Stamford, Connecticut, April 29, 2009--Directors of The United Methodist Church's mission agency, meeting in Stamford, Connecticut, received the final report of a special panel authorized in late 2004 to investigate alleged child abuse by mission personnel over a generation ago in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A three-member "Independent Panel for the Review of Child Abuse in Mission Settings" collected evidence and testimony on 12 cases, of which seven had a finding of fact indicating either sexual or physical abuse involving victims or perpetrators related to the mission agency.

Global Ministries' directors, in a formal action, embraced the final report and pledged to fulfill a group of 17 recommendations made by the panel in response to its findings and to prevent future child abuse in mission settings.

The panel was authorized by the General Board of Global Ministries in October 2004 in response to a report from the Presbyterian Church USA indicating the abuse of a child living in a Methodist-Presbyterian Hostel in Kinshasa. The Presbyterians' report suggested United Methodist children had also been abused by the same alleged perpetrator, who died in 1999, and that the allegations might touch United Methodist personnel.

The United Methodist panel was comprised of Retired Bishop Marshall L. (Jack) Meadors; Edith M. Fresh, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta; and James S. Evinger, a Presbyterian clergyman and author who is on staff at the University of Rochester. Lauri B. Bracey, a civil litigation paralegal in Atlanta, served as panel coordinator or staff person for the panel.

Bishop Bruce Ough of West Ohio, president of Global Ministries, praised the process followed by panel. He said:

The Independent Panel investigation and the powerful testimonies of survivors of abuse is the first step in an ongoing process of healing for both survivors and the whole church. The process has and will continue to strengthen the board's ability to protect the innocent and vindicate the victimized. This was truly a sacred milestone on our journey toward shining the light of Christ in darkness.

In closed sessions, directors heard from several of the persons, now adults, who were victimized. A prayer service of healing was also held following the presentation of the report.

Extensive efforts were made by the panel to locate either missionary children and other children who might have experienced abuse while in the care of Methodist/United Methodist personnel or employees in the DRC (formerly Zaire) in the period from 1945 to 1978 (the United Methodist denomination came into existence in 1968).

Of the seven cases in which charges of abuse were sustained, one involved physical and six sexual abuse. The panel indicated that the alleged abusers were now deceased, with the exception of one person said to have no known continuing affiliation with the denomination.

The independent panel conducted its work in total confidentiality and with no interference from the mission agency. In the process of the investigation, the board created a position, Child Protection and Community Assistance Officer, who, going forward, will receive any reports of child abuse in mission settings. The mandate of the independent panel expired at the end of 2008. The office is staffed by Joanne Reich, who can be addressed online at jreich@gbgm-umc.org or by secure telephone at 212-870-3833.

The allegations that led to the panel's appointment also served as a stimulus for the mission agency to review and strengthen its policies that guard against child or other types of abuse by any of its personnel, including missionaries.

The agency has already addressed many of the issues covered in 17 recommendations offered in the panel report. Status reports on the 17 are given in an introduction signed by Bishop Ough, Global Ministries General Secretary the Rev. Edward W. Paup, and Ms. Reich.

Mission board directors received the panel's final report in executive session (closed to staff and the public), and the full report, from which all names are excluded, was made public and can be read online.

The online document contains the recommendations and the introduction that responds to them.

More about the Office of Child Protection and Community Assistance is online at new.gbgm-umc.org/about/globalministries/childprotection

	See Also... Topic: Children |  GBGM events |  GBGM news |  United Methodist Church |  Geographic Region: United States |  Source: GBGM Press Releases
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Date posted: Apr 29, 2009