Jeri at Blog on the Lilypad is fearless in her ongoing exposure of abuses in what is called the Fundamentalist Independent Baptists in the US. And coming out of that background, her on going exposure has put her under abuse. But she has also helped others find the courage to speak out and speak up. Many are finding freedom and healing and reaching back in to help others.

And so it is with interest and respect for her formidable skills I read that she has taken on a Free Presbyterian Church in Toronto. There was sexual abuse of a minor, the main perpetrator confessed and was charged. But justice and restitution have not been met. Canadian law has done it’s job, the church has not.

Here is her description of Free Presbyterians:

The Free Presbyterian Church ranks itself among the churches of Fundamentalism. Though it is openly Calvinistic (a rarity in Fundamentalism), it enforces a strict code of behavior for members that is consistent with the practice of the most conservative churches in Fundamentalism. The greatest difference, of course, is that it is ruled by presbytery rather than by sole eldership.

It’s difficult to find Canadian membership numbers, I counted four churches in Google and found The Geneva Reformed Seminary in Toronto for Free Presbyterians whose staff trained at Bob Jones University in the US.

Elizabeth’s story of sexual abuse at the Toronto church is heartbreaking. The church refuses to abide by it’s own rules and release relevant documents. Police took her seriously, the church has stonewalled, blamed and shunner her and those who are trying to find justice for her with fellow believers.

There is a Canadian blog that has been following the abuses of Canadian Free Presbyterians for some time now. Geraint Roberts has been interviewed in The Christian Observer, not only about the stonewalling by the Toronto Free Presbyterians on Elizabeth’s case, but also about other abuses in this closed sect. 

Mr. Roberts blog is not about revenge or bitterness, instead he finds himself (like Jeri) the one attacked and made the villain by an organization that will not countenance accountability. He is Free Presbyterian  and deeply concerned for the children who are brought into this denomination by people unaware or turning a blind eye to wrongdoing.

 His blog  The Betrayal of Youth,  documents abuse in Free Presbyterian churches in North America and Ulster. Mr. Roberts is based in Calgary and like Jeri has yet to see the Toronto Free Presbyterian respond appropriately. Asking abusive churches to be accountable is a difficult task.

The Betrayal of Youth is an excellent and compassionate resource blog, and well worth your time to check out.

Update: I’m  watching Twist of Faith - and checked the email during a commercial. I wrote Mr. Roberts to make sure the facts of this post are correct - not for legal reasons but because sexual molestation by those in the church has uniquely devestating effects on victims,  familes, friends and extended relationships. I’ve seen cases where a molester has confessed, and while law enforcement and social services took the victim very seriously, church leadership did not.

Too often they harden, they mock, they rage, ignore or escalate. The ignorance of church leaders can be astonishing for a variety of reasons. In one case I followed over a five year span, they re-instated the abuser a few months after his confession and gave him a church a few miles from his victim. It took a lot of us working together to get a provincial law changed in regards to this case, but the crown changed the law in favour of victims.  No one to this day has been able to help the denominational leadership change. Not policy, not procedures, not attitude. The victim got solid therapy and balanced help, and has gone on to help others. The family does not blame God nor, in that tough time of healing did they lose faith, but it’s probable hell will freeze over before they walk in the door of a church in that denomination again. Sometimes you have to shake the dust off,  walk away, and warn whoever will listen about stiff necked ignorance in some of God’s ‘leaders’. 

I stated in the post Mr. Roberts is Free Presbyterian. He wrote back to let me know he left the denomination a year ago.