CW — sexual assault
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
Last December was a year since I came forward about being sexually assaulted at @livinghopebg.
I didn’t mark it in any way.
One reason is because I don’t feel like anything has happened since.
But there was another reason:
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
Last December was a year since I came forward about being sexually assaulted at @livinghopebg.
I didn’t mark it in any way.
One reason is because I don’t feel like anything has happened since.
But there was another reason:
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
Awhile back I decided to find out what it looked like to report SA to a larger #SBC org, to see what their process was, to see if they were really “Caring Well,” as @jdgreear and the rest of the #SBC resolved to do.
Awhile back I decided to find out what it looked like to report SA to a larger #SBC org, to see what their process was, to see if they were really “Caring Well,” as @jdgreear and the rest of the #SBC resolved to do.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
So I contacted @IMB_SBC via their instant messaging service on their website (using a fake name), and asked where I could report sexual assault. They directed me to this woman, Somer Nowak.
So I contacted @IMB_SBC via their instant messaging service on their website (using a fake name), and asked where I could report sexual assault. They directed me to this woman, Somer Nowak.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
@IMB_SBC was pretty chuffed about putting Nowak in a newly created position to address and prevent sexual assault in the IMB.
imb.org/2020/02/11/res…
@IMB_SBC was pretty chuffed about putting Nowak in a newly created position to address and prevent sexual assault in the IMB.
imb.org/2020/02/11/res…
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
@jdgreear praised this decision. Though since he hired Bryan Loritts (who helped cover up sexual abuse in his own church) fairly soon after this article was published, his praise is somewhat tainted.
@jdgreear praised this decision. Though since he hired Bryan Loritts (who helped cover up sexual abuse in his own church) fairly soon after this article was published, his praise is somewhat tainted.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
I went to @IMB_SBC for a specific reason. Because of this man, Jacob Stevens, who is a missionary with the organization.
I went to @IMB_SBC for a specific reason. Because of this man, Jacob Stevens, who is a missionary with the organization.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
Stevens sexually assaulted me for years. Others were involved. But he took a special interest in me. So much so that I would not shower often on church camping trips if he was there, because I was afraid of what he’d do to me if I was alone.
Stevens sexually assaulted me for years. Others were involved. But he took a special interest in me. So much so that I would not shower often on church camping trips if he was there, because I was afraid of what he’d do to me if I was alone.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
He is not an anomaly. #SBC theology produces a thousand people just like him every year. And I feared he would carry this wherever he took his mission, and more young boys would be hurt the way I was.
He is not an anomaly. #SBC theology produces a thousand people just like him every year. And I feared he would carry this wherever he took his mission, and more young boys would be hurt the way I was.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
My first contact with Somer Nowak was on 5/29/2020. I spoke to Nowak first via email. She laid out the process by which they would investigate, a process that involved a law firm called Lathrop GPM. Though their involvement was not clear in the emails.
My first contact with Somer Nowak was on 5/29/2020. I spoke to Nowak first via email. She laid out the process by which they would investigate, a process that involved a law firm called Lathrop GPM. Though their involvement was not clear in the emails.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
I kept the fake name for the first phase of this, even though I told my real story. I figured if they couldn’t find out who I was, then they weren’t even competent enough to run an investigation in the first place, never mind doing any good.
I kept the fake name for the first phase of this, even though I told my real story. I figured if they couldn’t find out who I was, then they weren’t even competent enough to run an investigation in the first place, never mind doing any good.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
About 5 months later on 8/21/2020, after long periods of silence and dodging my questions, Nowak set up an interview by an investigator named Jerry Coy, an man who’s affiliation with @IMB_SBC was unclear, and told my story a second time.
About 5 months later on 8/21/2020, after long periods of silence and dodging my questions, Nowak set up an interview by an investigator named Jerry Coy, an man who’s affiliation with @IMB_SBC was unclear, and told my story a second time.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
I gave them names of additional people they could interview in order to expand their investigation. I acted as intermediary for one. But when this person showed up for the zoom meeting, Nowak and Coy did not show up.
I gave them names of additional people they could interview in order to expand their investigation. I acted as intermediary for one. But when this person showed up for the zoom meeting, Nowak and Coy did not show up.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
Naturally, since they didn’t even show up to a simple Zoom meeting, and Nowak continued to dodge my questions, I lost faith that they would do anything of consequence. The last contact I had during that period was on 9/9/2020.
Naturally, since they didn’t even show up to a simple Zoom meeting, and Nowak continued to dodge my questions, I lost faith that they would do anything of consequence. The last contact I had during that period was on 9/9/2020.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
After months of silence, I gave up on hearing from them again. Then I received an email on 1/4/2021, with a predictable message. And I responded in kind.
After months of silence, I gave up on hearing from them again. Then I received an email on 1/4/2021, with a predictable message. And I responded in kind.
Moreover, I have concerns about #churchtoo as a movement. Maybe I wandered into the wrong corner, but a lot of people with big voices are people who are still Christians, and manh sound like the people in the church where I was assaulted.
#EmptyThePews
#EmptyThePews
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
They still believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, that God is a perfect being, that abusers in the church have failed to live up to Christian ideals, when they are simply living up to their version of Christian ideals.
They still believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, that God is a perfect being, that abusers in the church have failed to live up to Christian ideals, when they are simply living up to their version of Christian ideals.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
I’ve come to the conclusion that Christianity is so broken that it cannot not be rebuilt into anything most of Christendom would even recognize as the same faith. Yet so many, while wanting to end abuse, cling to the same ideas —
I’ve come to the conclusion that Christianity is so broken that it cannot not be rebuilt into anything most of Christendom would even recognize as the same faith. Yet so many, while wanting to end abuse, cling to the same ideas —
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
And abuse will just happen again and again.
They like to say that their house (their faith) is built on the rock of Christ, and not a foundation of sand.
Sand, of course, is just bits and pieces of rock and sediment worn down by wind and water and time.
And abuse will just happen again and again.
They like to say that their house (their faith) is built on the rock of Christ, and not a foundation of sand.
Sand, of course, is just bits and pieces of rock and sediment worn down by wind and water and time.
#Chruchtoo #EmptyThePews
Christianity is staring at a pile of sand and saying, “That is a rock.”
It can never be the thing they once thought it was. And it shouldn’t be. The Rock of Christ has crushed too many.
But so many are not willing to let that go.
Christianity is staring at a pile of sand and saying, “That is a rock.”
It can never be the thing they once thought it was. And it shouldn’t be. The Rock of Christ has crushed too many.
But so many are not willing to let that go.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
So I don’t know, for all their good intentions, if anything will actually get fixed. And I’m getting fed up with waiting.
I’m grateful to @wartwatch for helping tell my story. Even though little has come of it.
So I don’t know, for all their good intentions, if anything will actually get fixed. And I’m getting fed up with waiting.
I’m grateful to @wartwatch for helping tell my story. Even though little has come of it.
I’m grateful to @JoLuehmann @theKevinGarcia_ @PdxPestle @TheRaDR @ToriGlass and @Delafina777, for showing new ways to look at my old faith, and how to find the part of me that still desires the things that faith promised.
I’m grateful to @emilyjoypoetry and @C_Stroop for leading fights against a lot of the harm white Christianity has done, each in their own ways.
I wanted to thank all these people, cause I don’t know how much I’ll talk about this in the coming months. I’m tired.
I wanted to thank all these people, cause I don’t know how much I’ll talk about this in the coming months. I’m tired.
#churchtoo #EmptyThePews
I’m tired, but I still want to fight. I wanted to help people who experienced the same things I did.
Maybe the little kid in me, who looked up to Luke Skywalker and Power Rangers, just want to save the world.
But I think I need to save myself for awhile
I’m tired, but I still want to fight. I wanted to help people who experienced the same things I did.
Maybe the little kid in me, who looked up to Luke Skywalker and Power Rangers, just want to save the world.
But I think I need to save myself for awhile
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