Exposing Abuse 2x2s Member & Exit Letter
Feb 12, 2024 16:33:26 GMT -5
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Post by sheri01 on Feb 12, 2024 16:33:26 GMT -5
Doug McCormick and I became friends in the 80’s. He and his wife Anita have been amazing advocates not only for me, but to all survivors of CSA/SA within the organization. They are upstanding people who stand for truth, integrity, transparency, survivors and Christ.
The first letter below was sent to Rob Newman, the Overseer of California in May of 2023. They stood strong in their convictions of right and wrong. Good versus evil. Transparency versus covering crimes.
After 9 months within the organization of relentless pursuit for change, they left with the exit letter attached. The Workers and Overseers obsession to keep pedophiles in meetings remains unchanged after 11 months of intense exposure since Bruergate.
May, 2023
Hi Rob, I had wished an opportunity might arise to visit in person with you and Brett at convention in regards to a specific situation within the current environment. I understand your time there was limited, so I’m hopeful an email now will be a sufficient way to address my interest and concern. I ask about the current status of any dealings with Sheri Autry and any evidence involving her case with Tulare County. Allow me to elaborate.
There was a thought shared at convention that I appreciated, about the importance to hearing the various sides of a whole matter before answering. I would far prefer to be more informed of yours before conveying mine, but I trust you will let me know your perspective while still considering my viewpoints.
First from a father. A father of a daughter. A father of a daughter who has been molested. While her abuser was not anyone associated with meeting, that matters not in the bleakness of her despair, the toll of emotional suffering she bears, the unspeakable shame she feels. It seems so unfair that victims have to feel the shame that the perpetrators should be burdened with. Left to live in depression and despair day after day, year after year. Although she is an adult, the words are hard for her to speak. We’re thankful that while she hasn’t yet voiced anything to us, her parents, she has had some counseling and spoken of it to an aunt. That is how we know what we know, she gave permission for her to tell us. She would be living it all again if she had to tell us too. We will never ask her to do that. The words are hard to find to describe the feeling of a parent’s helplessness being on a phone call with someone so despondent a thousand miles away, and not sure your next words will receive an answer or just be met with the sound of haunting silence. I am lucky she has made it this far. Other fathers of abused victims are not as fortunate. And while not acted upon, the thought of retribution has crossed my mind. As it would, dare I say, even should, for any father with a hint of morality.
Second from the year 1986. That is when I moved to Bakersfield. That is when I went to your gospel meetings with Ralph McDonald. That is when I met a girl living with her brother in Visalia, named Sheri Van Dermyden. We dated for while then. She told me of the abuse she suffered from Steve Rohs. I was aghast. This was so wrong. She told me of what had seemingly been arranged amongst the workers, her abuser and the family, with no legal justice being pursued. This seemed wrong even then. Today it’s obvious that it clearly benefitted the perpetrator more than the victim, the adults more than the minor, the church image more than the general publics safety. And sadly, in time, it has resulted in even more CSA. Eventually we went our own ways. She had asked me not to say anything. I kept my word. For 24 years. After she wrote her public letter in 2010 and more people became aware of her story, I felt I could then vouch that in fact, this was exactly what I’d heard all those years earlier. I have not seen or spoken to Sheri in more than 35 years. But I’ve always felt empathy for her. A certain sense that I should be protective of who she is because she trusted me to know the worst thing that happened to her when the worst thing is often impossibly hard to tell someone, and a wish that she not have to feel victimized anymore.
The irony of those two viewpoints is this, On one hand I have an only daughter who has not yet reached a point where she can utter a single word about her experience to me, the very one who would be her greatest ally. All I can do is continue to love her and let her know it. On the other hand a friend, a victim who has found her voice. Who will not be silenced. Who is determined to use it to help others who have suffered CSA. But whose own wounds will never completely disappear. Maybe I can be an ally for her. There are some of us who have known of Sheri’s situation for the past 37 years. Though I doubt any of us imagined then the situation we all face today. So I’d ask that any compassion and courtesy available regarding her case be given. That legalities and liabilities be set aside. That right be done because right should always be done. She was literally abused by Steve Rohs. I’m afraid the figurative seems to have gone on far longer. If you deem me to have any credit, let it be used on her behalf. Even just a fingertips worth of relief, extended to someone enduring a living torment. A small measure of solace amidst her grief and anguish and a prayer that some healing could be hers.
I will appreciate your thoughts and would like the opportunity to factor in your perspective Rob to what I currently know. I’m also aware that these days letters often find their way public and I’d have no personal opposition if this one did. I stand by everything I’ve written. But because my own daughter hasn’t yet reached a point that she wants her situation known, and lest her identity be deciphered, I will ask you to afford me the same bond of your word that I kept to Sheri when it was asked of me. I will text you separately to confirm this letter is from me and will sign this simply as,
A father and a friend.
Our Exit Letter
Ten months ago at the beginning of April the extent of the abuse crisis in the church was just coming to light. It seemed a sensible expectation to us then, that on the singular issue of Child Sexual Abuse there would surely be universal agreement to condemn such actions, support all victims, and insist perpetrators be removed to reap the due reward of their deeds. It was such an obviously simple choice. Like day or night. Good or evil. Right or wrong.
We were wrong.
As the number of reported perpetrators has surged past 700, the list of victims reaches well into the thousands and stretches back more than 80 years. It is now evident that the historical leadership of this ministry had long known about abusers within the church. They have been participants themselves, or enabled such abusers by moving them, covering for them, minimizing their actions and shaming and belittling their victims. We can afford no respect to them.
The subsequent and current leadership generations of brother workers have been groomed to employ those same tactics in the same manner, incurring the exact same results. By their actions and inactions, they continue to demonstrate their preference to accommodate the presence of pedophiles, molesters and rapists over the safety of the most vulnerable and anyone else. Therefore we must not trust them.
Because of the hierarchical pyramid of power, sister workers and younger brother workers having no say or sway regarding the iniquitous behavior of their superiors, are limited in their response options. Either speak up for victims at risk of being removed from their very calling to preach the gospel, choose to remain in silence and submission, or worst of all, align themselves with the leadership’s way of thinking. We dare not chance to trust them.
Overwhelming evidence, information and victim accounts can be obtained from a forthright discussion with any of the vast number of people who have gained that awareness, knowledge and experience. Or readily researched and verified with minimal effort. For any workers, elders or church members whose motives discourage such endeavors, logic dictates we must be suspicious of them.
Some heed their misguided advice. Some prefer the simplistic mindset of thinking good thoughts and not dwelling on anything negative. Some say they don’t know of anyone affected. Some insist this is all fabricated in an effort to destroy “The Truth”. Some say the workers are taking care of it. Some say they are just going to put this behind them. Some assert that the victims are lying. Some say this happened a long time ago, the past is the past, and we should just forgive. All these and any with similar rationales have effectively identified themselves as willfully ignorant. So what value then is there in any of their opinions or criticisms? Because they have chosen to bury their heads or cover their eyes, we are compelled to disregard them.
This clearly illustrates to us the groups that didn’t do anything, won’t do anything, can’t do anything, don’t care about anything, and don’t want to know anything. If we can’t trust the morality of the church to do right on this most basic humanitarian issue, how can there be any trust?
Who then of the church is there left? Tragically and most assuredly there are more victims, who are, as of yet unknown. For sure any number of virtuous, God loving souls who will truly be appalled should they ever be completely and honestly informed of the full scope of the crisis. Plus many battle worn members who have waxed valiant in fighting for what is right, good and Godly. However those numbers dwindle by the day.
Today is that day for us.
We have opened our home for Wednesday night and Union Sunday meetings for 16 years. We lived on the convention place that Anita was born and raised on for five more. For sixty years this church has been our life. We wouldn’t know each other without it. We love Jesus and all he has done for us. We have not lost our faith. We are not falling away. Our light has not gone out. We are not bitter. We have not lost out. We are not stepping back or aside. We are going forward. We are not victims. We simply choose to stand up for them. We will continue to do so. We cannot idly pretend nothing happened and thereby be complicit in the whitewashing of abuse.
Doug has known Sheri VanDermyden Autrey and her story since 1986 and we applaud her continuing efforts of exposing abuse. We greatly appreciate the work Cynthia Liles has undertaken and are honored to have her friendship. We unapologetically support all that every advocate is doing on behalf of victims and survivors. They will continue to receive any assistance we can provide: socially, emotionally, and monetarily. We encourage everyone to do the same.
The shattered lives of the innocent deserve nothing less.
Doug & Anita McCormick
Applegate, CA·
Posted February 6, 2024
The first letter below was sent to Rob Newman, the Overseer of California in May of 2023. They stood strong in their convictions of right and wrong. Good versus evil. Transparency versus covering crimes.
After 9 months within the organization of relentless pursuit for change, they left with the exit letter attached. The Workers and Overseers obsession to keep pedophiles in meetings remains unchanged after 11 months of intense exposure since Bruergate.
May, 2023
Hi Rob, I had wished an opportunity might arise to visit in person with you and Brett at convention in regards to a specific situation within the current environment. I understand your time there was limited, so I’m hopeful an email now will be a sufficient way to address my interest and concern. I ask about the current status of any dealings with Sheri Autry and any evidence involving her case with Tulare County. Allow me to elaborate.
There was a thought shared at convention that I appreciated, about the importance to hearing the various sides of a whole matter before answering. I would far prefer to be more informed of yours before conveying mine, but I trust you will let me know your perspective while still considering my viewpoints.
First from a father. A father of a daughter. A father of a daughter who has been molested. While her abuser was not anyone associated with meeting, that matters not in the bleakness of her despair, the toll of emotional suffering she bears, the unspeakable shame she feels. It seems so unfair that victims have to feel the shame that the perpetrators should be burdened with. Left to live in depression and despair day after day, year after year. Although she is an adult, the words are hard for her to speak. We’re thankful that while she hasn’t yet voiced anything to us, her parents, she has had some counseling and spoken of it to an aunt. That is how we know what we know, she gave permission for her to tell us. She would be living it all again if she had to tell us too. We will never ask her to do that. The words are hard to find to describe the feeling of a parent’s helplessness being on a phone call with someone so despondent a thousand miles away, and not sure your next words will receive an answer or just be met with the sound of haunting silence. I am lucky she has made it this far. Other fathers of abused victims are not as fortunate. And while not acted upon, the thought of retribution has crossed my mind. As it would, dare I say, even should, for any father with a hint of morality.
Second from the year 1986. That is when I moved to Bakersfield. That is when I went to your gospel meetings with Ralph McDonald. That is when I met a girl living with her brother in Visalia, named Sheri Van Dermyden. We dated for while then. She told me of the abuse she suffered from Steve Rohs. I was aghast. This was so wrong. She told me of what had seemingly been arranged amongst the workers, her abuser and the family, with no legal justice being pursued. This seemed wrong even then. Today it’s obvious that it clearly benefitted the perpetrator more than the victim, the adults more than the minor, the church image more than the general publics safety. And sadly, in time, it has resulted in even more CSA. Eventually we went our own ways. She had asked me not to say anything. I kept my word. For 24 years. After she wrote her public letter in 2010 and more people became aware of her story, I felt I could then vouch that in fact, this was exactly what I’d heard all those years earlier. I have not seen or spoken to Sheri in more than 35 years. But I’ve always felt empathy for her. A certain sense that I should be protective of who she is because she trusted me to know the worst thing that happened to her when the worst thing is often impossibly hard to tell someone, and a wish that she not have to feel victimized anymore.
The irony of those two viewpoints is this, On one hand I have an only daughter who has not yet reached a point where she can utter a single word about her experience to me, the very one who would be her greatest ally. All I can do is continue to love her and let her know it. On the other hand a friend, a victim who has found her voice. Who will not be silenced. Who is determined to use it to help others who have suffered CSA. But whose own wounds will never completely disappear. Maybe I can be an ally for her. There are some of us who have known of Sheri’s situation for the past 37 years. Though I doubt any of us imagined then the situation we all face today. So I’d ask that any compassion and courtesy available regarding her case be given. That legalities and liabilities be set aside. That right be done because right should always be done. She was literally abused by Steve Rohs. I’m afraid the figurative seems to have gone on far longer. If you deem me to have any credit, let it be used on her behalf. Even just a fingertips worth of relief, extended to someone enduring a living torment. A small measure of solace amidst her grief and anguish and a prayer that some healing could be hers.
I will appreciate your thoughts and would like the opportunity to factor in your perspective Rob to what I currently know. I’m also aware that these days letters often find their way public and I’d have no personal opposition if this one did. I stand by everything I’ve written. But because my own daughter hasn’t yet reached a point that she wants her situation known, and lest her identity be deciphered, I will ask you to afford me the same bond of your word that I kept to Sheri when it was asked of me. I will text you separately to confirm this letter is from me and will sign this simply as,
A father and a friend.
Our Exit Letter
Ten months ago at the beginning of April the extent of the abuse crisis in the church was just coming to light. It seemed a sensible expectation to us then, that on the singular issue of Child Sexual Abuse there would surely be universal agreement to condemn such actions, support all victims, and insist perpetrators be removed to reap the due reward of their deeds. It was such an obviously simple choice. Like day or night. Good or evil. Right or wrong.
We were wrong.
As the number of reported perpetrators has surged past 700, the list of victims reaches well into the thousands and stretches back more than 80 years. It is now evident that the historical leadership of this ministry had long known about abusers within the church. They have been participants themselves, or enabled such abusers by moving them, covering for them, minimizing their actions and shaming and belittling their victims. We can afford no respect to them.
The subsequent and current leadership generations of brother workers have been groomed to employ those same tactics in the same manner, incurring the exact same results. By their actions and inactions, they continue to demonstrate their preference to accommodate the presence of pedophiles, molesters and rapists over the safety of the most vulnerable and anyone else. Therefore we must not trust them.
Because of the hierarchical pyramid of power, sister workers and younger brother workers having no say or sway regarding the iniquitous behavior of their superiors, are limited in their response options. Either speak up for victims at risk of being removed from their very calling to preach the gospel, choose to remain in silence and submission, or worst of all, align themselves with the leadership’s way of thinking. We dare not chance to trust them.
Overwhelming evidence, information and victim accounts can be obtained from a forthright discussion with any of the vast number of people who have gained that awareness, knowledge and experience. Or readily researched and verified with minimal effort. For any workers, elders or church members whose motives discourage such endeavors, logic dictates we must be suspicious of them.
Some heed their misguided advice. Some prefer the simplistic mindset of thinking good thoughts and not dwelling on anything negative. Some say they don’t know of anyone affected. Some insist this is all fabricated in an effort to destroy “The Truth”. Some say the workers are taking care of it. Some say they are just going to put this behind them. Some assert that the victims are lying. Some say this happened a long time ago, the past is the past, and we should just forgive. All these and any with similar rationales have effectively identified themselves as willfully ignorant. So what value then is there in any of their opinions or criticisms? Because they have chosen to bury their heads or cover their eyes, we are compelled to disregard them.
This clearly illustrates to us the groups that didn’t do anything, won’t do anything, can’t do anything, don’t care about anything, and don’t want to know anything. If we can’t trust the morality of the church to do right on this most basic humanitarian issue, how can there be any trust?
Who then of the church is there left? Tragically and most assuredly there are more victims, who are, as of yet unknown. For sure any number of virtuous, God loving souls who will truly be appalled should they ever be completely and honestly informed of the full scope of the crisis. Plus many battle worn members who have waxed valiant in fighting for what is right, good and Godly. However those numbers dwindle by the day.
Today is that day for us.
We have opened our home for Wednesday night and Union Sunday meetings for 16 years. We lived on the convention place that Anita was born and raised on for five more. For sixty years this church has been our life. We wouldn’t know each other without it. We love Jesus and all he has done for us. We have not lost our faith. We are not falling away. Our light has not gone out. We are not bitter. We have not lost out. We are not stepping back or aside. We are going forward. We are not victims. We simply choose to stand up for them. We will continue to do so. We cannot idly pretend nothing happened and thereby be complicit in the whitewashing of abuse.
Doug has known Sheri VanDermyden Autrey and her story since 1986 and we applaud her continuing efforts of exposing abuse. We greatly appreciate the work Cynthia Liles has undertaken and are honored to have her friendship. We unapologetically support all that every advocate is doing on behalf of victims and survivors. They will continue to receive any assistance we can provide: socially, emotionally, and monetarily. We encourage everyone to do the same.
The shattered lives of the innocent deserve nothing less.
Doug & Anita McCormick
Applegate, CA·
Posted February 6, 2024