To Elders: This letter is meant for all members of our fellowship. We ask that you share it with your meeting. Our email address may also be shared in case any wish to communicate with us directly. Thank you for facilitating this important conversation.
Dear Friends,
As hosts of the Seneca Convention, we wish to communicate about the current situation as our preps and convention are fast approaching.
The problem: Over the past months, there has been an alarming number of reports of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and Sexual Abuse (SA) within our fellowship. Some of these are about recent abuses, while others are speaking up about abuses of years ago. The reports are coming in from ALL OVER the United States, Canada, and around the world. SOME of the stories are about abuses occurring at conventions.
How do we, collectively, promote a safe and spiritually uplifting experience?
On the topic of safety, while the property belongs to the Fisks, the Seneca Convention belongs to all of the people of this fellowship. Every concerned person (and who isn’t concerned?!!) can be committed, as we are, to taking the necessary steps to make the convention as safe as possible for every person, especially our children. This is not a situation for which “someone else” should take responsibility. Each one, every one, must take responsibility for and be invested in the safekeeping of our children. Think “neighborhood watch”!
We are very thankful for each one who is speaking up, educating themselves and others, finding solutions, and committed to being part of the solution, committed to making the obviously necessary and significant changes to provide safe gatherings. One part of the solution is a zero-tolerance approach to any CSA/SA behavior on our property. Any allegation will be taken seriously and acted on accordingly. And any known person with allegations about them will be requested to leave.
We are looking forward to, praying for, and hopeful of having a spiritually uplifting convention. If there are any who are reluctant to attend, that is also understandable, and we support your decision.
If any have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us: [redacted]
Sincerely,
The Fisks
PS. from Kyle: Having experienced CSA myself, I have personal experience with what it takes to be healed. If any would like to talk about it with me, I am readily available for that conversation, too.
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Glad to see convention owners 1) expressing the depth of CSA in the fellowship, 2) taking steps to bring about meaningful change, 3) creating a safer place of worship and 4) acknowledging that some people may feel uncomfortable attending convs this year due to valid CSA concerns.
Appreciate the Fisk family and the level of care this letter reflects.
Interesting to see that Keswick Convention, which is the only basis and inspiration for all conventions since, has never had on-site accommodation. Families and indeed all attendees have always used local B&Bs or campsites.
Very nice if someone has funds, or camping gear, tents, to utilize. Not all the friends are wealthy and have money. There are many that struggle even for daily living needs. I know…i live it.
So, mustardseed, if convention wasn’t 100% free, you wouldn’t go? I never remember convention being free. We contributed money and food as well as physically working on preps, convention duties, and tear-down.
My point is – conventions are nothing to do with scriptures. They are a man-made invention dating from 1875 in England. And the original convention that spurred ALL further conventions, Keswick, didn’t feel the need to mix adults and children in single-sex dorms. Or have families split up. We’re still following the Keswick Convention idea but with far less safeguarding of children and the vulnerable. Why is that?
Foxtrot kindness is free. I wasn’t asking for your sympathy. I was stating the cost of B & B’s and camping. I understand costs you are referring to. But remember not eveyone can afford the luxury of a bed and breakfast. Ephesians 4:32 kindness…no cost to kindness. I stated a real life opinion.
“It is easier to leave angry unkind words unspoken than to mend a heart those words have broken.”