Raz, two quick comments.
I remember my mom saying that one should live their life with the love of Christ and the hide of a rhinoceros. I'd like to think that you CAN'T alienate me here. But if my presence and comments / phrasing is doing damage to those who are seeking healing, then I need to hear that. And if for some reason I can't change that, then I need to evaluate the value of my being here. However I won't leave because of someone doesn't agree with me. I know that I don't have all the answers (and maybe even none of them!), even though I may at imply that I do.
And I think you are right, "Many New Tribers probably still feel that any resources they need can be found right in their own group."
I have no desire to bash NTM, but neither am I one to hide what I believe to be true. In my opinion, that is one belief that is and has been detrimental to NTM. We have historically chosen our leaders from those trained by our own because, in my opinion, we mistrust the ability of others to fully know what we know. I have asked the EC in the past about the value of keeping our Bible Schools open when there are others of like values and possibly better trained faculty. And the answer was, "I hear what you are asking, but the other schools really don't understand" this or that doctrine. It also used to be much cheaper to attend NTBI, but currently my daughter is at Taylor University, and our out-of-pocket expenses for her to attend that $39,000 a year school is cheaper than for her to attend NTBI.
But I want to also add, I've seen some things in the past couple years that gives me hope that some change might be coming. Most likely not quickly -- it rarely does. But just maybe
I may be overly-optimistic, but I'm hopeful even with
(i.e. "no rose colored glasses).