Bethel Covenant Community

Interim Operations Review Group, Bethel Community Response

Hello everyone. The Interim Operations Review Group (IORG) has been set up by Bethel Community (Bethel) to try and navigate a way forward for all members since the resignations of Messrs Horgan and Carr and, more recently, Dudley from all leadership positions and directorships.

We are not mouthpieces of Mssrs Horgan, Carr or Dudley. We take no direction from them. The IORG is an independent interim group and has no connection or direction from the previous leadership.

The members of the IORG share the moral outrage of others who have been contributing to this blog and of fellow members of Bethel who have spoken to us. We abhor and condemn the alleged misconduct which has occurred as being totally unacceptable for any Christian or, for that matter, in the wider community. We acknowledge that a lot of people have experienced—and continue to experience—pain as a result of their experiences with the Bethel Community and its past leadership.

A lot has been said on this blog and the IORG would like to join the conversation. But with the understanding that while for legal reasons we need to be careful about what we write, we will still endeavour to be as open and frank as possible. We do not wish to potentially prejudice other investigations by any comments which might appear on this blog.

We wish to clarify for participants that this blog was not set up by Bethel. The IORG is unaware of who set it up, or who is running it. However, we hope that people who use it find it to be of value as part of the healing process.

It is not the intent of the IORG to debate issues on this blog, or to convince someone about a point of view—rather it is to provide information for others to take or leave as they wish.

Further posts should be added by the IORG as more information comes to light. We hope to provide more information about what is happening within Bethel as a response to recent events, and about some external groups that the Community has been interacting with to help deal with these matters.

ACTION—COUNELLING AND SUPPORT

Since details of the unacceptable behaviour first became known to us in mid March 2008, the IORG has acted as quickly as possible.

We have taken a number of measures to support those who may have suffered, including:

• Consulted with a psychiatrist to get recommendations on suitably qualified, independent counselors to provide help to members and ex members of Bethel who have suffered.
• Arranged for Christobel Charmarette, a clinical psychologist on the Anglican Professional Standards Committee with extensive experience in these sorts of issues, to address women members of Bethel.
• Made available to members and ex members of Bethel counseling support and services at no charge. Bethel will cover the cost of counseling sessions (i.e., pay the difference, or gap between any medical insurance refund and the fees) for members or ex members. Ms Charmarette can be contacted on Tel: 9335 9411. An alternate contact is, Mr. John Manners (Tel: 9474 1711), a clinical psychologist with experience in the area of sexual boundaries in religious groups. The privacy of anybody requiring counseling under this arrangement will be protected. No personal information from any counseling session will be provided to Bethel.
• IORG has also been cooperating with Police and actively providing information. If you wish to report any information related to these alleged matters you are urged to call the WA Police Sexual Assault Squad, Detective Nat Bennison on Tel: 9223 3425 and quote Reference Number: 270308 1500 11133.
• Alternatively, contact the Sexual Assault Resource Centre—this is a free 24/7 emergency service. Crisis line: 9340 1828, counseling line—9340 1899.

OTHER ACTION

The events within Bethel which have come to light have sparked a series of actions, including the Interim Operations Review Group being set up. The goal of the IORG has been to provide structure and transparency to facilitate dealing with immediate issues, interim operations and the required changes within Bethel. We are committed to doing the right thing by the victims of alleged misconduct, whether they be current or former members of Bethel. We are taking professional external advice to help us do that.

The IORG has been working towards putting in place a new governance structure for Bethel Community, including establishing a Misconduct Grievances Committee with both men and women as members.

We have sought legal advice and advice from corporate governance experts on this, as well as on restructuring the Constitution of Bethel—including looking at the establishment of a Board, separate from the Pastoral team. In fact we are reviewing most of the aspects of what Bethel does and does not do, in terms of mission, approach and activities.

A properly qualified independent accountancy group has also been engaged to audit BethelŐs financial records and reporting procedures.

THE IORG—WHO WE ARE

When the incidents involving some at Bethel came to light in mid March 2008 and after Messrs Horgan and Carr had resigned, the Interim Operations Review Group was formed. The initial members of the IORG were:

• Rob Crothers (Chair)
• Claire Gourlay
• Greg Diamond
• Tony Walsh

The IORG has subsequently asked Kathryn Probert to join and she has accepted.

Following suggestions at a recent meeting of the adult members of Bethel, the IORG will consider at its next meeting adding a further two people in order to give a broader representation of members.

As you would be aware, identities can easily be forged on the internet. This information is presented here simply to add authenticity to posts on this blog from IORG. These people can be easily contacted should you wish to verify this. Alternatively, please send an email to ioc@live.co.uk with a contact number and one of these members will contact you simply to verify these details.

A SNAPSHOT OF HOW RECENT EVENTS UNFOLDED

As part of our endeavour to be transparent, this post presents the following snapshot of recent events. Responses to these events may form the part of a future blog. As we have previously stated, the IORG need to be mindful of what is written for legal reasons.

Please note that these events are not presented in chronological order. Rather, in the order in which they became known to members of the IORG. Although some knowledge may have existed previously, their significance only became apparent with other information coming to light.

Events during February / March / April 2008 period

• A married couple within Bethel informed Peter Dudley of alleged misconduct
• Peter Dudley confronted Kevin Horgan and Frank Carr on the alleged misconduct.
• Frank Carr, Peter Dudley and married couple met.
• Kevin Horgan, Frank Carr and Peter Dudley met again.
• Married couple met with Bishop Sproxton.
• Peter Dudley met with Bishop Sproxton and the Bishop requested a meeting with Kevin Horgan and Frank Carr.
• Kevin Horgan, Sue Horgan, Frank Carr and Fr Chris Ross met with Bishop Sproxton. Peter Dudley was invited to the meeting by the Bishop. New leaders appointed eight days previously, Tony Walsh and Greg Diamond, were not invited despite protests.
• Bishop Sproxton requested Kevin Horgan to stand down. It was suggested an Open Forum be held at the next meeting of the adult members of Bethel.
• First leader’s meeting with Tony Walsh, Greg Diamond, Frank Carr and Peter Dudley all attending was held. Frank Carr advised of a second allegation of misconduct.
• Leaders agreed that Kevin Horgan stand down.
• Open Forum held at a meeting of adult members of Bethel.
• Further allegations of misconduct came to light in the day of the Open Forum.
• Kevin Horgan and Sue Horgan resigned from all aspects of Bethel.
• Frank Carr resigned as a leader and director of Bethel.
• Special meeting held of Pastoral advisors.
• Special meeting held of the adult members of Bethel to present interim structure and review od Bethel by IORG.
• Information provided that up to 8 current members and up to 8 former members have been the victims of alleged misconduct.
• Interim Operations Review Group begins meeting.
• Counseling information provided to Bethel members.
• Contact information for WA Police provided to Bethel members.
• Further investigation revealed that issues of this nature were raised previously .
• Peter Dudley resigned as a leader and director of Bethel.
• Full disclosure of events presented at a meeting of the adult members of Bethel.

NEXT STEPS

The IORG will continue to progress the matters as outlined above.

A fundamental objective is to continue to be totally transparent with the members of Bethel—the truth needs to be completely out in the open for all to see if we are to promote healing and true reconciliation within Bethel.

The IORG will also continue to actively provide whatever information is required in order for those who have been involved in these totally unacceptable behaviours to be dealt with fully—under the law and within the normally acceptable moral standards of the Christian community, whatever form those just consequences might take with the individuals involved.

home