Author: wingsfortruth2

This letter shows how detrimental it is to allow offenders to have a place of power and how important it is not to hide things, so people can make informed decisions to protect themselves.

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My experience pales in comparison to the atrocities being revealed. I want to stress the importance of communication and transparency. If there is trouble in a field, that worker needs to be removed, not just moved. Now there is a trail of abuse spanning the country. We should be given all the information so we can make informed decisions for the physical, as well as spiritual, safety of ourselves and our families.

Leslie White moved to his sister’s in Maine in 2012, which is down the road from my parents’ (I am his great-niece). I built a tiny house on my parents’ property a couple years later and have been in meetings with him ever since. He was emotionally and verbally abusive to many in our family but this is about how he affected our meeting and his inappropriateness. We were never told about any of the allegations, aside from the rape as that was the reason he was home. I won’t talk about the rape allegation, to spare Laura further hurt. Suffice it to say, he had many excuses to why it wasn’t true.

Over time he micromanaged our meetings, controlling what we spoke of afterward, etc. As an example, one Bible study at my mom’s he had to use the restroom so he stopped meeting in the middle of testimonies and gave us a hymn to sing while he was gone.

In 2019, after living in NH for a year, my husband and I moved back into our tiny house and agonized over what to do about mtgs. In the end we let the workers choose. Unfortunately, that put us back with Uncle Les. For those who have been asking, he did speak in a Gospel mtg when one of our workers was absent during this time (he also spoke in one this Spring for the same reason. He was having problems with his mind then, so he gave his testimony of going in the work).

Covid precautions split our mtg into two and my husband, mom, and I met with a small family, our elder and his wife, while Leslie became the elder of the mtg left at my aunt’s. I don’t know how he became the elder, seeing as the man who usually took the mtgs at my mom’s (my dad doesn’t go) was still in that mtg. Anyway, we had wonderful fellowship during this time. That lasted about a year, the mtgs merged back together, and our elder went on to another mtg.

Les continued to be elder over the joined mtgs and we were surprised to find he had implemented a rule while we were gone. No one was to speak or move until the person taking care of the emblems returned to the mtg room. This was very awkward when we had visitors and they would give greetings and he would have to quickly explain his rule. Mtgs started lasting an hour and a half that summer so my husband and I talked to U. Les, as my husband is a truck driver and sometimes has to leave right away. My husband asked, “aren’t mtgs supposed to be an hour?” and Les’ response was, “No one ever said that.” Finally we got him to concede and also do away with his emblem rule. Things were slightly better for a while, though we were the only ones who dared talk while the emblems were taken care of, everyone else just kept their heads down. He actually commented on it one day when I spoke, he said, “I had a feeling you’d be the first to speak.” I felt like I was part of a game I hadn’t asked to play.

Since becoming the elder, he would speak or pray first, or at random, instead of last as is the norm. I know this isn’t a big deal and is just a tradition but it does give order to mtgs. He also would interject after someone spoke, to add to their testimony or correct it. I would cringe waiting for him to correct me. Often times he’d speak after someone to continue where they left off, instead of having something of his own prepared. His testimonies lasted 20 minutes, give or take, except when we had visitors/workers.

He would bring politicians into his testimonies and made some outrageous statements like God choosing this man as a little boy that he would save the world. The worst was when a family from our church was absent and, during his testimony, he spoke about personal horrific abuses they’d suffered and shared with him in private. He’d speak about sexual things from the Bible, graphic enough to make me uncomfortable. He also took vast liberties with general details of Bible stories. Meetings had lost peace for me and I had a lot of anxiety.

When I was 19 or 20, he told my grandmother that I was pure and had never been touched. At the time, I was in an abusive relationship and I’m sure she wanted to believe that. Several times he said he knew my husband and I had kept ourselves “pure” for each other. Two of those times were after mtg. Twice (also after mtgs) he brought up that my niece and her husband “did things the right way and waited until they were married.” There was never anything to provoke these statements. Who thinks about other people’s sex lives and comments on them regularly, especially after fellowship?!

One time he did try to enter my husband and I’s room at my parents’ when we were napping, after being told by 3 people that we were sleeping and they had to yell at him down the hall to stop!, all because he needed help with his computer and it would “just take a second.” That instance I believe was due to complete lack of boundaries and respect.

For two years my husband has had to listen to me say every Sunday morning “I don’t think I can do this,” but I’d pull it together to support our mtg. I did stop going to bible studies, though, as there was only so much I could take. I felt like the worst person, with an evil spirit, because I thought everyone around me was able to pray and forgive him and I couldn’t get past it. It was also complicated because I didn’t want to upset the family. My prayers were consumed with thoughts of things I wished I could say to him and yet also begging God to help me forgive him. I felt disconnected from God because I couldn’t get over this and let Him do His work in me. I now wonder if He was urging me to speak up and I wish I had listened because I know others suffered as well.

In mid-June, our worker announced that due to Leslie’s health he would be stepping down as elder. He went on to mention how much help Les had been and how much he’d continue to help in his own way. The following Saturday, June 24th, the letter to Leslie came out. I was livid, disgusted…I can’t even describe my feelings. My heart hurt for all those women. All doubt I had was gone. I have heard him lie many times and these accounts fit with behavior I have seen firsthand.

On the 26th, my husband said enough is enough and he called Ray to tell him what we have been dealing with the last few years. Ray seemed shocked and my husband explained he was always on his best behavior when the workers were around. Ray thanked him for calling and we didn’t hear anything more. That Sunday we went to union mtg at our pre-covid elder’s house, and, at the end, our worker told us that we would be meeting in that home from now on since my aunt was selling her house and moving in with her children. Leslie was not there and no email was sent out to the churches. Our worker did quietly say to my husband, “It’s sad but Leslie won’t be in mtg anymore,” as we were leaving.

I have no clue if it was my husband’s phone call that instigated the removal…I’ve heard Laura contacted Ray and asked again for his removal, so maybe that was it…and yet our worker also told family members that another accusation was soon to come out (it’s been almost a month and we haven’t heard any more about this) maybe that was the reason…

I am angry that overseers and workers knew of the problems U. Les has caused over the years (there have been other accounts of him speaking inappropriately in mtgs, let alone the more serious allegations) and never once did they check in on us and ask how our meeting was going. I think of other meetings around the world that have perpetrators in them and I have to wonder how the spirit is affected. I believe in not writing people off, allowing them to repent (I don’t want his soul lost!!), but when it affects fellowship, more than one person…shouldn’t that be considered? Why is his soul more important than all those he has hurt? And just because he’s not in meeting doesn’t mean God can’t work with him. Meeting is a privilege, not a right, and not the only way someone can be saved.

With wavering hope,

Tavia Pibus

On July 11, 2023, WINGS posted a letter written by a group of concerned friends. At that time it was signed by 95 friends, and it was open for further signatures to be added.

See https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/07/11/friends-letter-to-overseers-and-church/

It has now been finalised and has more than 800 signatures. Some only supported the first part of the letter.

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This is Judy Habner I was direct involvement exposing CSA issues these past 11months in Ecuador.

The facts are: 

Twenty years ago a man name [TP] sexually abused his daughter many times. His professing wife [B] left him because of these CSA on her daughter. Two older brothers in Ecuador LeRoy Lerwick and Max Bowman encouraged her to forgive him and then return to her husband.

She submitted to the oldest workers advice and returned home. After sometime [TP]. professed and [B] told me that during this time he abused her emotionally and mentally.

It was also at this time he became an Elder with Sunday morning meeting in his home.

Two years ago [TP] continued to Sexually Abuse some of his own family members all children.

Three brother workers in Ecuador Jim Price, Richard Harbur and Scott Porter knew all about this and did nothing but cover it up from the friends in the area, and the people in the community. The only thing these brothers did was take away his privilege of guiding the meeting in his home as the elder BUT [TP] was still allowed to having meeting in his home and partake of the emblems for 2 years. I was present at his house when he partook of the emblems and I didn’t know the evil that he has done. That day was my first time to be at his house in 32 years since I professed.

While I was in Ecuador in August 2022 the wife [B] was under deep distress and I asked her why you are so sad? She told me the nightmare that she was living in and asked me to help her talk to the friends and let them know she did not want to have Sunday Morning Meeting in her home any more. 

The people in the San Jose area where all this happened knew of [TP]’s abuses and that he had a meeting in his home and they called him of the Devil, and the people who came to his home are also of the devil. I told [B] that it was necessary to write a letter to all in the Sunday morning meeting letting everyone know what she wanted and to expose [TP]’s CSA issues to protect other children in the community and among the fellowship, many of the friends didn’t know what’s going on just they hear “rumors” about it . Workers never talk to anybody about what was going on.

Before I comforted [TP] I called Lealand Broughton the responsible brother over South America and asked him: “Why have you allowed him to have meeting in his home? ” Lealand told me: “You don’t have the spirit of the Lamb to deal with this issue”. 

Lealand advice was to talk to one elder nearby and if he agree taken the meeting is ok to take away the meeting. Then he advised another elder to talk to Jim Price and if he agreed also then the meeting was to be taken out of [TP]’s home. 

I heard the conversation when Jim Price said to the Elder over the phone:
“Is there something new?
This is a little thing that happened 20-years ago,
and again 8-years ago and we know all about it “.
Is there something new?

The Elder told Jim: If I had known this before I would of never guided the meeting in his Home. Jim Price then agreed to take the meeting out of [TP]’s home because [TP]’s CSA was again exposed.

 On the same day Scott Porter told me that I was out of order for exposing [TP] and there would be consequences for what I was doing, and he didn’t know that Lealand Broughton advice was to talk to Jim Price and an elder if both agree then ok take the meeting out from his house.

On Sunday August 14th, 2022 I confronted [TP] in his house during the Sunday Morning and [TP] denied everything and all the abuses that he committed and then I read the letter written by his wife [B] that exposed all his evil deeds towards his own family members all children at that time. Richard Harbur and Scott Porter came to Las Mercedes area just across the field from Las Mercedes convention ground and we visited there. 

During the visit I had with Richard Harbur and Scott Porter, I asked them: Why have you allowed [TP] to have meeting in his home?

The answer was: “I don’t know”.

Then I asked Scott Porter  Why did you allow him to partake of the emblems? And he said to me “The emblems don’t have feelings“ at this point

Richard was upset that I exposed the abuser and he ” Screamed at me for reading the letter in the meeting that was written by [B] (the wife) and this letter expose [TP]‘s evil deeds “.

Richard Harbur at that time wanted to put the Sunday morning meeting back into [TP]‘s home. But no one wanted to go to his house for meetings again.

I then went to the authorities to tell them the deep CSA issues in the San Jose area. When the authorities heard of these problems and heard the recording of Richard Harbur screaming at me they immediately suggested that I place a “restraining-order against Richard Harbur”. This also I did as the authorities encouraged me to be very careful of the “Abuse Power“ from religious leaders. 

Richard Harbur was then served the “restraining-Order” from the authorities. Richard then hired two lawyers to defend himself to have the restraining-order removed. Richard also spoke to many of the friends to come support him at the court date. At the court date many friends including from Guayaquil came to defend Richard and no one addressed the real problem of CSA that Richard Harbur, Scott Porter, and Jim Price had been covering up for years. I never hired a lawyer but the Judge appointed a lawyer for me. The Judge asked Richard Harbur lawyer about the incident.

 Richard Harbur lawyer asked Richard: Did you scream at Mrs Judy? And Richard replied: No.

When I heard this I could not believe he would lie before the Judge an all the witnesses. It deeply sadden my heart. The Judge asked me to speak and I said, I will keep the restraining order. The Judge decision was to keep the restraining order also and the letter will be under investigation.

The Judge then made his decision based on all he had heard and said, “The Restraining-Order” will remain. 

As a result of this I was evil spoken of, gaslit, and condemned by Richard Harbur, elders in Guayaquil and by some workers on the Ecuador staff. I was also excommunicated from attending Sunday morning meeting in two Elders homes in Guayaquil Ecuador. It has deeply saddened my heart. I lost my song in my heart but I keep my Faith.

I was devastated but still I keep my Faith in God.

I was not alone as a few dear friends stood by me during this devastating time. Others have posted on Wings for the Truth, and Advocates for the Truth about these very troubling and “hidden crimes” that have been swept under the rug for years. 

My husband Charlie Habner came to support me and worked remotely from Guayaquil for 2 months. His heart too was deeply sadden by the workers and friends who have covered up these most troubling “Crimes” against Children. These are not just Sins – they are CRIMES against innocent children who suffered and still suffer because of the evil that continues to be allowed. Our hearts go out to the victims and pray that God would hear their cry and give them a voice to be heard so their deep pain can begin to heal. 

For the record [TP] was allowed to attend Las Mercedes Convention this past November 2022. It wasn’t until this past April 2023 that [TP] was removed from attending meetings in his area because I wrote a letter to all the workers in Ecuador asking why you allowed him to continue coming to meetings?

Because that they told [TP] not to come to meetings.

Lealand Broughton knew all of this and chose to do NOTHING. There are also many other CSA issues in South America that Lealand Percy Broughton has known about for years and has done NOTHING.

It saddens my husband and I deeply that many responsible servants have bowed down to the service of men and have not fulfilled their calling to God.

All that I have mentioned above I also sent detailed emails to Ray Hoffmann about these deep problems and crimes of CSA in South America and he never even wrote back once. It’s like he didn’t even care for the Victims. It’s so sad to see no one cares about my country in Ecuador.

With a broken heart,

Judy Habner

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Names redacted by WINGS

Dear Friends,

Thoughts go out to each of you as we think of all that is going on these days. As we think of the seriousness and devastating effects that CSA/SA has on victims/survivors, we are very sorry for those who have suffered.

These recent months have significantly deepened my understanding, and I apologize for my lack of communication during this time. This crisis is much larger in scope than I first realized, and I am very thankful for those who have already helped with the needs at hand.

Our staff gathered on Monday and Tuesday to gain a better understanding of CSA/SA issues, and how to deal with them. On Monday, three of our friends who are professionals shared with us and answered questions. A therapist educated us on the effects of abuse on victims, how to handle disclosures of abuse, and how to support victims. A man who worked in law enforcement on CSA cases helped us better understand how predators think and work, and how to be wary of their grooming and deception. Another man who is a civil lawyer and worked on cases related to CSA helped to dispel fears of taking proper action because of misperceived legal reasons.

On Tuesday, we further processed what we had learned on Monday through sharing concerns and discussing a number of questions from friends and staff. We also discussed paths of how we can go forward, sharing the load together. I believe the whole staff valued the time, and how it drew us closer, helping us understand each other and encouraging us to work as one.

I have had the opportunity to attend some of the listening sessions to better understand your concerns and questions. One question that has been coming up is regarding when I learned of CSA allegations against Ken Pinney and Loren Spellman. I want to clarify that it was just after receiving reports of more than one credible allegation of CSA against each man that I asked them to leave the work.

In Robert Flippo’s situation, initial reports made to me were unclear, however, I later learned that there were credible allegations against Robert constituting sexual assault. Robert was dismissed from the work in May. All three of these men have been asked to not attend meetings.

We are grateful to those who have helped to keep our community safe. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, you can report it to authorities and/or someone you trust. We encourage you to seek professional help if needed, and we want to be a support in that.

Many are asking what we are doing to help victims and survivors. We are so sorry for all who have been dismissed and disbelieved in the past. We hear you now and we believe you. We have started contributing to existing funds set up for this purpose and are actively looking into other options as well for providing therapy and healing resources to survivors.

This evening we will be at the listening session in Richmond, Virginia, and I feel what I have learned the past few days will help me better enter into your concerns. My thoughts are also with those gathering today for the Raleigh/Oxford listening session, as well as upcoming sessions through the weekend.

I know there are other questions and requests that have been made, and we are actively working to address and answer them.

Your brother,
Jim Holt

Survivor Support Policy

Many survivors have an inner core of strength that has helped them endure a deeply damaging, sometimes ongoing, experience. This warrants acknowledgement and affirmation during the support process. This strength does not preclude ongoing symptoms, challenges and need for support.

Due to the abuse they have endured, survivors may experience:

• Re-living event(s) through flashbacks/dreams/memories, memory loss, intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, fear, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), dissociation, depersonalization;
• Overwhelming worry, restlessness, nervousness and hypervigilance;
• Cognitive challenges such as problems focusing, memory retention, difficulty making decisions, challenges completing tasks and assignments in school or at work;
• Mood challenges such as overwhelming sadness, loneliness, anxiety, irritability, appetite/weight changes (clinical depression), intense feelings such as anger;
• Self-esteem challenges such as shame, embarrassment, guilt, social isolation, difficulty making friends, feelings of worthlessness or emptiness;
• Substance abuse, eating disorders, self-harming behaviors and suicidality;
• Difficulty with relationships (fear of intimacy, inability to trust, sexual dysfunction, problems with spouse/family dynamics), difficulty with interpersonal communication, attachment disorders;
• Inappropriate boundaries, risky sexual behavior and risk of revictimization;
• Higher rates of chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases;
• Being perceived as angry or aggressive while self-advocating to be heard.

Why should the fellowship provide support to survivors?

Survivors are often misunderstood and have been overlooked and shunned in the fellowship, while perpetrators have been protected, excused, and elevated to positions of trust. This bias must be recognized. One step in addressing this is to actively support survivors.

Guidelines for support will help provide consistency across regions and time.

In consideration of the above, and for the purposes of support, it is immaterial whether the survivor was abused by an individual inside or outside of this fellowship. Similarly, the level of the survivor’s participation in the fellowship should not affect support (such as currently professing or not). Christlike compassion should underpin the approach.

Recommended support for survivors

• Acknowledge the abuse and affirm the survivor by providing opportunity for the survivor to be heard by others including those in authority, in a manner that facilitates accountability;
• Support survivors in counselling. This includes both acknowledging that mental health and other services may be needed, and contributing funds for counselling to help the survivor establish a functional day to day life and emotional well-being. Some survivors may have health plans that cover part of this, while others may not;
• Support survivors in social connections. This may include supporting involvement of a social worker and connecting with other survivors;
• Support family members or others close to the survivor who may also need help to navigate survivor behaviors that can affect crucial relationships (such as parent/sibling/spouse);
• Support during subsequent hardship. Survivors may be asked to testify in court. Legal advice and accompaniment (victim’s advocate) should be supported if this situation occurs;
• Ensure survivors’ safety and prevent re-traumatization by removing perpetrators from contact with the survivor in meeting, public gatherings, or communication. Take care to avoid inadvertently pressuring survivors to make contact. In some healing processes, survivors may choose to make contact; in these cases interaction should be on the survivor’s terms;
• Extra consideration may be needed for survivors who are non-English speaking, elderly, disabled or with other demographic vulnerabilities.

Considerations for worker survivors:

In most cases, when workers enter the ministry they forgo many natural securities, including money, assets such as home/vehicle/investments, and the opportunity to pursue further education or a career. This unique reality should guide the support provided to those who leave the work temporarily or permanently.

• Open discussion to ascertain immediate needs to establish themselves first temporarily and then permanently. This may include funds for a vehicle, rent, furnishings, as well with help with finding a job;
• Support to approach change in role in the church (communication of new role to members of fellowship, elders, local workers);
• Follow-up needs assessment 3-6 months after initial transition. Some former workers have mentioned that after the receipt of basic needs funds, they were left adrift and felt isolated. This may be addressed by having a designated person check in periodically.

Support for survivors in other countries

We encourage extending support to survivors of abuse, no matter their country of residence. This is of a special concern given cases of abusers traveling to, or being sent to, other areas without full disclosure of their history. Language barriers and differences in cultural context may provide further opportunity for abuse to occur.

Individuals who have a history of abuse must not be moved without full disclosure.

Support for survivors in other countries should include open acknowledgement of survivors’ experience, sharing policies and lessons learned, and providing financial support for medical and counselling needs.

Anticipated challenges include varying degrees of trust in police and state authorities, and cultural differences in sexual norms and discussing the same. Individuals familiar with these complex dynamics, such as those local to a specific region, may be best equipped to navigate these challenges with full support from others.

July 2023