Fundamentalism's Good Ol' Boy Network's Chickens Come Home to Roost

Haven't posted anything for quite some time.  We received a call during the first part of April, 2011 from my wife's brother.  He was watching an ABC 20/20 program on sex scandals within Independent Fundamental Baptist churches.  My wife was a long time member of Marquette Manor Baptist Church in Downers Grove, Illinois.  There, on national TV, were people they knew from Marquette Manor who were abusing others sexually.

Chuck Phelps, a fair-haired lad from BJU, a Bob Jones University Board Member, a Board member of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International, (FBFI) and a well-connected, all around fundamentalist big wig, was featured also.  Allegedly, while Phelps was pastoring Trinity Baptist in Concord, NH, a church member had raped a 15 (now he says 16) year-old member and she became pregnant.  Phelps allegedly forced the alleged victim, Tina Anderson, to apologize to the congregation for immorality and being pregnant.  See comment from Chuckles below for more details.

Reportedly, the alleged rapist, Ernest Willis, a church member and successful businessman, was directed to apologize to the congregation for being "unfaithful" to his wife.  Tina also recounted another molestation at Trinity Baptist involving a registered sex offender. Members instructed Tina to forgive the fellow and not report the alleged crime.

Phelps and/or the mother sent the girl to Tri-City Baptist in Colorado to have the baby. This effectively shut down any criminal investigation of the alleged rapes.  Matt Olson, another fair-haired fundamentalist who is now the president of Northland International University, a Baptist Bible school, was the pastor at that church.  Olson allegedly forced the girl to write a letter of apology to the alleged rapist's wife.  

I am reminded of my time at Northside Baptist with Rev. John Stevens, board member emeritus of the FBFI. there were molestations, rapes, and adulteries galore there in the 1990's.  And, the good Rev. Stevens was helping himself and his staff to free stuff like scholarships, credit cards, perks.  The Bob Jones crowd didn't raise an eyebrow.  And, David Gibbs, Jr. and the Christian Legal Association came to defend Stevens.   

It will be interesting to see how the fundamentalists deal with these scandals.  I hope they do a better job of dealing with these things than the Catholics have done but the smart money is betting that they will close ranks and protect their own.  (I edited this post May 10, 2011 to correct some information.  Mark)

 

 

Comments

[Truth Matters]

Actually, Mr. Wills was not a deacon or in any position of leadership. Pastor Phelps reported the incident to law enforcement officials and the Department of Youth and Family Services.

Some of the "other side of the story" can be found at http://www.drchuckphelps.com/ for those who wish to pursue the truth rather than just allegations.

[Chuckles]

Here is the link to the press release from the Concord Police Department the day after the arrest of Ernest Willis for 4 counts of rape of Tina. http://www.onconcord.com/Police/Press%20Releases/05_21_10.pdf The press release from the Concord PD states: "The church reported the incident to DCYF as required but the police investigation was hampered due to the unavailability of the victim. Detectives looking into this incident at that time could not locate the victim."

When Tina was removed from the jurisdiction of the Concord Police Department to Colorado that hampered the investigation. Investigations are not based on rumors. No victim, no evidence, no forensic interview, no investigation can move forward.

Furthermore, chuckphelps.com is full of inconsistencies. Phelps goes to lengths to claim now out Tina was at the consenting age for sex in NH, 16. That was never said before now, that I know of. Phelps then goes to great detail about how he claims to have called the police and DCYF. Phelps states on his website that “Tina accused a man of a crime”. The only crime in play here is rape, whether forcible or statutory. Phelps and his defenders are bending themselves into pretzel's over their claims the assault was "consensual." It is strange to me, that if Tina were of consensual age Phelps would claim he contacted the police and DCYF and say that "Tina accused a man of a crime?" As I see it, If it were consensual, and Tina were of consenting age in NH there would be no reason for Phelps to claim he called the police and DCYF because “Tina accused a man of a crime”. Phelps it appears is trying to have it both ways.
It has only been after the airing of the 20/20 episode (or chuckphelps.com went live that evening) that Phelps started claiming that Tina was 16. Before that he repeatedly said she was 15 but blamed the Concord Police for dropping the ball because he "called" the police and they did nothing. Phelps is not saying that he and Tina's mom "filed multiple reports". That's a physical piece of paper. Phone calls are not "filing reports". So, now that we know he "filed multiple reports" they should be a matter of public record. Phone calls to police can be disputed, actual "reports" can't be.Every situation I've been involved with with the police, or had someone I knew involved HAD to have a report in person. Either a police officer would come to your home, crime scene, or could go to the station and fill out the forms there. Phone calls are *not* filing police reports. As I see it, 20/20 handed Phelps the spade, Phelps is digging his own grave and burying himself too.

[rc helicopter]

Impressive blog! -Arron