I feel an urgency to make those who have their eyes open and want to be made aware of their surroundings, familiar with my situation.
I sent the following letter to AC and GE as they are in charge of Dunnville convention. I did receive a message back from GE, however he is not in the place of power to make decisions. The only message received from AC was that he would look into the matter and get back to me. To date, I have still not heard anything.
Below is the letter I sent last week after feeling very convicted about sitting on the sidelines for this long; I would not be able to forgive myself should something happen to another child because I continued to be silent.
Good Morning GE and AC,
Hope you are both doing well.
Today I reach out with a heavy heart, and apologize for not addressing this matter sooner. I feel this message is long overdue but I have not had the courage to speak up to this point, nor have I wanted to stir up the past for various reasons. So, I have been trying to manage it quietly in the background to avoid causing any further issues or confrontations.
To provide some background, I was sexually abused by my older brother BL from what I can recall 10 years of age until I was 15. I believe it started earlier, but my memories are unclear or I may have suppressed it. I reported this behaviour to my school guidance counsellor when I was 12, and they intern had obligations to report it to children’s aid, where there is a record of this. I also reported a second time just before I turned 15 years old, to which the police were involved. I have spent many years dealing with this trauma and only recently, (approximately 2 years ago) found peace within myself to let it go and I hold no ill will towards BL, (which makes coming forward even more difficult).
Recently, a list of individuals with allegations was circulated by someone who attended KC funeral in January, and it included my brothers name. This list was forwarded to me, and it had a profound impact. Firstly, it triggered my past trauma, and secondly, it raised a fear that my brother may have harmed others, and there was another victim; I still do not have the answer to this today.
Additionally, about 12 years ago, when BL visited our home in BC and my daughter was less than a year old at the time, an incident occurred that alarmed both my husband and I. Given my brothers history, we strongly felt and still feel he intended to sexually abuse our daughter. Thankfully she was a light sleeper and woke up crying while he was in her room hopefully preventing any harm. Since then, BL has not been welcome in our home.
I bring this to your attention because yesterday morning, I woke up with an overwhelming feeling that BL could be a danger to children at convention. I felt compelled to speak with him first and ask him not to attend convention and to make alternate arrangements to listen online instead. He became defensive and has not responded since I declined his offer to have a conversation on the phone, as in the past when I have accepted this offer I have felt attacked and manipulated. However, I believed it was the right thing to do by giving him the opportunity to make the right choice before reaching out to you both.
There are many who will be attending Dunnville that are aware of my situation with BL and the threat he posed to our daughter. I did not want this to reach the point of sending a message to you, and hoped I could have gotten through to him yesterday. I feel a profound urgency that he could be a danger to children at convention and this urgency gives me the courage to speak up.
Convention is a special sacred place and I fear that his presence at convention could trigger other victims or endanger innocent children. I ask you to see the urgency in this matter and pray about it for clarity, as I do not want to overlook this strong feeling I have had, and risk an innocent child’s safety, wellbeing or future.
Thank you for your consideration in protecting the children who will be at Dunnville or any other conventions BL may want to attend.
Please feel free to reach out should you need further clarification.
This lengthy report has been prepared by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) regarding allegations that Larry Getz engaged in sexual misconduct, directly or indirectly related to his role at Friends and Workers. The Report was commissioned by the Washington / Northern Idaho / Alaska Overseers in the hope of learning from history and moving the church toward healing and a future where the risk of abuse is lessened.
The victim has provided this report to WINGS and requested that we publish it, provided comments are blocked due to the possible comments that may occur.
Some content has been redacted as it is sensitive and pertains to the victim’s experience. The redacted information has been thoroughly investigated by GRACE and is not needed to understand the findings; it does not change the outcome of the report.
Please remember:
1 . There is a person behind every investigation. A person who is giving up a lot to be there. A person who feels and a person who could be hurting. Try to put that person’s well-being before your own wishes or preferred outcome. Know that a conclusion will come and there is a lot that is going on that you do not know of.
When speaking to others, remember that the survivor could be the person you are talking to. Speak with love and grace.
Respect and believe all victim-survivors. They should not have to prove that they have been harmed. Even more so when the victim-survivor is a child. Hear them, support them and act accordingly.
Download or listen to the complete audio version below:
The full GRACE report includes (at Appendix A, page 52) the results of a survey of 716 people identified as previously attended or currently attending meetings in Western and Eastern Washington, Alaska and North Idaho. 574 people (68% current members, most for more than 20 years) responded. 10% were current or ex workers.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 2 A Background on Friends and Workers 3 B. Background on Larry Getz and Allegations of Sexual Misconduct 7 II. METHODOLOGY 8 A Interviews 8 B. Documentation Information 8 C. Survey 9 III. FINDINGS 9 A. Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by Larry Getz 9 1. Disclosures by RV Approximately 10 to 15 Years Ago 10| 2. Disclosures by RV in 2023 12 B. Knowledge and Response of Friends and Workers Leadership 18 C. Policies 24 IV. FURTHER ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 30 A. Safety 30 B. Trustworthiness and Transparency 34 C. Peer Support 36 D. Collaboration and Mutuality 39 E. Empowerment, Voice, and Choice 42 F. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues 43 V. RECOMMENDATIONS 45 A. Invite Collaboration from RV to Plan the Communication of Report 45 B. Publicly Confess Failures and Wrongs 46 C. Make Appropriate Amends to Victims 46 E. Develop and Implement a Plan of Accountability and Participation Guidelines 47 F. Preserve These Events and the Lessons Learned in Institutional Memory 47 G. Provide Shepherding and Care for the Broader Fellowship 48 H. Provide Regular Training and Ongoing Education 48 I. Identify a Point of Responsibility to Lead a Trauma-Informed Approach 50 J. Review and Update Policies Implicated by this Investigation. 51 K. Maintain a Referral System 51 L Collaborate with Other Trauma-Informed Organizations 52 VI. CONCLUSION 52 APPENDIX A: SURVEY RESPONSES 53
The site https://ausnzinfo.com is intended to provide information and support in relation to child safety.
“Child safety is of utmost importance to us. This site has been created as part of our commitment to keeping children safe in our fellowship. It will be regularly checked and updated with resources and information for survivors, supporters, parents and all those who share our responsibility and vision for zero-harm to children. We encourage all visitors to check back frequently for new content and updates.”
The site was set up and will be maintained by (anonymous) members of the overseers’ advisory group. It is signed by the overseers of Australia and New Zealand: Malcolm Clapham, Graeme Dalton, Wayne Dean, Trevor Joll, Alan Mitchell, Stephen Thorpe.
The primary sections are:
Apology Latest Update Documents Support Resources Educational About Home
It mentions ‘our fellowship’ but doesn’t directly indentify as relating solely to the Friends and Workers.
It appears to be limited to Australia and New Zealand, as there is no reference to overseas victims, including in countries where Australia or New Zealand have leadership.
Many survivors need to access professional therapy. In some countries this may be provided free by Government or local agencies, but in other countries there may be substantial costs.
Some overseers have mentioned the possibility of supporting therapy requirements but there is limited transparency about how to access that support. Other regions have not indicated any possibility of financial support, despite having accumulated funds.
In response to this significant need, several groups have been established with the objective of receiving donations to provide financial support for survivors, including funds for professional therapy.
WINGS appreciates and commends these efforts but has not reviewed the groups listed below. This list may be updated as more information becomes available and will be linked on the WINGS resources page.
United Open Arms (UOA) is incorporated as a nonprofit entity and 501(c)(3) status is pending with the IRS. UOA is focused on survivor needs within the United States. UOA believes that the creation of a nonprofit organization is the best route to ensure donor and survivor privacy. This structure ensures financial transparency and accountability.
UOA is designed to ensure donor privacy by offering a confidential donation platform. Donors can donate privately and be assured their names remain confidential. UOA are currently accepting donations so that it will be able to provide survivor funding as soon as a third-party intake specialist and claims administrator are in place. For more information, visit the Donate page.
Recognizing that education is one of the most important things that can be done to prevent sexual abuse, UOA is collecting and developing appropriate education materials and making them available through this website. Any training offered will be audience specific and voluntary.
UOA is managed by professional volunteers with expertise in a number of areas including mental health/medicine, finance, communication, law, insurance, technology, and governance. Some board members are survivors of CSA/SA. Board members are volunteers with no compensation for their services. Legally, nonprofits are required to have a board of directors to incorporate as a nonprofit, obtain tax-exempt status, and have a bank account. The board of directors is the governing body that oversees its activities and drives overall strategy.
The full announcement from United Open Arms is available here:
Donations to Advocates for the Truth assist with investigative and legal expenses as well as the cost of therapy programs for victim-survivors worldwide. Donations to AFTT have already helped many victim-survivors by covering the cost of attending therapeutic equine and writing retreats. Advocates for the Truth is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Federal ID 92-3912792.
This therapy fund is available for survivors of abuse within and affected by the Alaska, North Idaho, and Washington region, regardless of current church participation. Accepts donations. This not a reporting hotline. Contact WaNIdAkTherapyFund@gmail.com for more information on obtaining funding for therapy. You do not need to share details of your abuse in order to receive support. Funds are sent directly to your therapist.
The ORSID Therapy Fund was created as a 501(c)(3) charity to support the therapy costs of survivors in the Oregon, South Idaho region, as well as survivors from other areas abused by the region’s staff. The goal is to remit funds to therapists so survivors can start/continue their healing journey when they are ready.
Current board members are Ryan McKillop, Julia Chang Bullick, Parker LiaBraaten. This is not a reporting hotline. Federal ID 93-3518711.
Bridges & Balm is a 501(c)(3) charity that cares deeply about helping people associated with the home church fellowship at any point in their lifetime. The CSA/SA Assistance Fund is specifically focused on supporting the healing journey of individuals who have survived child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual abuse (SA), perpetrated by someone within or associated with the fellowship. Federal ID 93-4540637.
Voices for the Truth is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The sole purpose is to support victim-survivors and others affected by SA or CSA within the fellowship and prevent further SA and CSA. VFTT are composed entirely of volunteers, including victim-survivors, who contribute our time and resources for a common cause in different capacities. VFTT coordinate with the Friends, Workers, former members, and qualified professionals to connect people with the help they need. Gifts help provide professional crisis services, facilitate community training, produce educational materials, and cover essential operating expenses. Federal ID 93-2887857.
As a child, Damian Townsend was discouraged from making friends with anyone outside of the Christian group he was part of for 20 years. MONIQUE FORD / THE POST
Former members of a secretive religious sect – under an FBI investigation overseas – want New Zealand authorities to investigate abuse within a group some call a cult. Sinead Gill reports.
Damian Townsend wasn’t allowed to watch TV, listen to music, or join a local sports team like other kids did when he was growing up.
He went to public school, but was discouraged from befriending people outside of the high-control Christian group he was a part of for 20 years.
For weeks at a time, a few times a year, two strangers called ‘workers’ would move into his family home and have their every need paid for, while they preached.
Do you know more? Contact sinead.gill@stuff.co.nz in confidence.
Members, called ‘friendlies’, follow what they believe is the only way of being Christian.
Townsend didn’t know it, but he was raised – and experienced abuse – in a secretive religious sect. The now-37-year-old only learnt the name of the nameless group two months ago.
It is known to outsiders as Two by Twos, 2×2 or The Truth, among others.
In Christchurch, some sect meetings – which leavers say are intended for recruitment – are held in a council-owned community centre. CHRIS SKELTON / THE PRESS
The sect has been forced out of the shadows in the wake of increased reports of child sexual abuse internationally. The FBI launched an investigation in February.
Some leavers describe it as Gloriavale, but without the commune. Members marry into each other’s families and work together. Women dress modestly and keep their hair long, while men don shirts and ties.
“It’s a cult. But I wouldn’t say it to mum and dad in that way,” Townsend said.
“I still have this feeling of overriding control. But I feel now is the right time to tell my truth.”
Townsend – who was raised in Auckland, but now lives in Wellington as an openly gay and happily married man – is sharing his name because he knows it will get the sect’s attention.
He wants current members – including loved ones he fears are “brainwashed” – to learn what he did: the movement is traced to 1897 and an Irish evangelical named William Irvine, not to Jesus himself.
“What’s hurt [leavers] is the fact that … they lied to us,” he said.
“That has been the real mindf…”
It took Damian Townsend years to understand what he experienced was abuse. He never went to police. MONIQUE FORD / THE POST
“I’ve never got the word out of my head. Abhor… it means disgust and hatred.”
When he was about 10 years old, Townsend was sexually abused twice by a family friend, while his caregivers were in another room.
The perpetrator had “professed”, meaning he was an official member of the sect, and did it so casually Townsend wonders how many other victims there could be.
It took Townsend years to understand what he experienced was abuse. He never went to police.
After leaving, he realised how unsafe he and other children had been around certain sect members.
A now-deceased family member, related through marriage,was a known paedophile, he said. Yet, he continued to go to meetings and other peoples’ homes.
Townsend was warned to stay away from the “handsy” man and never be alone with him. It felt like his responsibility to keep himself safe.
He said it made the lines of what was acceptable behaviour blurry.
Some leavers describe the group as similar to Gloriavale, but without the commune. SUNGMI KIM / STUFF
He and four other leavers – living in Christchurch and Waikato, who spoke to The Press under the condition of anonymity – experienced sexual and spiritual abuse, and domestic violence in the sect.
They believe the sect’s strict doctrine of blind faith and forgiveness means the group will never be truly held accountable – or all abusers identified – without intervention by the authorities.
Although they say police have investigated individual reports of abuse, a NZ Police spokesperson said it was unaware of complaints regarding the group itself. They encouraged people with concerns to let them know.
Jillian Hishon, a victims advocate and former sect member who runs the confidential hotline The Brave Truth, says about 20% of the more than 150 perpetrators reported to her were from New Zealand.
Many victims had overlapping perpetrators, and it wasn’t uncommon for victims to have more than one abuser.
“They [abusers] know how to groom. How to pick the victims,” said.
Wayne Dean, the current overseer and spokesperson for the sect in New Zealand, said he was unavailable for comment on Friday.
He has previously told RNZ that known abusers were not welcome in group meetings, and workers were now police vetted and trained in keeping children safe.
Leavers are sceptical abusers will be held accountable.
A Christchurch leaver said there is a huge power imbalance between workers, leadership and members. Within families, women were subservient.
The leavers – all of which come from families who have been in the sect for generations – say current members will deeply fear becoming a social outcast to the only friends and family they have.
They started a peer support group called Surviving The Truth 2×2 on Facebook, and want people who have left to know they aren’t alone.
Where to get help for sexual violence
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
A woman who was a victim of sexual violence as a child has spoken for the first time of the abuse and how the secretive sect she was raised in turned a blind eye and later condoned her husband’s affair. Amy Williams has the story.
Transcript of the audio:
Introduction
One of the women who was a victim of sexual violence as a child has spoken for the first time of the abuse and how the secretive sect she was raised in turned a blind eye and later condoned her husband’s affair.
The FBI is working with international law enforcement partners to investigate abuse within the group known as the ‘two by twos’ or ‘The Truth’ and Police here are investigating at least one former minister for historical abuse.
Former members described the control the group has over its members with many unwritten rules and a belief that those who stop attending its meetings are destined for hell. Amy Williams has the story.
Amy Williams reporter:
Grace was subject to years of sexual violence when she was a child living overseas. She remained in the same religious group when she came to New Zealand, attending meetings in people’s homes. She says her marriage to a man who had grown up in the 2x2s became psychologically abusive and he had affairs, which she eventually disclosed to one of the sect’s top leaders at the time.
Grace: “He spent a little bit of time with my husband and then spoke to me, and said they had had a discussion, but I needed to understand that men had needs, and that was what was driving this behaviour, and therefor I shouldn’t be treating it with the kind of concern that I was.”
Grace says she was made to feel that it was her fault.
Grace: “I was absolutely gobsmacked. I could not believe that someone in such a senior position, who spoke from the platform consistently about the kind of people that we are required to be, would so easily attest that behaviour as a human need and therefor it was OK.”
Grace says she was urged to stay in the marriage and her husband continued having affairs.
She says having that swept under the carpet added to the trauma of her childhood, especially considering sect leaders here and overseas had discouraged her from disclosing the sexual violence, including rape, she suffered as a child and teenager while overseas.
Grace: “It’s that silence, secrecy and judgement. They are the three things the church holds very close to themselves, but they are also the three things that allow this kind of abuse to continue. The church’s coverup doesn’t just steal your childhood and your life; they steal your ability to recover from it as well, which is absolutely horrendous.”
The sect has 2,500 members in New Zealand and its overseer Wayne Dean says they actively encourage care, understanding and support for all victims of sexual abuse, referring them to agencies that can assist, and do not condone the behaviour described. Mr Dean says the group has a zero tolerance of anyone in its fellowship being harmed, and encourages and supports the reporting of abuse to the Police. But Grace says she has not been offered any help as a victim of historical child abuse.
Grace: “The impact of the abuse has affected every part of my life, leaving both physical and psychological scars that I will never recover from. The church doesn’t care. Their focus is now on protecting the church, not caring for the victims.”
Grace says she believes there are other victims who are not coming forward. Along with other former members RNZ has spoken to, Grace says it was hard to leave the sect because she was led to believe that it was the only true Christian church and that those outside the group were not saved.
Wayne Dean says the fellowship follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and believes that salvation is available for all mankind, through believing in and living according to Christ’s teachings.
Laura McConnell-Conti (left) says she started experiencing groping and other abuses at the age of 12. (Supplied: Laura McConnell-Conti)
In short: Survivors of the fundamentalist Christian sect known as the Two by Twos or The Truth say they are stuck in limbo waiting for the group to join a compensation scheme for victims.
The sect says it intends to participate in the scheme and has signed an agreement.
What’s next? The sect is holding what they call special meetings across several states this month and next where followers gather for bible study.
Survivors of a fundamentalist Christian sect at the centre of an international child sexual abuse investigation say they are stuck in limbo waiting for the group to sign up to a national compensation scheme for victims.
Warning: Readers are advised this article contains details that may be distressing to some readers.
The sect does not have an official name but is referred to by believers as the Truth or the Way, or by non-believers as the Two by Twos, or the Church with No Name.
Laura McConnell-Conti grew up in the sect in regional New South Wales and left in 1999 when she was 19.
For years she has been actively campaigning for the group to become a part of the federal government’s National Redress Scheme, set up in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“I experienced grooming and abuse inside the group, and a lot of other abuses, violence, and family violence,” she said.
Laura McConnell-Conti (right) left what she calls a cult when she was 19. (Supplied: Laura McConnell-Conti)
Believers follow a strict interpretation of the Bible and meet in people’s homes for Bible study, with the group’s ministers, known as workers, moving between different cities and countries where followers are based.
The sect is now under a global investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the United States for historical cases of child sexual abuse.
The ABC can reveal the sect is also set to host special meetings in at least seven state schools across Queensland.
The meetings will be held outside school hours, but it has raised concerns among survivors about the possibility of having alleged perpetrators on school grounds.
Closure needed for victims
Ms McConnell-Conti and several other survivors to whom the ABC has spoken refer to the group as a cult because of what they say was emotional, spiritual, and physical control they experienced while a part of it.
She said she was 12 when she started to experience grooming and “inappropriate sexualised behaviour”.
Two of the perpetrators, who have since died, were ministers, known as workers.
“For me, it’s been very hard to get any kind of closure as I couldn’t take them to court,” she said.
“So, I made a submission to the [redress scheme about five years ago] as it was a way for me to get some kind of closure, to get an apology.
“For many, many years, I couldn’t get anyone in The Truth to acknowledge that I existed, that the things that had happened to me were real.”
Laura McConnell-Conti was the fifth generation of her family born into a secretive Christian sect. (Supplied: Laura McConnell-Conti)
As part of the National Redress Scheme, participating groups provide compensation, or redress, to victims.
“For me, it’s been a five-ish year journey to try to get [the Truth] to recognise and accept that they were a religion, that they are a formal church, and to get them to even talk to me, or even recognise abuse was happening in the group,” Ms McConnell-Conti said.
The sect, which has about 8,000 followers in Australia, had intended to join the National Redress Scheme under the name The Non-denominational Christians (The Truth).
This week, Ms McConnell-Conti received confirmation the sect’s application to join the scheme was progressing but with no timeframe on when it would be finalised.
The sect’s Australian leaders Malcolm Clapham, Graeme Dalton, Trevor Joll, Alan Mitchell, and Steve Thorpe said they commenced the process of applying to the scheme in September 2022.
“Our current status is we intend to participate and have signed an agreement,” they said.
“We have been assured this is being processed. However, a significant number of other organisations are also seeking participation, and the scheme’s application processing timeframes are outside our control.
“We have been advised that we are able to join as a partially participating institution and not been informed of any impediments to joining the scheme.”
The Department of Social Services, which oversees the scheme, would not comment specifically about Two by Two’s application, but a spokesperson said non-government institutions must meet several legislative requirements to join.
These include groups being able to demonstrate they can pay redress, provide a meaningful direct personal response, and have a structure that means they can enter into a legally binding agreement with the scheme.
Ms McConnell-Conti said she was concerned it was the sect’s ability to meet these requirements that was holding up the approvals process.
She said she was aware of at least four other survivors of the sect who had made applications to the redress scheme.
Meetings in schools
Over May and June, sect members are gathering across Queensland, Victoria, and other states for annual special meetings.
The sect will hold several of those meetings at state schools across Queensland.
The special meetings, where followers gather for bible study and lectures, have either taken place or will take place in schools and community halls in towns including Longreach, Chinchilla, Gatton, Rockhampton, Nambour, Mount Warren Park, and Toowoomba.
Meetings are due to take place in state school facilities including Longreach State School, Rockhampton State High School, and Nanango State High School.
Jillian Hishon runs the Brave Truth hotline. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
Jillian Hishon runs The Brave Truth hotline for survivors of sexual abuse in the sect.
She said she was concerned about the possibility of alleged perpetrators attending these meetings at state schools.
“In Queensland, we have perpetrators that I have reported to the ministers here in Queensland that haven’t been removed from the church,” Ms Hishon said.
“These are alleged perpetrators that have police reports logged on them.
“They’re not going to be there in school times, but [the Education Department is] allowing a group that is under current FBI investigation to attend their grounds. It is up to them, but it is not ideal.”
Multi-day conventions are held at rural properties like this one near Mackay. (Supplied)
A spokesperson for Queensland’s Department of Education said there was “no higher priority … than the safety and wellbeing of students”.
They said it was an “established and successful” practice for school facilities to be hired out outside of school hours “with appropriate controls in place”.
“A principal will consider applications for community use agreements made by organisations and individuals,” the spokesperson said.
The sect’s leaders said child safety was “paramount” at all special meetings including at public schools.
“We have conducted thorough risk assessments and put measures in place including vetting attendees, assigning specific workers to address any child safety issues, and encouraging parents to keep children in sight,” they said.
Believers meet annually at convention sites like this one to pray and learn about the sect’s beliefs. (Supplied)
Perpetrators at conventions
Alongside special meetings, the sect runs what it calls conventions.
These are longer multi-day events where followers stay in dormitories and are often held at rural properties across Australia owned by followers.
They have been attended by figures linked to historic child sexual abuse in the past, including Dean Bruer.
Mr Bruer was an overseer, or senior leader, of the sect in the US state of Oregon.
Widespread allegations of child sexual abuse committed by him came to light after his death in 2022 and led to the establishment of the group Advocates for The Truth in the US.
Documents seen by the ABC reveal Mr Bruer attended conventions as a guest in Toowoomba and the Fraser Coast, as well as sites in New South Wales in 2007, 2016, and 2017.
Dean Bruer was pictured with New South Wales-based workers for the Two by Twos during a 2017 visit to Australia. (Supplied)
Ms Hishon said Mr Bruer’s attendance at Australian events was “concerning”.
“I don’t have any reports on any abuse that Dean Bruer allegedly committed when he was in Australia,” she said.
“But we know there are other alleged paedophiles that have attended in Australia and New Zealand as well that have come from overseas and travelled around.”
The sect’s Australian leaders said they were “shocked and appalled” to learn of the allegations against Mr Bruer.
“No allegations have been made to the fellowship about Dean Bruer here in Australia, and we were unaware of any allegations against him internationally when he visited here in 2007 and 2016 for a period of up to 10 weeks on each occasion,” they said.
Convention attendees sleep together in dormitories. (Supplied)
They said they vetted convention attendees, including international visitors, had designated child-safe contacts, and had “clear procedures” for incidents now to ensure safety at conventions.
“We have specific safety measures for sleeping quarters, we allocate jobs with safety at the heart of our considerations, have clear signage, and closely manage attendee interactions,” they said.
“We have clearly communicated our zero-tolerance policy for harm against anyone in our fellowship.
“As part of our commitment to continual improvement, we have reviewed and improved our plans for this year, to learn from our experiences last year. We have involved key stakeholders in this process.”
The FBI has launched a webpage asking victims of abuse within the Two by Twos to come forward. (ABC News: Tobi Loftus)
The FBI launched its investigation into the sect earlier this year and Australian survivors, including Ms McConnell-Conti, have made submissions.
A spokesperson for the FBI told the ABC the bureau encouraged reporting from anyone who thought they might be a victim.
They said this information could be shared with their international partners.
“The FBI, in coordination with our Legal Attaché Offices around the world, routinely shares information and intelligence with our international law enforcement partners in an effort to identify and mitigate a variety of threats,” the spokesperson said.
“This international collaboration is always done with the consent of the host country and in cooperation with the Department of Justice and the US Department of State.”
WINGS Note: Dr Natalie Bolin, a co-author of this letter, is an Executive Director at Advocates For The Truth
May 12, 2024
Dear Friends and Workers,
First, we apologize in advance as this letter may be overwhelming with information/topics that you may or may not be aware of. It is a long letter, and yet barely scratches the surface. The intent is to bring awareness and education (resources at the end of this letter) to the worldwide Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) crisis within our fellowship. We ask that you read this letter in its entirety as we want to make very clear our stance about this situation. We know that many have not been made aware of the volume and depth of information that has come to light, and we feel it is important to communicate the basic facts and themes of conversations we are having with survivors and friends nationally and internationally. However, this letter cannot fully capture or relate the complexity of the situation. There are uncomfortable truths that must be acknowledged, discussed, and addressed so that our fellowship can begin to heal. People are not ok.
We wanted to include a brief synopsis of the current situation beginning with the exposure of Dean Bruer here, but there is no way to be brief about all that has come to light. If you are unaware of the details of the current crisis you can click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ax6ma_0utHpMTfFz0EkkOuaAAawVT6_6nY8sAKSqWrw/edit
This is a link to a timeline (updated almost daily) of all that has come out since May 23, 2023. There are 23 pages of brief entries that create a timeline of events.
We are now in a worldwide crisis. On February 20, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) opened a national investigation into our church. Opening an FBI investigation is not a snap decision but a process, meaning a preliminary investigation was presented to a Grand Jury in Washington DC. Through the evidence produced by that preliminary investigation, the Grand Jury decided that there was enough evidence of criminal behavior for federal funds to be dedicated to opening a hotline, along with multiple field agencies dedicating resources to furthering this large-scale investigation that unfortunately now spreads internationally. Just in the past two weeks, the names of 5 workers having credible allegations of child sexual abuse have been brought to light, bringing the total number of identified perpetrators to approximately 840 (40% of these are/were workers) within our fellowship. There are over 22 countries with survivors reaching out for care.
Since the AFTT investigator hotline was established last year, the average number of perpetrators being reported is over 2 perpetrators per day. Statistically according to criminal justice researchers, the average perpetrator has [number redacted, pending verification] victims, so within our fellowship that would project to be an astounding number of victims (the vast majority never report their abuse). Even if no more perpetrators were identified in our fellowship to add to the victim number, today there are likely over [number redacted, pending verification] victims (some still attending meetings while others have left, and some now deceased) that were abused from within our fellowship. Additionally, each week more and more evidence is brought to light that every single overseer in our ministry has had knowledge of perpetrators and/or deliberately and knowingly moved multiple perpetrators around the states and world to protect perpetrators and conceal abuse. This has enabled perpetrators to sexually abuse more and more children. The systematic cover-up of these crimes, and the fact that brother workers and overseers “handled” these situations by moving perpetrators from one area to another with no communication to notify families of the risk they were allowing into their homes is what has led to the sense of betrayal that many of us are feeling and makes this so infuriating. For those in authority to say “we didn’t know how serious CSA and its aftereffects on victims is” is both disingenuous and ridiculous – anyone with any sense of morality knows that crimes against children are heinous and criminal – ignorance is no excuse. If they did not think it was serious, then why were perpetrators moved?!?
In addition to the astounding number of perpetrators in our fellowship, there is a continuing focus on including them in fellowship meetings without any regard for survivors who may also be attending the meeting. Expecting a survivor to have any interactions with a perpetrator or individual with credible allegations in meetings, usually with a denial that any abuse occurred at all (or worse yet, that since the abuse happened years ago it is not relevant), is inexcusable. It is very traumatizing for any survivor to be in meeting with a perpetrator and we must take a zero- tolerance stance.
Statistically 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 years old. So, the probability of having survivors in every fellowship meeting is high. 90% of children that are sexually abused know their abuser and the abuser is usually trusted by the family. In light of these statistics, the effort that is being put into keeping perpetrators in meeting, without full disclosure, thereby putting our young people at risk, is mind boggling.
One of the friends recently questioned why the potential redemptive story of these individuals, who have committed such atrocities, is so important to this ministry? It is a very fair question. Yes, all souls are of immeasurable value, yet does that mean that the souls of these individuals are of more importance or of more value than that of those whose innocence they stole? To not address the issues in a transparent manner, and to not hold a zero-tolerance stance facilitates perpetrator access to additional victims. It pushes the souls of victims farther away from the community they should be receiving communal care from. Imagine if we put that same type of effort into making meetings safe for survivors and supporting their healing!
Are perpetrators more important than the many families, both young and old, that are leaving this fellowship in droves? Can we have a conversation about the large number of families that are reported to have left our fellowship in AZ primarily because the ministry refuses to take a zero- tolerance stance on allowing perpetrators in fellowship meetings? If Arizona is too far away, perhaps we can discuss the families that have left here in CA (we personally know many of them)? No, what we are hearing, though perhaps not directly but rather through worker’s parts in meetings or communications, is that those leaving are “bitter”, that they were “dead wood”, or that this is the great “falling away” that we read about in the Bible. In reality, they are leaving because of an unresponsive ministry that has chosen to circle the wagons and maintain the status quo and continue to protect perpetrators and not acknowledge and deal with the current crisis – bitterness and hardness of heart have nothing to do with it.
Another refrain we often hear is “just stay off the internet” which frankly is an outdated response because of the times we live in and how information is now shared. Most workers have both a computer and a smart phone. Telling people to stay off the internet is equivalent to telling them to not listen to the news during a war or not search up the weather forecast or doppler radar during a tornado warning in a bad storm. When people do learn of even the basic details and magnitude of this crisis within our fellowship, they are taken aback, shocked, and angry that this is not being discussed openly. No communication is in and of itself communication. Lack of communication by those who call themselves shepherds of the sheep just deepens the feeling that secrets are being kept. For those who do know what is happening it deepens the sense of betrayal and loss of trust. We cannot keep putting our heads in the sand and pretend that “all is well.”
If we don’t address the past, it will repeat itself in the future (which has been true in this fellowship). We have received reports of worker abuse going back over 100 years (family members reporting abuse of loved ones that have already passed away). We have survivors in their 90’s that have reported for the first time in their life! Imagine carrying those wounds around your whole life!!! Reporting is the first step to healing, and it is tragic that so many haven’t felt safe enough to speak out until now and finally begin their healing journey.
When we received the e-mail asking whether we were open to having workers stay in our home during special meetings, it hit us like a ton of bricks. The unfortunate reality is that we now must question if workers have allegations before agreeing to have them stay with us or welcome them into our home, as we cannot trust that such individuals have been removed. This is a huge problem.
We keep holding on to hope that we will begin to see increased awareness and strengthening of purpose to address this massive crisis through implementation of CSA/trauma training (beyond Ministry Safe which just scratches the surface) and listening sessions/elders/wives’ meetings to help support one another as more and more information comes out. We are hopeful that at very least a discussion amongst all the worker staff occurred during the workers’ meeting at Casa Grande, AZ. Can someone tell us if there was any discussion amongst the staff about this massive worldwide crisis? Was there discussion about how to come together as a ministry to support the countless survivors and their families including adopting and truly adhering to a zero-tolerance policy regarding alleged and confirmed perpetrators? If there was a discussion, we would love to know about the outcomes, what was shared, and what the action plan is.
We have been waiting over a year for meaningful, substantive change to even begin.
Instead, we keep hearing that workers here at home and across the U.S. are telling people “It’s time to move on” or provide the dismissive “they are bitter/hard” rationale for any who are struggling or who have left. Do you understand how triggering this is for survivors to hear? Many survivors report that while being abused, threats were made to them to not tell anyone and that no one would believe them anyways even if they did. By saying “It’s time to move on” or “they are just bitter/hard”, this echoes the voice of abusers and further victimizes survivors as they continue to struggle with the eternal wounds of abuse, and reinforces that they indeed are not being believed. The average age for disclosure of child sexual assault is 52 years of age, and 86% of CSA goes unreported. The result in our faith is a long list of survivors, spanning generations, with intense trauma histories being shamed and silenced.
For the sake of our survivors, our young people, and the sake of the ministry, we cannot continue to address CSA in the same manner the ministry has become accustomed to. Those in authority (brother workers/overseers, and sister workers at their direction) that have made, and continue to make, damaging decisions about perpetrators are still in positions of authority and their actions (or inaction) continues to push souls away. Unfortunately, the current action/inaction of the ministry makes it appear that the intention of the ministry is to continue down the same path it has for 100+ years.
We have made the difficult decision to no longer have an open home for the ministry. We love and plan to continue having a fellowship meeting in our home, however, we will not be attending Gospel meetings, special meetings, or conventions. We cannot in good conscience support the ministry with our presence, nor financially support the current ministry as they continue to not address the crisis at hand; instead we will help fund survivor treatment and care. We firmly stand with our survivors and do not believe perpetrators should be allowed in fellowship meetings.
This is why we both did not attend Special Meetings this year, along with many others. Attendance of Gospel meetings and special meetings gives a false impression that everything and everyone is ok. Does this mean we feel all in the ministry are to blame? No, not at all. We love and continue to pray for those honest hearts in the ministry who have been a spiritual help to us and our families in the past. We hurt for those in the ministry who feel grieved and yet are unable to take a stand in this crisis that would be contrary to the stance of those that are in authority for fear of losing their place in the work for speaking up for survivors. Our trust has been betrayed by those leading the ministry not just in our region, but throughout the states as we are one fellowship looking to one ministry.
We do not agree with how the ministry is handling this crisis.
If any are interested in further conversation regarding the contents of this letter, or discussing strategies the ministry could use to address this crisis, or references regarding any data in this letter, please feel free to contact us.
With much love and concern,
Ben Bolin, School Psychologist and Dr. Natalie Bolin, DSW, LCSW
[Phone numbers redacted by WINGS]
Book Recommendations:
1. Tear Down This Wall of Silence: Dealing with Sexual Abuse in Our Churches by Dale Ingraham.
2. Predators: Pedophiles, Rapist and Other Sex Offenders by Dr. Anna Salter *this is a very difficult book to read-trigger warning.
3. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk
4. Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Dr. Diane Langberg
5. A Church Called TOV: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
The sects annual gatherings are held on rural properties around the country over four days.
Warning: This story discusses details of sexual abuse
An American minister of a secretive global sect who was outed as a paedophile and sexual predator after his death visited New Zealand multiple times to attend the religious group’s annual gatherings.
The sect said it was not aware of any victims of the American minister in New Zealand but it had received one historical sexual abuse complaint arising from its annual gatherings.
The closed sect has many unspoken rules, no official name or church buildings, and its itinerant ministers are volunteers who are celibate and stay in members’ homes.
The sect’s faithful gather in their hundreds on rural properties across the country where rows of canvas tents are set up for the annual conventions, usually held over four days.
Elliot* recently left the sect but attended the conventions every year – often listening to ministers who had come from overseas.
“The point of concern that’s become apparent is that there’s been people who visited here that now there’s allegations against… It’s not clear that there’s ever been any kind of vetting or the country of origin letting us know.”
Those who had faced allegations included an American minister, Dean Bruer, whose sexual abuse of children and young people was revealed after he died in 2022 – and was the catalyst for hundreds of victims disclosing abuse at his and others’ hands.
“Some people call it Bruer-gate. I would say that most people in the group know that there was an issue with Dean Bruer who passed away and that has started this whole situation,” Elliot said.
After Bruer died, an internal letter by his successor in the sect leadership was leaked on social media. The letter stated that Bruer was a “sexual predator” whose actions included “rape and abuse of underage victims”.
Two women set up a hotline just over a year ago, and the floodgates opened – their February update said more than 1500 victims had come forward from around the world.
The sect, founded in Ireland in 1897, is believed to have 100,000 members worldwide, including 2500 in New Zealand.
The sect’s New Zealand spokesperson Wayne Dean responded to RNZ’s questions by email.
He confirmed Bruer had visited conventions here in the 1970s before becoming a minister, and again as a speaker in 2007 and 2016.
Elliot said that was a concern.
“Everyone eats together, some people are in caravans, some in sleeping quarters which are communal, separated men and women but communal, there’s showers and toilets but you all eat together in the dining shed.”
The conventions were held each summer on members’ rural properties in Auckland’s Pukekohe, Ngaere in Taranaki, Masterton, and Winchester in South Canterbury.
People attending the conventions sleep in tents and caravans, or in communal bunk rooms segregated by gender.
Dean said the sect was not aware of any victims of the American minister in New Zealand.
“To the best of my knowledge, the ministry has not been made aware of any victims of Dean Bruer in New Zealand.”
The sect was aware, however, of one instance of historical sexual abuse at its conventions and the person accused had been removed from the fellowship.
It had zero tolerance for any child being harmed and in recent years the rules for who slept in communal areas had changed, he said.
“Convention facilities are similar to public camping grounds, with accommodation options including caravan/campervan, tents or dormitories.
“Families are encouraged to use ‘family only’ accommodation areas – however, people can choose to use the on-site dormitory or tents in segregated areas. Children are required to be in accommodation with their parent/s.”
The current procedure for ministers visiting from overseas was to check with the “home region” to “ensure they have no current allegations or concerns regarding child sexual abuse or misconduct”, Dean said.
Visiting ministers also completed MinistrySafe training and signed a code of conduct, as did its local ministers.
Other safeguards and health and safety steps had been taken to ensure the safety of children, he added.
Australasian victim advocate Jillian Hishon runs the confidential hotline The Brave Truth, which had received more calls from New Zealand victims since RNZ broke the story.
She had heard from Australian victims who were abused at these conventions and said the communal sleeping areas were a problem.
“Sometimes that … can be a really awesome place for kids and they grow and meet new friends and all the rest of it – but other times it was places where children got abused.”
FBI update
The FBI confirmed it had launched a global investigation into the sect known as the Two by Twos, or The Truth.
“The FBI, in coordination with our Legal Attaché Offices around the world, routinely shares information and intelligence with our international law enforcement partners in an effort to identify and mitigate a variety of threats,” a spokesperson from its national press office said.
Its legal attaché offices, also known as legats and sub-offices, are located in key cities around the globe and provide coverage for more than 180 countries, territories, and islands.
About 250 special agents and support personnel are stationed in FBI legats worldwide.
The FBI has a sub-office at the American Embassy in Wellington.
“This international collaboration is always done with the consent of the host country and in cooperation with the Department of Justice and the US Department of State.”
The FBI said it encouraged reporting from anyone who thought that they may have been a victim.
“Because the FBI Omaha field office is seeking the public’s help in identifying potential victims, I can confirm an investigation,” the spokesperson said.
“In order to preserve the integrity and capabilities of the investigation, I cannot share any details of the ongoing process. We encourage anyone with information to provide it through its website.”
The FBI declined to comment on whether it had alerted police in New Zealand to its investigation of the 2x2s sect, launched in February.
Its Omaha field office said it was seeking the public’s help in identifying victims or individuals with knowledge of abuse and/or criminal behaviour that had occurred within a religious group that traditionally has not had a name.
“The group has often been referred to by others outside of the group as “2×2,” “The Way,” “The Truth,” and “The Church With No Name,” among others,” the FBI said.
“While it is natural for parents to want to gain a better understanding of the potential exploitation of their child, further questioning of the child may lead to inaccurate statements and increased emotional trauma.”
WINGS for Truth 