Thanks Terry.
1. I have good reason to not believe Suzanne. Inside info I don't need to share. But aside from that, I think that facts are pretty clear at this point. The holes in her story are so wide you could drive a truck through them. It doesn't cause you pause that she refuses to answer any questions? We disagree on the nature of the investigation, so be it.
2. I thought I had read a comment by Linda about Mark D. asking you to leave if you couldn't reconcile with the leadership structure. It sounded as though she was hurt by that. Maybe I'm misremembering.
3. I'll admit it seems like an odd way to spend your energies to still be out here 12 years later, but to each their own. I've read several of Linda's posts over the last couple days and she is consistently respectful...although I disagree with much.
I came here for one reason only, to push back against people who ignore the presumption of innocence and act as judge and jury with little care for the facts when it comes to these accusations made against Mark. Evergreen asked it's members from refraining from public comment until the investigation runs it's course. Unfortunately, that vacuum has been filled with a barrage of attacks by Suzanne and her digital mob. A man's life must not be destroyed by unproven accusations. At the very least there must be people to stand in the gap and defend him and push back against obvious falsehoods. I find the whole thing tragically sad and it angers me greatly. And I will no longer be silent.
Has there been anyone at all who has said that Mark D is guilty? I mean besides Scout and the victims? All I've read repeatedly is that people just want the accusations to be addressed fairly.
And maybe the fact that people are still processing things now and then 12 years after the fact might show the very deep hurts, wounds, and errors that exist as a result of GCx. Do you think maybe there might be an element of truth that many, many people have written about here for so many years? Do you think that a cult exit center being founded by an ex-member, books being written, websites started, people going to therapy---- that any of this is just regular stuff that happens at any church?
I'll tell you. IT IS NOT. This is not regular. I say this as someone who has been in a church plant in someone's living room. Who has been a part of a fundamentalist church. Who has been a part of Campus Crusade. Mainline liturgical churches. And who is a regular attender of church after having been a Christian for 39 years.
GCx is different. And not in a good way. If you care to read through the many documents and sermons you'll find the errors and dangers. But you may not see it if you are too close to the situation.
And honestly, like some other addictions, religious addiction, scrupulosity, legalism, and high pressure religion might be the thing some people really need. I'm not begrudging them that. And I'm not even saying GCx is always bad. It does a lot of good. It is perhaps the "lot of good" that makes the "bad" so incredibly painful and difficult.
But you see an insular, appointee based leadership will never have new life breathed into it without 1. having true accountability over all leaders and 2. taking a critical, reasoned look at what's going down on a daily, weekly, yearly basis.
That's going to have to be on you guys. Because I know for me, and I assume for many others, we are done with GC forever. But as we go about our otherwise happy, full lives, we will still make room for others who have left or who have been asked to leave for "dissension" or "divisiveness" or "a lack of unity" or "asking questions" or whatever. We're here. I know I usually check in every three or four months. Occasionally something comes up, like Scout.
No one is sitting here obsessively refreshing this page and just waiting to fire a missive off on a regular basis.
But we also are seeing exactly what we expected to see (sad to say) from the current members and leaders.
"You're lying."
"You're divisive."
"You're slandering."
"You're bad."
"You're girly/effeminate/wimpy."
"You're hurting Jesus."
"You're hurting Christianity."
"You must be bad/weird/have no life."
When really all that's been done is:
Someone made accusations.
A bunch of people said yeah, the church structure doesn't have a great, fair way to deal with stuff like that.
Someone should do a third party eval.
And then that's pretty much it.
Nobody (to my recollection) has stated that Mark D is guilty beyond the accusations that have been made.
And if it's weird to be interested in a major part of one's life from 12 years ago, why does anyone go to a high school reunion or meet up with old friends.
Just, enough of the hyperbole. Take a big old chill pill. Take your own advice and handle this stuff the right way. That's it. Easy peasy. You, Mark, Scout, everyone watching--- we'll all survive and make it through this.
There is repentence, forgiveness, restoration, hope, life, joy, all of the good things are still the good things. Some of us here have experienced loss in a way others might not understand. And life still goes on. Life still happens. Mark and Kathy can still love each other. Families can still be tight. God will still be worshipped. People will grow. This is not the end.
And I want to say, from my end, that I love everybody. I don't hate anyone here. I don't. In fact, right now, I feel overwhelming love and compassion from my heart to all parties involved, especially Mark, Kathy, Scout, and John. But also the kids, the other victims if they come forward. Just love and hope.
I just want to say it again. This is not the end.
And I also want to apologize for any hurt I've caused. I truly do want to be coming at this kindly as an observer. But also, just on principle, I've decided to listen fairly to accusations against me and others, and not to just shut them down or silence them.
Light on a subject never hurts.
