MK forum

Have we seen a purpose statement for the IHART investigations? Have we read any clearly stated goals that they have committed to? I don't recall that we have. So my only resource for information is the NTM website.

http://usa.ntm.org/child-protection

In order to ensure that children are protected to the best of our abilities, and to address any outstanding issues from past abuse, New Tribes Mission USA is sponsoring independent reviews of all past reports of child abuse that occurred in NTM settings.

http://usa.ntm.org/historical-reviews

As a part of our commitment to child safety, NTM USA continues to commission independent reviews of historical allegations of abuse. Most recently, a review of the eastern region of Brazil was finalized and given to the NTM USA Executive Board. The review confirmed that there were incidents of abuse, in the time period between 1983 and 1998. In response to the review, NTM USA has amended the employment records of five former members to now indicate dismissal and/or permanent removal from membership from NTM USA as a result of their actions against children. The board has also carried out additional recommendations from an independent panel including notifying the Sending Churches of the outcomes of the review and sending letters of apology to those indicated by the review team. Information from the review has been shared with those directly involved and with law enforcement.

In the future, as reviews of other regions are concluded, we will follow through on recommended outcomes in the same manner. Our prayer is that God will use these reports to make us more aware and vigilant in our efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for children.

Goals: protect children and address outstanding issues from past abuse.

Is Pat Hendrix's primary job just to confirm that children were abused?

Is that confirmation going to come in the form of highly specific reports that would instantly reveal the victims' identity?

Who is confirming the fact that the New Tribes culture set the stage for abuse of all kinds: not just sexual and physical, but
spiritual and emotional as well? Who is going to address the blunt truth that parents were pressured to abandon their children in boarding schools, leading to life-long struggles with trust and relationships? Who is going to confront the leaders who ignored, minimized or covered up evidence of child abuse?

Who?? Who???

Question for those who have dealt with IHART already, as in their field has been investigated.

What was the experience like and what were your impressions of the process?

The only contact I have had is by e-mail and if that is anything to go by, I hold little hope that the process will be of any benefit to myself or others who are in similar positions.

Sad to say that we have been involved with the GRACE report and 2 out of the 3 fields being investigated at this time. Both IHART teams that we have dealt with were very good, caring, and positive experiences. You don't realize how much information you have and how raw your feeling are until you sit with the trained agents. The 4 hours for one of the fields left me feeling like a week without sleep. I handed my burden to them and I am letting them handle it. They have a lot more power than I do.

I'm so sad that this happened, threewillows. No excuse whatsoever.

by permission


Let them know that IHART is not both investigator and jury. As you know, IHART conducts the investigation and reports their findings; IHART does not make recommendations or decisions about discipline. It is not an internal investigation and never will be, IHART is independent of NTM.

While I agree completely with you that the outcome was not what we expected or wanted, perhaps we are going a little too far in blaming IHART. It may be that, in fact, they are actually independent, and have done a proper investigation and report of what they found. The fault really seems to lie with NTM and their handling of the report. Rather than be open and transparent, and release enough of the details so that we can see the result of the investigation, they have chosen to only release a statement that the investigation was done and a report produced. But since none of us get to see any of that, we really don't have any idea if it was all valid and worth the effort.