Quote:
Originally Posted by RambleOn
Thank you again for your courage in being so open about this. Based on the responses, it is clear that many LCers agree with you, but so many of us who come from that world are unwilling or unable to risk losing friends, family, livelihoods, and even personal identity, to say nothing of the kingdom reward, so this really is an invaluable service..
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I agree. Few have had the wherewithal to openly challenge leadership practices which allowed so many to be hurt. In spite of decades of egregious abuses and unresolved systemic issues only a few have broken the silence: Jane Anderson, Don Rutledge, Steve Isitt, John Ingalls, John So, perhaps a half-dozen others.
I think particularly of Steve Isitt, who had no intention of separation from the only thing that had been his home for years. One day in a meeting, Brother Lee mentioned those who had left, that they should be found and their stories heard (I think the talk was on 'reconciliation').
Steve took the word on face value, went out and found those who had left, and got their stories. (This was before the internet, and LSM effectively owned the only printing press in town).
When he brought his findings to the responsible brothers, dutifully following the LC hierarchy, no one wanted to touch them. Surprise, surprise. He was told to drop it, and when he kept speaking the stories and what they represented he was marginalised and then expelled. (And he's sought reconciliation with them ever since, to his credit.)
All of this is to say that I agree with the quote above, that when folks step forward and speak up, it's an invaluable service. High-demand, tightly-controlled goups thrive in silence.