VBM's PRIVATE Investigation

8/24 – The So-Called “External, Independent Investigation”

INTERNAL Investigation for ALL Accusations save ONE. “Independent, external” for 1.

“Hello Missionaries,

The directors also wanted me to pass on the following information regarding a statement released by a group of missionaries or interns formerly associated with Austin Gardner in a private Facebook group in which they claimed to have observed and called out a repeated pattern of “spiritual abuse”.

Pastor Trent Cornwell has informed us that he has put together a special committee of current and former deacons of Vision Baptist Church to receive these accusations related to Austin Gardner, a member of their church, and deal with them as a local church.

We would like to ask you to pray for Pastor Trent Cornwell, Vision Baptist Church, and everyone involved.

God bless,

Travis Snode (on behalf of the Directors of VBM)”

– Internal Email

Notice:

1. “Spiritual Abuse” is mocked at VBM, and seems to be mocked here.
2. The investigation is entirely internal, and thus open to bias. Preserving the church’s reputation was mentioned to me several times in conversation with them because ‘he is no longer the pastor.’
3. They are not qualified to do this type of investigation.
4. Requiring victims to report abuse to the very people who overlooked it the first time, does not encourage an open sharing of information.

Independent Investigation?

What determines a truly ‘independent’ investigation?

The important factors, according to Boz Tchividijan, are that those being investigated:

• Don’t control the Investigator

  • “We authorized…” – VBM Statement

• Don’t Control the Process

  • limiting the scope to abuse of her as a child “several decades ago” – VBM Statement
  • “investigation of these accusations” – VBM Statement

• Don’t Control the Findings

  • “We will release an official statement regarding its findings…” – VBM Statement
  • Email accounts are internally controlled. support@visionemail.org & abuse@visionemail.org  – Unless something has changed, Mark Tolson (director) runs these email domains, allowing them to see all evidence as it comes in and prepare defenses for it.

• Don’t Control the Final Report

  • “We will release an official statement regarding its findings…” – VBM Statement
  • The email said, we will let you know what we find.

As he states, “The independence of an investigation is not defined by the words or assurances of the institution being investigated. It is defined by a structure that requires the institution to get out of the driver’s seat and give up control. This can be a profound step forward for an organization who is genuinely focused on demonstrating love and repentance to those who have been hurt.”

Boz Tchividijan