MK forum

Good article.

This actually relates to Allbetter's post in the Exotic MKs thread, but not everyone will see a connection.

If women were viewed as equals with men in every way, the exploitation and abuse of women wouldn't even be the huge issue it is today.

And the same goes for children.

I like thinking about this from God's point of view. Doesn't he see each human being in our most basic state? As a valued and totally loved soul or spirit? What is age or gender to him? Nothing. His perspective is not bound by time, and it is not affected by the outward, physical covering that houses that soul. He sees me now, an aging grandmother, the same way he saw me when I was 6, or 16, or 36, right?

Our perspective is so messed up. And the fact that anyone thinks they can use, and control, and exploit another human being to satisfy their own lust or greed is absolutely immoral and ungodly.

And that's how I feel about it.

The article is excellent and practical.

Boz's latest blog post on RNS is excellent.

“Righteous” reputations of churches that don’t care

http://boz.religionnews.com/2015/02/28/ ... dont-care/

I am copying parts of the blog post and replacing a few key words. What Boz has to say can be applied directly to missions (and to NTM specifically).

"The reputation of the church will be damaged when the public learns that it employed an alleged child molester -> a church whose reputation is damaged will lose members -> a church that loses members is a church that loses income -> a church that loses income is a church that will be required to tighten its budget, including reducing salaries and laying off staff -> a dwindling church is a church that has less relevance in the community -> a church that has less relevance in the community is a church that is failing to impact the world for Jesus."

Could read:

"The reputation of the mission will be damaged when the public learns that it employed an alleged child molester -> a mission whose reputation is damaged will lose members and supporters -> a mission that loses members and supporters is a mission that loses income -> a mission that loses income is a mission that will be required to tighten its budget, including reducing projects and losing properties -> a dwindling mission is a mission that has less relevance in the world -> a mission that has less relevance in the world is a mission that is failing to impact the world for Jesus."



"What is the right thing to do when a church learns that one of its own has been accused of victimizing a child? First and foremost, it must immediately turn its focus and care away from institutional reputation and towards the victimized and the vulnerable. .... let me suggest three basic first steps for a church that cares:

1. Caring for the victim: A church that cares will encourage and assist the victim to immediately report the crime to the police, regardless of the consequences such a report will have upon the church’s reputation. A church that cares will immediately remove the alleged offender from the church staff and prohibit him/her from being on the church premises. A victim should never have to fear encountering this offender in the place that should be the safest. A church that cares will work tirelessly to connect the victim and his/her family with qualified and professional assistance and provide the necessary financial resources for such assistance…with no strings attached.

2. Caring for other potential victims: A church that cares will inform its members of the allegations knowing that sexual offenders often have many victims. It will also encourage them to immediately report any suspected abuse to the police. A church that cares will not limit its efforts to only current members. It will reach out to those who previously attended the church and had interactions with the perpetrator and may have been targeted for abuse. A church that cares will not sleep until each and every person victimized by the offender has been found. A church that cares will offer to provide any newly discovered victims the resources to receive any needed professional assistance.

3. Caring for other survivors within the church: A church that cares will work to understand the traumatizing impact sexual abuse disclosures have upon other abuse survivors within the church, some whom have never told anyone about their prior abuse. A church that cares will help to facilitate the development of a survivor support network and work to assist these survivors obtain professional assistance."

Could read:

"What is the right thing to do when a mission learns that one of its own has been accused of victimizing a child? First and foremost, it must immediately turn its focus and care away from institutional reputation and towards the victimized and the vulnerable. .... let me suggest three basic first steps for a mission that cares:

1. Caring for the victim: A mission that cares will encourage and assist the victim to immediately report the crime to the police, regardless of the consequences such a report will have upon the mission’s reputation. A mission that cares will immediately remove the alleged offender from the mission and prohibit him/her from receiving further support through the mission. A mission that cares will work tirelessly to connect the victim and his/her family with qualified and professional assistance and provide the necessary financial resources for such assistance…with no strings attached.

2. Caring for other potential victims: A mission that cares will inform its members of the allegations, knowing that sexual offenders often have many victims. It will also encourage them to immediately report any suspected abuse to the police. A mission that cares will not limit its efforts to only current members. It will reach out to those who were previously a part of the mission and had interactions with the perpetrator and may have been targeted for abuse, and will also notify supporters of the perpetrator that might have family or church members that may have been targeted for abuse. A mission that cares will not sleep until each and every person victimized by the offender has been found. A mission that cares will offer to provide any newly discovered victims the resources to receive any needed professional assistance.

3. Caring for other survivors within the mission: A mission that cares will work to understand the traumatizing impact sexual abuse disclosures have upon other abuse survivors within the mission, and also the impact that the disclosure will have on co-workers who thought they knew and trusted the perpetrator. A mission that cares will help to support all who are deeply affected by the disclosure of unacceptable behavior within the mission environment, in whatever way is needed."

Yep.

Now there's an idea!

Going back to Boz's blog. There is a poster who is claiming he is a paedophile and should be allowed back into the church unchaperoned. I can't quite get my head round where the thought process lies (and it could be a wind up) but it has generated heated debate.
I get the concept of if one serves time and then is released, then one has paid for ones crime. But paedophiles don't rehabilitate well and I understand the reoffending rate is high, so why put them anywhere near children? It's like giving an arsonist a can of gas and matches.

Of course most of NTMs paedophiles haven't served their time, because they haven't been handed over to the proper authorities yet.
They have been forgiven and/or forgotten and are free to carry on as they wish with someone elses children, until the big trumpet blows and they find out which way they are heading. (I don't have enough faith to justify in my own mind that they will be going beyond the Pearly Gates).