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Post by sheri01 on Jun 2, 2023 10:17:37 GMT -5
June 2, 2023 advocatesforthetruth.com
To All Overseers Worldwide,
On March 24, 2023, we established a hotline on behalf of Dean Bruer victims. In just ten weeks, our hotline has revealed over 400 perpetrators in the Truth: Overseers, Workers, Elders and Friends. We continue to receive new allegations each day. The volume is utterly shocking to us. However, the allegations should not be shocking to you and many of the Workers. You are already well aware – and in most instances have been aware for decades – of the pedophiles and perpetrators in your midst. Almost ALL of the pedophiles and perpetrators brought to our attention are already known to you. For ten weeks, we have reached out and communicated the massive crisis and path of destruction in your community. We have been met with silence, complicity, stonewalling, gaslighting, and outright refusal to listen to the pleas of decades of survivors.
This is completely unacceptable to us, the members of your community, and society as a whole. We ask you to do the right thing and step down from your places of authority and leadership.
There is no hiding or turning back from what we now know. The system that you, the Overseers, have been using for decades to mitigate criminal child sex abuse and sex crime cases is deceitful, complicit, illegal, and autocratic. For generations upon generations, countless lives have been ravaged emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically by the failure of your system and your lack of leadership and integrity. Trust in your authority has been completely broken. This is not hyperbole; this is real, this is palpable. This is the outcry we are hearing from survivors, families, and Friends in the Truth.
Each of you has participated in coverups, minimized crimes, or committed criminal acts yourself. Many of you are legally culpable. Your behavior has harmed survivors and continues to put children and adults in the fellowship in the presence of sexual criminals to this day. For years, your system has coddled, enabled, and promoted perpetrators while repeatedly victim shaming and victim blaming. The perpetrators and pedophiles have received therapy paid for by you, the Overseers, and you have done nothing for the countless survivors of those perpetrators. To this day, you are not exercising a system to hold child sex abusers and sex criminals accountable in the Truth. We have learned in the last ten weeks that the devastation of child sex abuse and sex crimes in the Truth is worldwide and systemic – a fact that each of you have obviously been aware of.
Instead, offending Workers and Friends are shielded by your leadership. Workers with allegations have been sent to other geographical areas, enabling them to continue their behavior at will. Many of the Friends who have committed sex crimes have been given the privilege and status of Eldership with meetings in their homes. Notably, the offenses of predators and perpetrators have been described by the Overseers as “immoral” instead of “criminal.”
Some Friends and Workers that have spoken out about abuse—their own or that of others—have, as a result, been sent to other countries, asked to leave the Work, or even put out of the Fellowship . This corrupt and neglectful response that has been sanctioned by each of you for so many years has never been acceptable and will no longer be tolerated by uncompromising Workers, Friends, concerned citizens and law enforcement. Your complicity, deceit, and behavior for the past ten weeks has shown you are either unable or unwilling to change. It is vital for the safety and rebuilding of the community for each and every one of you to step down.
Matthew 16:6 states: “Beware of the leaven of the pharisees.” You, as the Overseers, have preached virtues, high morals, and honesty while practicing the opposite and asking for the community’s utter and complete trust in return. That trust has been irreparably broken.
As perpetrators and their victims have been uncovered, the sheer numbers of which have been a deluge on our community, you’ve each been given the opportunity to take accountability for your actions and your contribution to such suffering. Instead, we have seen letter after letter skirting responsibility, sweeping the pain of those whose trust you’ve conscripted under the rug. You’ve repeatedly asked for patience from a community you continue to betray and deceive. We fully expect more of the same after the publication of this letter.
Consider the enormity of the consequences of your abuse and complicity:
• Religious and psychological trauma by asking the survivor to be re-traumatized by the perpetrator at Meetings and Conventions. • Loss of family for the survivor by taking a stand and not having community or family support. • Monetary loss due to financial hardship from c-PTSD. • Life in a mental health facility • Comorbidity in conjunction to diminishing mental health. • Social isolation • Psychological disturbances • Nightmares • Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Hyperarousal • Hypoarousal • Anxiety • Depression • Addiction • Eating disorders • Relationship loss • Intergenerational trauma • Suicide
It is our belief that no recourse could adequately restore the community’s trust in you. Each of you, as is evident by your past and present actions and abuse of power, have proven that you are unfit to be Overseers.
In the past ten weeks, countless cases of child sex abuse have been reported to law enforcement in multiple countries. Those reports include numerous instances of you, as mandatory reporters, failing to report sex crimes against children.
Thus, at this time, we formally ask that you publicly submit your resignation to all of the Workers, Elders and Friends across your respective area, with first and last name, by June 8, 2023.
In Transparency,
Cynthia Liles, Sheri Autrey, and Lauren Rohs (503) 386-4634 in the US/+1 (503) 334-6866 internationally advocatesforthetruth@gmail.com
Advocatesforthetruth.com
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Post by scooter123 on Jun 2, 2023 11:15:27 GMT -5
For any who might be thinking that this is heavy handed, I would recommend listening to Dr. Diane Langberg (you can find her on u tube). Her lectures on sexual abuse in the church and it’s devastating consequences will bring it home. Every single perp and every single person who knew about the perps needs to go. The day of reckoning has come.
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Post by jonathan on Jun 2, 2023 11:17:17 GMT -5
If a professional team has diligently sought to do all that could reasonably be expected from them in a situation with a challenge as serious as this, and they encounter barriers of resistance there needs to be done more.
The suffering of the victims are crying out. Not for justice, as God Himself will meet out proper justice at the coming of His Son. But the cry is for all to feel safe in the fellowship. If a measure of justice is served, that's a bonus because we don't fight for justice.
We don't have bitter hearts seeking for revenge. Our hearts are tender, meek, loving, caring and very concerned for innocent and vulnerable persons.
God will see to it that His lambs are cared for. He will see to it that the wolves and dogs be dealt with. It never has gone well with any that thought they could go against God.
If ever, the time has come for each and everyone to do the honourable thing.
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Post by jonathan on Jun 2, 2023 12:26:17 GMT -5
A big thank you to every victim/survivor that has found the courage and hope and came forward. We respect you for that and we esteem you as overcomers.
Also a big thank you to everyone that has cooperated with Cynthia Liles and her team. I am sure we will never really know how much has gone on behind the scenes.
And a very big apology from me to any who have had their faith shaken, seen their confidence eroded and perhaps have even turned their back on God. I want to plead with you, that salvation is by grace through faith and not by a system or a religion. It still is a very, very personal thing between each person and their Creator.
Mote than ever before, we need to look past anybody abd anything else and make sure we see Christ. On the mountain of transfiguration the disciples saw Moses and Elias and it was quite a remarkably thing. But, that wasn't the reason why they were up there. The best was still to come.
Matthew 17:8 and Mark 9:8 "They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves".
A lot has happened the last while, no doubt. God is still on the throne and still in control!
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Post by Pragmatic on Jun 2, 2023 15:46:01 GMT -5
Nicely said Jonathan. I appreciate you posting this.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2023 18:18:44 GMT -5
Just on that list of consequences. Based on experience.
• Social isolation This is the reality for all victim/survivors who dare to speak up, to seek the care that they need. And for all who stand with them. It is a result of the defensiveness of the hierarchical system, and its desire for secrecy on anything that threatens it. (Shunning of the needy, in all its varied and cruel forms)
• Anxiety • Depression • Relationship loss Very sadly true and prevalent.
• Suicide Strong circumstantial evidence.
Ephesians 4:20 "But ye have not so learned Christ".
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Post by Vinny T. on Jun 2, 2023 19:47:51 GMT -5
For any who might be thinking that this is heavy handed, I would recommend listening to Dr. Diane Langberg (you can find her on u tube). Her lectures on sexual abuse in the church and it’s devastating consequences will bring it home. Every single perp and every single person who knew about the perps needs to go. The day of reckoning has come. I haven't posted in a while but now is the time. I said in some of my original posts that this would be the biggest Sexual Abuse a d Child Sexual Abuse cases in the United States. I was wrong as this is now in only have 10 weeks is the biggest case in history. I have said in many posts and many attacks against me that I was making things up, I was wrong and the many attacks against me from PoPs. There is no evidence that this is a church of God's making, only words of men, evil men at that who have known about, been complicent in and covered up horrific crimes against countless innocent children and people. This church is an evil abhorrent abomination on making yet the majority of people in are good people. It is a strange occurrence definitely. But not surprising as Satan is the ultimate deceiver.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2023 20:21:47 GMT -5
For any who might be thinking that this is heavy handed, I would recommend listening to Dr. Diane Langberg (you can find her on u tube). Her lectures on sexual abuse in the church and it’s devastating consequences will bring it home. Every single perp and every single person who knew about the perps needs to go. The day of reckoning has come. I haven't posted in a while but now is the time. I said in some of my original posts that this would be the biggest Sexual Abuse a d Child Sexual Abuse cases in the United States. I was wrong as this is now in only have 10 weeks is the biggest case in history. I have said in many posts and many attacks against me that I was making things up, I was wrong and the many attacks against me from PoPs. There is no evidence that this is a church of God's making, only words of men, evil men at that who have known about, been complicent in and covered up horrific crimes against countless innocent children and people. This church is an evil abhorrent abomination on making yet the majority of people in are good people. It is a strange occurrence definitely. But not surprising as Satan is the ultimate deceiver. Revelations about the extent of CSA among the 2x2 probably won’t effect 2x2 membership much. There is too much peer pressure in such a closed group. Consider the Catholic Church membership declined 20% in the last two decades, while all denominations declined even more. www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/247102/report-church-membership-among-catholics-declined-nearly-20-since-2000news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspx
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jane
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by jane on Jun 2, 2023 23:48:07 GMT -5
This letter is so important. I wish there was a way to get it to all the friends. I don't think any of the overseers are going to step down-and that makes me sad. If they would just own up to the mistakes they have made. Be accountable.
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jane
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by jane on Jun 2, 2023 23:53:13 GMT -5
I haven't posted in a while but now is the time. I said in some of my original posts that this would be the biggest Sexual Abuse a d Child Sexual Abuse cases in the United States. I was wrong as this is now in only have 10 weeks is the biggest case in history. I have said in many posts and many attacks against me that I was making things up, I was wrong and the many attacks against me from PoPs. There is no evidence that this is a church of God's making, only words of men, evil men at that who have known about, been complicent in and covered up horrific crimes against countless innocent children and people. This church is an evil abhorrent abomination on making yet the majority of people in are good people. It is a strange occurrence definitely. But not surprising as Satan is the ultimate deceiver. Revelations about the extent of CSA among the 2x2 probably won’t effect 2x2 membership much. There is too much peer pressure in such a closed group. Consider the Catholic Church membership declined 20% in the last two decades, while all denominations declined even more. www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/247102/report-church-membership-among-catholics-declined-nearly-20-since-2000news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspxAnd I disagree with you here. I think we have seen a fairly large number 'take breaks from meetings' or leave completely. And i have talked to many who have said they are waiting to see if there are any changes. If no changes are made, they will leave too. I also think as more names/crimes are revealed, more will leave. There IS a lot of peer pressure but many are good, honest people and they will put up with alot--but they too have a limit. 400 is a huge number and that will hit hard.
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Post by BobWilliston on Jun 3, 2023 0:04:40 GMT -5
And I disagree with you here. I think we have seen a fairly large number 'take breaks from meetings' or leave completely. And i have talked to many who have said they are waiting to see if there are any changes. If no changes are made, they will leave too. I also think as more names/crimes are revealed, more will leave. There IS a lot of peer pressure but many are good, honest people and they will put up with alot--but they too have a limit. 400 is a huge number and that will hit hard. Nothing prompts one to leave more than having someone betray your trust.
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Post by Haggard/// on Jun 3, 2023 5:40:57 GMT -5
And I disagree with you here. I think we have seen a fairly large number 'take breaks from meetings' or leave completely. And i have talked to many who have said they are waiting to see if there are any changes. If no changes are made, they will leave too. I also think as more names/crimes are revealed, more will leave. There IS a lot of peer pressure but many are good, honest people and they will put up with alot--but they too have a limit. 400 is a huge number and that will hit hard.
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Post by scooter123 on Jun 3, 2023 8:52:27 GMT -5
I would like to see a full disclosure of the 400 names before making a sweeping purge of the overseers. The sheep should have a say, IMO, but honest and complete information is needed first. I for one am sick of being kept in the dark, uninformed and without details. And when I refer to overseers, I mean the state level people. The head honchos that have been delegating all the dirty work to the state level guys need to go. They’re the wolves that have been watching out for the wolves.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2023 9:10:03 GMT -5
And I disagree with you here. I think we have seen a fairly large number 'take breaks from meetings' or leave completely. And i have talked to many who have said they are waiting to see if there are any changes. If no changes are made, they will leave too. I also think as more names/crimes are revealed, more will leave. There IS a lot of peer pressure but many are good, honest people and they will put up with alot--but they too have a limit. 400 is a huge number and that will hit hard. This time could be different, but I suspect this too shall pass. Only time will tell. Most likely, those who are "taking a break from meetings" won't walk away from religion all together. They tend to go back to what they know and feel comfortable with. I suspect they will join another denomination or just come back to the meetings. But there could also be a schism. That doesn't happen too often. Schisms are normally built based on theological disagreements not scandals. Denominations, including the 2x2, were born from schisms.
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Post by sheri01 on Jun 3, 2023 12:33:36 GMT -5
For any who might be thinking that this is heavy handed, I would recommend listening to Dr. Diane Langberg (you can find her on u tube). Her lectures on sexual abuse in the church and it’s devastating consequences will bring it home. Every single perp and every single person who knew about the perps needs to go. The day of reckoning has come. Thank you so very much for sharing that information about Dr. Diane Langberg. It is spot on!
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kari
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by kari on Jun 5, 2023 14:37:33 GMT -5
Thank you Sheri. For EVERYTHING you are doing.
Does this forum allow me to "copy" Cynthia, Lauren and Sheri's letter?
There are contacts I have that would very much like to see this.
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Post by sheri01 on Jun 5, 2023 19:40:06 GMT -5
Thank you Sheri. For EVERYTHING you are doing. Does this forum allow me to "copy" Cynthia, Lauren and Sheri's letter? There are contacts I have that would very much like to see this. You're quite welcome! If you'd like to private message me, I'm happy to email a PDF of the letter to you as well. All posts here on TMB can also be found on our website at http://www.advocatesforthetruth.com
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meg1
Junior Member
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Post by meg1 on Jun 6, 2023 12:15:02 GMT -5
I have some thoughts about this letter published here and on Wings.
I have read comments on this forum. Many seem to question the wording of the final paragraph. I do not. This is how a powerful principled woman sets boundaries. It is neither a threat nor a promise. It does not require a stated consequence for failure to respond. It is a statement of well defined behavior that is required in a time bound manner. Powerful women understand that the only behavior one can control is one's own. So, when a boundary is defined that woman will work diligently to ensure it is respected. This is not negotiation. It is clear boundary setting.
I am in awe of the work being done by the Advocates.
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Post by sheri01 on Jun 6, 2023 13:27:33 GMT -5
I have some thoughts about this letter published here and on Wings. I have read comments on this forum. Many seem to question the wording of the final paragraph. I do not. This is how a powerful principled woman sets boundaries. It is neither a threat nor a promise. It does not require a stated consequence for failure to respond. It is a statement of well defined behavior that is required in a time bound manner. Powerful women understand that the only behavior one can control is one's own. So, when a boundary is defined that woman will work diligently to ensure it is respected. This is not negotiation. It is clear boundary setting. I am in awe of the work being done by the Advocates. Thank you! Thank you! Very well stated!
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Post by christiansburg on Jun 6, 2023 19:19:32 GMT -5
A big thank you to every victim/survivor that has found the courage and hope and came forward. We respect you for that and we esteem you as overcomers. Also a big thank you to everyone that has cooperated with Cynthia Liles and her team. I am sure we will never really know how much has gone on behind the scenes. And a very big apology from me to any who have had their faith shaken, seen their confidence eroded and perhaps have even turned their back on God. I want to plead with you, that salvation is by grace through faith and not by a system or a religion. It still is a very, very personal thing between each person and their Creator. Mote than ever before, we need to look past anybody abd anything else and make sure we see Christ. On the mountain of transfiguration the disciples saw Moses and Elias and it was quite a remarkably thing. But, that wasn't the reason why they were up there. The best was still to come. Matthew 17:8 and Mark 9:8 "They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves". A lot has happened the last while, no doubt. God is still on the throne and still in control! It may be that they are not turning their back on God but turning their back on our fellowship?
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Post by BobWilliston on Jun 6, 2023 22:12:23 GMT -5
A big thank you to every victim/survivor that has found the courage and hope and came forward. We respect you for that and we esteem you as overcomers. Also a big thank you to everyone that has cooperated with Cynthia Liles and her team. I am sure we will never really know how much has gone on behind the scenes. And a very big apology from me to any who have had their faith shaken, seen their confidence eroded and perhaps have even turned their back on God. I want to plead with you, that salvation is by grace through faith and not by a system or a religion. It still is a very, very personal thing between each person and their Creator. Mote than ever before, we need to look past anybody abd anything else and make sure we see Christ. On the mountain of transfiguration the disciples saw Moses and Elias and it was quite a remarkably thing. But, that wasn't the reason why they were up there. The best was still to come. Matthew 17:8 and Mark 9:8 "They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves". A lot has happened the last while, no doubt. God is still on the throne and still in control! It may be that they are not turning their back on God but turning their back on our fellowship? I suggest they're not turning their back on anyone or anything -- they're speaking truth and integrity to power and crime. That's appropriate in all families and fellowships.
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Post by 1chinesewhispers on Jun 7, 2023 19:03:55 GMT -5
To quote It may be that they are not turning their back on God but turning their back on our fellowship?
Your relationship is not in meeting , special meetings or convention , it is one on one with the creator of your choice .
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Post by openingact34 on Jun 8, 2023 11:50:18 GMT -5
Happy deadline day to all the overseers out there! I'm excited to see what the Advocates have cooked up for you.
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Post by 1chinesewhispers on Jun 8, 2023 12:26:13 GMT -5
Happy deadline day to all the overseers out there! I'm excited to see what the Advocates have cooked up for you. Yeppers , popcorn , weed and stuff . I am ready to see what happens today !
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Post by fixit on Jun 8, 2023 16:30:16 GMT -5
And I disagree with you here. I think we have seen a fairly large number 'take breaks from meetings' or leave completely. And i have talked to many who have said they are waiting to see if there are any changes. If no changes are made, they will leave too. I also think as more names/crimes are revealed, more will leave. There IS a lot of peer pressure but many are good, honest people and they will put up with alot--but they too have a limit. 400 is a huge number and that will hit hard. This time could be different, but I suspect this too shall pass. Only time will tell. Most likely, those who are "taking a break from meetings" won't walk away from religion all together. They tend to go back to what they know and feel comfortable with. I suspect they will join another denomination or just come back to the meetings. But there could also be a schism. That doesn't happen too often. Schisms are normally built based on theological disagreements not scandals. Denominations, including the 2x2, were born from schisms. There's an interesting comment on WINGS...
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Post by fixit on Jun 8, 2023 16:37:39 GMT -5
It may be that they are not turning their back on God but turning their back on our fellowship? You are right - that is often the case. Many are professing, just not attending meetings. I've said for a long time....for many good people it's not so much that they have left the fellowship, but the fellowship has left them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2023 16:47:32 GMT -5
This time could be different, but I suspect this too shall pass. Only time will tell. Most likely, those who are "taking a break from meetings" won't walk away from religion all together. They tend to go back to what they know and feel comfortable with. I suspect they will join another denomination or just come back to the meetings. But there could also be a schism. That doesn't happen too often. Schisms are normally built based on theological disagreements not scandals. Denominations, including the 2x2, were born from schisms. There's an interesting comment on WINGS... I could see someone who leave meeting join a home church which is close to the 2x2 format. There are many different variations of a House Church.
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Post by fixit on Jun 8, 2023 17:43:14 GMT -5
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