It is good to see media picking up the stories of abuse at Prairie Bible Institute.
The Prairie Bible Institute, the oldest Bible school in the country, is under investigation by the RCMP after a former student came forward claiming she and dozens of other children were abused by staff as far back as the 1950s and as recently as five years ago.
I blogged about PBI abuse survivors coming forward on Facebook a few weeks ago, their petition to PBI, the flack they have gotten from some former students and staff, and the silence of the administration. Now that one or more of the survivors has filed with police, the administration is paying attention. President Mark Maxwell is the grandson of PBI founder LE Maxwell who started the Three Hill Alberta school in 1922.
Maxwell said he plans to address the issue on Monday.
“We’ll find out where (that staffer) is, and we’ll start going down that road,” he said. “It’ll be up to the abuse victim what they want to do.”
Maxwell said he’ll approach police only with the victim’s consent.
“If she wants to go that route, we’ll help her, and the police will find us most co-operative.”
Maxwell released a statement on the Institute website earlier this week.
Prairie informs RCMP of allegations
Recently, there have been presented alleged instances of abuse by individuals connected with Prairie Bible Institute.
To the extent of our information, the incidents in question date back several decades, and the individuals purportedly involved are no longer at Prairie. Nevertheless, we feel it is appropriate to respond and to emphasize our commitment to seeking truth and transparency.
We have taken a file containing many of these allegations to the RCMP, discussed the alleged incidents with them and assured them of our full co-operation should further inquiry be necessary.
At a recent meeting, the Board selected Linda Brinks, one of its members, to be a point of contact for the public.
Should any individual feel that he or she has been the recipient of abusive conduct by a Prairie staff member while enrolled at Prairie and prefer to not take this to the police, that individual can contact Linda Brinks directly at alindabrinks(at)gmail(dot)com. Our board chair, Bruce Miller, will also be so informed and will provide guidance as necessary. The board recognizes the seriousness of any potential allegations and would desire to achieve healing and reconciliation.In partnership with our students, staff, faculty and alumni, our objective is to provide a school environment that is healthy and vibrant, giving life to all who come our way. As we work our way through this difficult issue, my goal as President is to deal with this in an open and accessible manner.
Together with you, seeking truth and restoration,
Mark L. Maxwell
President
Prairie Bible InstituteNovember 15, 2011
About 80 former students and staff kids have spoken to former staff kid Linda Fossen who wrote a book about her time at PBI and her abuse at the hands of her father who was a part time staff member.
As with abuse at any institution, the silence and inaction is about power, isolation, image, intimidation and authority. Maxwell has been President of PBI for about a year and a half and told The Edmonton Journal, “ ”I want to know who’s been injured. I want to know who did it, and help bring that to resolution.” Abuse survivors are asking the Institute to hire G.R.A.C.E, an organization headquartered at Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida which assists churches and para church groups to recognize and respond to abuse survivors.
The Associated Press is picking this up, Canadian Press, The Calgary Herald, Global, CBC and other news outlets. The Herald focuses on the reluctance of PBI to bring G.R.A.C.E. into the picture. Fair enough, if there are Canadian organizations able to do the job (trust is critical) then perhaps survivors can consider their options.
Given 180 news outlets have picked this up since I last blogged, a trained outside group might facilitate training, healing and closure, not only for those who were abused, but also for people working at PBI who were not involved, but who will also be dealing with intense media scrutiny, abuse survivors and ongoing fallout from prior institutional and individual sins.
There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse of a minor in Alberta.
Update: A father under investigation by the RCMP comes out swinging.
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Five years ago, RCMP were notified.
Her name is Carman.
http://tinyurl.com/7mcjjd4
5 years ago the charges were also dismissed.
My wife,Faith, and I are the founders of “Speaking Truth in Love Ministries”. We met Boz Tchividjian, who is the founder of GRACE, last year to discuss our ministries working together to help motivate and train the church to deal with the issue of abuse. Boz is one of Billy Graham’s grandsons, he is a former prosecutor and is currently a law professor at Liberty College. His credentials are perfect for the task of investigating PBI. He would come at the invitation of PBI and would conduct an independent investigation. PBI would have to agree to some ground rules and to implement his recommendations when he is done. The GRACE investigation would be separate from any legal investigation that the authorities would be doing. Boz was asked by New Tribes Missions to investigate abuse that had occurred at one of their boarding schools and he is currently working at ABWE’s request on reports of abuse by one of their members. The more an organization tries to resist getting at the truth the more damage they do to themselves. For more information about stopping abuse go to our web site at http://speakingtruthinlove.org
Dale Ingraham
AEM: Five years ago – are you referring to Carmen Wesley?
Please be very careful when using legal terms – the Wesley family was told by the RCMP there was not enough evidence to lay charges.
That is vastly different than charges being dismissed, they can’t be dismissed is they haven’t been laid.
Ms. Wesley did not immediately report the alleged sexual assault. Investigators have to work with what they’ve got. It is incredibly difficult for 17 year olds to call for help, get to the hospital for evidence collecting and withstand the months of waiting for charges to be laid, then court etc. Rape is about power and any victim has been dramatically stripped of their personhood.
Not enough evidence to lay charges does not mean sexual assaults don’t occur.
There was an investigation five years ago as you note. Now that Ms. Wesley has gone public, something few have the courage to do; there can be steps taken by the school district, and Prairie Bible Institute leadership to ensure that assault victims are fully supported and helped. PBI can also foster an environment of open communication, and make a policy very clear that perpetrators will not be sheltered.
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Houston, we have a problem.
Brother Mark, please come forward now and help and answer the victim’s emails. Why is the school isolate and humiliate the victim(s) and continuing this abuser’s employment? Why? Where is God and why is God strangely silent? Where is Brother Mark?