't" or perhaps that's what you intended, or perhaps my grammar is wrong.

Right. I suspect that what was meant was "they don't follow the crowd and [instead (they) OR: but rather] think for themselves."

[steve-in-kville]

Right. I suspect that what was meant was "they don't follow the crowd and [instead (they) OR: but rather] think for themselves."

What he said^^^^

[Ernie]

Not all vocal minorities, people who think for themselves, and people who don't follow the crowd (I consider myself one of these) are on track.
But they often have a valid point that should be heard and seriously considered. As it relates to this thread, I believe that Anabaptists (and others) have been too oblivious and careless with sexual abuse, and the vocal minority is making this problem known.

On MN it often feels like I am part of the vocal minority pushing for accuracy vs. sensationalism.

[Ms. Izzie]

We spend so much time pretending that CAM is an entity in itself—apart from the churches----until you really get to the nitty-gritty questions. Then to explain the actions of CAM it goes back to the churches.


Sounds like this is what is going on at CAM.

The leadership says, “The people don’t want to know”….or…..”The people don’t need to know”…..”We can’t win, no matter what we do or say.”…….. ”The people_________________. ”…..(Some people can complain all they want, but this is what we are doing.”) End result? No responsibility taken.

The people say, “The leadership is responsible.”….. “The leadership is taking care of it.”……”We need to trust the leadership.”……..”The leadership __________________.”…..(”How dare the leadership do this?”) End result? No responsibility taken.

Doesn’t this sound like our churches? And I mean Anabaptist churches in general.

I think it is a cop-out all around. Although there are differences in groups that can cause breakdowns when the groups mix, I don't buy the idea that we can put the blame on any one group within the culture. We are too much the same in ideology and too intertwined as groups to separate into different camps when we want someone to blame.

As for CAM......we are them. They are us. If they are unacceptable, then we are too.

[steve-in-kville]

So, what you're saying is, CAM feels like they simply can't win, no matter what they do?

If so, they're right. There is no "fixing" this and coming out smelling like a rose. Its a thing us adults call "responsibility." They are dragging their feet on the issue waiting for a golden parachute to open, a parachute that no longer exists.

We're a year into this. That parachute turned into a lead balloon now.

[Ms. Izzie]

I’m not done yet.

I think they (CAM) and we are unacceptable. It is mind-boggling to me that we are almost a year into this thing and on the one hand we have people who have an inkling of what happened with no interest in looking into it and on the other hand we have people who think this can be solved with boards, mission statements and policies. With these two reactions, it’s no wonder this issue has hidden underground for so long. Who loses in this shuffle? The abused people, of all people; they are the neglected ones. It’s ludicrous.

We have people who have been abused, are seriously struggling and could be in your church and sitting in the pew beside you. I know there are more people dealing with this trauma than the ones related to this scandal at CAM. What about the abused people?

We can talk until we’re blue in the face about what or if or how CAM will do things, but until this gets dealt with in a healthy way in the churches...

I do think there are people able to keep the pressure on CAM and they should keep doing it. I pray that it makes a difference and am thankful for people who are willing to let us know what is happening or in some cases, let us know what is not happening when something should be happening.

[Ernie]

End result? No responsibility taken.

When you say "no responsibility taken" are you referring to little to no public communication?

The people say, “The leadership is responsible.”….. “The leadership is taking care of it.”……”We need to trust the leadership.”……..”The leadership __________________.”…..(”How dare the leadership do this?”) End result? No responsibility taken.

Doesn’t this sound like our churches? And I mean Anabaptist churches in general.

Yes.

I think it is a cop-out all around. Although there are differences in groups that can cause breakdowns when the groups mix, I don't buy the idea that we can put the blame on any one group within the culture. We are too much the same in ideology and too intertwined as groups to separate into different camps when we want someone to blame.
As for CAM......we are them. They are us. If they are unacceptable, then we are too.

I hear what you are saying... I'll have to mull over this one a bit.

As a person who has been in various leadership roles in the CA world, there is only so much an individual can do.
Here are the options as I have tried them...

1. Make your point loud and clear. (Result: people discount or write off anything you say.)
2. Be a good example and influence change within the system. (Result: Change happens but it is very incremental.)
3. Establish your own platform outside of the system. (Result: People are wary of you because you are not part of the system.)

I have resorted to a hybrid of all three. Consequently I deal with all three results presently.

In the Augustinian world, individuals are given a lot more power I think, but then it is only certain individuals that are given that power. Churches are built around pastors or bishops, movements are built around authors, non-profits are built around personalities. People are constantly shifting to find something they can support, (unless they are the few who are able to attract a following or get chosen for a powerful position).

Somebody pointed out once that Anabaptists are known by their communities, Evangelicals are known by their individuals. Once the well-known Evangelical passes off the scene, the organizations and movements built around him become small.
The Plain Anabaptist world (today) is very different. Hardly anyone attracts much of a following. And there aren't really any powerful positions except in the Ultra conservative or Old Order world.

In the 20's to 50's, people like Daniel Kauffman and Harold Bender had huge amounts of influence and power. Many congregations were careful to not get on the bad side of these folks. I forget the names anymore but I read once that "with ______ in charge at Goshen and with ______ in charge at Scottsdale/Herald Press, the Church was in good hands". No Plain Anabaptist entity has that kind of power today. We are now diversified with everybody finding a flavor that suits them.

The only way change can happen across the Plain world today is if a certain set of values are being promoted by a sizeable percentage of people in each different constituency. But as long as a significant percentage of conservatives are transitioning to Evangelicalism, and these folks are being replaced by more people coming from ultra-conservative and Old Order settings, there is never enough generational continuity to really affect much change.