Some background

[calv (calv)]

Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/23/88
The notorious Community Chapel & Bible Training Center, a sect based in Burien, Wash. near suburban Seattle, not only mentally abused children with doctrines of demonology and stunted education in their backward and repressive classrooms, but involved children in sexual abuse, according to reporter Mary Rothchild. The Center, besieged by civil suites by ex-members claiming abuse, including women charging sexual exploitation, recently deposed it founder Rev. Donald Lee Barnett on charges of promiscuous adultery.

In 1986, after followers complained, Child Protective Services met with Burien officials, spelling out guidelines, for example, that the church policy condoning French kissing of children was unacceptable. Three counselors were convicted of failing to report child sexual abuse in 1987.

[steve26 (steve26)]

To give credit where credit is due, one of the moderators of the other Chapel board (which is called "Community Chapel Gathering") has done quite a bit of work in gathering materials that relate to the Chapel's teaching and history. The main menu for Community Chapel Gathering is at http://kenady.150m.com/chapel/CCGMenu.htm. Three of the more useful items in learning about the Chapel are a simple time line of chapel history (http://home.comcast.net/%7Edtkenady/cctimeline.htm), a collection of news articles about the Chapel (http://kenady.150m.com/chapel/media/ChapelNewsArt.htm), and a collection of court documents relating to connections and the Chapel's end (http://kenady.150m.com/chapel/court.htm).

[calv (calv)]

These stories are not the benchmark of the pain and suffering we went thru. How many stories are there of divorce and abuse ?. Pain is pain...what about those who have not been acknowlaged... where are they now? Is the past a secret noone would ever understand?

[fallingup (fallingup)]

Actually there are tons of stories of divoce and abuse. Yes, it does seem like the past is a secret none would ever understand, even if they wanted to. I have seen much of the posted history and background, in fact I have a huge pile of yellowed original manuscripts (news articles, letters to the congregation from Don, letters from the elders, ect...) but I had never before seen the article Calv just posted.
This question is asked out of the deepest respect: I've been looking back at all your posts, hundreds of them... Do you feel like discussing these things is kind of comsuming?
I don't mean that disrespectfuly at all, because I myself feel rather comsumed by it and find myself talking about it and thinking about A LOT. I even set aside a day (which truly is Holocaust Memorial Day) where I allow myself to remember everything, to go back to the old site even, to wonder it quietly, and to grieve.

[calv (calv)]

Yes it can be consuming! But its also healing. Before this thread started I met people on other threads that were/are going thru the same thing we did. Talking to them on and off line has helped in my recovery.
Sure everything isnt always pretty.... but its part of the proccess. Kinda like throwing up! Get the junk out of the system first. Funny how I can see myself in others. It helps me see where I was , where I am, and where Im going. Its good to have others to bounce stuff off of.
The stories Id like to hear are not the old ones, its the new ones. What happened, what it was like and what its like now. We can learn from each other!?!?

[fallingup (fallingup)]

Ok, I'll buy that answer. I just remember being told but some that I shouldn't talk about it so much or think about it so much. Like I really have that much control over I feel about it...

[calv (calv)]

Ya we all love being told how to feel and what to think!
It all makes people uncomfortable... why is that?
What can they do? They wish it could all just go away...
and we feel crazy... like whats wrong with me?

[movinon (movinon)]

As far as revealing my past...I'm careful with whom I share these things. Yet, when it comes down to it, I can't deny or erase 10+ years of my life. So, most just look at you like you are stark-raving mad, while others will put on an outward show of understanding, then turn around and avoid you like the plague. Then there are those rare people who truly understand, BUT.....it is only because they have been through a similar circumstance. I have found some very dear christian friends in my current location that I value very much. Our talks and sharing have been a balm to my soul, and have probably done more to aid in my continued healing than all the self-help books and wild charismaniac teachings that exist out there.

I guess after the chapel, I could sum up my feelings about things by saying that I love and trust the LORD as much as ever, if not more, but it's all these whackos running around claiming to speak for Him and represent Him that I take issue with. Overall, I think they do more harm to the Body of Christ than out and out persecution and hatred.

The healing continues, but that is pretty typical for any person who truly attempts to be a viable, growing, and learning individual. I am just thankful to be alive, to be loved by someone very special, to be healthy, and to be seeing things outside of all the delusional perspective that once fogged my vision.

mo

[calv (calv)]

mo

for many annonimity is important. What we went thru is a very private grief. Yet it is important to share the experiance with tose who still struggle. There are those too who claim to be "over it" but I really question that. Thier actions are still very damaging. Its because of that danger I suggest that one keeps thier Id a secret if they dont have a good outside support system in place that funtions well. Even at that its still a good idea because of the old predjdus
that still lingers. It also allows one to speak their true feelings without fear of judgement. We are in a prossess of uncovering a very wounded past. I think the more we look the more we will see what it did to us. I dont think thats a bad thing. Yes we may become obcesed for a time...

[movinon (movinon)]

I'm with you, Calv. It all depends on where you are at in the process...the person you are talking to....etc., etc., etc. I really don't talk much about my past with people in my current professional setting. It just wouldn't be appropriate. It is a situation by situation and person by person kind of thing...

mo