Share this page!

Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
Twitter logo
12 Feb, 19 tweets, 8 min read
THREAD: Questions/comments re: RZIM.

What if frank assessment of corporate culture & policies determines that RZIM U.S. is beyond salvaging due to its corroded institutional infrastructures plus a high probability of never restoring public trust? Is shuttering it on the table?
I ask these questions from a base of knowledge from tracking this situation periodically since late 2017, as part of abuse survivor blogging team at Spiritual Sounding Board (SSB).

Two research/resource posts I was main author on at SSB. First from 2017.

spiritualsoundingboard.com/2017/12/08/res…
Second, after the December 23, 2020, RZIM announcement of an intermediate investigation report, I categorized resources links to primary documents and analysis posts under topical-chronological headings. This takes things through the end of 2020.

spiritualsoundingboard.com/2020/12/26/rav…
I have not updated it since end of December 2020, and if I do more resource work on RZIM it will likely be in new posts.

Attached is table of contents for categories in the Spiritual Sounding Board resource bibliography. If nothing else, note how far back potential red flags go.
Ruth Hutchins (@RuthDHutchins--you should follow her!) has been a stalwart investigative researcher, resource cataloger, & critical analyst on the RZIM situation. This blog post compiles essential documentation & excerpts. See attached table of contents.

ruthhutchins.com/post/rzim/
If interested in understanding where I'm coming from on analyzing malignant individuals & toxic institutions, this thread links to my Pyramid of Abuse + Scale of Accountability (i.e., culpability vs complicity). It's become core to discerning evil/abuse.

I know from 5+ hours on Twitter last night in tracking questions & responses to Final Report & RZIM Open Letter, many who followed Mr Zacharias are in shock, confused, disillusioned about a man they admired.

Thread section starting here focuses on HOPE.

Comments on problematic patterns of Mr Z in a thread w/ @namenzie (follow her!), a journalist & editor of @faithfullymag (please subscribe!). I learn much from her analysis/insights on systemic abuse, racial oppression, cultural pluralism, reconciliation.

Tracking RZIM (U.S.) Board of Directors (BOD). Ruth Hutchins did extensive investigating/compiling BOD history from ~2008-2018. There are no Form 990s past 2015 since RZIM appeal to IRS for reclassification as "association of churches" was approved. 1/2

Even cursory look at BOD database indicates low turnover among board members & also high level of Zacharias family members on BOD--and from other Forms 990 pages, family members in higher-level paid employee positions over the years = red flags/potential cronyism + nepotism. 2/2
So many RZIM organizational details are shrouded at this point due to lack of transparency, as demonstrated via intentional move to become reclassified as "church," which removes IRS regulatory requirement to file public information Forms 990. It is confusing--is that on purpose?
I have a significantly high level of trust in @R_Denhollander based on her advocacy track record. As a consultant & liaison for RZIM, she will speak truth & act for justice. She recommended Guidepost; I trust their evaluation report will be stellar. 1/2

Since 2007 I've tracked development of abuse survivor communities online + trends & trajectories. So I also believe we need survivor angles on RZIM institutional culture/policies. Spiritual MRI on this case=crucial learning tool for abuse prevention. 2/2

KEY RZIM DOCUMENT LINKS - FEB 11-12, 2021.

Report of Independent Investigation into Sexual Misconduct of Ravi Zacharias, by Lynsey M. Barron and William P. Eiselstein, Miller & Martin PLLC.

s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rzimmedia.rzim…
Open Letter from the International Board of Directors of RZIM on the Investigation of Ravi Zacharias.

[Notes: This was unsigned by individuals, creating confusion about what "international" Board this is. Apparently it's Board of RZIM U.S./headquarters.]

rzim.org/read/rzim-upda…
Why Make Public a Private Investigation?

[Notes: This statement captures theological reasoning behind why RZIM is making the report public.]

rzim.org/read/rzim-upda…
Statement from the Board of the Zacharias Trust: Response to RZIM US and the final report.

[Notes: Zacharias Trust is UK associate of RZIM. Its Board members signed the statement as individuals, which I see as expression of institutional transparency.]

zachariastrust.org/news
10 RED FLAG INDICATORS OF PROBLEM PATTERNS

According to this list I've used for several years, RZIM demonstrates likely institutional infrastructure & cultural problems with items 2, 3/4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (I do NOT deem ECFA a robust certification), 9, 10. 1/2

There seems enough info to consider internal silencing of critics by RZIM to be as an institutional equivalent to item 1, church covenant (typically requiring unconditional obedience/loyalty) & abusive discipline. So I'll be watching for evaluation details on all 10 red flags.2/2

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Brad Sargent/futuristguy

Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @futuristguy

Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
27 Dec 20
RETHREAD: "RED FLAG" ISSUES. This is my current list of toxic institutional issues emerging as major concerns for abuse survivors & advocates over last 10-15 years. I plan to write more about them soon. For now, will just say these cause almost automatic repulsion for survivors.
1 Membership covenants or abusive church discipline.
2 Cronyism, nepotism, theobroism (conflict of interest).
3 Non-disclosure agreements.
4 Mediation that removes rights of victims.
5 Use IRS church designation to avoid Form 990s whereby public can evaluate the organization.
6 Passive board fails to oversee leaders' character and behaviors.
7 Use internal investigation to avoid independent, transparent investigation.
8 Use meaningless “certifications” of safety, financial accountability, etc.
9 Rely on PR spin via image repair/impression management
Read 4 tweets
Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
26 Dec 20
RZIM THREAD. In light of RZIM intermediate report that confirms sexual abuse by its founder, I am compiling resources that provide crucial context elements to overall situation for Ravi Zacharias as an individual & RZIM as the institution he founded. /1

spiritualsoundingboard.com/2020/12/26/rav…
From post: "This official statement by RZIM is vindication for the women who reported Mr. Zacharias' abuses: These were credible accusations--not mere allegations or false reports."

People will have questions. They deserve details to equip discerning/deciding for themselves. /2
Initial sections include:

* TIMELINE for 2016-2020

* NONPROFIT PROFILE for RZIM.

* Spiritual Sounding Board POSTS from 2017-2020

* KEY SOURCES for News Reports, Analysis, Critiques, and Commentary

I hope this helps for those who want to understand the broader backstory. /3
Read 11 tweets
Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
28 Nov 20
@laurambarringer A few suggestions ...

On abusive leaders and the toxic systems they create, *When Narcissism Comes to Church* by Chuck DeGroat.

futuristguy.wordpress.com/review-when-na…
@laurambarringer On abusive church/ministry systems, and what to do about them and ways to reconfigure our views and practices on leaders, *UnLeader: Reimagining Leadership … and Why We Must* by Lance Ford.

futuristguy.wordpress.com/review-unleade…
@laurambarringer On what it looks like to intentionally go against abusive power dynamics & instead embody being person of peace, bridge builder, stander-in-the-gap. *Love Over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World* by Dan White, Jr.

futuristguy.wordpress.com/review-love-ov…
Read 8 tweets
Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
18 Jan 20
TUTORIAL: SCALE & MANIPULATION FORMS LEADING TO A TOTALIST CONTROL CULT. I'm in year 14 of a 15-year research project on identifying + dealing with malignant people & toxic systems. I started by analyzing dynamics of spiritual abuse, but this turned out to be the door to more. /1
Organic & organizational systems emerged as frameworks upon which all else hangs, & the questions that have driven my work in more recent years relate to the road by which an entire society can end up in a situation of "totalist psychology" control. In other words, a "cult." /2
The way I've developed to show how this happens is through a system of 3 intertwining forms of manipulation--of individuals, of institutions, & of ideologies--that create dynamics leading to "high-demand" (i.e., cultish) small group, network or organization, or larger society. /3
Read 13 tweets
Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
28 Sep 19
@tripleoxymoron @annakeith @Holly4Hope @1SHeRA1 @HunterCrowder6 @ERLC @MattChandler74 @villagechurchtx @wademullen @jdahlmd IMO this is why civil suits against church's corporation can be fitting action on systemic abuse. Corporation is separate "person" legally w/ institution designed to protect individuals who are in it. So, hold the entity's assets accountable when responsible parties refuse to be.
@tripleoxymoron @annakeith @Holly4Hope @1SHeRA1 @HunterCrowder6 @ERLC @MattChandler74 @villagechurchtx @wademullen @jdahlmd We abuse survivors witness much duplicity from Xn institution leaders/managers. They play whichever card - biblical "church" of people, or 501(c)3 corporation of protections - suits their current advantage (i.e., requires submission from us, denies responsibility for them). /1
@tripleoxymoron @annakeith @Holly4Hope @1SHeRA1 @HunterCrowder6 @ERLC @MattChandler74 @villagechurchtx @wademullen @jdahlmd "The church is people, the body of Christ together" -- but sign this legal contract membership covenant to prove you're a part of us.

Have a complaint about the organization or its leaders? "Don't sue your brothers in Christ!" And remember that covenant? Mandatory mediation. /2
Read 13 tweets
Brad Sargent/futuristguy Profile picture
30 Apr 19
A lot of threads recently on forms of CULTURAL AUTHORITARIANISM, Including reconstruction, dominionism, theocracy. While it may seem good to impose a set of pseudo-biblical requirements on everyone, it removes our God-given right & responsibility to decide directions ourselves. 1
I'm an advocate of our freedom to discern and decide--while also considering potential positive & negative consequences to ourselves & our community.

I'm also a student of how destruction happens in congregation & community when related core freedoms are denied or twisted. 2
Here are some slides I created for tutorials on core concepts about key elements of freedom. I boiled it down to these essentials to be broad-based as possible because I work w/ both ministry systems for personal transformation & social entrepreneur projects for social change. 3
Read 7 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @futuristguy has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @futuristguy!

Read all threads by @futuristguy