News

Ronda Stidolph leaves the work

WINGS Note:

Ronda was in South America for quite a few years, before returning to USA.

This anouncement doesn’t mention any reasons. WINGS believes that the reasons are likely to become public and also believes that they do not relate to CSA.

Dear friends,

I have voluntarily stepped aside from the Work.

Someone said in a workers’ mtg a long time ago, that our goal shouldn’t be to stay in the Work until we die but to become like Jesus. That’s a true goal for all of us! Though my position in the Body changes, my connection with the Head, Christ Jesus, and also my salvation, remains unchanged and grows richer with time. I asked someone who’d stepped aside from the Work once, “Do you feel like you have more fruit or less fruit?”. His response was, “I have different fruit”. That will now be a part of my journey too.

Your sister,

Ronda Stidolph

Ron Hanson removed from meetings in Calgary, Alberta

Ron Hanson was a somewhat senior worker in Saskatchewan until he was removed from the work over an allegation of CSA. He moved to Calgary AB, married, and has had a Sunday am meeting in his home until recently.

He has now been asked to not come to meetings since a new allegation was reported to Calgary Police.

Robert Corfield removed from work

Ronan, MT

May 17, 2023

Dear Montana & Wyoming Friends & Workers

As difficult as this is, I must write this letter to you all with the following information that I have recently received.

I was informed that our brother, Robert Corfield, sexually abused minor boys while in the work in Canada prior to coming to Montana. Allegations were brought forward in 1990’s before he was sent to Montana and Robert has admitted the abuse.

After Robert arrived in Montana, he underwent counselling and completed a therapy program for his pedophilia.

It is possible there may be additional victims. If you have been a victim, please reach out to law enforcement in your local jurisdiction and / or someone you trust as soon as possible.

Robert has been removed from the work and meetings.

Respectfully yours

Scott R.

WINGS Note:

Here is a brief summary of the areas Robert Corfield labored in:

1960s – Oregon

1970s – Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Saskatchewan

1980s – Saskatchewan

1990s – Saskatchewan

2000s – Montana

2010s – Montana

2020s – Wyoming, Montana

He also spent time in India and South Africa.

Robert was a pallbearer at the funeral of Dean Bruer.

Removal from meeting attendance

5-6-2023

A May 2023 letter from the Minneapolis, Minnesota sister workers Ronda Stidolph and Lucille Anderson re Steve Rohs:

This is to clear up any confusion about Steve Rohs participation in meetings.

We apologize for any worry and fear caused by his case and our handling of it. Steve has admitted to an abuse incident that happened 40 years ago. And in mid April, another allegation was made from outside the state of Minnesota. The case was being investigated in other states. Both cases involving Steve have been reported outside of Minnesota.

The first week of April, Steve was asked to not attend any Meetings. No Sunday am Meetings, no Wednesday night Meetings, no Gospel Meeting, no Special Meetings or Conventions. It is certain that more education and discussion about abuse issues will be forthcoming.

We have been glad for some suggestions from some professionals among our friends regarding educational opportunities online, and we’ll be sharing that. We also consider the possibility of in person educational programs when classes can be scheduled. The Minnesota/Iowa Workers have all been keeping current with the Ministry Safe program for the last 15 years. Most have recently renewed their certification. We encourage everyone to look at that site and take the training and resulting exams. The website can be found at ministrysafe.com

It might help to put us all on the same page regarding child sexual abuse

Attendance at meetings after release from prison

5-16-2023

Our dear friends,

Some things are uncomfortable, but that does not mean they shouldn’t be talked about. Sometimes we avoid discussing things that we need to talk about because we’re worried it could be viewed as complaining, judgement, etc. Please, if there’s anything you would like to discuss with us, concerns you feel we should address or a need for more disclosure or information re: specific situations please be in touch! The Holy Spirit of God helps us with the right motives in all areas of our life.. including WHY we discuss certain things.

We know that it is important to take time to pray and be humble with our Father when the Holy Spirit is motivating us to address something. When the Holy Spirit is leading us to discuss something with others.. we need to obey it and can trust our obedience was necessary, regardless of the reactions.

We are sharing that someone in this area was recently released from prison where they served time due to a conviction related to viewing child pornography. Legally he is free to attend our public or private meetings, however Michael H. & Dennis M. have asked him not to attend any meetings for the time being. They will revisit this decision after conventions in Alberta.

We have some letters that disclose great sorrows that have recently been exposed. Many of you we’ve already shared them with. There were quite a few of you whom expressed, when we discussed it, that you didn’t want to read the letters. I remember most, but am afraid I might not remember exactly which of you didn’t want any of them. So I’ll attach the letter from Michael Hassett on a separate email and you can just delete it without reading if that’s what you’d decided. I’ve appreciated advice from someone, which was to encourage you to:

pray before reading them.

We have letters from other areas in North America as well, let us know if you want us to send them to you.

With our care,

-Mildred, Deanna & Tamara.

Time for change

WINGS is conscious of the enormous disruption occurring within the fellowship as light is shined on the serious issues of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) cases that have occurred and been mismanaged in the past.

Many are asking “what can we do?”

For more than a decade, WINGS has been advocating for implementation of changes to prevent harm to children. Pockets of improvement have occurred. However, there are still many changes to be implemented.  

Historic attitudes and practices have allowed children to be harmed and further harm to survivors who were not believed or supported. Openness and transparency, victims being believed, and support of survivors on their healing journey is critical.

Although fellowship members may not consider they are part of an organisation, people act within the group with a degree of organisation and levels of responsibility. The benefits of being an international group where people freely move between areas, connect with others with the same beliefs and instinctively trust creates risk. Work already done for other organisations can easily be applied across the fellowship to protect children.

This statement is focused on child safety for young people in the fellowship.

Action must be taken now to protect children within the fellowship. We call upon all within the fellowship to advocate in your area for change.

WINGS calls for the following steps to be taken to keep children safe:

  • Groups must be set up to develop and govern child safety to ensure that there is consistent good practice across the worldwide fellowship.
  • Involve workers (including sister workers), elders, friends, young people and professionals. Heed external advice. Wisdom and knowledge doesn’t reside solely in overseers.
  • Policies and processes for child safety must be documented, shared with all members and regularly reviewed.
  • Codes of conduct for workers must be in place, attested to and monitored for compliance.
  • Training and education must occur for workers and elders, with compliance monitored and recorded regularly.
  • Complaint management processes must be transparent and adhered to.
  • Families and all attendees must be openly informed and regularly communicated with and involved in decisions impacting on children.
  • Ensure that all regions globally implement these new practices.
  • Voluntarily examine history and be open about past CSA cases that were not disclosed or were handled inadequately e.g. workers who quietly left and married; or were just shifted to another area; victims who were shame silenced.
  • Learn from one another globally and share information openly.
  • Recognise that this is a new normal that must continue forever.
  • Acknowledge that adult abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) is different to CSA but is also unacceptable.

Simply ask your overseer:

  • What is our policy to keep children safe?
  • Can I see the policy and workers code of conduct?
  • Have all workers had training and police checks and is it being kept up to date?
  • How do you manage allegations and complaints about abuse?
  • Are there current attendees in my meeting with CSA allegations?

Contact wingsfortruth@googlegroups.com if you require support or access to further information.

The below information may be useful for those wanting to understand what others do to address these matters in volunteer groups across the world.

Keeping Children Safe is an international group that is focused on child safeguarding. Its International Child Safeguarding Standards (ICS Standards) have general principles that are relevant to the friends and workers fellowship:

  • All children have equal rights to protection from harm
  • Everybody has a responsibility to support the protection of children
  • Organisations have a duty of care to children with whom they work, are in contact with, or who are affected by their work and operations
  • All actions on child safeguarding are taken in the best interests of the child, which are paramount.

They call for 4 key actions:

  1. Policy (written document specific to the group) that describes how it is committed to preventing and responding appropriately to harm to children, i.e. a documented approach to keeping children safe.
  2. People – clear responsibilities and expectations are placed on people (i.e. workers code of conduct).  Supports them to understand and act in line with these.
  3. Procedures are in place to keep children safe.
  4. Accountability – Measures in place are monitored and enforced.

See https://www.keepingchildrensafe.global/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KCS-CS-Standards-ENG-200218.pdf

Another useful resource is https://www.stopitnow.org/ohc-content/safety-planning-within-faith-based-communities

Worker reported and removed

WINGS Note June 16, 2023: This report is under review as it may be false due to mis-reporting to/by authorities.
WINGS will update the post as soon as reliable information is available.

May 15, 2023

Dear Minnesota and Iowa Friends,

This letter is to inform you that an allegation of CSA has been made against [ Redacted]. It has been reported to Child Protective Services this past week, as mandated by law. [ Redacted ] is no longer in the work.  He is currently with his mother in [ ] and will not be attending meetings or be around children during the investigation. The [ ] overseer has been notified of the situation. [Redacted] has labored in Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota.

If you suspect that a child or juvenile is being sexually abused, please report it to the authorities.

Reporting suspected child abuse.  If you are unsure as to whether you should report; the professionals at these resources can help you answer that as well.  It’s important to understand that if you report suspected CSA, Child Protective Services will ask for the reporter’s name but will not release it–that remains confidential.  The reason for the confidentiality is to remove people’s reservations to report suspected abuse and protect the alleged victim(s) identity from any potential retaliation, harassment, or judgment.

If you or someone you know is in immediate risk of harm call 911 or local law enforcement.

If you or someone you know experienced CSA but are safe from immediate harm, you can contact Child Protection Services by calling:

In Iowa:

Contact the child abuse hotline at 1-800-362-2178

In MN:

Contact the number listed for the county where the child resides or the allegation occurred.  When you reach the number, state that you are making a child protection report the professional taking the call will walk you through the information that they will need to begin an investigation. 

https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/children-and-families/services/child-protection/contact-us/

Another helpful link:

How to Report Child Abuse

If you have reported CSA to the authorities and the allegation(s) are made against someone within our fellowship, please inform one of us so we can take the appropriate  steps so the reported individual does not attend any meetings per the current MN/IA policy regarding child sexual abuse.  You can also speak with any elder or worker with whom you are comfortable.

We acknowledge that reporting CSA is challenging, especially for the victim-survivors of the abuse. We are grateful to those who have stepped forward to help keep our community safe.

 Sincerely,

Dean Dykstra

Marla Freesemann

John Simons

Shari Stamps

LeRoy Sandford disclosure

WINGS Note: This disclosure does NOT involve CSA. It is posted as an example of bringing to light past actions that have been kept hidden. A related disclosure is https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/05/14/honourable-disclosure-of-past-conduct/

LeRoy was overseer of North and South Dakota.

LeRoy Sandford 7:37 am

Dear Dakota Friends,

It’s with a heavy heart that I write this letter of apology to you because I’ve broken your trust. I’m very sorry…

Around twenty years ago I was in an inappropriate relationship with a sister worker. This past Saturday evening she shared the experience with a group of our friends where she labors in Minnesota.

Yesterday I came to my brother’s and informed our Dakota Staff about my failure, communicating with most personally before sending them an email.

My hope was to communicate with ones among you that would feel this most keenly, before sending a letter of apology to all of you.

—- —– (the sister) communicated with the Minnesota staff last evening, also. Her apology has already been posted on the internet, which makes it imperative that this be sent immediately. We were in communication in the days leading up to this.

This is the final part of the letter to staff:

“I am the brother. I’m very sorry. Much of the above is the echo of my heart. Life in this ministry has been rich. It’s difficult to imagine life not in this ministry because of the love our Lord puts in our hearts for our fellow laborers, for His people and for seeking souls.

Workers are my very best friends.

This feels like an awful dream, but I know that the Lord sees everything, and there are possibilities of usefulness where ever we find ourselves.

I intend to spend time with my family until the future becomes clear. I came to Phil and Karen’s today.

Lyle Schober has ticketing to arrive in Minnesota on Tuesday. He’s to arrive at Hunter Thursday by suppertime, and is to guide the Workers’ Meeting on Friday.

The temporary plan is that you communicate with Perry and Paul concerning arrangements in the Dakotas.

Regretfully, but with love in Christ,

LeRoy”

PS: Will include ——-’s apology:

————————————

Saturday May 14, 2023

Before all the world:

I will state only facts, without details, in this first part.

My name is —– —— and I am on the Minnesota worker staff.

Twenty years ago or more, I was involved in a consensual relationship with a male co-worker on my staff.

That relationship was cut off and there was a clean break.

After some years, that staff member was asked to move to the position of overseer.

He called to confirm that there was continued certainty that there would be no future connection. I affirmed that.

I had been in Minnesota some years already.

I have given myself to the work and people here. I love them.

Those are the facts.

Concerns about convicted CSA offender attending meetings in Queensland, Australia

R… T…

To: Deborah, Alan

Cecil James Blyth present at your Gospel Mtgs.

Hello Deborah,

It’s been reported that James Blyth has been present at your Gospel meetings on multiple occasions recently. This has been verified by multiple sources. Cecil James Blyth is a convicted child sex offender and has been jailed in NSW and also QLD for child sex offences, some of which include perpetrating sexual abuse against his own daughter.

Because of James convictions and jail sentences for multiple offences against children in both NSW and then in QLD, it is highly likely that James Blyth is on the QLD CPOR ( Child Protection (Offender Reporting) ) registry, as per relevant Child Protection legislation. This means he would have to abide by very specific conditions after his release from prison and regularly report to QLD Police, regarding his whereabouts, his contact with children and what activities he has been engaged in. If he is in breach of the conditions, he can be jailed for 5 years. A child sex offender can remain on the CPOR registry for up to 10 years after their release from prison, dependant on the severity of the abuse perpetrated by them.. If the perpetrator is subject to a DPSOA order then the perpetrator remains on the register indefinitely.

I don’t know if you realise how heinous James Blyth’s crimes are but I will share this- the police would not even read out numerous charges in court, brought against James, because of their seriousness and depravity.

It is well researched that Serial child sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated (I am happy to provide you with up to date research to support this statement).

You and your companion as ministers / spiritual teachers, have a duty of care to keep all the children under 18 years of age present in the congregation safe, when you are holding services (Gospel meetings and otherwise). You are required by legislation ( QLD Criminal Code Act 1899) to ensure the safety of children while they are in attendance of any services you are holding ( Gospel Meetings and otherwise). It is a criminal offence to fail to protect children from and fail to report known child sex offenders and any forms of sexual abuse while they are in attendance of your services ( this includes before and after the services ). The maximum penalty is 7 years jail. It is also a criminal offence under the same QLD criminal code to groom children. If you allow James Blyth into your services (the Gospel meetings, fellowship meeting or any other church gatherings where children are present) you’re allowing James to have access to children, where he could groom them in order to perpetrate sexual abuse against them.

Deborah, If you or any other worker continue to choose to allow James Blyth into your services where children are present, you are wilfullly giving a convicted child sex offender access to children. This is putting children at significant risk of harm, and there is a strong likelihood that James could groom children in order to perpetrate sexual abuse against them. Your actions would constitute a criminal act and you would be in breach of the Criminal Code also.

I strongly encourage you to take these matters seriously and to understand the legal ramifications for yourself and all workers, in allowing convicted child sex offenders to be present at your services in QLD.

Alan Mitchell remains arrogantly ignorant of these facts, shows utter contempt for the law and for his duty of care as QLD overseer. Alan’s contact details, his recent email (which is in clear breach of QLD law regarding his obligation toward children in the congregation and their safety) and QLD workers contact details have been given to QLD Child Protection Investigation Unit [CPIU].

This email will be given to the CPIU as evidence you have been informed of your legal obligations as a minister/ spiritual teacher regarding children in the congregation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Regards,

R… T…

Honourable disclosure of past conduct

WINGS Note: This disclosure does NOT involve CSA, but a relationship between workers. It is posted as a good example of bringing to light past actions that have been kept hidden.

May 14, 2023

[DK] has requested we share the following letter.

I am forwarding it in it’s entirety, including the note to the staff.

John [Simmons]

My dear dear friends. 

I’m sorry that this will come as yet another blow.  One wonders why it seems necessary to confess something from two decades ago, when there has obviously been liberty and blessing after repenting.  But I am aware that there are rumors surrounding LeRoy [Sanford] that will provide all the truth that is mine.  I am not responsible for anything else on his part.  

I will be stepping away from the work at this time, not because I wish to or was forced to, but it will be good for the growth and healing of the church.  John S. pointed out James 5:13-18 as a possibility as to why this must be.  

I have loved Minnesota so much; the people, the staff.  When one is unworthy, the best they can do is serve, and it has been a great privilege.  LeRoy is also stepping away, and made the move to his family today.  I’m not sure where I will end up, but I think Harold and Anna’s basement ultimately while I get my feet under me.  I would love nothing more than to curl up at Jesus’ feet.

I’m wondering if you would mind sending this letter on to your fields, maybe 7:30 or so???  It just needs to come straight up, just the facts.  It is going to be a gut punch and I am so very sorry.  I have no idea what the future will bring, but I somewhat picture staying in Minnesota.   

With all my heart,

[DK]

Saturday May 14, 2023

Before all the world:

I will state only facts, without details, in this first part.

My name is [DK] and I am on the Minnesota worker staff.

Twenty years ago or more, I was involved in a consensual relationship with a male co-worker on my staff.

That relationship was cut off and there was a clean break.

After some years, that staff member was asked to move to the position of overseer.

He called to confirm that there was continued certainty that there would be no future connection.  I affirmed that.

I had been in Minnesota some years already.

I have given myself to the work and people here.  I love them.

Those are the facts.

BUT

Now is the day of reckoning.  Activities committed over the years by friends and workers against vulnerable individuals are being brought to light, nearly every day.

And in the midst of this, it seems imperative to confess this inappropriate though not illegal activity.  This did not scar a vulnerable nonconsenting person, but I understand this immoral situation, long ago, will scar the big broad picture of trust in what is assumed to be pure.  And so I ask myself, “Why did I not tell someone before?”  Why did I content myself with my own personal repentance and feeling of forgiveness?  I really don’t feel I would have been disbelieved, shamed, or put down by anyone I would have chosen to speak of it to, as has been the case with some.  But I was afraid of destroying my own current joy.

Tonight I publicly laid out my situation in front of a group that are struggling deeply with current issues in the fellowship.  I told them I had had a relationship with a brother worker years ago, and I don’t know what to do about it.

It came out spontaneously.  Why did that happen? I think it was because I knew they loved me and I loved them.  That is the safest environment for honesty.  I didn’t stop to consider that it might be on the internet within an hour.  It’s weird, the power of love.  They genuinely hurt for the agony I am in, at the need to somehow confess again what I have repented of in the past, but not confessed publicly.

While I have been personally content and thrilled at the power repentance brings, and thrived in that personal liberty, there is a big burden of guilt that I did not share this with the fellowship as a whole.

I am sorry. I am so so sorry.

On behalf of all of us who have had secrets, young or old, and are afraid to share them, I offer this up:  the power of knowing you will still be loved because you have loved is tremendous.  It helps us to be honest.  Having my story received with love makes all the difference in the world.

I had a different letter written on Friday, to send to workers and friends in Minnesota on Monday, and had shared with just a few of the staff.  The above event happened last night.  I am happy to share that if you wish.