Thread by @DennisKendel

Lutheran Church - Canada (LCC) is actively engaged on Twitter as @CanLutheran.
On Sept 21, 2022 it posted a tweet disclosing allegations of moral misconduct by one of its parish pastors, Rev. Todd Guggenmos.
The pastor was placed on leave.
🧵(1/15)

The same LCC tweet noted "Lutheran Church–Canada holds its pastors to a high moral standard & takes such allegations seriously. Accordingly, we immediately commenced a review into the allegations. We are currently arranging for the engagement of an external investigator." (2/15)

The same day (Sept 21) I submitted a written complaint regarding Todd Guggenmos via email to the Regional Pastor in Regina with copies to the President, Administrator & Director of Communications of the LCC based at the LCC Head Office in Winnipeg.
(3/15)

I received no response from the Regional Pastor until October 17. He then sent me an email advising me that he assumed that the Director of Communications or other staff at the head office would have responded to me. (4/15)

On Sept 26 the LCC posted a tweet advising that it had engaged Erin Folk as an independent investigator. I contacted Erin by email the same day & was interviewed by her on Sept 30. I was impressed by her professional demeanor during the interview.
(5/15)

Erin emphasized that her role was limited to discovery & analysis of evidence relevant to the performance & conduct of Todd Guggenmos. She noted that she does not play any adjudicative role. The LCC would be responsible for the adjudicative process.
(6/15)

After my interaction with Erin Folk I contacted the LCC Regional Pastor seeking information about the adjudicative process the LCC will follow. To date no one in any leadership role at the LCC has shared any information with me about the it's adjudicative process. (7/15)

From my career experience with professional regulation, I know that full public transparency about both the investigational & adjudicative process is absolutely vital to the willingness of citizens to trust any regulatory process (8/15)

I am aware that a citizen who was the target of intense harassment by the anonymous Twitter account allegedly operated by Todd Guggenmos is declining participation in the investigation until the LCC fully discloses the full process. (9/15)

The reluctance of citizens to engage in a non-transparent investigation & adjudication is completely understandable. They do not want to expose themselves to more trauma without assurance of procedural fairness & respect for complainants.
(10/15)

I am a member of an LCC congregation. I find myself growing increasingly disappointed with the failure of LCC leaders to explain clearly the due process it will follow upon receipt of the investigational report form Erin Folk. (11/15)

In support of its claim that the LCC "holds its pastors to a high moral standard", I am asking the LCC to publicly disclose any Codes of Ethics or Codes of Conduct against which the conduct of Rev. Guggenmos will be judged (12/15)

I understand that the LCC arranged for its legal firm to engage Erin Folk as the independent investigator. Some organizations use this tactic to justify non-disclosure of the investigational report based upon solicitor-client privilege. Please don't do this (13/15)

In addition to being very transparent in its adjudication of this case, I do hope the LCC will commit itself to learning some valuable lessons from this experience, so the risk of future recurrence will be reduced.
(14/15)

As an organization that enjoys CRA charitable status, the LCC is legally obligated to convene Annual Meetings at which its leaders are obligated to answer questions from its members. There will be questions about this process at the next AGM.
(15/15)

@threadreaderapp Please roll up