From: Richard Gasser <Redacted@gmail.com>
Date: August 8, 2023 at 1:22:15 PM CDT
Subject: INDEPENDENCE CONVENTION MOVED TO ERIE KS
Dear Friends,
This past week we have received allegation of CSA by an elder in SE Kansas. The Victim was from MO. After reporting we learned that the Missouri Dept of Social Services children’s division is not doing any investigation because the victim is now over 18 years old.
There is also a publicly known incident involving this elder and a minor that was previously investigated in another state years ago. No one to our knowledge has raised any concerns about that incident, however in light of the recent allegation we are taking steps to protect children.
We do believe victims and want to support them. We want all perpetrators who are guilty to admit what they have done, repent, and be restored spiritually. We believe in this hope of their complete spiritual restoration, by the Grace and power of God, but concerning their involvement in our fellowship we will prioritize the safety of children. Since Friday the elder has not been in any funerals or fellowship meetings. We are not comfortable with perpetrators or alleged perpetrators being around anyone who is not aware of the situation.
If anyone has reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, past or present please call the abuse hotline at 1-800-922-5330 in Kansas or 1-800-652-1999 in NE. And anyone who has been abused we encourage them to seek therapy as needed to become survivors. We are in the process of setting up a resource for those who would need help with funds for that in these states, and we will provide a number to call when we get that in place.
As a result of these allegations, the convention at Independence Kansas will be moved to the Neosho County Fairgrounds, in Erie, Kansas this year. There is a nice Air Conditioned building with plenty of room for any who wish to come. There are 35 camper hookups and we have the whole facility rented from Tuesday September 26th until Sunday October 1st. There is a small motel called Land Of Ah’s (Phone 620 244 5231), in Erie, right on the edge of the Fairgrounds, and larger hotels are available in Parsons, just 15 minutes south or Chanute 20 minutes to the west.
We would also like to mention that there is a meeting scheduled on Thursday August 10th at the Derby Library in Derby, KS from 6:30pm – 9:00pm to talk about the issues of CSA/SA in our fellowship. Due to the content of the meeting we would ask that no children attend. We plan to have a 1 hour presentation on Sexual Violence 101 and then some time for Q and A with two professional present to answer any questions. We will also have time for open discussion regarding your concerns. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Thank you,
The KS/NE Staff
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All this bad CSA behavior in the group gets worse by the day. Why in the world is CSA/SA so out of control? Now R-rated meetings to discuss CSA/SA in the group? It may be time to pull the curtain.
Nope, not getting worse, just getting exposed. Long overdue, but the powers that be cant stop it now. It definitely will continue to look worse before it gets better. As for “R-rated” meetings, such things are necessary to help inform those who have had their heads stuck firmly in the sand.
The question will be, once every inch is exposed, will there be enough un corrupted structure left over and enough will to rebuild. And will it be a way that prevents this type of Rot from ever taking hold & destroying from within? maybe, maybe not, we’ll have to wait and see.
“Since Friday the elder has not been in any funerals or fellowship meetings. We are not comfortable with perpetrators or alleged perpetrators being around anyone who is not aware of the situation”.
This letter really isn’t specific and is vague as to what measures were taken against the elder. A statement like ” this elder has been asked not to attend any meetings as it is not safe to have such perpetrators amongst our fellowship” would be more appropriate. The perp doesn’t need to be around anyone of the Friends regardless.
This letter was posted to Connected and Concerned Friends. The daughter of the Independence convention grounds owner responded with the following:
“I’ve stayed in the shadows here until now but that letter made me see red. My mother (the owner of the Independence convention grounds) is a very sweet and trusting lady and will do whatever the workers ask her to do. But she has had serious concerns about having convention for a long time now, and at the very least her stand was to not allow those involved in the coverups to be allowed to attend and at first Richard did not support her in that. When the allegations against my father came out, she knew the right thing was to cancel, but Richard was still trying to figure out a way to have convention there until a family member had a phone call with him and told him off. I will not stay in the shadows and allow Richard to make my mother look like she is not standing in support of the victims of sexual abuse when she has been doing her best to do so for weeks”
DAlumbaugh, how very dissapointing. Thank you for speaking up on behalf of your dear Mom! It has been so dissapointing to see workers choosing to stand behind each other rather than for truth and righteousness. I’m so thankful that nothing can hinder the relationship in our heart with our Father and our Redeemer…nothing~ Please give your Mom a hug from us!
….”There is also a publicly KNOWN INCIDENT involving this elder and a minor that was previously investigated in another state years ago. No one to our knowledge has raised any concerns about that incident…”. What am I missing here? There’s a previously known incident and NO ONE raised any concern about this elder? This elder had been involved in an “incident” with a minor and that was nothing? Swept under the rug for it to happen again? This is not sane! Look it up, sane means; reasonable and sensible. Again, this is NOT sane someone, anyone, could come close to passing the test to be an ELDER after having an incident with a precious child. Also, to call anything close to inappropriate behavior with a child is not an “incident”. Quit with the sanitized wording, including the acronym , CSA. Call it for what it is and use the right descriptive language and then finish that with, that it is a disgusting sin against God. Furthermore, what is the test to be an elder? There’s no threshold? Yes, that’s not sane.
The Wings For Truth post, “Letter to Scott Rauscher from a Child Sexual Assault Survivor’s Parents”, was sent to the same ” KS/NE Staff”, that this letter was sent from. It’s noted in the prior post, “The (truth) has become a safe haven for pedophiles and rapists” and that letter listed the staff members (ie. workers) involved in the cover up. Why is the same ” staff” that was involved in the prior horrific child sexual assault cover up, sending out more letters on this very same subject?