Jun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022Liked by David Farrier
This is disgusting on so many levels. I really hope Charlotte does the right thing and shares our stories and her report in full.
I attended Arise for 16 years and I'm ashamed to say I once looked up to John. John, if you're reading this, this report isn't defamation, it's the truth of how you've treated others. If you want to see true defamation, look at what your staff wrote about my wife and I in Flocks.
Just wanted to add that I'm really grateful for you David, please keep bringing this to light.
I do feel for Charlotte here, she’s done her job and done what is asked of her and is now being threatened with legal action. I can only imagine what’s going through her head. Seeing all of these reports of abuse and now experiencing it herself. One more victim to add to the list I suppose.
I’m also thinking that charlotte Cummings will be under all sorts of pressure. She has a client that will fold/backtrack and a ‘perp’ with legal resources who is likely to be threatening them both. Charlotte may be regretting taking this on, but perhaps she needs a bit of support… if anyones in a position to do that.
I’m sorry that happened to you - and I’m very surprised you were able to find out what they’d written in Flocks (unless someone quietly shared it with you?)
We requested our data be deleted in Flocks and to share what data they had on us including emails. I encourage everyone to make this request who has attended Arise, though recommend not reading the notes as it makes for horrible reading.
Worth noting it was heavily redacted and I assume they're going through deleting a bunch of notes.
The Arise privacy officer will need a lot of support mentally having to read all of these horrible comments.
That’s awful. I briefly attended a small group there but didn’t want to attend Sundays and the check up text messages dropped off reasonably quickly thankfully. Does make me wonder if they’ve got some data on me then.
Leo Hansen and any other church leader who covers up for Arise leadership - taking the strong “grace” and “restitution” stance doesn’t give a rats about the true victims and is just as guilty as those in leadership and on the board of Dilworth Boys School who covered up sexual exploitation for decades. Interestingly, evangelicals and Pentecostals are often the first to point the finger at Dilworth and the Catholic Church while covering up the sins endemic in their own backyards. It’s vomit material actually - knowing they wouldn’t consider revelations of sexual exploitation in the mainstream denominations as “an attack on the Body of Christ” or “church bashing” or “harmful to the Kingdom of God.” Mainly because they consider themselves a cut above the Anglicans, Presbyterians , Methodists and Catholics. Where has their stance of the 70s gone which was strongly “judgement begins in the house of God?”
It is up to the victims to decide if the Cameron's have genuinely repented, and genuinely seeking forgiveness, not the Board who have been their enablers. Their behaviour so far, in sitting at the front, a place of honour in these churches, says no genuine repentance here. They should read their Bibles, in particular James who excoriated the churches of the time for giving places of honour to the rich, powerful and influential, while ignoring the poor. Or maybe they should read about how Jesus upturned the money changers in the church of the time rather than boasting about how much they get in offerings as a certain Peter Mortlock has done.
Can we take from this that Pathfinding have not pulled any punches, have properly represented the victims stories, and have been forthright in their recommendations for change? It seems that way. All the more reason that it must be made public. I'm also aware of churches who are very interested in the recommendations. The disclosures have been confronting for them and they genuinely do want to change.
I just hope the board grows a backbone, and stands up to the pressure to not release (pressure from, I imagine, people mentioned in the report - namely one JC)
I do really, really hope someone leaks this report if it gets buried.... Sounds like Pathfinder may have done an honest job. Pity that's not what John wanted LOL
The convenience of fighting for the unborn- what a great view. Thanks to Emma and Ps David for getting this here. The response on my insta pals could be stratified according to how close they are to cis male gender/sexuality + the evangelistic stage (combo). The more cis-male and on-stage-holding-microphone we creep, the more insta stories celebrating the elimination of women’s ability to access safe abortions in the States.
Gosh this going to be interesting. What an absolute nightmare.
A good thing to takeaway though is that as untransparent as Arise is- you and, on occasion, the wider NZ media is keeping a level of accountability going and will continue to. They can't completely sweep it under the carpet with people literally watching them doing so. There are hundreds of people out there who have felt empowered to tell their stories and seek justice. They won't be silenced again. There are all of us. At a minimum from this point young people will think twice before joining this kind of institution. At a minimum any future involvement from the Cameron's in the church will be very controlled and regulated (not for good reasons of course, just financial/ reputational ones, but the pressure will exist all the same).
At a minimum this investigation has made an impact to the lives of hundreds of people.
I feel lucky I can do this - I am not sure a mainstream outlet could afford this much time to keep in the micro of something like this. Very glad to be here to capture it in long, meandering diatribes!
I added something, too - didn't catch it in time for the email:
**
There’s another key thing in last night’s media release. It’s subtle and easy to miss:
“The report from Pathfinding will provide key themes and broad recommendations in light of the submissions that were made.”
In other words, the report the Arise board are planning to share publicly (if they ever do) is a reduced version of the review team’s work. Webworm spoke to Charlotte Cummings at the beginning of this process, and she made it clear she only signed up to do this independent review if it could also be made public. Now according to this recent board release, the report will now only “provide key themes and broad recommendations”. This is a huge change.
These guys are just terrible! And sadly all these businesses which offer frameworks to support "transparency and accountability" are equally as bullshit. They don't want to bite the hand that feeds them, so are happy to dilute the output to a few regretful moments glossed over with some snappy action points full of buzz words.
Much to my astonishment I went ''like' to your Fb comment. I try to keep my Fb activity clean and non-abusive but in that case I was pushed too far. It horrifies me how fast the Trumpist/Qanon blight has spread to Aotearoa. It feels like only yesterday I was thinking "hmmm what's this Qanon thing? Better google it."
It almost amuses me that "The Great Awakenings", so prised by religious historians in the US, used to be what they called "Woke" in their own terms. and that "Political Correctness" is so despised by these people one can only assume they are on the side of "Political incorrectness"
Which, just about sums up the whole, sorry, bunch of R souls they have become.
The looming possibility of National getting in next year, which gets more and more likely with every new fuck up by Labour, honestly terrifies me. I'm a disabled woman, who works on a contract from MSD. I'm everything National HATES. The idea that Luxon could be watching America and making notes is horrifying.
...yup. This was predictable. Shut it down, keep it tight, bring them back and shout about how God is redeeming this incredible church and making it stronger and oh while we're at it, how bout everyone throws a couple of hundy in the hat to show God how much we appreciate this mighty move of His hand...
🤢🤢🤢
I wonder what was written in the contract Pathfinders signed with Arise... Be interesting to see just how much Arise is now in breach of it by doing the old lift up the carpet and sweepy-sweep.
Again, David, thank you. Thank you so much for everything that you're doing. Here's another virtual hug for ya!
Great work, David. In the meantime, when you are next in touch with Arise, please suggest that they get someone competent to edit their letters and press releases. Their punctuation is dreadful. I can suggest names of competent copy-editors. For me it undermines the gravitas of their utterances.
For a comparison of Arise’s substantive acts towards its members, I suggest you look at the judgment of the Employment Court in respect of a case brought by several former inhabitants of Gloriavale - children born into the community who were used as child labourers from the age of 7. Six days holiday per year, and they were beaten and starved if they were disobedient.
Sigh. Like the resurrection of JC, these zombies refuse to die - even after they've been beheaded. Assume that a solid messiah complex is part of that. Keep on with your reporting of their outrages and hypocrisies, and we have to keep elevating the words of decent pastors like Dave Barnhart. That's a powerful AF message, even more so because it came from within.
Keep demanding the results of that review David. Don’t let them think for a second that they can get away with sweeping this all under the rug and not doing anything substantive about it.
Agreed. Just the fact they changed the terms of it in a late night press release, so they hoped no one would notice? Pathetic. I sent them this email:
Hi Arise board,
I know you have stopped returning my emails, but I am trying once again. I have CCd in Graeme Kirkwood directly in case that has more success.
I wanted to seek clarity on what is going on with this Pathfinding review, which was meant to be made public tomorrow.
According to your press release late last night:
"The report from Pathfinding will provide key themes and broad recommendations in light of the submissions that were made"
"Broad recommendations" is completely different to what Arise had agreed to - which was full publication of the full findings of the independent Pathfinding review, as your statement on April 27 reflected:
“Following Pathfinding’s process being completed, the findings will be shared with the Board and will also be made publicly available.”
Questions:
1) Why have the terms of this report changed so dramatically?
2) Why is this report delayed?
3) Is John Cameron exerting legal pressure on the Arise board over the publication of any findings?
4) Is any other person's exerting legal pressure on the Arise board over the publication of any findings?
5) What do you have to say to the hundreds of victims who trusted you once again, before you completely betrayed that trust, and changed the entire terms of the review in a late night press release?
My deadline is 5pm today.
Best
**
And they replied:
Hi David,
In regards to your questions, we kindly refer you to the statement released by the Arise Board yesterday.
This is disgusting on so many levels. I really hope Charlotte does the right thing and shares our stories and her report in full.
I attended Arise for 16 years and I'm ashamed to say I once looked up to John. John, if you're reading this, this report isn't defamation, it's the truth of how you've treated others. If you want to see true defamation, look at what your staff wrote about my wife and I in Flocks.
Just wanted to add that I'm really grateful for you David, please keep bringing this to light.
Thanks, Sam. Victims deserve to be heard - they came forward in good faith. This church fucked them once, and it's attempting to do it again.
It's horrific.
Even if the board is scared of legal action (I imagine from John) they should grow a backbone and actually start CARING for people.
Totally agree!
I do feel for Charlotte here, she’s done her job and done what is asked of her and is now being threatened with legal action. I can only imagine what’s going through her head. Seeing all of these reports of abuse and now experiencing it herself. One more victim to add to the list I suppose.
I’m also thinking that charlotte Cummings will be under all sorts of pressure. She has a client that will fold/backtrack and a ‘perp’ with legal resources who is likely to be threatening them both. Charlotte may be regretting taking this on, but perhaps she needs a bit of support… if anyones in a position to do that.
Agreed, the delay and suppression certainly doesn't appear to be from her side.
I’m sorry that happened to you - and I’m very surprised you were able to find out what they’d written in Flocks (unless someone quietly shared it with you?)
We requested our data be deleted in Flocks and to share what data they had on us including emails. I encourage everyone to make this request who has attended Arise, though recommend not reading the notes as it makes for horrible reading.
Worth noting it was heavily redacted and I assume they're going through deleting a bunch of notes.
The Arise privacy officer will need a lot of support mentally having to read all of these horrible comments.
That’s awful. I briefly attended a small group there but didn’t want to attend Sundays and the check up text messages dropped off reasonably quickly thankfully. Does make me wonder if they’ve got some data on me then.
I would say they'll have some form of data on you as leaders get hassled for it. If anything it'll be your phone number and what you've attended.
"suck shit"
Another great t-shirt idea
Heh - Deranged Bitch is on the way. This could be another offensive shirt for next year!
Leo Hansen and any other church leader who covers up for Arise leadership - taking the strong “grace” and “restitution” stance doesn’t give a rats about the true victims and is just as guilty as those in leadership and on the board of Dilworth Boys School who covered up sexual exploitation for decades. Interestingly, evangelicals and Pentecostals are often the first to point the finger at Dilworth and the Catholic Church while covering up the sins endemic in their own backyards. It’s vomit material actually - knowing they wouldn’t consider revelations of sexual exploitation in the mainstream denominations as “an attack on the Body of Christ” or “church bashing” or “harmful to the Kingdom of God.” Mainly because they consider themselves a cut above the Anglicans, Presbyterians , Methodists and Catholics. Where has their stance of the 70s gone which was strongly “judgement begins in the house of God?”
"Vomit material" is accurate.
It is up to the victims to decide if the Cameron's have genuinely repented, and genuinely seeking forgiveness, not the Board who have been their enablers. Their behaviour so far, in sitting at the front, a place of honour in these churches, says no genuine repentance here. They should read their Bibles, in particular James who excoriated the churches of the time for giving places of honour to the rich, powerful and influential, while ignoring the poor. Or maybe they should read about how Jesus upturned the money changers in the church of the time rather than boasting about how much they get in offerings as a certain Peter Mortlock has done.
Can we take from this that Pathfinding have not pulled any punches, have properly represented the victims stories, and have been forthright in their recommendations for change? It seems that way. All the more reason that it must be made public. I'm also aware of churches who are very interested in the recommendations. The disclosures have been confronting for them and they genuinely do want to change.
I just hope the board grows a backbone, and stands up to the pressure to not release (pressure from, I imagine, people mentioned in the report - namely one JC)
I do really, really hope someone leaks this report if it gets buried.... Sounds like Pathfinder may have done an honest job. Pity that's not what John wanted LOL
The convenience of fighting for the unborn- what a great view. Thanks to Emma and Ps David for getting this here. The response on my insta pals could be stratified according to how close they are to cis male gender/sexuality + the evangelistic stage (combo). The more cis-male and on-stage-holding-microphone we creep, the more insta stories celebrating the elimination of women’s ability to access safe abortions in the States.
Gosh this going to be interesting. What an absolute nightmare.
A good thing to takeaway though is that as untransparent as Arise is- you and, on occasion, the wider NZ media is keeping a level of accountability going and will continue to. They can't completely sweep it under the carpet with people literally watching them doing so. There are hundreds of people out there who have felt empowered to tell their stories and seek justice. They won't be silenced again. There are all of us. At a minimum from this point young people will think twice before joining this kind of institution. At a minimum any future involvement from the Cameron's in the church will be very controlled and regulated (not for good reasons of course, just financial/ reputational ones, but the pressure will exist all the same).
At a minimum this investigation has made an impact to the lives of hundreds of people.
Those are amazing baselines to keep building from
I feel lucky I can do this - I am not sure a mainstream outlet could afford this much time to keep in the micro of something like this. Very glad to be here to capture it in long, meandering diatribes!
I added something, too - didn't catch it in time for the email:
**
There’s another key thing in last night’s media release. It’s subtle and easy to miss:
“The report from Pathfinding will provide key themes and broad recommendations in light of the submissions that were made.”
In other words, the report the Arise board are planning to share publicly (if they ever do) is a reduced version of the review team’s work. Webworm spoke to Charlotte Cummings at the beginning of this process, and she made it clear she only signed up to do this independent review if it could also be made public. Now according to this recent board release, the report will now only “provide key themes and broad recommendations”. This is a huge change.
**
This is COOKED and utterly dishonest.
Oh ffs!
These guys are just terrible! And sadly all these businesses which offer frameworks to support "transparency and accountability" are equally as bullshit. They don't want to bite the hand that feeds them, so are happy to dilute the output to a few regretful moments glossed over with some snappy action points full of buzz words.
Spew
Ugh no surprise though really is it?
Much to my astonishment I went ''like' to your Fb comment. I try to keep my Fb activity clean and non-abusive but in that case I was pushed too far. It horrifies me how fast the Trumpist/Qanon blight has spread to Aotearoa. It feels like only yesterday I was thinking "hmmm what's this Qanon thing? Better google it."
"Ono, ono, some things remain the same
Some people never change, ono"
King's X
https://narcissistfamilyfiles.com/2018/09/10/enabling-the-narcissist-how-and-why-it-happens/
That David Barnhart quote is on the money
It almost amuses me that "The Great Awakenings", so prised by religious historians in the US, used to be what they called "Woke" in their own terms. and that "Political Correctness" is so despised by these people one can only assume they are on the side of "Political incorrectness"
Which, just about sums up the whole, sorry, bunch of R souls they have become.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening
Great work as always David!
The looming possibility of National getting in next year, which gets more and more likely with every new fuck up by Labour, honestly terrifies me. I'm a disabled woman, who works on a contract from MSD. I'm everything National HATES. The idea that Luxon could be watching America and making notes is horrifying.
Thinking of you, Charlotte. Luxon's ideas about so many things are so gross and outdated. I don't want NZ to step back in time like America has.
*exhales long and slow through gritted teeth*
...yup. This was predictable. Shut it down, keep it tight, bring them back and shout about how God is redeeming this incredible church and making it stronger and oh while we're at it, how bout everyone throws a couple of hundy in the hat to show God how much we appreciate this mighty move of His hand...
🤢🤢🤢
I wonder what was written in the contract Pathfinders signed with Arise... Be interesting to see just how much Arise is now in breach of it by doing the old lift up the carpet and sweepy-sweep.
Again, David, thank you. Thank you so much for everything that you're doing. Here's another virtual hug for ya!
The agreement was for full publication.
They're going back on all that. The board are cowards.
Great work, David. In the meantime, when you are next in touch with Arise, please suggest that they get someone competent to edit their letters and press releases. Their punctuation is dreadful. I can suggest names of competent copy-editors. For me it undermines the gravitas of their utterances.
For a comparison of Arise’s substantive acts towards its members, I suggest you look at the judgment of the Employment Court in respect of a case brought by several former inhabitants of Gloriavale - children born into the community who were used as child labourers from the age of 7. Six days holiday per year, and they were beaten and starved if they were disobedient.
The judgment is here: https://www.employmentcourt.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2022-NZEmpC-77-Courage-Ors-v-Attorney-General-Ors.1.pdf
It reads like a dystopian novel. It’s the first judgment I would call a page-turner. Highly recommended.
Look forward to a harrowing judgement. Thanks, Anne.
Sigh. Like the resurrection of JC, these zombies refuse to die - even after they've been beheaded. Assume that a solid messiah complex is part of that. Keep on with your reporting of their outrages and hypocrisies, and we have to keep elevating the words of decent pastors like Dave Barnhart. That's a powerful AF message, even more so because it came from within.
Keeping on it - the victim's deserve to be heard.
Keep demanding the results of that review David. Don’t let them think for a second that they can get away with sweeping this all under the rug and not doing anything substantive about it.
Agreed. Just the fact they changed the terms of it in a late night press release, so they hoped no one would notice? Pathetic. I sent them this email:
Hi Arise board,
I know you have stopped returning my emails, but I am trying once again. I have CCd in Graeme Kirkwood directly in case that has more success.
I wanted to seek clarity on what is going on with this Pathfinding review, which was meant to be made public tomorrow.
According to your press release late last night:
"The report from Pathfinding will provide key themes and broad recommendations in light of the submissions that were made"
"Broad recommendations" is completely different to what Arise had agreed to - which was full publication of the full findings of the independent Pathfinding review, as your statement on April 27 reflected:
“Following Pathfinding’s process being completed, the findings will be shared with the Board and will also be made publicly available.”
Questions:
1) Why have the terms of this report changed so dramatically?
2) Why is this report delayed?
3) Is John Cameron exerting legal pressure on the Arise board over the publication of any findings?
4) Is any other person's exerting legal pressure on the Arise board over the publication of any findings?
5) What do you have to say to the hundreds of victims who trusted you once again, before you completely betrayed that trust, and changed the entire terms of the review in a late night press release?
My deadline is 5pm today.
Best
**
And they replied:
Hi David,
In regards to your questions, we kindly refer you to the statement released by the Arise Board yesterday.
- The Arise Board
What a joke reply. The depravity runs deep.