Washington Post Investigates Sovereign Grace Ministries

http://thewartburgwatch.com/2011/08/18/the-washington-post-investigates-sovereign-grace-ministries/

The Washington Post Investigates Sovereign Grace Ministries

Thu, Aug 18 2011

By dee

 

“Every time a newspaper dies, even a bad one, the country moves a little closer to authoritarianism." Richard Kluger

The London Eye

Michelle Boorstein

The Washington Post

202-334-4451 (direct line).

Once again, TWW must apologize to the people who have asked us to write about the aversion to clinical psychology in today's post-evangelical church. Lord willing, we will start the series tomorrow.
TWW has received communication from several sources alerting us that the Washington Post is investigating the happenings at SGM. If the number of hits at TWW are any indication, such a story would receive widespread interest..

Kris, over at SGM Survivor's posted the following comment yesterday LINK:

"I received a request yesterday from a reporter at the Washington Post. She is interested in talking with those who are willing to go on the record, under their real names, and speak about their experiences with Sovereign Grace Ministries. This reporter and I have exchanged several emails, and we’ve come up with the following arrangement: if you would be willing to be interviewed, please email me, and I will forward your message on to her."

TWW decided to check with the Washington Post to verify if, indeed, a reporter has been assigned to this story. Dee called the Post and was able to speak with Michelle Boorstein who is covering this developing situation.

Ms. Boorstein is particularly interested in how SGM handled the reported cases of sexual abuse. However, due to the serious nature of these claims, she needs to have people who are willing to go on record with their identities. Apparently, SGM is denying any wrongdoing.

So, this is the moment for courageous people to stand up for the truthfulness of their claims. Such a stance may be instrumental in preventing further tragedies of the kind that have been described on this blog and several others. Such stories of abuse are surfacing for other ministries. Lessons need to be learned and, unfortunately, many churches do not "do the right thing" until outsiders look in. Some might say that the media can be an instrument of God's reproof.

This blog is named in honor of the castle that concealed Martin Luther from the clutches of a murderous Pope. Luther freely used the newly invented Gutenberg Press to publish his dissent from the Roman Catholic Church. Was that a Matthew 18 solution? Yet it spawned a reformation that changed the face of the world. Maybe Matthew 18 doesn't always apply?

We know that it is very difficult to go on the record. It took us a full year before we were willing to divulge our identities on this blog. Many people, who have fled the SGM system, still bear the scars and pain of their experience. We want all of you to know that you are no longer "accountable" to heavy handed leaders. The worst they can do is hurt your feelings. And, for most of you, your feelings could not be hurt any more than they have been already.
Here is Boorstein's contact information. She gave us permission to post this.

Michelle Boorstein

The Washington Post

202-334-4451 (direct line).

Ms Boorstein is a professional and she knows how to handle these difficult stories. She is already aware of the basic elements of this story. The two of us encourage you to share your experiences. If you have questions, we are available by email and phone which can be found in our contact information.

Finally, the leaders at SGM have never shied away from putting their faces in the public eye. They have called to the world to "Look at us" by their books, interviews and conferences. Well, they got what they asked for. People looked. The only problem is this. The watching world may not like what it sees and no amount of fussing by frustrated leaders can change this. The system needs to change.