On June 26, 2006 I initially left voice messages for Alan Chambers of Exodus International and another national ex-gay leader about inappropriate incidents that affected youth at an Exodus member ministry. I will not go into the details at this time, but I shared three specific situations that happened within the previous year. The shocking details of the third situation compelled me to contact Alan and this other national leader. In my initial messages I said that I would rather discuss this privately, but if they did not wish to talk, then I would initiate a public discussion.
E-mails went back and forth including one in which the program director of the Exodus member ministry acknowledged the situation did occur, and since being alerted about it by Alan, shared some of the steps he took to address it. After multiple phone conversations with Alan's assistant and more e-mails, Alan finally agreed to speak with me on the phone. The other national leader declined to speak with me out of concern for possible legal liability issues.
On July 31st during a conference call with Alan and Exodus Youth Director, Scott Davis, I outlined in detail the situations that had been recounted to me by recent participants in the Exodus member ministry. Alan expressed his concern and assured me that Exodus cares about the safety and welfare of youth. He also informed me that Exodus was going to issue new guidelines for programs that work with youth.
We talked about some of the considerations when working with youth including ensuring that adult and youth participants do not attend sessions together or have any contact. I added that just like every major organization that works with youth, each Exodus youth worker should have a background check.
Alan said that the new requirements for Exodus member ministries will go into effect in at the beginning of 2007 and will be done in a public way. I pressed Alan to consider putting them into effect sooner, but he said that he had to meet with the board about it all first.
I agreed to send Alan a list of web links to other organizations who had very clear guidelines for working with youth including the Boys Scouts of America. I also agreed that I would not blog about the incidents or share the details publicly. I then waited for January 2007 to see these new guidelines.
On January 3rd I contacted Alan's assistant for a follow-up conversation about the guidelines. She e-mailed me back the next day,
I since followed up with Alan and his assistant through an e-mail containing the draft of this blog entry. I have gotten no further response and as far as I know, and I have seen no evidence of new guidelines being published.
I publish this blog entry in hopes that Alan complete what he said he would do. I do not wish to go into the details of the situations that occurred at the Exodus member ministry; I imagine the ministry would prefer that as well. Even so, perhaps a public discussion is the only way to move things forward.
E-mails went back and forth including one in which the program director of the Exodus member ministry acknowledged the situation did occur, and since being alerted about it by Alan, shared some of the steps he took to address it. After multiple phone conversations with Alan's assistant and more e-mails, Alan finally agreed to speak with me on the phone. The other national leader declined to speak with me out of concern for possible legal liability issues.
On July 31st during a conference call with Alan and Exodus Youth Director, Scott Davis, I outlined in detail the situations that had been recounted to me by recent participants in the Exodus member ministry. Alan expressed his concern and assured me that Exodus cares about the safety and welfare of youth. He also informed me that Exodus was going to issue new guidelines for programs that work with youth.
We talked about some of the considerations when working with youth including ensuring that adult and youth participants do not attend sessions together or have any contact. I added that just like every major organization that works with youth, each Exodus youth worker should have a background check.
Alan said that the new requirements for Exodus member ministries will go into effect in at the beginning of 2007 and will be done in a public way. I pressed Alan to consider putting them into effect sooner, but he said that he had to meet with the board about it all first.
I agreed to send Alan a list of web links to other organizations who had very clear guidelines for working with youth including the Boys Scouts of America. I also agreed that I would not blog about the incidents or share the details publicly. I then waited for January 2007 to see these new guidelines.
On January 3rd I contacted Alan's assistant for a follow-up conversation about the guidelines. She e-mailed me back the next day,
After going over the schedule and speaking with Alan it looks like January will not work for the two of you to speak. If you can contact me back in February, I can see what can be scheduled at that time.I called back on January 5th and told her that I only needed an answer about the guidelines and when they guidelines would go into effect. I expressed the concern that both Alan and I shared during our July 31st phone conversation and asked if she could get back to me by January 9th with some answer.
I since followed up with Alan and his assistant through an e-mail containing the draft of this blog entry. I have gotten no further response and as far as I know, and I have seen no evidence of new guidelines being published.
I publish this blog entry in hopes that Alan complete what he said he would do. I do not wish to go into the details of the situations that occurred at the Exodus member ministry; I imagine the ministry would prefer that as well. Even so, perhaps a public discussion is the only way to move things forward.
Comments
They don't?! That absolutely astounds me! Keep going with this Peterson and don't give up.
CA
You are doing the right thing I think by shining the sun light. This is an organization that, while trying to give the impression of transparency, is incredibly secretive about some of its goings on.
j.
I frankly don't understand your reluctance to answer this simple and important question: have you or have you not called the police to give them the details of the abuse you say is being committed?
As far as reporting any incidents to the authorities, I imagine that's worth pursuing, but I don't think the police or Child Protective Services or whoever is going to take any action unless a victim comes forward.
At almost all churches (except maybe the very biggest ones) there are no kind of checks for youth or children workers. I've never been to a church that did any in any way.
In addition, most people who work for ex-gay ministries do not have any kind of social work, psychology or ministerial licenses or degrees (some have ministerial licenses or Bible college backgrounds and think this is more than necessary for the job, but even that to me is so woefully lacking when it comes to "treating homosexuality" and tinkering with people's psyches).
Churches and ministries are generally not run at all like anything in the "real" or "business" world. They are just not.
I have known more abuse of people, youth, and Christian employees within Christian churches, ministries, and businesses than I've ever heard of elsewhere; and it's doubly worse because it's often in the name of God.
Not true. A victim does not have to come forward, per se. You can (and should) call the police whenever there is a "reasonable suspicion" of abuse -- even if you dont have "proof" and even if the kid may be upset. Over the years, I have made such reports many times and the police have always repsonded.
A child telling you that an adult has abused them or attempted to sexually assault them is enough. You may be sued, but if you made the report "in good faith" based on a "reasonable suspicion" you are on pretty safe ground.
You can make an anonymous report. You can call child protective services to discuss a situation (without giving any names) and ask CPS if they believe the situation warrants a formal report. Remember that child abusers don't strike just once. While we are dicussing this, other children may be victimized. (POsted by Michael Bussee)