Harold Bennett has been asked to leave the Parma convention grounds and removed from the work, due to decades of grooming behavior toward young men. Harold has labored in Montana, Oregon, and Idaho. He was the overseer of Oregon and South Idaho for a number of years.
Concerns were taken to senior leadership in the surrounding area years ago;. Known conversations happened in the 90s and early 2010s.
Leadership addressed included Harold Bennett himself, Dean Bruer in Montana (recently exposed for numerous incidents of sexual abuse of children and adults), Mark Huddle (recently removed from the work due to numerous allegations of child sexual abuse), and Dale Shultz (currently facing legal ramifications for alleged mishandling of child sexual abuse allegations).
Harold was removed from the oversight around 2013 and the decision was made he would no longer be with young coworkers, but grooming behavior continued .
After the revelation of Dean and Mark came to light, this issue was brought again to Doyle Smith and surrounding overseers. More conversations were had, and the decision was ultimately made to remove Harold from the work.
Harold Bennett has also had a long history of several alleged cover-ups of child sexual abuse.
Attached is one public example. The article is from 21 August, 1996, p 3A- Cottage Grove Sentinel (Cottage Grove, Oregon).
We do not know if Harold will be attending fellowship meetings in the future.
**This information has been collected and compiled by Abbi Prussack and Kari Hanks**
*All statements are true to the best of our knowledge, although some inaccuracies may exist due to lapses in communication. You may want to confirm details with your local workers.*
WINGS Note: Original post edited to add the email from Doyle Smith (below).
From: D Smith <email redacted>
Date: June 14, 2023 at 12:00:47 PM MDT
To: Doyle Smith <email redacted>
Subject: Harold Bennett
Dear Elders,
Could you please share the following with your meetings with discretion for all who need to be informed.
We are sorry to have to share the news that due to increasing concerns and pressure regarding inappropriate behaviour, Harold Bennett has been asked by a number of our older brothers to step down from the work immediately. He will not be with us here at Parma convention this week.
The conclusion is there has been behaviour and a resultant storm that makes it impossible for him to continue in this work. He has exhibited behaviors that showed lack of healthy boundaries which has not changed despite repeated warning.
The reasons he has been asked to step down are not related to allegations of CSA or criminal behavior otherwise. That being said, some most affected have felt unwanted shows of affection did cross the line into the realm of abuse, and more often the complaint has been “emotional abuse.”
We are very sorry for the hurt this letter will bring to many hearts and for any that have been hurt in anyway otherwise. We are anxious to listen and support in anyway we possibly can.
If anyone has particular concerns about anything that is not addressed in this letter please reach out directly and we are glad to communicate what we know to be accurate information.
One brief word of caution: As we all know the internet etc. has included reports that aren’t accurate. That has been confirmed by personal experience. Please be careful. And, many thanks for all the prayers that have been invested in helping the cause. We all appreciate there is a desperately needed help for wisdom, grace, and Spirit, that only comes from God through prayer.
your brother,
Doyle
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This whole CSA/SA thing is getting more and more disgusting by the day. Pretty soon there will be no more workers to walk out. I really hate to say this, but “the truth” is getting to look like some of those bad church cults I used to read about in the newspaper where the leadership abused people and kids in all sorts of very bad ways. This is a horrible thing.
That’s 3 overseers all geographically right next to each other in the last 3 months.
Dean Bruer, Oregon
Mark huddle, Washington
Harold Bennett, Idaho
This isn’t a ME TOO movement. This is the disgusting truth. These are real allegations, real abuse in your church. Not just from the fellowship, but from the very top. The same people who tell you what to do with your life have manipulated your children. YOUR CHILDREN.
Anyone who wants to leave this fellowship should do so without blame. They should not face any scorn or ridicule as “struggling” or “bitter”. It’s not right or fair to say that as they are logical to leave and care for their families the best they know how. Take your chances with the “devil” outside of this fellowship because apparently he’s here too. The years and years and YEARS you’ve listened to these people in gospel meeting. Heard their prayers in meetings and trusted them. It’s not your fault. It’s theirs.
Sincerely sorry,
It is foreboding.
We do all enjoy something special in the fellowship of home gatherings. There are many faithful honest souls doing their best.
I haven’t been allowed to take part for 9 years and sit quietly and listen. There is still great blessing for me in the fellowship one with another.
The evil few will be purged by ADVOCATES through legal channels, we just have to be patient and pray as it happens around the world.
Don’t throw it all away.
sadfriend, I have often been encouraged by your posts. Are you on the group chat app started by Shane Garner? I have been so encouraged by it and it feels like there is a growing army of soldiers wanting to protect our children and also uncover the deceit and lies. It has such a positive direction. If you are not on it, I dont know how to send a link, but Shane has posted it on here multiple times and Calvin Mead is also affiliated with it. It is awesome, the winds of change are coming!!!
I am afraid of getting on that group because it seems that what we need is prayer and fasting and faith, not the arm of flesh from an army of soldiers for change. I don’t want to go ahead of God.
I am all for these criminals getting exposed. That is the positive change I am glad for, but all of this other is so scary to me. An army of soldiers scares me so much. I hope everyone is being careful and is spending more time in desperate prayer and fasting with faith than they are spending on an app.
Not trying to put anything down, but hoping everyone is going about things in a godly manner.
In defense of the GROUP.
Support and Healing: It is a wonderful edifying platform for the above. The development has been spectacular and right on point.
I pray that one day I’m able to connect with those that I have developed good healthy dialogue with around the world.
This is best thing to happen for the fellowship. I love the feeling of the Holy Spirit as I read testimonies and the love and care shown.
“Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.”
We can still have good fellowship together – there is accountability coming – justice will come for many – we all need patience, prayer and love.
TRT… did you ever think that maybe God sent the soldiers himself? He’s given all these people the will to fight and stand up for the children and purge the wolves.
thank you sad friend!!Thank you for your quiet humility(i am not saying this in rebuke to others on this site)I am in the same position.But i love our people in my meeting.And they love me.As i can tell you are expereinceing the same .I just feel saddened that the workers we believe in seem to have become hardened.It isn’t like we don’t understand when we have erred.But i have learned a valuable lesson from my stumble,the depth of God,s mercy.Don’t ever lose your hope!!
Few???
Sadfriend, think about a ministry that tells you that you cannot take part but knows and allows a sexual abuser to stay in the work, where that person stays in peoples’ homes.
That logic is perverse. This ministry deserves no authority.
Hi David,
don’t worry I’ve thought about that lots. Over 9 years many inconsistencies have been noted.
However I’m determined to keep my faith, peace and relationship with God alive until the end of my days independent of what is happening around me.
I have a lifetime of investment in this church that I know, with great family and friends. For me, I’m not walking away because of evil workers and self righteous saints. Their behavior and seared conscience will follow them to the grave, all the way to their GOD.
Why are there days, weeks, even months of “conversations” before removing an offender? That should be done IMMEDIATELY, not after chit-chat and discussions. For the sake of safety, remove first, then reinstate if the claims are without doubt unsubstantiated. Enough is enough. My faith in God is strong, but right now I have pretty much no confidence in most of the people. I’ve even put my foot down and won’t allow my parents to take my kids to conventions without my being there, too. It doesn’t feel like enough, the toxicity is overwhelming. There are going to be a lot of tough decisions to make moving forward. This is sickening and heartbreaking.
Hi there! If you are fed up with what is going on, come join the conversation.
This is a place to connect with like-minded individuals who prioritize faith and Jesus over tradition. Our community is a safe space where we come together to support each other, share our experiences, and make a positive change on our surroundings through Jesus and only through him. We believe that our relationship with Jesus is a personal journey, but we can enhance it by sharing our individual journeys with others. This is a completely private social network, only the members can see each other..but it has many of the same features as a public social network so you can add pictures, links, or anything else you feel will help others.
We welcome everyone that needs this community to the Platform.
Shane Garner
https://connected-and-concerned-friends.mn.co/share/CTu88wDyuFwaahVT?utm_source=manual
Through the centuries God and Christ have been cleansing the Ministry and the Church of Wrong doing/CSA, teaching false doctrines, Anti-Triune God/Trinity, Jesus is NOT God, Only the Father is God and NOT the Son/Christ, and many of the ministry man-made traditions/laws which have caused great harms/burdensome to the people of God.
Christ and the Holy Spirit are trying to Correct, Chasten, Cleansing, Convicting Jesus 2×2 ministry/workers and God’s true believers to change their ungodly behaviors like Jesus did with the 7 churches in book of Revelation….
Jesus said in Matthew 15:13 “Every tree that wasn’t planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots.” John 15:1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The purpose of these cleansing today within the ministry and among the friends, God wants to bring the DROSS/sins in our lives to the surface so, we can come a place of repentance and to draw near to God and ask for His forgiveness, the precious blood of the Lamb Jesus can cleanse and make us pure/white as snow…. to be ready and counted in with the bride of Christ when He returns VERY Soon.
This is God and Christ Grace and mercy on His chosen ones. No believer can enter heaven with the first sinful nature ruling in our lives.
There is a fund set up in the Pacific Northwest USA.
BGM, is the fund you mention advocatesforthetruth.com donate tab, or some other fund? If another, could you elaborate? Thanks in advance.
Sure. Nothing to do with Advocates.
Subscribe to this newsletter from the PNW workers. They have a fund. wanidaknewsletter@gmail.com
Hopefully that email address gets you to the subscription. If not, let me know.
Please post this instead to correct typos: BGM, I learned this morning from CCF that the link below is the fastest way to the PNW newsletter (sending an e-mail hadn’t worked yet). I set preferences to receive e-mails: https://eepurl.us21.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f6821beda976a7acf865b4cf7&id=9c8b074985&e=9e427ead5c
I will admit that for myself, I have waited for this day when Harold was no longer in the work. I have felt guilty for feeling that. I have never had personal experiences with him but I have visited with one who has. And throughout the last several months, I wondered, why is it that he can still get away with things, just because he’s so smart and cunning about the way he goes about his breaches of boundaries? It’s never quite enough to bring real accusations against him.
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One really huge thing that happens with CSA/SA is “gaslighting”. Oh, it’s so evil. But – when it is not connected with CSA/SA, it is not less evil. Other types of abuse are taking second priority these days, but are still benefiting from the heightened awareness of abuse in general. I’m glad to see wording included in worker codes of conduct.
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I believe that these changes are going to improve the health of our ministry all around, and give clear tools and ammunition against the likes of Mr. Bennett. Younger workers can understand, “I don’t have to put up with that, I can say something”, and know that they are going to be believed. And definitely will help the friends as well.
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Sadfriend, I admire how you love and support the fellowship and have been willing to sit quietly for all of these years and with your soft heart you are still able to be fed in spite of the situation. I believe that you and those like you are going to be the real strength of change, as you’ve quietly shown the right spirit of our Lord Jesus and patient love and quiet willingness to be where you can, and do what you can and never giving up on the fellowship you love. God is no debtor and He is placing on the hearts of many of us to pray to Him so that those that have been done wrong can be dealt with in a way that is very clearly from Him and we can see His power and know that He expects purity amongst his ministry and saints, and He WILL cleanse the bride of His dear son.
Doyle really has a lot of nerve saying that ” As we all know the internet etc. has included reports that aren’t accurate. That has been confirmed by personal experience”. He is a total disgrace for trying to undermine the fine work that Wings for Truth and other reputable web sites are doing. If not for these sites, the overseers and workers and friends would still be on the loose doing CAS/SA without regard for being exposed. Doyle he should be ashamed of himself.
Max, I hope YOU don’t blindly believe everything you read on the internet. There are more sites than this one. And there is plenty of conflicting statements here as well. I know that with the threat CSA/SA being real, that a lot of people have been alarmed and as a result the overseers are being expected to blindly and immediately take people down with clear public shaming without first doing their homework. Bullying the overseers is just not helping anyone. Doyle is a brand new overseer who ended up with a killer of a situation in his lap right off the bat. Yes, he was pressured and it took him a while to process everything and thank goodness for those who got that ball rolling. But you have to admit that he has been very responsive and at the same time, has take time to really look into things so that he can learn the truth rather than just going on allegations. To me he’s a hero. I wish we had more overseers like him.
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And – a personal thanks to the site owners for allowing conflicting opinions – it’s part of what has given this site its credibility and made it a safer and healthier place to be.
It’s always essential to separate facts from opinion. Facts don’t conflict, opinions do. We work hard at making the WINGS news feed as factual as possible (although some articles do contain opinion). The comment section is moderated mainly for civility, and very little for content so that people can have their say, right or wrong.
Max did say “REPUTABLE web sites”. I do not think he meant he believes everything on the web.
This has been my experience…
In the 1970’s the workers warned of “that evil book no God fearing person would read”.
In the 1980’s the workers warned of “papers being mailed to the friends and burn them without reading, this is the work of the devil”.
In the 1990’s and beyond the workers warned of “those websites created by people who lost faith, were bitter, and promoting lies”.
I was a good professing member. I “blindly believed” what the workers said. I never looked for or inquired about a book. I never received a mailing of “papers”, but if I had, I would have burned them immediately. And I never searched for anything regarding the group on the internet. Until I did…
We now know the workers” warnings were to coverup the history of this group.
I, too, was struck by Doyle’s comment to not believe everything on the internet and wonder if this is another attempt at coverup (of CSA/SA and its coverup)?
God gave us a brain that works in amazing ways. I will use it to no longer believe what anyone says without verifying it as true.
Really surprised what 2e said about Doyle – “to me he’s a hero”. That is what got the group into the CSA/SA abuse mess in the first place – looking up to the overseers and workers as heroes. Think that most all of the friends and workers considered Bruer a hero until the massive CSA/SA scandal surfaced 3 months ago. An overseer, and hero to many, molested me years ago when I was a kid under the table at a Sunday lunch. The only hero to me is Jesus.
I definitely agree with E&E’s above comments. 👍
I emailed Doyle and offered to work to correct any specific things he finds on the internet that aren’t accurate. This puts the ball back in his court, and I’ll be happy to help.
Paul – that is a good idea. Also, think that Wings for Truth would be very glad if Doyle left a comment for any “reports that aren’t accurate”. He said that was “confirmed by personal experience” so we know he reads the 2×2 web sites. I would ask Doyle to do this task but do not have his email.
Max, usage of the word “hero” was totally inappropriate and I appreciate you calling me out on that. I don’t see him as anything beyond a struggling human. But I do highly appreciate his willingness to remain committed in making real changes for the healthy and safety of our fellowship. Calling someone a hero implies blind trust and complete faith in their perfection and desire to do good. This is totally not what I wanted to convey and I apologize for doing so. I do love our workers and ministry and and I still feel that 90% of them give far more of themselves than we deserve. Setting them up on a pedestal of heroic levels doesn’t help them; it didn’t help our parents’ generation; it helps no one.
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However, I do want to mention another thing in defense of Doyle – I for one am thankful when an overseer or anyone for that matter takes a reasonable amount of time to look into a matter before making a decision that could hurt an innocent person’s reputation forever. I have witnessed the opposite – of those who quickly seek to make all of the necessary changes in a “wrong” situation and the fallout has hurt many innocent people and not taken care of the problem. Our police and other systems are totally backlogged. To me things are in fact happening at a breakneck speed. I know it’s not fast enough for those who have waited many years for things to be taken care of, especially if it’s the situations directly affecting them that seem to take the longest to be addressed. But we are supporting you. Change is happening and it’s happening quite quickly. Instead of years, it’s months, weeks and days. Years and years and years it wasn’t addressed.
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Dale has been in the hot seat these days. But maybe he was progressive in taking care of things for his day. (I’m not trying to defend him – just want to add perspective). We have to keep in mind that it’s just now that we are learning some of the clear signs of CSA trauma – and admittedly, the signs could lead a person to question the victim’s allegations. I know I have been guilty of it. I think back of a woman who was a hot mess and how in my mind that she was the obvious problem for trying to ruin reputations. Now after educating myself on CSA trauma personality changes, I look at things a whole lot differently now. This information has been around for a long time – but we don’t know we need education until we are presented with the information.
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I think Dale acted quickly to remove Harold from the oversight based on allegations. Harold had a very high reputation amongst many of the friends. He was crafty and cunning, devious and slimy. It would be easy to assume the issue was those trying to get him into trouble. He was an amazing speaker. There wasn’t a climate amongst the friends that was willing to hear about Harolds creepiness. This was an egregious error in the group mindset. Many comments here are of those who had blindly trusted the workers. Now – now finally, the climate has changed and the friends and workers are willing to consider the reality and this evil can be cleansed from amongst us and healing can start to begin.
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While I still do think that there are plenty of errors and incorrect allegations on the websites, I’m very thankful for this site in seeking to promote honest dialog where those of us who still very much love and support this fellowship and ministry can feel a bit safe and not eaten alive. I do see the posts here as completely factual when they are relaying letters and information – but the associated commentary of the site moderators are not always things I agree with. Any time allegations are leveled as to the motives of decision makers, I cannot call that factual, and there have been a lot of posts here of those that are leveling general complaints against the oversight that I can say they are only their opinion based on their perspective and I don’t agree with any of them. As a result, I can see why Doyle would say don’t agree with everything you read.
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In fact, we can be thankful for what Doyle has said and the way he said it – he’s offering a warning coming from his own personal perspective and experiences, and not from the pedestal of divine inspiration and giving commandments he expects everyone to follow. For those of us who have admitted to blindly following all that the workers told us to do – taking even their opinions as commandments to immediately and unquestioningly obey – that’s on us. It was what our parents and others like them taught us to do. Now we are learning how to truly follow the teachings of the Bible instead. We are learning to love and appreciate the workers and how they give themselves for our nourishment and support and help us to have true joy. We are also learning to test what the tell us against the Bible, and understanding that an air of authority is in fact the opposite of the way of those truly directed by the Spirit of God.
Dale, despite your view that he is progressive, represents the worst among us. While I may have opinions, the facts speak for themselves: he has covered up crimes on multiple occasions. He was purely reactionary in the Bennett case….ie purely political. Why do I say that? Because there was no outcry over Corfield and Vandenberg, so he did nothing in spite of his knowledge. This is deliberate criminality.
I could say much more but it would be in the realm of opinion from personal observation. However, the facts speak for themselves. Dale is a prolific cover up artist of crimes and needs to be held accountable for it.
Thanks 2e but I just cannot follow what you are trying to say. Struggled much in junior high school.
Watchman, I do want to reiterate that I was not trying to defend Dale. And while I don’t have a personal negative experience with Dale, I believe that others have and I’m very sorry about that.
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The thing I really want to know, is the motive of his heart. I hear a lot of people stating others’ motives as if they know, but that is in fact nothing but slander. Paul states of himself that he gained mercy because the evil things he did were done out of ignorance. (I Tim 1:13). He was blindly following the teachings of the likes of Gamaliel and sought to be a Pharisee of the Pharisees. It seemed his conscience was pricked but he kicked against it until finally being blinded by the light stopped him in his tracks. He of all people should have known better because I don’t believe anyone knew the scriptures better than he did.
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I’m not saying that Dale’s motives were pure. We can only judge based on real actions. God judges the motives. But I can say this – I believe Dale had learned those ways from his predecessors. He’s the scapegoat because he’s the one still alive. If he truly thought he was doing the right thing God will defend him, especially if he changes his ways once the error of his ways are understood by him. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to pay for the consequences of his actions.
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I do think we are in dangerous territory when we casually state the motives of others when we don’t have proof. This isn’t directed at you – you were clear that your opinions were opinions but that they were based on your own experiences and what you witnessed. I respect that.
Sorry Max, I have a problem of too many words. 🫢 In fact I was simply responding to other comments in the same comment I made to you.
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Also I appreciate you sharing your own experience that brought you here that causes you to seek and demand justice. In fact, my own experience was at a Sunday lunch!
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Maybe the meetings aren’t as much the unsafe place as it is the meals afterwards. In fact I think that stating these perps not be in meetings is going heavy handed in ways that don’t actually matter. Of course nothing is going to happen in a meeting. It’s the casual fellowship where things happen. If someone isn’t allowed in meeting, they shouldn’t be able to show up at the pot luck afterwards. I hope that is clearly understood. To me it seems common sense but I’m not sure everyone in the fellowship understands it that way.
Meetings are an unsafe place for victims of abuse if the perpetrators are allowed to be there. Trauma response does not rely on repeat abuse. It occurs when the survivors of abuse feel threatened. No attendance ever at any meeting is not heavy handed. It is a way to hold space safe for those already wounded.
2e, I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by this, but DS is not a scapegoat, and any support for him is incredibly misguided/ under informed. Dale’s intentional/ consistent/ forceful cover-ups, and direct actions will very rightfully result in legal consequences for him. Dale’s intentional actions and spiritual confusion resulted in harm to many families over at last 25 years, resulted in more victim survivors, and additional harm that will be revealed in due time. Please stop defending Dale.
JJS RPh
I know several people who have been severely harmed by people you call “workers”. Actions by these “workers” have been covered up (enabled for decades). I’m glad this illegal activity is in the light. All perpetrators and those enabling members of the Truth will suffer eternal consequences. I expect the moderator will not approve this post. Another symptom……..
You will burn in hell also.