The recent conviction of former Prairie Bible Institute attendee Mark Archibald for indecent assault and the lame public defense of Archibald by a former colleague, highlights the tendency of evangelicals to focus on forgiveness at the expense of victims. Calgary Herald:
Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that victims and their supporters are sometimes treated as agents of evil on online forums, where they are berated and bullied for dwelling on the negative. Chin up. Lay off the school. Here again is that same message: Get over it.
The real evil – sexual abuse of children, and how it was dealt with (or not) – appears to be of no major concern in this narrative.
Prairie itself hasn’t been above blaming and shaming victims. Eight years ago, the institute was sued by a former student who was 14 when she was assaulted by another student on campus. When the victim’s mother approached Prairie about the 2002 incident, the school refused to report the incident to police and instead suspended the girl, according to the statement of claim. The assailant was ultimately convicted and the girl was readmitted, but was allegedly barred from attending youth events with other males.
Prairie filed no statement of defence, paying a $20,750 settlement instead.
If a case like that doesn’t raise red flags, I don’t know what does.
Prairie’s leaders are in a tough spot. Maxwell refers to “stories of abuse” in his statement, but in a recent interview on Prairie radio, board chair Bruce Miller said “we want to support those who feel they’ve been abused.” One detects a lingering hesitancy: those who “feel” they’ve been abused.
Was there abuse at Prairie or wasn’t there? If the school truly stands with the abused, its leaders need to send a clear and consistent message to that effect. And they should condemn the blaming and bullying of abuse survivors wherever it occurs, especially when it’s perpetrated by those purporting to defend the school. Doing so would show integrity, and likely go some way in rebuilding broken trust.
Update: PBI Board Chair Bruce Miller on PBI college radio, a repetitive supplement to his pr of February 14/12. He doesn’t answer how tough things are for the board, or humanize what survivors and PBI are going through in the long journey of uncovering abuse, helping abuse survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and putting sound policies in place. If you look at the Calgary Herald piece above, as little as eight years ago (2002) Prairie felt no need to involve police, and punished the rape victim with suspension. What may be tough for the board, is taking real concepts such as transparency, accountability, processes and openness and applying them here and now.
Dan Callaway: “Now Bruce of course last last fall the allegations were brought forward, um to to Prairie, the abuse allegations. Um, how tough was that for the board to deal with?
Bruce Miller: “Well as you can imagine it was came as a surprise first of all and but I think right from the outset our commitment was and is still is that we were committed to being completely open and transparent and we want to support those who feel they have been abused and to help them through their process of recovery and where it is necessary to hold those accountable for what has happened. And as Mark has lead us through that initiative we’ve created some good processes for that. And we now have Dr. Mollering at Centre Street Church who is available for people to come and people are beginning to come forward and connect with her and tell their story and begin to find healing. And we believe God is going to make that happen over the next little while.”
8 years ago Prairie felt it was above the law?
“When the victim’s mother approached Prairie about the 2002 incident, the school refused to report the incident to police and instead suspended the girl, according to the statement of claim.”
The victim is punished twice. First the school decides filing a police report is not their problem, and then suspends the student for being a victim?
How many other cases from Prairie like this one are buried in court records in Alberta?
When did Alberta require that educational institutions involve law enforcement?
Rape is rape, and failure of those who are in loco parentis to involve investigators is unacceptable.
This is the first time I have heard Bruce Miller speak and it was disappointing to say the least. I found his short remarks to be typical “business speak” and lacking empathy.
For the many survivors who are coming forward, it is really disappointing to see the lack of wholehearted support from the chairman of the board. How can he know about the many cases of children being raped, sodomized, and beaten to a pulp and not call it what it is? It is abuse, it is a crime and it needs to be called that. This goes beyond feelings and emotions – this is about physical acts of abuse on innocent children on PBI campus. Part of combating this abuse is having the courage to name it. At some point PBI is going to have to own her history.
A board is a governing body which looks after the whole institution.
I have no idea what Bruce Miller really believes, knows or feels reading his statement, or listening to him speak; by the time the lawyer gets through red pencilling and coaching the chair, any statement is impotent.
PBI already nixed one board member who was to liason and couldn’t make a clear statement about her withdrawal from assignment, why in the world would anyone expect anything publicly transparent and honest from this board?
If you look at other evangelical institutions which have released statements about abuse on site, they all sound the same. They could send out a template of watered down phrases and words to use for pr’s.
It’s a waste of time to ask the board to speak up clearly – they are sending their message to potential donors, alumni, suppliers, incoming students and parents in a patriarchal, governing way. It’s possible the current board knows some abusers, and cognitive dissonance has kicked in big time. Board chair statements aren’t about the reality of what is being dealt with.
Board members are governors first, concerned about politics, image, and the bottom line, not people. While it is the boards and institutions best interest to deal with the past, and get sound policy in place, don’t expect anything coherent with lawyers orchestrating every word and every move.
Mark Maxwell may gloriously put his foot in his mouth just about every time he opens it when discussing abuse on campus, (a reflection of the ignorance that is an isolated bible college environment) but at least he tugged at the legal leash he was expected to wear, the public didn’t fall asleep reading or listening to what he said, and heard much leadership has to learn and how far they have to go.
Don’t expect the board chair to deviate for a nanosecond from the wishy washy legalize the lawyers demand. It’s a waste of your valuable time.
My impression from this article is that PBI would much prefer to pay ‘hush money’- though only when forced into a corner, rather than adress the issue, assist the abused, and put in place measures to prevent future abuse.
The focus, again, is on PBI executive-NOT on the abused or those who will be similiarly abused in the future.
Shameful. I would never consider encouraging any of my family members to consider this institution. Ultimately, propsective students will vote with their feet.
If an abuse survivor and their family are to see any financial compensation, I think they have to sue – it’s necessary for the insurance company etc. I don’t know that any educational institution is able to bypass the court.
I’d like to know what the province of Alberta required from educational institutions in 2002, and I would like to know if rape victims and their families have to go through the courts to receive financial help.
And I would like to know if Prairie or their insurer demands a confidentiality agreement a part of financial compensation.
If I was a parent, I’d be very concerned – in loco parentis carries serious responsibility legally and ethically.
Did Prairie demonstrate what most of us would consider basic care and obligation?
Here is the logical question that I think most parents who are considering a school for their children would ask…
Is this a safe institution institution, are there proper procedures in place to prevent harm coming to my child (abuse, bullying, etc), is the school administration forthright and responsive, and will this school provide a good learning and growing environment for my child?
As a parent of two children, my decision and my answer would be very easy. A resounding NO. How could it be anything else after following recent issues in the press and on this blog. This would be the answer even before we got to any questions relating to faith.
I was there on the Board during 2003-2004, and during these board meetings, the Board did not have adequate information about this issue. I vaguely remembered that Dr Ohlhauser mentioned about a high schooler (a girl?) was involved a staff (or student), that they were found viewing pornography together, and later on, the school was exonerated from any wrong doing, according to Dr. O. The focus was about the school not getting sued, and that was it. We spent very little time at it, and we did not talk about rehabilitation, and care for the victims. It was a small blip in the entire board meeting. So, if you would more information, you will have to access the Board records during 2003-2004. All I can say is that we have no way of reaching out to the victims and the executive committee handled the entire thing, the executive committee is the heart of the board, including the chairman, the President, a few board members. They set the tone and they are probably the ones you see today with Ken Penner and Bruce, and Mark. These folks are deeply aware of the situation and as I said before, the leadership always knows but they do not always act righteously.
I will say here to Bruce, my fellow board member, “Be brave enough to step up to the plate and do something to help the abused victims. Get on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness for the hard hearts of the past Prairie events. This is the least you can do. See the forced abortions, the beatings of so many staff kids, and the protection of continual sexual perpetrators at the Prairie environment. Come clean, and have a real investigation. Dr. Mollering is fine, but she is not a DA type. You need real experience dealing with past abuse, and real money to help our victims.”
Hi Ben:
Keep your former board member hat on for a moment.
Does leadership deliberately keep the board in the dark so there can be plausible deniability?
Is there a board committee which handles criminal concerns?
In 2002, what were the Alberta reporting requirements for PCA and PBI?
Are board members in concert with leadership in regards to willful lack of information?
What is the arrangement with the insurance company? Do victims of crime at Prairie have to sign a non-disclosure?
Bruce Miller’s statements are so lawyer layered, they are dead. Is this common?
Has the board issued statements around abuse or criminal matters in the past, or is the February 14th statement a new experience for PBI?
Are board members so impotent they can’t or don’t ask for information, choosing instead to stick their heads in the sand with the hope the insurance company will make things go away?
She was a 14 year old girl, a victim of a crime, and the board was essentially told she asked for it?
The male involved was convicted for cripes sake, are you saying the board didn’t know?
This puzzles me – a family member serves on a board and a committee. All parties are brought to the table, while concern about finances and legal issues are a reality, what is in the best interests of the people hurting takes a primary place. It’s a ‘secular’ organization and they seem to show more care for others than PBI.
You may remember that way back, several weeks ago at least, this apostate disturbance in the force informed any who read it that PBI, in glorious self-righteousness, would do nothing other than attack, deny and obfuscate.
And so it is.
In 200s3, I was a young inexperienced board member and my role was to protect my alma mater Prairie High School. I was also committed to preserve legacy of the graduate school, in whatever form. I was guided by the hands of Ohlhauser. I was there three times, during the fall of 2003, the graduation of 2004, and one last time 2005 (?), was to visit the school with an interested alumnus to see the fate of my high school. The entire experience is revolting to me, and it took about 5-6 years to get out of the self-loathing mode. Needless to say this has not been a very Christian experience for me. I elected never to give money/time to any religious organizations such as Prairie, and theologically my Old Prairie died within me. I no longer see God in a personal term. He is dead, we killed him with Dr. O’s help.
That being said, I can assure you that most of the board members do nothing on their own, they eschewed anything controversial, and they are coerced to vote as one block. My Chairman was Dr Morrison, an elderly man who was there to support whatever Ohlhauser would do. It was a pack of members with virtually no dissents. So how was the sexual abuse case handled? Nothing was talked about other than the briefing Dr O gave, about a young high schooler involved with a bible schooler (?), initially they were viewing pornography, without sex, at least that was reported to the police. Then something changed, and there was sex. Who knows, we have no way of verifying this information as it was fed to us. All we knew was that we were not getting sued as an institution. None of the details were talked about, no names, we don’t even know what or who or when. I think it was handled by the president and his executive committee, that is why I always assert that Mark knew everything, so is Bruce. But if you heard them in public, they act as if they heard it for the first time. That is a lie, I think the leadership always knew, the board members do not. They are kept in the dark. So everything you asked in my case, is that I am not aware of any of your questions ever remotely was raised during my time. I am not surprise, this is probably how Mark and Bruce handled it. The institutional lawyer Mr. Snyder was probably the one to advise them how to deal with the legal matter. I have no doubt he did it out of his love for the school and perhaps his service is also volunteered as well.
Bottom line, there is no truth in an institution. It is a monster, and is kept alive by those who are unaware of how much damage it does to a person’s soul. Just see what Ohlhauser has done to his own school and the town. How he was eventually chased out of town by the town folks. It damaged those who served it, and unfortunately, physically and sexually to those who fell victim to it.
Hi Ben:
Thank you. Be at peace, your time as a board member has not been wasted.
I don’t understand the pack mentality, nor do I understand the fear of others to speak up, so I thank you for your patient teaching.
You have been a tireless warrior for abuse survivors – having an insider knowledge you are a voice of encouragement, of caution, of love and of knowledge, all of which are needed as PBI abuse survivors go up against a pack mentality, ignorance, and zeal.
Your perspective is important, your heart, priceless.
During the reign of Jon Ohlhauser, things happened all the time that left the rest of Three Hills bewildered. We have just now begun to somewhat trust PBI with what their ultimate goals are. And at a time when progress is being seen, the abuse allegations come forth. It makes it a little much for one to handle quickly and effeciently. But some of the abused have waited far to long to speak and we should be listening to them now. However, it must be hard to figure out what has happened when they are being spoken of by someone else. The abused have gone to someone else to have their voice heard. Legally, they must come forward themselves. The law requires that the victim approach the police, not a third party. It is why no criminal charges have been laid. As for how PBI is handling this, I have no comment as I do not know first-hand what is going on inside the walls of the school and neither does anyone else. Remarks made here seem ludicrous, to say the least. Speculation is a nasty business. I know, personally, of two victims who have gone to PBI with their claims and have received what they were looking for. Maybe more would come forward themselves and find out for themselves what it is they are really going to get instead of ‘others’ (those who have no inside idea) telling them what they are going to get. If everyone just stood on their own two feet (and you can bring Linda with you) and tell PBI what happened, you may find a different outcome than the one you have been led to believe will happen. Just a guess but I bet I’m right.
I’m not with the RCMP, I don’t know how the investigation is going.
Gathering evidence in many cases won’t be possible because of the nature of evidence.
“Legally, they must come forward themselves. The law requires that the victim approach the police, not a third party.”
Yes, the victim in the 2002 sexual assault went to police because Prairie certainly wasn’t amiable or encouraging of that.
As well as not knowing what is being said and done behind closed doors at PBI and Centre Street Church, the RCMP have not made a statement about how many victims have contacted Calgary RCMP.
PBI, Centre Street, FB and blogs are encouraging victims to file with police.
The RCMP will take their report even if there is nothing they can take to the Crown.
I don’t know if you are a victim of abuse Wanda – if you have been, did you contact Calgary RCMP?
Has anyone from PBI come forward to comment on this story or at the very least affirm or deny it?
Given that this is now in the public domain I think that it would be appropriate for PBI to comment. Failure to issue some sort of official statement leads to all sorts of conclusions that may in fact be incorrect.
Has anyone from PBI come forward to comment on this story or at the very least affirm or deny it?
Given that this is now in the public domain I think that it would be appropriate for PBI to comment. Failure to issue some sort of official statement leads to all sorts of conclusions that may in fact be incorrect.
I asked Mark Maxwell for a comment when Fred Whaples sent the letter of intent to the abuse survivors at the We Were…group.
Mark Maxwell said, ““this has nothing to do with Prairie, so PBI has no statement to make.”
Then this suspicious online behavior, and the explanation from Fred Whaples.
It’s in the hands of authorities.
Meantime I am waiting for answers from The Surivivor Fund Project/Healing Team about their funding.
As for the Calgary Herald piece above encouraging PBI to step up regarding alumni behavior:
” If the school truly stands with the abused, its leaders need to send a clear and consistent message to that effect. And they should condemn the blaming and bullying of abuse survivors wherever it occurs, especially when it’s perpetrated by those purporting to defend the school. Doing so would show integrity, and likely go some way in rebuilding broken trust.’
Not a peep.
I was referring specificly to the 2002 rape , subsequent conviction, and PBI’s alleged refusal to refer the matter to police-notwithstanding the subsequent out of court settlement.
Has anyone from the media asked the appropriate Prairie representative if this is an accurate summary of events, why it may have happened, and what, if any changes, were made since this criminal act against a minor to prevent future occurances?
I would like to thank Bene D for understanding, I think we are up against a monster-organization whose aim is always to survive. There is no truth in survival, but if they believe in God, perhaps it is up to them to stand with survivors, and minimize the effects of abuse by doing the right thing, set money aside for the use of survivors, and stop asking them to drink the Koolaid (forgiveness thing), or stuff them with holy scriptural texts. Perhaps those with first hand knowledge of the abusers should speak up and hand the information to the police, and finally but not the least, to set clear boundaries for all so that no further sexual or physical abuses will ever take place again. Ah, Prairie people, do acknowledge the rape of Carmen Wesley, and do not wal away from her, but listen to her and fire whoever that damaged her and her associates. That is a true crime in the process of unfolding. Stand with us, like the Good Samaritans of the past, no matter what religion you have. Thanks.
Bruce, listen up, or the history will wash you out, no exceptions. So it is, Mark, thanks, from a fellow former Board Member who did his time, paid his share and now holds you all accountable.
Bene D:
When I was abused, no one talked about it. Nothing was known about abuse in the homes, except physical and even that was hush, hush. My dad died when I was 13 and that ended the abuse for me. There was no one to ‘tell on’, and nothing to file. My abuser was dead, and I was left to fend for myself. Back then, you had to learn on your own how to deal with what had happened and the ramifications of it. No one could help me because very few in the world knew how. It is so much different now. They have agencies, help lines, police, friends. Now people are talking about it more than ever before. So no, I did not file. There was no reason. But getting help, going through it with someone one on one, talking openly about it to the police, these options are open to survivors. And there are many more. Crowding around a school, making them do your will, in your time frame, these will do nothing personal for the victim. Getting them the individual help they need is the only way they will move forward. IMHO.
Wow. You guys are remarkable.
Roger, you are welcome. I don’t blog to change peoples minds, I blog to give them information to make informed choices, and commit conviction and change up to God.:^)
jfc: The 2002 case is filed in the Calgary courthouse – the male was convicted, so it’s the legal record, and if the Calgary Herald looked at the civil case, I would think these would be agreed on facts.
I understand this isn’t an isolated case, and it would be productive if reporters could ask questions, put what has been hidden into the public sphere and see Prairie came clean, without breaking any publication ban (required in juvenile cases). The goal as I see it, is to insure that PBI/PCA never re-victimize again.
Ben: I don’t believe Prairie will fold anytime soon, even though a lot of small bible colleges have and will; I have to question how successful the future will be if the organization doesn’t acknowledge and clean up it’s past, and make the appropriate policy decisions, not only for the future, but for people who pass through. From what you’ve said, many of the same people are in leadership as in 2002, which makes me wonder if Prairie will carry on ‘business as usual.’
Wanda: Thank you for your openness. I’m sorry for what you went through, and commend you for taking your life back.
While I had the opportunity to get help, and I am as healthy as I can be for what I went through, I will suffer the consequences of my background the rest of my life. That’s not whining, it’s reality.
Like you I encourage people who have been abused to seek help.
I disagree that abuse survivors or anyone else can ‘make’ Prairie do anything.
Sometimes it is not just about what is personally best for a survivor (that takes precedent) but like many survivors (including yourself) those who have been abused are compelled and committed to seeing that no-one goes through what they did. Perceiving abuse, survivors and the institution in absolutes is counter-productive. Seeking healthy change means tackling issues with an institution and doing everything possible (collectively) to work toward collective solutions.
sexual abuse is a smaller storm front, part of a larger weather pattern of physcial, discipline and mental abuse of f—ed up organizations. (yah, i think paranoid survival is a strong attraction to organizations, the need to belong, “us against them”.)
i yet struggle 24/7 against the effects of misguided mindsets of religious fundamentalism, its “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me”, bill got-hard’s ’70s basic youth conflicts crap, ad naseum…. growing up as 1 in the midst of 7 neglected siblings, all fighting and struggling for the attention and love of parents incapable of giving it and rationalizing their guilt of sin with the lcms liturgy=–”i, a poor miserable sinner–try that 52 times a year times ??? from the womb for a healthy mindset, and when that did not work, moving to wesleyan methodist holiness. yuk, yuk, yuk. at 61 years, my current hypotheses is that this constant physical and mental nastiness severely damaged me. (i think i see the damage in my siblings, too.) the worst bullying and resultant damage comes/came at the hands of a very dominant middle sister, 1-1/2 years older, who to this day still bullies me and everyone in her presence. she is always right; she cannot say “i am sorry.” one DOES NOT discuss anything with her; instead you report outcomes. (she graduated from bethany’s missionary training center and owns/operates a christian bookstore.) and the holiness doctrine and its espousers magnified this distortion of reality magnified. (imagine, such desperation to answer the ’70s’ youth unrest so that bill gothard, a guy with no credentials, does not get vetted but, rather, takes the fundamentalists by storm– bethany fellowship required all students and staff to attend his seminar–and they held pbi in high regard, too). no wonder i had no clue about life–and still do not. jesus was my anchor in the midst of storm. anyway….
thanks to this subject and bchungdmd’s sensitive, gutsy and pointed comments (i think of joan didion) i found 2 websites, http://lessfruit.wordpress.com/ and http://www.blogger.com/profile/00196917817175607404 that provided some salve for my burns.
“be ye not unequally yoked together with an unbeliever” is a case in point. when we met, my ex was an unbeliever. but she knew the rules of life and i did not. i, a christian, resorted to cheating, lying and stealing to stay ahead of the curve as the family’s breadwinner; despicable behaviors i could not confess to her; conduct that would have shocked her. she grew up with no such “god will save my sorry sinner’s ass because i am no match for the devil” mindset and learned in her youth how to play the game without cheating the rules. i am still a beginner, but at least i have shed the “god will save me” out.
to this day, pray was/is hit-and-miss gambles. i still daily fall into the trap of confessing my fears and faults and pleading god’s help. but the frequency is slowing. now, when someone says they hear from god, i call them out–curse me or shut up. (jesus and the fig tree.)
my latest defense is “i did the best i could” and accept the rest. having grown into adulthood in such a bad state, i’ve failed at most efforts, and i may yet drown in this cesspool of religious shit, but i did the best i could.
did jesus teach anything else in his parables besides how to treat each other with respect and dignity? did he teach the doctrine of torment in the after life when he told the story of the rich man and lazarus? or was the chasm in the next age just part of the fabric of jewish life that he used set the story in. oops, another unanswered existential question. (another bad habit.)
I’ve also been thinking about religious addiction in regards to the survival mode institutions seems to slide into by default.
This article from 1990 which appeared in Christian Century looks at Church as an addiction, but I think it can apply to para-church organizations.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=751
Because PBI did not hire GRACE, we have no investigators who can look into this case and find out what went horribly wrong. One of the things that must come from this abuse scandal is a clear understanding for the school and the public on how they failed to protect those in their care. Otherwise, we will continue to have other sexual assaults and we have. I am not willing to let one more child suffer the consequences for PBI’s failures to protect them. I am calling on Prairie to bring in the investigative and holding perps accountable missing piece in their 3rd party solution. Without it, we will merely have survivors telling their stories but will miss out on making the necessary changes to ensure that the abuses of the past do not occur again.
If you were a victim of sexual assault at Prairie, please google my name and get in touch with me. We want to help you.
I have to wonder if the recent publicity regarding this issue will negatively impact PBI’s student admission request or their donation income.
People tend to vote with their feet.