On April 25, 2023, Rob Newman informed friends via email(see below) that John would no longer be on the California staff and in the work. He cited “a complaint of inappropriate touching of a minor” as one of the reasons, and mentioned that authorities were aware of this. But which authorities? What does ‘authorities’ entail? Could it refer to an overseer other than Rob?
The email offered an explanation for John’s departure from the California staff, attributing it to a sum of judgment errors, with the single transgression being relatively minor compared to rape or molestation. So minor that it required a report to the authorities? Now, who measures these judgment errors on a scale – the workers? Did the two previous incidents not warrant his removal from the ministry on their own? Until his removal on April 25, 2023, his behavior was apparently permissible BECAUSE HE REMAINED IN THE WORK!
Here are some questions to ponder:
- Does John VanDenBerg’s behavior reflect the testimony of the ministry of Jesus Christ?
- Looking forward, will friends find this behavior acceptable?
- Have any adult victims spoken to the overseers about John’s additional, previously undisclosed transgressions? If they have, what could assist them in stepping forward, shedding light on his behavior, and exposing the misguided attempts to cover it up?
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