The statement from Kevin Harris; Charlie Haddad
At 9.25pm on Thursday evening, Charlie Haddad, pastor of Grace Bible Baptist Church (an IB church) put a statement "by Kevin Harris" up on his facebook wall. You can read Kevin's statement here. It's odd to me that the statement has been released in this way. I would have expected it to be put up on the Illawarra Community Baptist Church website. Or released to the press. Instead, a buddy in the movement puts it on facebook. I get the sense that this is not a statement for Australia, but a statement for the insiders. The IBs. You know, the ones who don't act like a cult at all... My response to Charlie's statement First, I unequivocally condemn any hint of violence against Kevin or anyone else. Such violence would itself be evil, criminal, and reprehensible. That is not how we handle disag... Read more
Yes, there IS a problem
I've just been through a very intense 48 hours since the airing of the 60 Minutes report on my family. The last thing I want to do right now is sit down and analyse the response to this programme, but it needs to be done. Links First, let me give you the links you need to know about. The 60 Minutes programme (Part 1, Part 2) The Files Extra Minutes (more of Kevin, women in the movement, how to help the abused), (access outside Australia: 1, 2, 3) Thanks Second, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hundreds of notes and comments of support for Mum and the family at this time. I'd say 80-85% of the response has been positive and it has been very comforting to know that we're not alone in this. The Australian IB movement Let me be very clear. I am not speaking of the American Indepen... Read more
To the VFBT church family
Scott Wendal was interviewed for the 60 Minutes programme last night. He came out looking fairly good. Unfortunately, his behaviour behind the scenes has been a demonstration of the sort of behaviour that put him and the Independent Baptists in the spotlight in the first place. He wrote an email before the programme aired which can only be described as disturbing. This was distributed to the Valley Forge Baptist Temple leadership (to be distributed throughout the church) You may read the email here: Scott Wendal to VFBT. I wrote a response to him which he declined to pass along to the church [EDIT: I'm told he later read part of the email in a church meeting]. I attempted to limit the audience by emailing the same list he emailed, but unfortunately that list is protected so I am left with... Read more
60 Minutes: “Scripture Doesn’t Say to Ring the Police”
Tonight at 8.45pm Australian EST, 60 Minutes will be telling my mother's story which is really ultimately my family's story. I encourage you to watch it. I was interviewed for the story, but have not yet seen it. I will wait until after the story airs to comment further. 60 Minutes Australia The Files Grace to you. Read more
13 Reasons Why: My take
I appreciate entertainment which achieves the level of art. And 13 Reason Why is art. I just finished watching the show and I'm pretty sure I need therapy. But then that's the point I think. And the reason I'm going against my better judgement in posting about the show here. Should I watch 13 Reasons Why? Of course 13 Reasons Why has been a controversial show. Basically a school girl kills herself, but before she does so, she records 13 tapes explaining why. And naming each person who played a role in the story. It is heavy. It is dark. It is intense. Let me be direct at the get go. I am not recommending this show. Children should not watch this show. If you have an unusually mature older teenager, you might consider letting them watch the show with you. If you're an adult who likes to avo... Read more
