Written by: DJ Forrester- Roberts : “Chuck Phelps is a BJU alumni and pastored a church in NH where a 15 year old girl was raped and impregnated 13 years ago by a 32 (I think) year old man in the church (who had a wife and family).”
The victim in this case was a babysitter for the children of the man who raped her. He was 38. It didn’t happen “in the church.”
DJ Forrester- Roberts : Phelps handled it by making the girl get up in front of the congregation and apologize for being raped.
I’m assuming this was because the victim lied to Phelps about her continued involvement with the married man after she was raped the first time and then after she turned 16 (allowing him to take her out to dinner at the local hotel, continuing her driving lessons with him, allowing him in her home while her mother was at work) maybe he did ask her to confess to allowing a “compromising situation to occur.” That's what the letter she wrote said.
This event was also to solicit the prayers and support of the church family. Phelps has since said he wouldn’t allow the personal needs of a teenage to be presented publicly.
This event was also to solicit the prayers and support of the church family. Phelps has since said he wouldn’t allow the personal needs of a teenage to be presented publicly.
DJ Forrester- Roberts : He then sent her away to Colorado
That is completely false. Sworn testimony indicates that Chuck Phelps called police three times and he also contacted the New Hampshire
Her mother expressed her inability to supervise her teen daughter due to having to work full time. Phelps suggested that the teen could live with a Christian family in Colorado Colorado
DJ Forrester- Roberts : The rapist/pedophile was allowed to stay in the church for 13 years and was a member in "good standing".
Because he wasn’t indicted and obviously not convicted of a crime at the time, the church had no grounds to label the man and accuse him. Also, it should be noted that the man was not a pedophile. He raped a teen when she was 15 years and 8 months old. And contrary to the claims of Forrester- Roberts, the man left the church some years ago.
DJ Forrester- Roberts : Last year this girl, Tina Anderson, finally brought charges against her rapist and he was sent to prison. 20/20 did an entire show about it.
A disgruntled former church member posted what he suspected about the situation on a Facebook website designed to falsely identify all independent Baptist churches as cults and child sex abuse rings. The founder of that website Jocelyn Zictherman, herself accused of being abusive and manipulative, http://thehidalgograincompany.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/whos-abusing-who/#comment-1581 phoned police about the Anderson
She’s also accused Dr. Bob Jones of being involved in suing her and implied that her life was in danger. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Independent-Fundamental-Baptist-IFB-Cult-Survivors-and-Their-Supporters/207805449251466
20/20 did include the Anderson Anderson Anderson
Tina also swore under oath that she lost her job as a result of coming forward about the crime but in a published news interview and in her statement to police the year before Tina said she was resigning due to not wanting to be an IFB any longer.
Tina also swore under oath that she lost her job as a result of coming forward about the crime but in a published news interview and in her statement to police the year before Tina said she was resigning due to not wanting to be an IFB any longer.
DJ Forrester- Roberts : Chuck Phelps wasn't prosecuted for being the accessory to a crime because the SOL had run out.
Completely false and in our opinion grounds for a libel suit. Phelps was not in any way associated with what Ernie Willis did to Tina Anderson and called police 3 different times in regards to this situation when he found out four months later. He also called New Hampshire
DJ Forrester- Roberts: Phelps, when questioned by 20/20, claimed the relationship was "consensual", ignoring the fact that there is no consensual relationship between a 15 year old girl and a 32 year old man. It's called statutory rape.
In regards to the fact that Tina Anderson consented to being in the company of Ernie Willis after she turned 16 (age of consent in NH), even though she knew it was wrong, Phelps is correct in using the term consensual.
When speaking of the rapes that occurred when Tina was 15, Phelps did report to the police that Anderson
DJ Forrester- Roberts : Chuck Phelps, after this controversial story came out was asked to sit on the Board of Director's at BJU. And that's wrong.
Maybe so, maybe not. But it’s definitely wrong to tell so many lies about the man and falsely accuse him of committing crimes.
DJ Forrester- Roberts : Phelps has never apologized or admitted he did anything wrong.
He has stated that he would not bring the personal needs of a teenager before a congregation if he had it to do over again.
DJ Forrester- Roberts: In conversations with some of us who've contacted him, he's been arrogant and sometimes downright mean.
He’s been attacked and lied about. His children have been threatened. It may be your opinion (and you don’t say if you talked to him) but most of us think he’s shown great grace with all he’s had to endure in the face of such attacks.
DJ Forrester- Roberts : So, it's pretty much, in my opinion, a case of people at BJU being a little concerned because this page is gaining in popularity and they want it shut down. I imagine some students and possibly BJU faculty and admins, are coming in here with fake accounts in an attempt to cast a bad light on this movement. Hope that helps:).
DJ Forrester-Roberts is above accusing BJU faculty and administrators of forming false Facebook pages in order to make posts on the disgruntled BJU alumni page “Do Right BJU.”
Forrester-Roberts fails to report the near constant stream of actual BJU students who went to the page and asked questions and were summarily banned by the BJU alumi and others who own the “Do Right BJU” page.
One man was banned from the “Do Right BJU” Facebook page for suggesting that everyone pray and fast for the situation. http://www.facebook.com/byronlam/posts/10150477667606253
Because that’s how they roll.
Someone deleted that post by DJ Forrester- Roberts Jordon but several people I know have saved everything that was posted there in screen captures.
ReplyDeleteI didn't write this but thought it was an interesting look at the situation:
ReplyDelete"Suppose he is telling the truth and Tina did write a statement that she wanted read to the church. Suppose he refused. He could have been accused of treating her like a little child, ignoring her spiritual need for restoration, etc. Would it have still been the right decision to refuse to read the statement? I think so, but the point is he could have been criticised either way. It's a no-win.
Suppose he told the church that Ernie Willis was the father of Tina's baby. People would be out to destroy him because he violated her privacy and revealed she was the victim of a sex crime. Instead, he's attacked for not revealing that information. No way to win.
Suppose he (against Tina's request) pursued matters until there was a prosecution. Tina could have criticised him for dragging her through the legal system, and destroying a man's life and family when she didn't want it. "He was more concerned with justice than mercy. Why couldn't he notify them if he had to, but then just leave it (and me) alone?" Should he have followed up more? Yes -- but none of the parties wanted him to at the time. He might have had more criticism if he had done so. Can't win.
Suppose he refused to let the rapist attend church any more. "He is unforgiving, and won't obey Galatians 6:1. He won't even let that man come to church after he confessed!" Instead, he is criticised and people suggest he even let Ernie have "church roles". Phelps loses either way -- someone is going to criticise.
Sometimes, you just can't win, you are going to be criticised no matter what. Perhaps my limited experience as a pastor does make it easier for me to see that aspect of it. I've been in situations where I couldn't win. I've been in situations where I could only "win" by breaking confidentiality, but to do that would not be a "win", either, even if the person whose confidentiality I broke never knew about it.
I hope, if I faced the same situation, I would do as Ron Bean described. But I still hesitate to criticise another pastor who was trying to deal with the spiritual needs of two families. After the fact evaluations are always easier than making the best decisions when you are in the crucible.
edit: This is not intended to persuade anyone of anything. It is an answer to Mrs. Anderson explaining my perspective, in answer to her question. I'm unlikely to respond to follow up posts about it, especially the "supposes". They are just illustrative of the dilemmas pastors may face in difficult situations."
__________________
Reporter: Kim King
ReplyDeleteFox59
5:54 p.m. EDT, June 3, 2010
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-pastor-rape-case-controversy-060310,0,2291723.story
Indianapolis—
UPDATE: The Indianapolis minister who is at the center of a controversial rape case issues statement to Fox59 News, after a membor of the minister's former church come forward with accusations.
"As a ministerial professional I have consistently sought to protect the welfare of children in our in our churches by implementing and maintaining screening policies for personnel and all procedures recommended for best practices. This commitment has marked my ministry for nearly 30 years and continues to mark the ministry in which I serve in Indianapolis.
Thirteen years ago while in Concord, New Hampshire, a young lady and her mother contacted me and revealed that the young lady, then a minor, was with child because of an encounter with a married man. Because the man an adult, I sought legal counsel and carefully reported the situation both to the Concord, New Hampshire Police and to the New Hampshire Department of Children and Youth Services. I followed up with the police a second time and gave them more details of the allegations. I had a second contact with the DCYS as well. (I remain in possession of my contemporaneous notes regarding these calls.) Though the man and his family attended the church where I served, he was not a deacon or an officer in the assembly. The family of the accused had established a baby-sitting relationship with the minor.
In an effort to protect the young lady from further harm, she was carefully counseled to avoid any further contact with the man accused. All involved expected an arrest to occur quickly. At the request of her mother, several families within the congregation provided care during the day for the minor while her mother was at work.
The young lady was always under her mother's guardianship. Her mother, with counsel, arranged for her out of state care traveled to Colorado with the young lady and returned to be present when the baby was born. The young lady returned and for a time lived in Concord, New Hampshire where the incident was reported. Her mother's residence within the city of Concord was constant and continues so today. It does not appear that the police put forward a good faith effort to contact the young lady. They never contacted me regarding her whereabouts. Had they done so, I would have provided all information that I had at my disposal.
Pregnancies are public matters. Her mother being present, news of the young ladies pregnancy was shared in a church service in order for friends within the church to give assistance to this family during their time of need.
The police have recently arrested the man involved in the incident. As in the past, I am and will fully cooperate with the police investigation. For my part, cooperation has always included answering inquiries promptly, personally and transparently while providing any information that is necessary to conduct a complete and thorough investigation. "
One thing I was curious about was why the "Do Right BJU" page that's run by non-students at BJU are banning people, especially BJU students who speak out in favor of BJU?
ReplyDelete