NGC 6503. The galaxy, which lies about 18 million light-years away is at the edge of a strangely empty patch of space called the Local Void.-ESA/NASA
Hey all, I am doing better. This all resulted from a fall I had in a shower in Switzerland the day I arrived which resulted in a nasty bruise and swelling in the area of my dupa (Russian slang for one’s backside. It’s pronounced doopa.) I walked all over Switzerland anyway. My right leg was continuing to swell and my primary said I needed to deal with it. I hadn’t mentioned it to my hubby. When I showed him, I was immediately ED-bound. Thankfully all of my tests were good except for one and that was only marginally worse. So, I have some Lasix to help with the swelling which should probably resolve soon. The poor ED staff. There were 30 people waiting to be seen in the ED waiting area and every ED bed was filled. This Delta variant has made itself known in hospitals.
Last December I wrote this post about Highland Community Church in Renton, Washington. {Updated}What a Mess! Highlands Community Church, Renton, WA, Lost Three Pastors (Two Due to Abusive Behavior) and Finds Itself in Crisis Mode. Finally, They Hired GRACE.
It’s been almost a year since that post. This situation was very bad and the elders, in my opinion, should have been given the boot. As you will see, the elders initially appear to have supported both Pastor Derek Nelson (inappropriate sexual behavior) and Pastor Jesse Campbell (DUI and other problematic behavior) before they were forced to fire them. This situation speaks to the problem of ineffective elders. It was my opinion that the whole lot of them should be fired for this mess.
This will help you catch up.
Begin TWW excerpt
Highlands Community Church and Pastor Derek Nelson’s inappropriate sexual behavior.
A reader informed me of a serious situation at Highlands Community Church in Renton, Washington. One of their pastors, Derek Nelson was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple adults. I had a number of questions that were not answered by the pastors and wrote A TWW Tutorial: How to Ask Intelligent Questions About What Happened to Victims at Highlands Community Church, WA
As my previous post indicated, I had some serious reservations about the lack of information given to the members of this church. I thought it might be helpful to educate readers about how to ask questions if this happened in their churches. It appears that my concerns were warranted. He was fired but that was just the beginning.
Highlands Community Church then fired lead pastor, Jesse Campbell, at the Renton campus for a DUI and other problematic behavior.
This was announced in the following letter to the church members.
Highlands Family,
Thank you for your continued prayers. As promised in the Family Meeting on October 22, the Elders have put together a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page to help answer the many questions that our church family has right now. You can view the FAQ here.
We encourage you to take time to read through this, and also to continue submitting any thoughts and questions you might have to the Elders.
We recognize that this is a challenging time for so many as we process all that has taken place, and deal with a whole range of emotions including pain and grief. As a church family we will be coming together for a special night of prayer and worship on Sunday, November 8, 6-7 pm in the Family Life Center at Highlands Renton.
If you are not able to attend in person, we will be making this available streaming online at highlandscc.org.
We encourage everyone who can make it to come and be part of this time of healing and hope, as we look ahead to what God has for us and continue as a church family helping people find and follow Jesus!
Here are some quotes from the first part of the FAQ. Hang on. More is coming in Part 2 of the letter.
What is the biblical disqualification for Jesse?
Not being above reproach, as described in 1 Timothy 3:2.The Elder Board recently received detailed reporting from Jesse’s DUI that cited specific facts which differed significantly from what we were told initially when we met with Jesse.
These discrepancies indicated a level of dishonesty that left us with no choice but to conclude Jesse is not currently biblically qualified to serve as our pastor at Highlands.
These discrepancies include a significant difference in his state of intoxication and risk to the community including toxicology and level of speeding when he was pulled over. After the Elders met with Jesse and reviewed these facts, Jesse acknowledged his dishonesty, and submitted his resignation.
…Why did it take so long for the Board to take this action?The Board first saw the police report of Jesse’s DUI on 10/5/20. There was a clear disparity between what we saw in the report and that which Jesse had told us. The level of speeding and inebriation were far above what had been told to us, by Jesse. Within the week, the Board confronted Jesse. In hindsight, the Board should have done full due diligence immediately and requested the police report ourselves.
Apparently, there were some questions about the elders shirking their responsibilities. There is little question in my mind that there is an elder problem.
Why are the Elders apologizing?
As Elders, we personally apologize to the congregation for our lack of due diligence regarding this DUI matter from the beginning. We also recognize the damage inflicted upon our church because of our failure to make this public immediately. Looking back over time, this was a regrettably poor decision. We are committed to learning from this, and committed to making changes to our process. Specifically, any similar situations in the future will be handled with immediate transparency and independent verification of facts.Why should we trust the Board of Elders and its decisions?
We acknowledge that trust has been broken between the Elders and some of the congregation. The Board is reevaluating our oversight, decision making, and communication processes.Why aren’t any of the Elders being disqualified due to their oversights?
Our lack of due diligence in independently verifying facts is a lapse in judgment that we regret. However, it is not a failure of an elder qualification.What specific measures will be taken by the Elder Board to increase accountability and strength of leadership moving forward?
The Board is looking for an outside ministry partner to evaluate and assess the current state of the Elder Board. Leadership and accountability will be critical factors in this assessment. Early next year, the Board will also be seeking new Elder candidate recommendations by the staff and congregation who meet the biblical qualifications listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Please be praying that God will raise up biblically qualified Elder candidates this coming year.Take a look at the partial statement by the Elder Board just prior to firing Campbell. They stood behind him totally…until they didn’t. What a mess.
Jesse has referenced these struggles on several occasions from the pulpit, though not in great detail. Because there is some misinformation out there on this topic, we believe it is important to address this specifically now with a clear statement from the Board, rather than allow any further misinformation to spread. The Elder Board fully and unanimously stands behind Jesse as our Lead Pastor and have overseen the accountability measures Jesse has taken to be fully above reproach. Jesse has freely offered to share the additional details we are sharing with you now and is in complete support of the Elder board’s decision to share this statement with our church family.
Here is a link to the entire Elder Statement on August 17, 2020, when they were fully behind Campbell. I bet they wish they could eat these words. Do they not have anyone on the elder board who understands substance abuse?
HCC’s Executive Pastor Nick Delgado quit due to concerns about the leadership of the Elder Board and Jesse Campbell.
Delgado sounds like he was the only adult in the room. No wonder people were asking questions about the Elder Board. This is quite disturbing.
Why is Pastor Nick Dalgardno leaving Highlands?
Nick decided to leave staff and the Highlands Board. Nick has requested that we communicate that he has concern with Jesse’s leadership and specifically the Elder Board. The Elders are receiving his concerns, and will take them into careful consideration.We appreciate Nick’s faithful service in the ministries of Highlands. We also love and appreciate the Dalgardno family and believe their future will be bright wherever God takes them. We are looking forward to seeing how God will use Nick in his future ministry opportunities.
Highlands Community Church finally did the right thing by hiring GRACE to investigate.
As most people who read TWW know, GRACE is the only organization I trust to get to the heart of the matter. They want the truth and will not mince words as they complete their investigation. There is little question in my mind that HCC is a church that is in crisis. The Elder Board bears much responsibility for this mess and it sure would be nice to see some of these men take personal inventory and start doing the right thing which is hard.
End TWW excerpt
So, when we last left this church, GRACE was going to investigate. Things have not worked out as hoped. Special thanks go to the reader who has been keeping me informed. Here is the following letter sent to the congregation.
In the following letter please note the church is dealing with three issues
- GRACE had to pause their investigation because they were informed that they need to apply for some sort of licensure in the state of Washington.
- A victim has filed a civil suit against the church and the disgraced pastor, Derek Nelson. GRACE cannot interfere with a filed lawsuit from what I understand.
- The church has reached a settlement with another victim which most likely has an NDA associated with it. Read the language carefully. The church is asking that, if there are other victims, they should come forward and speak with GRACE.
- The church leaders’ language towards victims has taken a decided change for the better.
Begin letter to the congregation.
From: Highlands Community Church <info@highlandscc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 7:00 PMSubject: An Update from the Elders: GRACE Investigation
GRACE INVESTIGATION UpdateA Message from the Highlands Community Church Governing Elders
August 25, 2021Dear Highlands family,
We have some important information related to the GRACE investigation and Highlands’ responses to the two known abuse victims.
GRACE INVESTIGATION
First, we wanted to share that Highlands and our insurance provider have reached a mutually agreeable settlement with one of the two known victims. While we are grateful to have reached this agreement, we know that the victim and many others around them continue to experience tremendous heartache and pain. Please join us in our continued prayers for healing and restoration for all those who suffer as a result of the abuse that occurred.
Secondly, we recently were advised that the independent investigation being conducted by GRACE has been paused for two reasons:
1) GRACE has become aware of an administrative issue related to their license to conduct investigations in in Washington State. GRACE is actively working with the appropriate legal teams to understand and bring resolution to this issue.
2) The other known victim has filed a civil suit and has named Highlands and Derek Nelson as defendants. While we are saddened by this development, we will continue to work pro-actively with all parties involved to reach a resolution. Our hearts’ desire is that truth will prevail, that justice will be served, and that each victim will receive the care and support they need to continue in their recovery. GRACE’s policy is to pause any investigation until any outstanding suits are resolved. We are working with GRACE and the lawyer for the other victim to explore possible options to keep the investigation moving forward while the suit proceeds.
PRAYER FOR VICTIMS AND OUR COMMUNITY
We urge everyone in the Highlands family to pray for the two known abuse victims, other victims of sexual misconduct in our community, as well as others hurt through the sin in our church community. Our desire throughout this process is to love and care for the two known victims. We long for the Lord to bring healing to His church and for light to be shown through the GRACE investigation.
Who can I contact if I am a victim, or if I have relevant information to share?
While the investigation is currently paused, we continue to urge anyone who is a victim of sexual misconduct or who has relevant information to contact GRACE. Lee Ann James with GRACE is leading the investigation and can be reached directly by email at lee_ann@netgrace.org. Please be assured that any contact you have with GRACE will remain completely confidential.
We will let you know when we become aware of any changes to the investigation status.
In Christ,
Highlands Community Church Governing Elders
End letter
The civil suit was brought by one victim.
This comes as no surprise to me and I imagine many of you feel the same way. The church badly mishandled this situation. What I am about to say is controversial. It appears that no matter how much we harp on sex abuse in the evangelical church, things won’t change until churches begin to lose money, also known as getting sued. Given what I have written about this church, I’m supporting the person who is bringing this suit. Sex abuse in the church has been talked about for at least a decade and still, churches continue to act inappropriately, or should I say unscripturally? In other words, Jesus ain’t pleased. #ChurchToo
The church letter said, “While we are saddened by this development, we will continue to work pro-actively with all parties involved to reach a resolution.” This could mean that they will need to offer lots more money to the victim and her lawyers.
The settlement
They put this news at the start of the letter to make everyone think that everything is under control. It is highly likely that this involves an NDA since they will not tell you about the agreement.
The letter said:
First, we wanted to share that Highlands and our insurance provider have reached a mutually agreeable settlement with one of the two known victims. While we are grateful to have reached this agreement, we know that the victim and many others around them continue to experience tremendous heartache and pain.
What this probably means is that the insurance company made the payout. I have to wonder if the insurance companies are losing money on paying out for sex abuse by pastors?
I am totally ignoring the pablum in that letter Do you think they really care for the many victims of abuse in churches? I bet the insurance company or GRACE had to show them how to write nice things. I don’t buy it. I won’t buy it until I see churches actually acting like they care when these awful abuse situations are first revealed to them. Often they go into “protect the church mode” and subsequent actions are anything but caring.
GRACE
It appears that the organization needs some fancy (meaning costly) license to conduct business in some states. I had not heard of this before and I hope that they are able to overcome this obstacle. Has anyone else heard about this issue? I would like to understand exactly what they need in order to investigate churches. It appears the state gets its cut from those who investigate abuse in the church.
While the investigation is currently paused, we continue to urge anyone who is a victim of sexual misconduct or who has relevant information to contact GRACE. Lee Ann James with GRACE is leading the investigation and can be reached directly by email at lee_ann@netgrace.org. Please be assured that any contact you have with GRACE will remain completely confidential.
Thankfully, it appears that victims can still contact them and that such contact will be confidential. I highly recommend that victims contact GRACE.
{Uodated} What’s going on with the elders?
I suggested that they all get fired in my original post. Does anyone know if this has happened? The old elders have resigned. Good. They should have done so.
“It appears that no matter how much we harp on sex abuse in the evangelical church, things won’t change until churches begin to lose money, also known as getting sued.”
…what Jeff Anderson said way back about the Catholic Church’s management of wayward priests. And he is Catholic. Lawsuits and “hit them in the pocketbook”, their only ears.
Glad you are recovering, Dee, and that your hubs sent you to the ED. Ever grateful.
Finally, the above errant church writes of “healing” after blatant leadership sin and negligence of others. Why? Jesus healed from leprosy and other diseases and disabilities. But sin required repentance and reparation. Difference. Is anyone else tired of Christians referring to “healing” from deliberate sin? What an insult to victims, to claim healing for predators, enablers, and walk-on-byers. IMHO.
Dee: There are never enough ways I can say thanks to you for your thorough, factual, and investigative research. I wish I knew how to say it. Because of you, and others, secret and hidden evil people continue to be held accountable on Earth. And their greater accountability is coming.
I do not know the term ‘ED’, but am glad you are receiving the correct care and are healing.
jojo,
Thank you for your kind comment. ED is health professional slang for the Emergency Dept or the Emergency Room.
[Nick] Delgado sounds like he was the only adult in the room.Another reason to embrace Nickism.
On a less frivolous note, I hope you’re well Dee – sorry to hear about your recent ED visit. Love and best wishes from Scotland!
“What I am about to say is controversial. It appears that no matter how much we harp on sex abuse in the evangelical church, things won’t change until churches begin to lose money, also known as getting sued.”
++++++++++++++
when the untouchable big guy takes advantage of the little guy, using ‘God’ to intimidate and to hide behind in order to protect money, their vulnerability is exposed.
i can’t think of a better way to stand up for the one who has suffered and to put a stop to something so disgustingly immoral than to kick hard.
that this is controversial is completely unreasonable.
As a reminder, I helped bring this to Dee’s attention a while ago.
I can confirm that in fact that the entire elder board has been replaced in addition to a new lead pastor (who actually has been associated with HCC in various positions for a while) having been hired.
From the email communications the church sent out in late July and early August, it seems that the previous elder board handed over governance of the church to the new elder board and then stepped back to become a non-governing board, though I do not know what that entails.
“Men of god” make church a business, leadership as pedigree with entitlement & PR, and community a den of horrors as a predator’s haven.
“Stop turning my Father’s House into a shopping mall,” said Jesus to the money-changers in the Temple. [The Message, paraphrase version.] Then Jesus said they could tear the Temple down but it would rise again in three days. Religious elite, focused on bricks and booming budgets, didn’t get it, really, but just enough to execute Jesus, Son of God, Who rose alive from their execution, as He promised.
Church is neither a business nor a predator’s haven, nor an attractive campus; leadership is neither academic theology nor clever personality. Church is the faithful remnant who empathize with and advocate for the downtrodden as they, the faithful, worship, in Spirit and truth, Creator God.
The medical update is a great relief. Many of us have been anxiously wondering how you have been doing.
Stay well, Dee!
———-
It would seem that the “dam is breaking” in terms of victim litigation in protestant churches.
Are the elders in a church such as Highlands employees who can be “fired,” or what?
Also, I’m glad to hear you’re doing okay now, Dee. Gravity hates us!
Nick Bulbeck,
I shall proclaim Nickism whereever and whenever I can
I believe that they serve at the will of the congregation but I might be really wrong. Whoever put them in this position should fire them and fire himself.
Whistleblower,
Thanks for your comment. It appears the elder board has been replaced and that there is a new pastor.
I often get Bible verses thrown at me about not suing a brother.
That.
I was young and now I’m old. I spent most of my life in the institutional church. I learned a long time ago that religious circles are populated by “brothers” who are not brothers at all. Bad boy church leaders hide behind verses like that … “touch not my anointed ones” is another one of their favorites.
(glad to see you back, Dee … you worried us)
While suing the church & paying out settlements hits the pocketbook- for now it’s the insurance company’s pocketbook.
The REAL impact (financially) would be for people to stop giving to these churches until they clean up their act, get educated on trauma & abuse, and deal with abusive pastors/staff members. I guarantee heads would roll & improvements made if people threatened & followed thru with holding back their donations.
Here’s a Bible verse you won’t hear coming from the modern pulpit:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Saying “I’m sorry, please forgive me” doesn’t cut it if you get up and do the same thing again.
Peter could say to the lame beggar “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). Today’s church leaders can claim wealth, but can’t say rise up and walk. We’ve lost the power, because we’ve lost our way.
dee,
From the church’s FAQ:
What is the process for evaluating Elder Board members?
Annually, the congregation is asked to evaluate all Elders, including lay and staff Elders, according to the biblical qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
**
It sounds like some elders, including the lead pastor, are employees while others are not. The church’s bylaws say that elders appoint or remove other elders. The congregation may nominate elders for the board and “evaluate” elders, but the congregation has no authority over the elders.
Which, of course, is not the Biblical model for selection of elders. Congregational polity is proper church governance, not elder rule.
Max,
Each group says, with conviction, that its structure is “Biblical.”
Therein is the reason there are 30,000 “Christian” denominations and organizations worldwide … each claiming to have a corner on the truth pertaining to belief and practice. Meanwhile, the one True Church moves forward within the Kingdom of God on earth in the here and now. Finding it is like looking for a needle in a haystack, a rare and endangered species, a treasure buried in a field.
Which version? New, old, reformed, malformed? There are so many versions of it by now.
That would be a tough one, even for Winston Smith beavering away in the Ministry of Truth.
Max,
I don’t have a strong opinion on church organization. I think every possibility has some strengths and some weaknesses, and every option is open to misuse or bad outcomes. This is true of any kind of human organization.
And the older we get, the *more* gravity hates us!
So glad you are doing better, Dee!
Whistleblower,
“and then stepped back to become a non-governing board, though I do not know what that entails.”
++++++++++
i’m curious to know what a non-governing board does, if they don’t govern. fold programs?
They might lose their big donors, big money.
We attended a mega where everyone knew the head of the Board had a mistress (and a wife and family). Big money affords benefits. All the extras. With a slice of the pie, no one bats an eye. Stakeholders.
They still haven’t reached their theoretical ultimate end state:
MILLIONS of One True Churches, each with only One member.
But spread a Gospel of Personal Salvation and ONLY Personal Salvation long enough and they just might get there.
Often these places are just mega, not mega “church”
Agreed … sin and rebellion don’t belong to any certain denomination(s).
Max,
Max: Here’s a Bible verse you won’t hear coming from the modern pulpit:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Worth repeating.
Then the “brother” shouldn’t give you a reason to sue.
Wild Honey,
Good point.
Actions have consequences. Jesus was in on that theory when He struck down a fruitless tree. Following Jesus is not La la Land where anything goes and nothing happens.
Max,
Does it bother anyone else that clergy never call out the deadly clergy that make church a business venture in a predator’s paradise?
Dee started this blog. She’s not clergy. Why don’t clergymen call each other out? There are Bible verses these Bible thumpers could use in sermonizing about evil clergy. Max just quoted a good one above. Thick as thieves, that’s what.
(I recall good old saintly Elizabeth Elliot going on PTL Club to promote her books but she NEVER said a word about that dastardly “ministry” racket. She only said some guy picked her up at the airport and told her the important people – not her – get fancy limo service. That’s it. Her comment about that sham of a “ministry”.)
Thick as thieves. Clergy. Every last one of them.
Houston Chronicle’s Rob Downen did the database. Databaseman.
Dee does the blog. Blogwatcher.
Not clergy but calling out clergy cuz … thick as thieves. Cowards. Not naming names, but cowards. Evidenced by what they WON’T call out.
What happens when a bottom card is pulled out in a house of cards? It all collapses. If you base who are in whom you know, there’s automatic credibility issues.
You’re welcome.
“One Hand Washes the Other…”
Also, does nominating elders mean that theywill be elected. I one church of which I was a member, the elders nominated were never elected. The old elders chose the new elders.
Hebrews 8:11 makes it sound like the individual believer IS the church Jesus established. One heart at a time.
The death toll in the United States from the Covid-19 pandemic has now exceeded the toll from the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic.
Muff Potter,
…do you have advice for dealing with a few immediate family members who are skeptical (which then informs their behavior / choices)?
the information they’ve gleaned is thought-provoking at the very least… i’m truly torn. and in the middle of volatility on both sides.
elastigirl,
I’m not Muff Potter, and I don’t know what you’re dealing with… Here is a truly sobering chart of excess deaths in the US from all causes since January 2017. The darker line shows expected deaths (higher in flu season, lower in summer). The lighter line shows actual deaths.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1168522/us-weekly-number-deaths-all-causes-acual-vs-maximum-estimate/
The US has had excess deaths every single week since March 21, 2020. The phrase “from all causes” resolves discussion about the exact cause of death. Many are dying from covid, and some are dying because of covid. Some had heart attack symptoms but stayed away from the ED because of fear of covid, and died at home. Some went to the ED with stroke symptoms, but there was not a bed for them due to regional covid surges. Or they skipped health screenings that would have revealed serious illness.
In my region right now, there is a shortage of *PEDIATRIC* beds in ICU, because a surge in children getting covid is coinciding with an unusual surge of the respiratory virus RSV. Children under 12 cannot get the covid vaccine, and must depend on other protective measures. Children here are now starting to die from covid.
I hope this helps. Although I’m not a statistician, I’ve studied covid stats, maps, and articles every day since March 2020, and will be happy to try to find answers to other questions for you.
The bylaws say the elders may (or may not) appoint the congregation’s nominees.
Cynthia W.,
I thought so. This is sometimes used by authoritarian leaders not to appoint those elders nominated by parishioners in order to protect their kingdom.
Probably not helpful, but I’ve come to the conclusion that some people just aren’t going to listen to sense on the issue until the virus hits them personally and painfully, and sometimes not even then. One of my patients nearly flipped out during a discussion (which only started out with, “Are you thinking of getting the vaccine?”), and I finally had to say “I strongly disagree” and change the subject.
And monoclonal antibodies are now getting harder to obtain due to the great need.
Friend,
thank you so much, friend. i’ll review what you linked to. i’m sure i’ll need to call on your help again. thank you so much.
elastigirl,
I think it means they are “emergent” which means having some sort of invisible effect somehow.
elastigirl,
🙂
Circling the wagons, of the authoritarian leadership versus the rest of us. Control. Pitting one against the other, ‘cuz they know better, of course.
About licensing for investigations: If GRACE is using in-house attorneys for the investigation, that jurisdiction may consider that legal practice – and their attorneys may not be licensed or admitted to practice in that state. I doubt they’re seeking licensure but the state, but may be finding counsel under whom they can work on this matter pro hac vice (ie permitted legal practice outside a jurisdiction where you are admitted to the bar, usually under the professional responsibility umbrella of a locally admitted attorney.
Savior today … Judge tomorrow.
I’m convinced that the only way we will reach herd immunity to Covid in the U.S. is through vaccination + immunity of hundreds of thousands of anti-vaxxers who contracted the virus. The anti-vax, anti-mask resistance is a pandemic in itself.
Take them on a tour through the Covid ICU at the nearest hospital.
Take off the kid gloves and tell them to not be stupid and get vaccinated ASAP.
Man-o-Manischewitz, you got that right.
I still cannot wrap my head around why in the hell there still remains segments of our society who refuse to mask or get vaccinated.
Everything from run of the mill riff-raff to irresponsible pastors and their followers.
Why?
Why is this time in U.S. history so different?
My own experience is that presenting data from studies and other reliable information does not help much. Many people are not able to discern the difference between reliable information and speculative click bait. I suggest they browse the website sorryantivaxxer.com which is documenting the lives lost. Scroll through and it becomes clear that believing the wrong information has tragic results.To a lot of people, the reality hits a lot harder this way than trying to decipher percentages of risk and the like, and highlights the importance of being a responsible person. Good luck.
SiteSeer,
A second page that is harder hitting is the reddit sub, Herman Cain Awards. I warn you it’s not easy reading and the comments are sometimes brutal. It’s a sad picture of how many evangelicals come across on social media and the resultant kind of reputation evangelicals have come to have among the population at large at this point. The positive side is that it is scaring some people straight.
SiteSeer,
Two issues are at play: information for oneself, and information to present to close family members.
The pandemic changes all the time, raising new questions. A happily vaccinated person might still want to know how much covid is in their area, whether they can/should seek a booster, and whether to make travel plans. Good information leads to inner peace and sound decisions.
Listening to people who oppose vaccinations and/or masks, and trying to persuade them, is a different matter… but it starts from one’s own knowledge.
Several leading doctors have Twitter accounts that focus on covid: Bob Wachter of UC San Francisco, Ashish Jha of Brown University, and Eric Topol. They include links to studies, as well as interesting discussion threads.
One powerful story is that of Patrick Burshia, who was interviewed by journalist Gabe Gutierrez of NBC. Gutierrez’s Twitter account shows the interview (Sept. 21). This young covid patient planned to get vaccinated after he was released from the hospital. Tragically, he died instead, at age 24.
Ken F (aka Tweed),
I think the various versions are generally misunderstandings of Nickism…
If you do, you need never fear contradiction!
Bottom line, not “success” but love God, love neighbor as self, including the downtrodden… those suffering through no action of their own.
If the great multitude in Christendom would actually heed these greatest of commandments, we wouldn’t be blogging about all the bad boys in their midst. They would love God and neighbor enough to ensure that scoundrels never ended up as church leaders.
I’ve been following HCA for a couple weeks now. What struck me was all the thick heavy Christianese in the lists of (often nasty) memes and Tweets from the late “award-winners” social media presence.
Including what’s become a routine: the cales for “prayer warriots” and “name it and claim it” language a frame before the death/”honegoing” announcement and GoFundMe pleadings for funeral expenses and medical bills.
It’s the reactions in the comment threads where things really get brutal.
Unfortunately, HCA (like Twitter) scrolls down with each posting so a specific posting is lost in the scroll after a day or two. Several days ago (might as well be a billion years) there was a Q&A from a funeral director/embalamer who answered questions on how he’s been impacted by the pandemic. Now THAT was brutal; said undertaker did not mince words.
Does anyone remember the movie Contagion? It’s about a fictional pandemic (based on a highly-contagious form of SARS/fictional coronavirus) and is said to be one of the best pandemic apocalypse movies.
According to the producer and writer, it’s actually about TWO pandemics:
* The first pandemic is the fictional virus itself, as contagious as measles and deadly as SARS, not far off from an airborne Ebola.
* The second pandemic is the accompanying misinformation/disinformation on media and what’s now called social media. Including an organic/natural quack cure called “Forsythia Extract” which parallels last year’s HydroxycholoroQAnon & today’s Horse Dewormer Paste. Plugged virally as THE Miracle Cure THEY Don’t Want You To Know by what’s now called a big-name “social media influencer” who stands to make big bucks (Elron or Copelend-level) selling Forsythia Extract via whipping up Conspiracy Conspiracy Conspiracy.
One thing to note: Derek Nelson’s victims are MALES. Grooming started in their teen years…and I know many who are probable victims, including one of my own children. To date, I am aware of potential victims as far back as 25+ years, and know for certain that the grooming behavior was continuing as recently as summer/fall/winter 2019. The old elder board is out of the picture entirely, according to the new elders, but disappointingly the new elders have done very little to bring to light the depth and depravity of Derek’s doings. The “settlement” with one victim was, in fact, an insurance settlement that has been labeled a “joke.” Yes, there’s an NDA in place–it took the (old) elder board several weeks to sign off on a release of the NDA for the victims to be able to speak with GRACE, but the NDA is still in place I believe.
We still wait…for GRACE to continue their investigation. For the elders to step up and do the right things. For former HCCers to recognize the victims as victims instead of continuing to harass and revictimize them. We remain at HCC and continue pushing for truth…but it’s not easy sometimes.