Post by dandelionwine on Oct 4, 2022 21:45:52 GMT
Starting this thread because of the influx of non-members here, who I assume are PR.
It can be intimidating to think about how to start advocating for 3rd party investigations. I'm hoping this can be a thread for both whys and whats.
By now many people have heard of the Southern Baptist abuse scandal and the investigation/report done by Guidepost Solutions. That would be an example of a thorough large-scale 3rd party investigation. The report is public and can be found here: static1.squarespace.com/static/6108172d83d55d3c9db4dd67/t/628a9326312a4216a3c0679d/1653248810253/Guidepost+Solutions+Independent+Investigation+Report.pdf
There is another kind of 3rd party investigation, done on a smaller scale. It is when an individual consistory dealing with one individual abuse case seeks outside counsel to help them investigate and deal properly with an abuse case. netgrace.org is an example of one such 3rd party investigation group. The name may sound familiar - it has been floating around as one of the resources cited in the SB abuse issue.
If you, as an "average" PRCA member, are concerned about the "wisdom" of seeking outside counsel in what would normally be a "closed-session" discipline issue, I submit to you the following for your consideration:
We view the elders as those who are to guard the sheepfold and care for the sheep. We do NOT expect them to be experts in every single realm. Consistories have and ARE, for instance, recommending to people who have addiction issues that they get help from outside sources. From people and organizations that understand addictions and deal with them on an daily basis and know the ins, outs, and pitfalls of dealing with addicts. Abuse cases are even more touchy. Not only do they deal with people whose minds are twisted and unwell (the abusers), they also have to deal carefully and kindly with the victim. And let's be honest. The PRCA has gotten that wrong. Badly. And it needs to change.
Elders are also called to "judge" in discipline cases, right? like - determine whether or not the person in front of them is truly repentant? and if they are telling the truth or not? and those questions are very nuanced and tricky. If you think of our justice system in the USA, think of the elders as the judges. The abused as the plaintiffs, and the abuser as the defendant. In the real world, there are police detectives whose ONLY JOB is to get the facts. The lawyers present those facts in a clear and understandable manner. That's what 3rd party investigations do. They uncover the facts, and present them in a clear and understandable manner. 3rd party investigations do NOT "do the job for" the elders. The elders still have to judge.
3rd Party Investigations allow the "judges" to have clear, concise, precise information presented to them so that their judgments can be FAIR. 3rd party investigations are not a group of people pitted AGAINST the elders. Not at all. NOT. AT. ALL. They are a group of qualified, educated professionals that HELP the consistory in these tricky situations to do what is best for the abused, for the abuser, and for the church as a whole.
Now. How do we get 3rd party investigations in our churches? Even if it would go to Synod, there is no way for Synod to MANDATE that every church do 3rd party investigations for every abuse case. Even if they tried to "strongly suggest" or recommend them, each church would have to make their own decision on whether or not to do it.
However. If you have an abuse case in YOUR congregation, it would be very possible for you to advocate for a 3rd party investigation with your elders. You could have informal conversations with your elders. You could make an overture to your consistory (basically a letter requesting that they seek help with a 3rd party investigation with their case).
Let's be honest. If we actually want to turn this disaster around, we need help. And we need to work WITH people to do it. It will never work to shout at your elders. It might work to persuade.
It can be intimidating to think about how to start advocating for 3rd party investigations. I'm hoping this can be a thread for both whys and whats.
By now many people have heard of the Southern Baptist abuse scandal and the investigation/report done by Guidepost Solutions. That would be an example of a thorough large-scale 3rd party investigation. The report is public and can be found here: static1.squarespace.com/static/6108172d83d55d3c9db4dd67/t/628a9326312a4216a3c0679d/1653248810253/Guidepost+Solutions+Independent+Investigation+Report.pdf
There is another kind of 3rd party investigation, done on a smaller scale. It is when an individual consistory dealing with one individual abuse case seeks outside counsel to help them investigate and deal properly with an abuse case. netgrace.org is an example of one such 3rd party investigation group. The name may sound familiar - it has been floating around as one of the resources cited in the SB abuse issue.
If you, as an "average" PRCA member, are concerned about the "wisdom" of seeking outside counsel in what would normally be a "closed-session" discipline issue, I submit to you the following for your consideration:
We view the elders as those who are to guard the sheepfold and care for the sheep. We do NOT expect them to be experts in every single realm. Consistories have and ARE, for instance, recommending to people who have addiction issues that they get help from outside sources. From people and organizations that understand addictions and deal with them on an daily basis and know the ins, outs, and pitfalls of dealing with addicts. Abuse cases are even more touchy. Not only do they deal with people whose minds are twisted and unwell (the abusers), they also have to deal carefully and kindly with the victim. And let's be honest. The PRCA has gotten that wrong. Badly. And it needs to change.
Elders are also called to "judge" in discipline cases, right? like - determine whether or not the person in front of them is truly repentant? and if they are telling the truth or not? and those questions are very nuanced and tricky. If you think of our justice system in the USA, think of the elders as the judges. The abused as the plaintiffs, and the abuser as the defendant. In the real world, there are police detectives whose ONLY JOB is to get the facts. The lawyers present those facts in a clear and understandable manner. That's what 3rd party investigations do. They uncover the facts, and present them in a clear and understandable manner. 3rd party investigations do NOT "do the job for" the elders. The elders still have to judge.
3rd Party Investigations allow the "judges" to have clear, concise, precise information presented to them so that their judgments can be FAIR. 3rd party investigations are not a group of people pitted AGAINST the elders. Not at all. NOT. AT. ALL. They are a group of qualified, educated professionals that HELP the consistory in these tricky situations to do what is best for the abused, for the abuser, and for the church as a whole.
Now. How do we get 3rd party investigations in our churches? Even if it would go to Synod, there is no way for Synod to MANDATE that every church do 3rd party investigations for every abuse case. Even if they tried to "strongly suggest" or recommend them, each church would have to make their own decision on whether or not to do it.
However. If you have an abuse case in YOUR congregation, it would be very possible for you to advocate for a 3rd party investigation with your elders. You could have informal conversations with your elders. You could make an overture to your consistory (basically a letter requesting that they seek help with a 3rd party investigation with their case).
Let's be honest. If we actually want to turn this disaster around, we need help. And we need to work WITH people to do it. It will never work to shout at your elders. It might work to persuade.
