We support the Victims of Tom Chantry & ARBCA

My wife and I would like like to provide clarification on what we support about this petition. We wholeheartedly support the victims of Tom Chantry. That was the primary reason we signed it. The second reason we signed was to call those who are guilty of lying and covering up for Tom Chantry, of not reporting violations of law when this horrendous abuse occured and providing no tangible support for the victims, to repentance. Third, we signed it to voice our rejection of the ARBCA 2019 Statement which took no real responsibility and showed no true repentance. That being said, some of the language in this petition is inadequate and too broad. In our zeal to support the abused, we called some to repentance who were not directly or indirectly involved in the wickedness perpetrated against the victims of Tom Chantry. For that, we humbly ask and seek forgiveness.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. ALL those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

My wife and I maintain our support for the victims of Tom Chantry's abusive behavior. To those that are included in the petition by name or by implication that have nothing to do with the Chantry affair, we ask your forgiveness for calling you to repentance for sin you have not committed. We were in error. For those that were, in fact, involved in the failure to report the abuse, who put Chantry in positions of authority within schools and the church, who gave him your pulpit, who withheld information from other churches about Chantry's offenses, and any person in church leadership that deceived or misled the church's elders or congregation, I pray God would be willing to bring justice - and that right soon. Pete and Lori Smith

We had also signed this petition to support the victims of Tom Chantry agreeing that those who concealed the truth of his crimes for these many years, should repent seeking forgiveness from the victims. Our intent was not to cause this hurt from the broad statement. We ask forgiveness of those that our signing of this document has hurt. May God heal your hurt and especially heal the victims and their families. Kevin and Becky Ryan

I, Jim McGannon, and my wife Mandy are very sorry for signing this petition without a more careful review of the wording. While we do support the victims and continue to call to repentance all who were involved in covering up Tom Chantry’s sins, we realize that the petition was very broad in calling out much more than just those who were directly involved. Every member of an association is not guilty of covering up a sin just because they are part of the association. It was sinful to imply that all the members of ARBCA and its delegates should repent. We can be angry when we see violence against children and those who covered it up, but it is sinful for this petition to call out all members of ARBCA churches and their delegates who had nothing to do with these sins. We ask forgiveness of those whom we have sinned against and we pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Please remove my name from this petition. While My intention is to support the victims hurt by Tom Chantry and seek justice for those who failed to report the crimes, the accusations written here are too broad and may include individuals who are not at fault in anyway; therefore I am removing my signature.

Since signing this petition, we have read it again, and reflected more upon some of the wording in it. We would like to express our sincere regret that, in our desire to support the victims of Tom Chantry, innocent people working within ARBCA churches and the association to make necessary changes have been deeply hurt by signing this document. This was never our intent, and we ask their forgiveness. We will continue to pray for their efforts. We will also continue to stand firm in our support of Tom Chantry’s victims. Dave & Kay Walden

I, too, would like to express my sincere sorrow to the victims for what they have and continue to go through. I am praying for you and your families. I am heartbroken for you and am praying for your healing. It is Chantry and those responsible for the coverup and those who enabled him who must repent and seek forgiveness from those whom they’ve harmed. I apologize to the innocent directly or indirectly accused of sin in this letter. I beg your forgiveness.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. Those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. Those who remain in ARBCA are guilty of "participating in the sins of others" and are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. Those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” unless they are in the active pursuit of church discipline as a body, and they are not. The same men remain in power and the pulpit – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. The petition also calls for their voluntary removal or removal by church discipline. This is NOT being done and the same men remain in "control" and in "office". The Apostle said, "remove the wicked man from among you!". Twenty years in unrepentant deceit and lies is biblical qualified for immediate excommunication. Those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

Nancy can you explain what you mean by "those in ARBCA who have been working hard on the inside to make changes." ?

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. Those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

The leaders in ARBCA that have covered up Tom Chantry’s savage abuse and sexual molestation of innocent victims have been in willful, unrepentant sin for almost 20 years – this is the reason the petition calls for their repentance and salvation. There are no "innocent people" who remain in ARBCA according to biblical standards. Those who remain in ARBCA are trying to “fellowship with darkness” – these men who covered up Chantry’s crimes remain as “pastors” even though they are disqualified; they remain as leaders in ARBCA and they are criminals. “Light has NO FELLOWSHIP with darkness”. To remain in ARBCA where repentance is not taking place – those men being removed from office and position immediately – is to remain in sin.

I remove my signature from this petition. I acted before considering the ramifications to many involved. May truth be revealed and God be glorified

I must concur with those who have stated clarification in what their signature is in support of. This document is broad in its statements and It was not my intent to wound the faithful brethren who are innocent and striving to reform the organization for God’s Glory. For this error, I ask for forgiveness. I support the victims and I pray for their comfort and healing. I also pray for the repentance of all who are culpable of hiding the sins of this man, scattering the sheep and wounding the name of Christ throughout this situation. Again, please forgive my initial inaction to clarify my support and thus not showing grace to those in ARBCA churches who are truly seeking The Lord in all things. “Let us then in confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. “ Hebrews 4:16 ESV

It appears my reply to my original comment does not show up. Please note that I share my wife’s sorrow for harming those brothers and sisters in the faith that are affected by the overly broad application of guilt and a need for repentance to all those still in ARBCA made in the petition. My signature was not meant to condemn all those in ARBCA. I pray for those attempting to reform the church AND association from the inside and for the members who are faithfully serving their local church. I stand by the victims in this case and still call to repentance those who were directly involved in covering sin, hindering progress, manipulating their members, and furthering the sins of this man. I ask for forgiveness for making broad statements myself without this clarification. I should have been more specific in my remarks. May God be merciful. Continuing to pray. -Josh Rusev

I signed this petition last week and I would like to make a clarification. I do not condemn those in ARBCA who have been working hard on the inside to make changes. They are to be commended and prayed for. Thank you for doing your best to correct the heinous sins that were committed in the past. I do condemn those who sinfully and willfully held back vital information and protected Tom Chantry. Those men need to repent and apologize to each of Tom's victims. I support the victim's 110% and continue to pray for them. May God heal the hearts of those who have been affected by the wicked sins of this organization. Nancy Bradt

My comment did not show up with my name so I am reposting it with my signature: May 16, 2019 I regret that innocent people within ARBCA churches as well as delegates to the GA working to bring about change and transparency have been hurt by the wording of this petition and ask their forgiveness for implying by my signature that I believed they needed to repent and be saved. Only those responsible for this injustice are in need of repentance, and I would like to make it clear that I do not believe there should be a blanket condemnation of all ARBCA church members or delegates. Chiara Rusev