Where was the civil duty exercised in allegedly not reporting the concerns of parents and church leaders? Where was the restraint of conscience when Brandon was celebrated prior to his move to California after notification of alleged misconduct? Where was the accountability of the leaders? Were we in the pews being asked to increase our…
Today’s excerpt is long, but it speaks for itself. What could be the thought pattern behind this behavior? Is the senior minister the keeper of his brother, the victim here? I’m just asking. From the book: “The topic for Wingfield’s May 31 sermon was part of a series called ‘Path to Restoration.’ This one had…
The lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, which meant it could be brought back up within a two-year period. Professor Lay’s attorney petitioned for dismissal with prejudice. How did it ever get to this? What was happening to the church I had loved and served for over a decade? From the book: “The fray continued through…
What cost do you put on integrity? Professor Lay refused to stay employed under SLCC’s contractual gag order. What cost do you put on power plays to silence the outspoken? SLCC (Saint Louis Community College) no longer exists, but has merged with another college in southwest Missouri. The body of FCCF no longer holds title…
The ‘discussions’ from inside the church boiled over into several news services, both in print and online. The resulting cyberspace firestorm allowed the Restore FCCF members to respond with our reasoned arguments. When the opposition had no rebuttal, they turned to personal attack. What happens when public shaming doesn’t silence the questions? How does resorting…
I realize that many churches opt for security teams to protect the body from outside threat. FCCF hired security that obstructed discussions between members and leadership. Then the elders and the senior minister filed orders of protection against current and prior church members. Is an order of protection and kicking members off church property the…
The strategic move to file the lawsuit to silence the whistleblowers and threaten them with $25,000 damages shifted focus away from the importance of the whistleblowers’ message and pointed it toward the protection of the senior minister. It muddied the waters of discernment and stirred the coals that brought division. Was the leaders’ decision to…
Is it a biblical response for the church to file suit against current and past members? Do tithes and offerings of the defendants get used against them in doing so? I’m just asking. From the book: “April 16 opened up a greater chasm in the church when news came out that Steve had filed a…
How do you reconcile polar opposite positions that cannot be together in the same space and time? The senior minister leaves or he stays, it’s one or the other. Even if both parties want what is best for the church, how do you compromise on what cannot be compromised? If the reason for the split…
Surviving and healing from abuse is a life-long process. The circumstances are life-altering, thought-pattern-changing and emotionally recurring. Sometimes flashbacks don’t need a trigger, they just pop up. Victims need to possess a set of tools to combat the recurring effects. The events of the leadership meeting were a trigger in my case. It was the…
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