Thread by @ACNAtoo

We're publishing this guest thread by A&L (Angela & Laura), two #ACNAtoo survivors from All Souls Anglican Church in Wheaton, IL (Diocese of Pittsburgh). You can also read their expanded post on our blog: acnatoo.org/news/our-story…

A&L: While the hashtag is #ACNAToo, some of you might be under the impression that a more accurate hashtag would be #UpperMidwestToo. But we know better. We, Angela and Laura, are two survivors at @AllSoulsWheaton in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

A&L: Beginning in Feb ‘20, at least 10 women including us reported clergy misconduct to our diocese. Our ecclesiastical investigation concluded in Mar '21. This process compounded the harm our former priest caused us, and we don't want that kind of experience for anyone else.

A&L: While Provincial leaders in @The_ACNA must lead the way in educating dioceses on trauma-informed responses to abuse, leaders at every level should start learning now because victims need to be able to dialogue with leaders and walk away without feeling re-traumatized.

A&L: Our story illustrates common church failures in response to abuse, but we've pointed out some of the ways the church could respond in a trauma-informed manner. Whether you're reading this as a lay person or an ordained leader, we hope you can learn a lot from this thread.

Who’s who:
@AllSoulsWheaton - @TheACNA church in Wheaton, IL (Diocese of Pittsburgh)

M - Former Rector at All Souls, removed on 2/13/20

Bp Hobby - Former Bp. of Pittsburgh, resigned 10/29/20

Bp Minns - Interim Bp. of Pittsburgh

Note: We speak only for the 2 of us

A&L: In February 2020 five women sent detailed written reports with evidence of M’s misconduct to church leaders who forwarded it to Bp Hobby. Bp Hobby asked M to step down for a time of “reflection and investigation.”

A&L: The Bp visited All Souls on 2/16 describing M's actions as “crossing emotional & professional boundaries.” This language—while not inaccurate—is a serious understatement causing confusion in our community & leaving room for M’s narrative to circulate via his family & friends

⭐️A&L: In a trauma-informed approach, the Bp would have described the specific type of misconduct alleged by victims and shared an avenue for additional victims to come forward. Neither of these things occurred.

A&L: During his visit, the Bp also met with the 6 women who had come forward by that point and assured them that an investigation would be conducted swiftly and fairly.

A&L: At the time, we believed an investigation had begun. 2 months later, on 4/16, we learned from a parish-wide email that a canonical investigation process existed—but our reports in Feb had not triggered this process. Any investigation that was taking place was “informal.”

A&L: When we inquired about the canonical process on 5/5, the Bp suggested a Zoom meeting, which took place on 5/17. Only then, 3+ months after our initial reports, did the Bp tell us that we needed to mail him a notarized statement in order to trigger a canonical investigation.

A&L: This process is not clearly spelled out in the canons and—to this day—it is unclear to us why the initial reports in Feb did not 'count.' If a mailed, notarized statement was necessary to launch an investigation, communication regarding this step should have come in Feb.

⭐️A&L: It is not enough for a reporting process to simply 'exist.' Lay & ordained leaders must be prepared to point people to this process. The process must include concrete steps that lay people can understand. If the process is inaccessible to victims, it is useless.

A&L: Because the Bp encouraged us to maintain anonymity but did not provide clarity to the parish re our allegations—as time passed—we began hearing dismissive comments from people in our church family claiming “the victims” were jumping on the #MeToo bandwagon for a power trip.

A&L: We learned of M’s voluntary resignation on 4/19 in a parish-wide email.

⭐️A trauma-informed approach would have informed victims privately beforehand & warned that M’s own words would be shared in the announcement (which reads as if no allegations had been made).

A&L: A week later, M’s lawyer, a former parishioner, began emailing church-members asking them to support M in a "reconciliation process," claiming that a “grievous wrong” had been done to M. This letter attacked our character, compounding harm done to us.

A&L: In May ‘20, All Souls' vestry hosted Zoom Q&A sessions for the congregation. Due to the lack of clarity & training provided to these leaders, they were unequipped to answer parishioners’ questions or to respond in a trauma-informed manner to comments slandering victims.

A&L: Meanwhile, our frustration over transparency, terminology & lack of care & follow up grew. The Bp would not clarify his desc of the misconduct, & our parish leadership did not feel empowered to offer any additional info to the parish despite our ongoing requests.

A&L: Because Bp Hobby & parish leaders failed to counter spreading misinformation, we wrote an open letter. We hoped this would provide clarity regarding our allegations. Despite our requests to the Bp & to local leaders for help with sharing this letter, it was not widely shared

⭐️A&L: A trauma-informed approach does not allow the perpetrator’s narrative to override the victims’. Churches must find ways to honor and share victims’ narratives (maintaining their anonymity if desired) even while awaiting the final verdict.

A&L: Before mailing the first notarized accusation in May, we asked the Bp to hire a female investigator given our traumatic experiences with men. The Bp agreed, but in July, a man was hired.

A&L: Because of our continued requests, a woman was hired to assist the male investigator in conducting our interviews, but we did not feel that this change honored the Bp’s promise.

A&L: Additionally, we continued to ask for info regarding the process, but our questions went unanswered.

⭐️A&L: In a trauma-informed approach, the Bp would respond to victims' emails or provide a liaison to do so. He would be clear about the parameters of his role in the process. He would also honor any promises made to victims.

A&L: In October 2020, Bp Hobby resigned due to mishandling a different abuse investigation in the Diocese and our case was transferred for supervision to our Standing Committee, who we were told didn’t know about our case until this point.

A&L: We interviewed w/ the investigator in Sept/Oct '20. In Nov '20, our parish received a letter from the Standing Committee claiming “We have identified a pastoral care team to work with these women.” However, no one from the diocese contacted us regarding this care team.

A&L: When we asked about this team, a member of the Standing Committee shared that information and care could not be provided until after the conclusion of the case. We can’t find anything in the canons that precludes providing care & info to victims during the case.

⭐️A&L: In a trauma-informed approach, the church recognizes that victims need care, help, and information during the accusation process. The need for care does not begin when the case concludes--especially when the case concludes thirteen months after initial reports!

A&L: In Dec 2020, 11 months after the initial disclosure, the investigator submitted his report to the standing committee. Upon request, witnesses & complainants who were interviewed were denied access to the content in the final report.

A&L: Despite ongoing requests for information, we didn’t know what would be made public, what would happen if M submitted to discipline, or what an ecclesial trial could entail.

⭐️A&L: A trauma-informed approach keeps victims informed during a potentially re-traumatizing process and does not exclude them from reading the final investigative report.

A&L: An interim Bishop, Bp Minns was introduced shortly before M confessed to the allegations and submitted to church discipline on 3/4/21. On 3/10, we were notified via email that Bp Minns suspended M from ministry for the rest of his life.

A&L: On 3/17/21, Bp Minns and a member of the Standing Committee visited All Souls to host Q&A sessions with the parish. We met with the Bp beforehand. During our meeting, the Bp challenged our narrative & pointedly refused to disclose what he planned to tell the parish.

⭐️A&L: In a trauma-informed approach, survivors are able to provide input regarding how their experiences are shared. At a minimum, they are told how their experiences will be shared. Their narrative isn't challenged, especially after an investigation validates their allegations.

A&L: We attended both Q&As. There Bp Minns read a short confidential memorandum listing M’s canonical violations along with a brief summary of his misconduct. Then the Bp answered questions from the congregation. A number of his answers were inaccurate.

A&L: For example, when asked if M was ever asked to stop the offending behavior before it was brought to the diocese’s attention. Bp Minns said he didn’t believe so. However, as documented by several victims, M was confronted multiple times before the diocese became involved.

A&L: While we are relieved this process is over, we are confused & discouraged regarding the mis-info shared with our community. Despite diocesan assurances, we continue to wait for the Diocese to answer our questions and to provide the care we requested in March ‘21.

A&L: We wish things had been different for us and for the victims at @MidwestAnglican. Instead, the process for reporting abuse left us feeling like the man in Jesus’ parable who was robbed, beaten, and abandoned while religious leaders passed by on the other side of the road.

A&L: In this entire ordeal, who was our neighbor? We look forward to the day when the church chooses to align itself with the good Samaritan—with Jesus—in prioritizing help & healing for victims.

A&L: We echo these words from @EmilyMcgowin’s recent homily, “Sincerity is not a substitute for competency.” It’s time to learn how to love victims skillfully. If we don’t, the church’s efforts will compound victims’ trauma. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chu…

A&L: We share our story because we love All Souls & we both continue to work closely with the youth there. But we’ve experienced abuse in #ACNAtoo and we know things need to change. We want the kids we serve to grow up in a church where they will be protected in ways we weren’t.

A&L: Whether you're a lay person, clergy, or a Diocesan leader—we beg you to explore the resources ACNAtoo.org offers. Take steps to learn about abuse & prevention & take action. Let us work together to form the ACNA after Jesus, our Good Samaritan & Good Shepherd.