1. Critical Race Theory being used to squelch productive discussions on race, which is parallel to issues on sexual abuse in SBC.
2. The Brian Loritts situation at Summit Church.
3. Paige Patterson preaching at First Baptist Church Dallas.
4. Beth Moore leaving the SBC.
5. Release of Russell Moore’s letter, which delves into problems of power/control behind the scenes on abuse issues.
6. Release by Phillip Bethancourt of recordings of Ronnie Floyd saying he doesn't care about sexual abuse survivors and just wants to “maintain the base.”
7. Liberty University and the large payout to Jerry Falwell, Jr., despite details revealed about multiple improprieties.
8. First Baptist Germantown refused to rescind Andy Savage’s ordination, despite Jules Woodson, his sexual abuse victim, asking them to do so.
The SBC Credentials Committee also refused to expel this church from the convention, even tho Andy Savage had admitted to sexual abuse.
9. Positive statements about slavery made by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler, and refusal by SBTS to rename buildings named in honor of slave owners.
10. SBC pastors/leaders who pretend the convention has already addressed sexual abuse, or "Be patient--we just need more time."
This point included a 2007 investigate news clip of then SBC President Frank Page, regarding predatory ministers and the need for an SBC database.
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4 KEYS TO A TRULY "INDEPENDENT" INVESTIGATION. @netgrace_org founder Boz Tchividjian @BozT overviews importance of investigation into reported cases of abuse where an accused institution does not control the investigators, process, findings or report. /1
They should not hire a firm with bias, conflicts of interest, or fiduciary duty to the institution.
They do not determine who is on investigation team, if or when updates are required.
“A fiduciary duty is a legal duty to act solely in another party’s interests. … An independent investigator has a fiduciary duty to the truth, regardless of where it may be found.”
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.
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.
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
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
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
@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.
@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.
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