The CAM scandal links and assorted other topics thread

[Aurien]

Part of something I read on Facebook today

Let the survivors show the way; after all, we're years/decades ahead of you all in this process of repenting from the falsehoods we believed. --R.W.H.

[Josh]

An open question is how much longer TGS will keep publishing Harold Herr’s memoir. Is it true that TGS is affiliated with CAM?

[Judas Maccabeus]

An open question is how much longer TGS will keep publishing Harold Herr’s memoir. Is it true that TGS is affiliated with CAM?

I don’t know, but it is still available, but it is not flying off the shelf:

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,042,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

I did not know there were even four million books published.

J.M.

[Aurien]

An open question is how much longer TGS will keep publishing Harold Herr’s memoir. Is it true that TGS is affiliated with CAM?

I can't find his book on their website but I don't know if that means they stopped publishing it or not.

https://tgsinternational.com/about-us/

TGS International – a for-profit
subsidiary of Christian Aid Ministries

TGS International was established in 1984 as a for-profit subsidiary of Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Profits from TGS help support the work of CAM in meeting physical and spiritual needs around the world. CAM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Visit the CAM website here or sign up to receive the monthly newsletter.

Enlarging God’s kingdom and encouraging His people
Our ultimate goal at TGS International is to glorify God, help enlarge His kingdom, and encourage His people. The books and other items we offer have been carefully selected to:

Strengthen your walk with Christ.
Deepen your appreciation for godly values.
Kindle your desire to serve God at home and abroad.

[TruthSeeker]

Part of something I read on Facebook today

Let the survivors show the way; after all, we're years/decades ahead of you all in this process of repenting from the falsehoods we believed. --R.W.H.

Perhaps a survivor contributed to the content of "A Letter on showing Repentance" found on LifeRing's website:
https://psalm82initiative.wordpress.com ... epentance/

(Am uncertain how to activate link so you can just click on it. Know it will work if copied and pasted into browser.)

[Ernie]

I get what you are saying, Ernie, about CAM in particular. What I am trying to nail and am having a hard time getting across is that the issues at CAM are present in individual churches. To me, the breakdowns and things in our culture that cause these breakdowns are present throughout the Anabaptist world and aren't necessarily only present at CAM. This situation has put a spotlight on our culture.

I agree.

[Time4Truth]

I get what you are saying, Ernie, about CAM in particular. What I am trying to nail and am having a hard time getting across is that the issues at CAM are present in individual churches. To me, the breakdowns and things in our culture that cause these breakdowns are present throughout the Anabaptist world and aren't necessarily only present at CAM. This situation has put a spotlight on our culture.

I agree.

Additionally, when you know personally of atrocities that have been covered and protected by said ministries and groups, it is no longer a mere observation or conclusion of the 'vocal minority'. It is first-hand info and experience. Likely many of the 'vocal minority' have a close-up view of or experience with the immorality and sexual abuse.

While it is in order for believers to address each other with grace, dialogue will not serve to reverse the 'truth' that appears to be surfacing simultaneously with both religion and politics.

[Aurien]

Part of something I read on Facebook today

Let the survivors show the way; after all, we're years/decades ahead of you all in this process of repenting from the falsehoods we believed. --R.W.H.

Perhaps a survivor contributed to the content of "A Letter on showing Repentance" found on LifeRing's website:
https://psalm82initiative.wordpress.com ... epentance/

(Am uncertain how to activate link so you can just click on it. Know it will work if copied and pasted into browser.)

It sure seems like either a survivor wrote it or heavily contributed to it! Those are the most demanding (in a good way) steps I've ever seen required of an abuser.

[Aurien]

I get what you are saying, Ernie, about CAM in particular. What I am trying to nail and am having a hard time getting across is that the issues at CAM are present in individual churches. To me, the breakdowns and things in our culture that cause these breakdowns are present throughout the Anabaptist world and aren't necessarily only present at CAM. This situation has put a spotlight on our culture.

I agree.

Additionally, when you know personally of atrocities that have been covered and protected by said ministries and groups, it is no longer a mere observation or conclusion of the 'vocal minority'. It is first-hand info and experience. Likely many of the 'vocal minority' have a close-up view of or experience with the immorality and sexual abuse.
That was my thought as well. A lot of the "vocal minority" that I've seen have firsthand experience with abuse, abusers, and abuse being kept quiet or covered up by people in leadership positions.

While it is in order for believers to address each other with grace, dialogue will not serve to reverse the 'truth' that appears to be surfacing simultaneously with both religion and politics.

[joshuabgood]

The vocal minority is asking for more details and they think that it is godly to provide more details about what is going on. (I don't think this is a bad thing to want or desire.)
Others are saying that more details are not necessary. (I don't see a biblical principle that disagrees with this either. The Bible doesn't say how many details need to be shared in order to confess or repent. There are verses that indicate that not all details need to be shared or even should be made public.)
So, I'm struggling to understand how this thing of "more details" can be turned into an ethical divide whenever it feels cultural to me. (These are the kinds of issues that missionaries face all the time on the mission field.)

Ernie, just for the sake of clarity (and I think I've written this before), but I want to make it clear, for me it isn't about "knowing more details." I don't need to know, and don't want to know, more specific details regarding the sins committed. I want to make that very clear. I have elucidated before, in more depth, what in my view would be appropriate steps to take that haven't yet been taken to my knowledge:

1) Directly apologize for the institutional failure and culpability they share in permitting this tragedy. (Not an apology for "what our employee did,") An apology for what the institution did, and the culture they created, that fostered this. If this has been done...would you direct me to it please?

2) Because of gross negligence (failure to report crimes as directed by lawful authority), at more than one key leadership level, employ a third party like GRACE, to investigate exactly how far this negligence spread.

3) Communicate clearly the steps they are taking. The public statements released at least "seemed" to contradict known actions taken by CAM on the ground as described by their attorney. These things need a transparent explanation. Even if it was "the BOD didn't know what was actually going or initiated by the key leaders on the ground in Haiti."

4) If CAM is using legal counsel in the reparations agreements, make sure that the victims also have a third party legal counsel review proposed agreements.