WaNiDAK Workers Meeting
TW: Child Sex Abuse - Abuse Cover Up Discussion Within 2x2 Church Leadership
The viewing/listening of this can be confronting for anyone, but especially for victims. Suggestions for safe viewing/listening include: choosing to listen/watch it alongside people you feel safe with and trust, rather than listening/watching it alone. You can choose to listen/watch it in small portions rather than all at once. Know that there is no requirement to listen/watch it as soon as it comes out, or even at all - do what is best for your mental well-being. You could ask someone you trust to watch it and share the information. And lastly, if you are distressed by listening/watching it, remember that you are not alone and there are others who will be experiencing the same response as you. There is no shame in that response. Always if you need to, reach out for support.
Following is the full audio, with captions, of a recent Washington, Northern Idaho, Alaska (WANIDAK) workers’ meeting discussing the rejection of guidelines of child sex abuse and sex assault, as well as the results of a sex abuse investigation conducted by the GRACE organization (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).
Here is AFTT’s brief overview of the recording. This is not a comprehensive overview – we invite you to listen to the entire recording on your own.
In the meeting, Darryl Doland, overseer of the WANIDAK region, shares that he is concerned about a recent investigative report by the GRACE organization, and the implementation of guidelines regarding sex abuse allegations (including CSA/SA) within the fellowship. Doland states, ”And I don't know anyone that was closely involved in the investigation that would ever do it again. And I've, of course, talked to everybody that's been involved. At this point, I'm going to have to say, from my perspective, I'm not sold on investigations. And that's a pretty major thing, because if I'm not sold on investigations, our guidelines have problems.”
Doland goes on to say, “And like when we hired GRACE, the idea of that was that it would be like the gold standard in that If we had an investigation like that, that people would be able to trust the results. Well, I don't think it changed anybody's mind. If it did, I don't know who it is.” Doland shares that earlier in the day, “....Alan Mitchell (Overseer of Queensland, Australia) called me from Australia and he goes, ‘Hey, Darryl, I've got to hear about your investigation, how are you feeling about it?’ And I said, ‘Well, I don't think I'd do it again.’ He said, ‘Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. Do you mind talking to all the overseers in Australia and New Zealand about this?’” In the recording, Doland shares his feelings that implementing policies, guidelines, and investigations fall outside of the scope of his spirit-led leadership. He offers a reflection of the significance of being aligned with scripture, and that they had not been considerate of a significant number of CSA victims and perpetrators that had moved on saying, “But I realize that there is actually an amazing number of people in our fellowship who have had bad experiences, including with CSA, and both the perpetrator and the victim have moved on with God's grace.”
(For the record, the comprehensive investigation conducted by GRACE found the victim to be credible. We are left to wonder why the ministry is so unhappy with the investigation. Also for the record, it is AFFT’s understanding that the survivor who was the subject of the investigation spoke with Doland and indicated they were unhappy with the investigation; however, it seems Doland misunderstood or mischaracterized what the survivor meant. The survivor made the point that the investigation did not have to take place because none of the information was new. It was all known before the investigation started. If the ministry believed all victims, the investigation wouldn't have been needed. The survivor believes there are cases where investigations will be needed, but in the majority of cases, a determination could be made with the information presented in the allegation if the survivor victim is believed.)
Senior worker Gary Paul speaks to the belief that with the power of God, perpetrators’ actions may be a singular event and that taking action is unnecessary, stating, “One thing that is necessary in my mind, along with being scriptural, is that, like you were saying, we have to make room. We have to consider the people that have gone on and left it behind. We don't know – you don't know all those people. You never will. But they have gone on. So that proves it's possible. I never did like the wording that says that you, once a pedophile or once a CSA or whatever you want to call it, you always are. That's not true. The studies that they made, the studies were all on groups of individuals that had no dealings with the spirit of God. And when God begins to deal with these people and there's a willingness in the heart, in the heart of that person, there is a change – can be a change, and we think of these people that may be a single incident in what, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years, or maybe even 10 years or 5 years. And let the spirit of God work. We need to be very careful for them.”
Though Doland opines that victims that are not aligned with moving on cannot be guilted into alignment, he makes his take on policy incredibly clear. At one point in the recording he says, “And who was saying the other day that was saying like the people that have reported like to Cynthia or whatever, like the average is like 20 years after the incident or something like that. And so if that continues, what we're always going to be dealing with old stuff is what it boils down to. And that's one of the reasons why we're trying to change among us this thought of like, trying to hide things, but it needs like, the sooner it's reported the better. But even though I'm saying that, you heard what I said before, I don't think it's right to go around and dig up stuff. See, that's what we don't want to do. That is not what we're trying to encourage to do. We're not trying to become this communist group that's spying on each other.” (AFFT notes that the average age for victims of child sex abuse to come forward is between 48 and 52.)
It seems apparent that the impending structure for remaining members would enact limited change with both Biblical reference of Old and New Testament scripture which would allow elders to potentially determine what is right for their fellow congregants with only scriptural guidelines from leadership. But a sister worker counters the statement with her lack of trust saying “Not all elders are qualified and we don’t always trust them -- so that’s a problem too.” The debate amongst the workers directly speaks to the removal of guidelines and policies as they are not compatible with enacting a spiritual structure to mitigate risk of future victims. Doland states, “Like in the guidelines, that’s basically what happens, we are treating everyone as a pedophile, even though we know they are not.”
We invite you to listen to the full audio, and reflect on the disenfranchisement of your personal autonomy as members and former members. The audio/transcript highlights how the ministry has primarily protected perpetrators of abuse and risked the health and safety of the innocent children, family and friends within your communities.
We understand that through the process of exposing crimes committed within the community, there is a collective grief, uncertainty, concern, and triggers arising from media and increased exposure. We ask that you encourage any victim-survivors (both members and ex-members) to utilize reporting to the FBI and to utilize our website to report allegations, request support, or get referrals to professional trauma-informed care.
AFTT stands in solidarity with you, and are responding to the increase in victim-survivor needs during this delicate time.