Hi Blonde. Just to clarify, her name is Suzanne.
I ask this question because I was at Cedarcreek while this inappropriate (and possibly illegal) relationship was occurring, but I wasn't here when this Youth Director came back and would like to clarify the details. I don't think there are many people from Cedarcreek who are active on this forum other than to read, but it was worth a short.
I'm not really suggesting anything, just wondering some things.
* Mark Darling, Mark Bowen, and other ECC leaders have been involved in church discipline against people at Cedarcreek. They were consulted when "tricky" things happened, I guess, including issues with former pastors that resulted in the pastor's dismissals. So they have been consulted on shunnings and firings of people for offenses less serious than a Youth Director dating a 15-year-old. One of the excommunications was for gossiping about a pastor, if that shows you their priorities.
* If the Cedarcreek pastors (and any other GCC pastors involved) thought it was enough to say "sorry" and then be given a blessing for further youth ministry, it just shows their understanding of repentance is very shallow when it comes to leaders. They will come down hard on members, of course. But this Youth Director came back to town, had a few uncomfortable, possibly emotionally painful minutes/hours (with church members who are trained to be nice anyway) and then moved on with his life. He was given release, forgiveness, a blessing. Probably went back to his new church feeling light and relieved. I'm wondering what the victim was offered (my guess is nothing).
* With what's going on with Mark Darling, if he, Mark Bowen, or other GCC leaders ALSO participated in the inappropriate management of a situation involving a minor...well, that's not a good thing. And to be honest, Rob Gerber is just as abusive as the others without the sexual abuse piece (that I know of) so I think perhaps the Cedarcreek pastors should take some heat as well. Looking at the Andy Savage situation, it is only right.
I don't want to disrupt the life of the Youth Director's target. But honestly, it's not about her, it's about the failure of leadership to address a serious issue in an appropriate way. Failure to protect future youth. Failure to institute systemic change. Failure to hold leaders accountable in the same way they had viciously held other members accountable. Failure to report anything illegal, if it happened--I don't know what "dating" entailed and I am not trying to assert there was a physical relationship, only that if there WAS, I doubt these pastors addressed that or would have followed up on it.
So, Youth Director who dated a 15-year-old. Apologized and received a blessing.
Members who disagree with a pastor. Excommunicated and shunned.
Par for the course, no?