What actions would offer healing or justice? How to make amends?

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[Rebel in a Good Way]

For the many people here who have been negatively affected by GCx (hurt/abused/under false teaching/shunned, etc.), what could GCC do at this point to make any sort of amends?  What actions could they take that would be healing?  Please be specific, these answers could be useful in real life.

I ask this knowing most of us don't trust GCC leaders.  So...is there anything they could offer that you would consider trustworthy (like the involvement of outside groups or victim panels--that would a necessary part of any suggestions I would have)?  I ask this in the spirit of best case scenario--trying to brainstorm what true Christian repentance and amends-making would look like.

[Gladtobegone]

True repentance is change.  And the commitment to not repeat the actions.  I’m doubtful this is possible in GCM ministries and Evergreen since they have so many cult like practices and beliefs due to bad theology and lack of seminary requirements for their elders in my opinion.

In this situation they need to drain the swamp and get rid of Mark Darling in any kind of leadership.  And all those who covered this up should be church disciplined as well.

[Differentstrokes]

I agree, it would be awesome to see some real change and repentance... I would like to see the leadership actually acknowledge the destructive tendencies of gc, and work to make it a healthier environment. Honestly for me I would really love it if just one person would reach to me and see how I'm doing or ask why I left and have an open discussion with me. I would love to be friends with some of them again, just because I left the church shouldn't m3an we have to sever all ties... that to me would make a huge difference...

[Huldah]

To me, true repentence would look like this:

1. Publicly rejecting and abandoning false teaching, such as the idea of a congregation being married to its pastor, or the heresy that unity of the local body trumps truth (the latter was taught at Solid Rock).

2. Humility to accept an independent third party investigation when serious allegations are made. No attorneys, no defensive adversarial reactions. If allegations involve a victim who's under 18, developmentally disabled, or elderly, law enforcement should be informed immediately.

3. Transparency and accountability from the elders to the congregation, with permanent removal from ministry for serious offenses. (This is dependent on #1 above. You can't have accountability when you've groomed the entire congregation to consider itself as a collective wife to the elders.)

4. Going forward from here, require formal theological training for new and aspiring elders/pastors, at a recognized, doctrinally sound Bible schools. No more homegrown McKotterite pastors.

There's one other thing I'd like to address, but it's directed toward the membership, not the elders. If you've seen abuses, do something about it, even if it means voting with your feet. Don't say, "Well, I saw the wrongdoing, but it didn't affect me personally," while continuing to give financial and moral support to leaders who abuse your brothers and sisters in Christ. It has been said, "All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." If you see your leaders doing something evil, do something.

[freisetzen]

Certainly bringing in some counseling to allow people to process what they were just told would be helpful. Retain some counselors who are experts in cult behavior and deprogramming to help people get free of all the junk they were taught.