This is a public Storage Archive
(2x2ism is famous for its disregard and denial of expressons of moral concern)

288  documents written by folks inside or with close connections to the fellowship regarding
 recent issues of moral concern. 
Updated 2023-10-03

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Friends name - Eileen

Posted on  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

 YouTube clip
of her situation today and "labour of love"
 

Posted on Facebook

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

From Advocates for the Truth Facebook site

Shared by Abbi Prussack
Windsor, Colorado

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Notes by Suzanne Thompson NC

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Lynnea is from Edmonton Albera Canada

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Shared by Rhona Reid
Campbell River, Canada

For a friend in South Africa

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  WingsForTruth

A similar escape route for suspected enablers that Eaglebend folks inserted with ""adequate proof"

Maybe a clearer definition of "substantiated" and of "adequate proof" would be in order. Especially when we have learned very clearly that senior workers cannot be trusted with this determiation.
 

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Suggested by Kathleen Davis Overby
Buhl, ID

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

In our real world, practical repentance often entails retreat from the position and capacity of authority where the failure occured. 

It is not just  "I'm sorry" but from now on continue to  "obey and honor me "

Clever MO

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted on Ex-2x2 Support group

Shona Ferch
Born in Saskatchewan. Lived in Arizona for a decade, after getting married. Currently living in North Dakota
 

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Regarding: Advocates for the Truth

An interesting statistic they posted was 550+ perpetrators with allegations of child sex abuse and sex assault have been reported to their hotline!!   It is a major issue!!

Minneapolis MN

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

By Kristina Roudiy
Ottawa Ontario Canada

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Texas

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Joe Trapp
Texas

Berlin Germany

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Stephanie Shires
Berlin Germany

Posted by  WingsForTruth

However the "adequate proof" loophole carefully inserted will likely be used to exempt  allegations  that would prove to be too sensitive  to apply to the higher ranking "servants of God"

We need to remember that this "adequate proof" stipulation is the very same justification senior workers have  used for a hundred years to justify disregard and to diminish CSA victims. 

"Adequate" is an extremely subjective concept that can be   twisted out of shape at will ... and workers are extremely adept at using it.

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Responses to Malia Forzas letter to the workers

Dale Shultz Ray Hoffman  Barry Barkley

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

A well motivated request

Hundreds of friends have signed this petition

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  WingsForTruth

There have been some well thought out and quite detailed "guidelines" ´published for how elders (and elders wives) should deal with CSA and SA allegations. (an example)

Seems to me it would be in order  to draw up som "guidelines" as to how workers complicit to abusers should be dealt with!!!  .. and of how allegations of  CSA "victim silencers" and "victim blamers" and "victim ignorers" should be held responsible for their part in the crisis and pain of today.

These "guidelines" need to be developed by folks clearly independent from involvement .. and perhaps with input from victims themselves and their families.

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

These were posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted by  Connected-and-Concerned-Friends

posted by  Ex-2x2 Support group

These were posted by  WingsForTruth

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth
 

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth

Yet the fact that for every allegation brought forward there is at least one suffering victim    -- most often multiple victims is forgotten.   Why is there absolutely no organizational focus on  dealing with their injury and pain?  

Those that have disregarded and diminshed their situation (and likely contributed equally (or even more so) to the injury and suffering)  have seemingly been granted total organizational absolution for their crimes.  And continue to claim the hightest positions in the organization.  This VERY VERY obviously contributes to their suffering.

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth

For instance the picture on   post 208!!

 Posted on "Concerned and Connected Friends"

Dale Shultz
Ontario Canada

Examples . post 202-206  -- The folks in Woodstock NB Canada also stand firmly for truth and decency but check the story.  A sickening example of a complete moral breakdown in the fellowship
 

The issue is also Posted on "Concerned and Connected Friends"  getting the following comment that gives somewhat of an explanation.

"Townsends, Thank you for taking a stand, we need to remove the criminals and the accomplices or we will not solve the problem. When I first saw that you were not allowing complicit workers as well, I had a feeling that the workers were not going to be agreeable to that arrangement. Such a sad state of affairs."

Regarding MHs diregard for CSA in the ministry

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

Johathan McLernon
Edmonton Alberta Canada

Posted from "Concerned and Connected Friends"

A video in MP4 format that may take time to load

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

The example that Mike Hassett exibits here of complete disregard for uncomfortable reality --- ignoring its   existence .. is a perfect example of the evil reasoning behind the fact that sexual abusers have gone  unreported  -- and thus have been given freedom to prey on new victims. 

Victims then true to the "disregard negative suggestion policy" (that Mike clearly demonstrates her)  have been shamed and punished for unconfortable allegation!  A rather sickening and imoral mindset. 

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

Jim Atcheson
Saskatchewan Canada

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 

The article was posted by  WingsForTruth 
 

Suggestions to the fellowship put together by Wings
The article was posted by  WingsForTruth

What happens AFTER Child Sexual Abuse seems the only concern!!! ... Constructive, definable  robust measures to hinder it from happening  in the first place doesn't seem to be the concern at all!!! Avoiding fallout when it does happen seems the primary aim.   Check these suggestions.

Written by Shaun Ausenhus

 Posted from "Concerned and Connected Friends"

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Barry Barkley

Posted by  WingsForTruth

Posted from "Concerned and Connected Friends"

Emptyness incorporated!!

Posted from "Concerned and Connected Friends"

Posted by  WingsForTruth

From Richard Gasser

from Craig Winquist

2023 Boring Letter to the Friends
 

. Brad worked in Minnesota, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas

Tavia Pibus

From Kathy Flippo Tallahassee, FL

From the workers

Another beautiful but sad note sharing painful ínformation regarding how a 2x2 leadership ends a many year relationship  with the opposite to a "thank you" -- leaving  a feeling of betrayal and rejection.  We understand it is not only from top 2x2 leadership that there is a feeling of  rejection and betrayal .. We feel and remember the pain.
 

Link to the above letter

Meetings A Culture of Rape
Posted by a very frustrated family in Ripon, WI

Has been posted earlier but this is signed by 800 friends with names and addresses. From "Concerned and Connected Friends"

SaskWorkers Man Ontario 2023

Atlantic Canada Quebec

Alanna MacDonald moved to the sidelines on the workers list 2023 after critisizing the abuse situation in the work in NewBrunswick

... then the CSA issue was taken up and first a few isolated workers were dealt  with

.. and then for the next couple of months it seemed that every day there were 2,3  or 3 workers or friends reported and dealth with for CSA issues   --- a pandemi in sexual abuse in the fellowship!!!

.. then other forms of abuse and injustice have entered the daily reports from workers and friends

.. now it seems that the very top and present leadership has proven to be found guilty multiple times of continued protection and harbouring of pedofiles

...direct dishonest implications of how they deal with and have dealt with the issue

... as well as a continued pattern of refusing to follow the clear  legal responsibilities in our societies.

... yet these top ranking senior workers clearly guilty of protecting and  pedofiles .. guilty of clearly dishonest implications of how issues have been handled -- and worst of all treated victims with cruel diminishment and in Dales case wtih clear distain and arrogant disbelief  ---    continue in top possitions in the organization.

They clearly should be asked to step down from the work if any kind of trust is to be established.  Otherwise hypocrisy is being honoured!!

Trevor Larsen Fargo, ND
Leaving the work after a very courageous message at Hermosa SD convention

A significant quote from this letter: "Their stories should be rare, especially in an organisation where the whole purpose and ethos is centred around Godly things. Their stories should be rare even from just a human standpoint. Yet, as we all know by now, their stories have become familiar, they’re almost the norm these days."

Most folks that go out into the work are sincere and honest in a purpose to "serve God"  -- However most find that the service that they are primarily expected to serve is the internal organization ... This conflict is tough one for most.  

Especially now when it has become very clear that the top orgainization has miserably failed both them .. and the moral principles they gave their lives for.

18 page explanation of the underlaying conflict between ministry and membership.  To me  the following point in the summary reveals a significant worker effort to return to the ultimate authoritive status quo that has led to the corruption and pain revealed these last months,
 

Quote:
"The ministry and the church are not equal and not the same parts of the body. The ministry needs to take responsibility for what they own, and the church does also. (see “differentiation,” “boundaries,” “authoritarian versus authoritative”)"

Obviously, no serious thought of structural reform to avoid what has been!!

The group "Connected and Concerned Friends" handled the workers somewhat confrontive tone in a very objective and well written manner.
 

Stacey, in this FB post has mastered the skill of communication!  The skill of so perfectly describing the capacity that major moral failure in a fellowship that one has trusted from childhood,  has of  inflicting pain and inner suffering-- at will.  An evil force.

Matt Jensen has been overseer of Illinois and Indiana

for amongst other things, "critisism" regarding how CSA has been handled by senior workers

Jeremy and Leonie Tomlinson in North Vancouver BC Canada
 

Senior workers (ex Merlin Affleck) seem to realize they are losing the moral respect amongst a large portion of membership and  thus turn to ugly old school expulsion methods. Questionable how well  this overbearing and arrogant mindset will work in preserving the "we are God" status in the fellowship they love to take upon themselves.

This letter marks a return to a historical and notorious method of authoritarian, hard line crisis solving in 2x2ism. (Check the Alberta mass excomunications in the 1990s).

After a carefull  hopefulness of a more understanding mindset after the CSA abuse scandels that have rocked the fellowship -- now this arises as a new indicator as to policy for dealing with critisism.

Compare with document #139 below also from BC Canada

Ugly 'punishment' methods are being used in the Woodstock issue in eastern Canada at the moment as well. Recent hopefulnes for understanding has now been disturbed by a obvious return to a hard line mindset.  Presumptious and self-important senior workers out to punish, diminish and to destroy.. 

Why -- Intolerance for simple "critisism" regarding how abuse has been handled!

This is reference to an older event that illustrates the horrible extent of an immoral policy practiced by senior workers throughout a longer period of recent history -- A group policy justified simply by a dishonest interest in falsifying the image of purity of the organization.

 Safe to say these leaders had completly lost touch with the forces of Christian empathy, goodness and moral decency ... yet still arrogantly demand  respect and obedience as "the only true representatives of God on the earth"!!

From Bryan & Celia Hansen

A challenge to seniour  workers handling of large volumes of sexual abuse issues within the fellowship in Australia

Sent to Barry Barkley, Ray Hoffman, Lyle Schober, Duane Hopkins, Jim Price, and Bruce Shaw.

This document is 12 pages long and very detailed in places. Read with care! The the extreme nature of the Dean Bruer case is not as unique as first described.

Some of us can understand the dept of  feeling expressed in  this Facebook post so very very well!

And although we can surely feel their pain, we can also personally share the assurance that as the Red Sea may close behind them, there is amazing harmony and fullfillment in a future life and lifestyle  gained by simply, and honestly doing what is decent, right  and honorable.

 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

However it does bring up some interesting observations.  If this ministry claims a 100% monopoly on understanding of the will and mind of God,  how could the complete opposite group policy enforced with an iron hand for the last 100 years ever have happened??  Merlin inherited the ugly and cruel policy from the generations of senior workers that had gone before him.

How did the claimed answers to their diligent prayers for a 100 years on this issue go so terribly wrong so many times?

Perhaps because they feel they have to clearly undercut victims credibility  -- so it doesn't matter to them as they will be gone anyway!!  We experienced the same thing at the time of our expulsion ... and of course "no one took these charges seriously"  because we were just "bitter exes"
--- "Just  saying"!!!! In the case of expulsion -- don't be surprized at the spreading of direct lies!  to discredit the testimony of folks already hurting!! 

As is the hiding CSA abusers .. this "direct lieing" thing is standard protocol in the excomunication process.

Although most are aware that these thoughts are reasonable, logical and would be best for the fellowship to adopt .... they have left it for "the Lord" to fix ... and instead learned to live with the discomfort when the subject came up.  and just let it slide.

This letter is extra alarming as it indicates how extreme and long standing the sexual abuse issue has been in the fellowship. Also how it has been covered up by some the highest ranking and most revered senior workers in recent history.  Wings note at the begining of the document says it much better than I can.

To me this was a rather touching post ... I don't know who Clint is at all, but by the tone of his message I can suspect that he isn't a worker with a lot of influence on developments --

To keep in mind that lower ranking workers are most often far more morally sincere and genuine that higher ranking ones .... The work has a goal to convert genuine moral interest into 100% loyalty to the system!! Most often it suceeds!!

The sermon hits the nail on the head ... in my opinion.  Wisely worded to avoid direct confrontation.!

An online group www.advocatesforthetruth.com that I regard as fellowship friendly/positive/supporter folks, yet working   to hinder CSA issues within the group.  This is a letter they suggest to be sent to all overseers in the world. 

My comment: The "overseer" role is somewhat of an unclear title with different mandates in differnt places and situations. (from "equal to God himself" to just the paper title.. )

This letter has a very good and clear description of the "enormity of the consequences of  abuse and complicity:"    I suggest a read just for this!!

Another anonymous poster that I am trusting in Wings that the author is a legitemate 'insider'.  In any case the issues and points expressed are logical, likely genuine  and rich in 'senior' wisdom as I can see it.

I am just noting that when any of us concerned 'exes' have expressed equally 'ministry' critical posts --- we have been deemed as bitter .. unwilling, evil, worldy minded and enemies of the truth. Expelled as directly as possible.  Ridiculed, condemned and dispised by the 'true and faithful'!!

(I did notice that this author explained that this is why he didn't dare to identify himself!!)  Says something about the moral level of the organization  -- especially the 'ministry'!!!!!!! 

This is a perfect example of the typical sidesteping / issue ducking tactics so common in 2x2 senior workers with regard to uncomfortable confrontation.

In this case both Merlin Affleck and Michael Hassett refuse to give clear answer to several legitimate and important questions .. and even clearly backtrack on earlier information they have given.  Careful to make sure no significant information is presented or expressed that would give comfort to victims or other concerned folks involved. As I have understood from several others, perpetrator protection is a prime interest for these two.
 

Continued refusal by senior workers to deal with documented sexual abuse in the work. Link to the Woodstock moral meltdown.
 

Wings has published these convicted abusers and explained why they are significant in determination of the suitability of 2x2 policy in handling this issue. The comments by Wings are essential to understand the serious nature of these criminal reports in the perspective of 2x2ism

 I have put them together on one post partly because they are all convicted in the justice system and all have Wisconsin conections. 
Also, because  such a large volume of sexual abuse issues are turning up in the fellowship,  there is a risk that indivudual cases and concerns will be drowned out.

This has to be one of the greatest senior worker orcestrated moral circus events in history!! .... And it is  documented evidence that there is clearly still no serious effort for moral correctness should the ultra supreme authority of the 'ministry' be threatened. 

Sexual abusers in the work continue to have a free card if  senior workers 'absolute authority' should come in question!!! 

A morally sickning example!
 

This a document written by WingsForTruth with a call for specific change within the fellowship.  Those responsible for the website won't  personally identify themselves .. so folks may wonder how I can claim these letters are from 'within' the group. 

Although Wings is not offically acknowledged as 'insiders', or as representing inside opinion, they are in my opinion, the closest thing there is to a reliable and objective  'inside' force with Internet presence.

In the recent moral and structural turbulence in the fellowship, Wings has been one of the major sources of transparency regarding what is really happening.  The organizational 2x2 group itself lacks both the will, the courage and the capacity to "tell the real truth"!!

36

This is an example of a growing concern from membership for other forms of serious abuse in the work that have gone unchecked .. An overbearing mindset treating especially females as lower class subordinates with a duty to 'remain silent in the matters of the church' and 'keep their place'!  This  results in undue suffering, distress and eventually to depression.  Effectively destroying the moral purpose of their calling. 

Letter from Rob Newman
 regarding the removal of John VanDenBerg from the work

Meeting in Kelowna BC
regarding broken trust

Lyle Shober overseer
Texas Letter

Alanna McDonalds Letter
to friends
an important read

Walter Burkinshaws
 Police Investigation

 Alan Mitchel (overseer in
 Queensland Austrailia

April
2023

From a concerned mother
 to the workers

April
2023

Letter regarding an
 ex-sister worker
and   abuse while in the work.
 Written by her parents

Jerome Frandle
prison sentence

 Darryl Doland letter to WA

 MerlinAffleck RegardingWalterBurkinshaw
AndAaron

Wayne Bechtol letter to WA

Titus Lehman letter to
CO UT NV friends March

Michael Hassett letter to
 AB YT NWT NEBC friends April

Robert Eberhardt letter to LA

Richard Gasser letter to Kansas

Merlin Affleck letter to Elders March

Mark

Lyle Shober letter to Texas
 friends March

Lauren Rohs letter to
 friends March

Jim Holt letter to NC

Jeffrey Thayer letter to MN

Glenn Gasser letter to
 Wisconsin workers and friends March

Florida letter Kelvin Naef

Dan Lawty letter to Alaska
 friends March

Craig Winquist letter
to Arkansas

Betharlene To ND

Dales letter re Mark Huddle 

Amy Thompson letter
to friends March

DoyleSmithClarification

Doyle Smith Original Letter