Some brilliant comments and analysis from a wide range of people.

I note there are also some new articles on the Latigo site, which you can reach at latigo214.info. Note this does not work if you add “http:” or “www.” however, you have to put latigo214.info by itself into the address bar.

I was particularly intrigued by the article on the New Year Word preached in January 2024.

The article quotes the sermon as including:

Quote
Diana's New Year Sermon
And I get the feeling that some of you have been terribly tormented by the devil.
Tormented by the fact you didn't stand up for yourself by the fact you feel the years are wasted.

So, so many things to say about this.

First, “I have a feeling that…” Eh? Why does no-one in the Bible ever say that? What does this mean? Is it a revelation from God, a deduction based on psychological insight into the human condition or some sort of intuition that anyone can develop? This is not saying, “I have a feeling you are upset with me or some sort of emotional insight, it is a feeling that people have been tormented by the devil! What do I need to do to become a person who can have these “feelings”? Is there a development programme available? It is clearly unrelated to anything in the Bible, so where do we find this unusual ability to “feel” what the devil is doing to people, and why did no-one in the Bible (or any other Christian literature) ever claim this ability?

Second, “that you have been tormented by the devil”. Leaving aside the use of the past tense (why the past tense - is this torment over? Why preach about it then? Is this just a psychological trick to make you think even turning up at a Struthers meeting has stopped you doing this?) this is a very weird way of thinking about things. The quote goes on to talk about the things people may have done wrong. We will go into the detail of some of these things later, but let’s just think about this for a moment. People have apparently done things wrong, and it is not their conscience that is convicting them, nor is it God convicting them, it is the devil tormenting them. So, if you do things wrong, you do not expect to feel these wrong things are on your conscience, not should you feel that God is speaking to you about them. Either of these two would be a reasonable and normal expectation and would indeed fit with a number of Bible passages. Either would also normally lead to some sort of repentance or aspiration to do things better in future.

That is not how Struthers folks are meant to interpret things when they have done something wrong though, they are not meant to think about the thing they have done wrong, have a conscience about these things or believe God is speaking to them about these things, they are instead meant to believe the devil is the one convicting them of sin - tormenting them about what they have done wrong. Why would the devil do that - convict of sin and draw attention to things they have done wrong? By tormenting people about things they have done wrong, the people would be likely to regret their actions and less likely to do them again in future. Why would the devil want that outcome? Would the devil not just want you to forget the thing you have done wrong, so that you kept on doing similar things? As well as being unbiblical, this makes no sense at all.

Third, there is then the suggestion that what you are tormented by is “the fact you didn’t stand up for yourself”. Wow, that is a big one in a Struthers context - almost every sermon tells people they absolutely should not stand up for themselves, that standing up to the leaders is the worst of all sins and is the reason God is not sending revival. Note also that it is a “fact” that they “did not stand up for themselves”. It is not an opinion or a feeling this time, it is a fact. The problem is not that fact itself however - the problem is that the devil is now tormenting them about the thing they did. I am not sure I can even get my head around that. If they did something wrong (not stand up for themselves) should we not be examining what went wrong so that so that they are more able to get it right next time? Should they not be convicted of sin if they did something wrong? And is the torment coming from the devil or from the fact that you did nothing to stand up for yourself? This whole thing is just word salad. It is illogical, nonsensical and unrelated to any wisdom human or divine.

(By the way, I have read over my comments and find them hard to follow, but that is simply because the original text is so confused. If anyone can better explain what Diana meant here, please feel free!)

Even stranger is the bizarre abdication of responsibility by the leaders, and by the preacher, who is the overall leader the movement.

Let’s just think this through. Something was happening that was clearly wrong, as people were meant to stand up to it. Why would you be standing up for something if it was not wrong?

But where were the leaders in this? Things were happening that were wrong. The congregation are being told they should have stood up to these things. But these things were happening under the eyes of the leaders. What role did they have?

This is like a supervisor bullying their staff, and the Chief Executive saying, “you are all terrible staff - you should have stood up to that bullying”. Really? It is not the fault of the bully, nor is it the fault of the senior managers for not doing something about it, there is no role at all for the Chief Executive to do something about it? Is that was the Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police said when there were reports of racism and bullying? “Not my problem, it is these terrible staff who are not standing up to it: I am not going to do anything about it, but I will tell them to stop tormenting themselves and see if that helps”. That is what is being said here.

Is that the role of the (past or present) leadership of SMC, to stand back and ignore things that go wrong, then to blame the poor members of the congregation for not standing up for themselves? (And then after that telling them not to think about it, so they cannot learn to do any better.)

Sorry folks, I think I am rambling here, but I really cannot find any other response, this is just so far from any Biblical truth or human wisdom. It has no basis at all in reality and is 100% gaslighting.

Leaders - get a grip. You cannot possible start from the position that no blame can be attributed to you so your job is to work out who else it was that was to blame. That is not leadership, it is dishonest, narcissistic bullying.

We are not finished yet though as, fourth, the people are then told that are, “tormented by the fact you feel the years are wasted.” Apart from anything else, this is another hotch-potch of words: “tormented by the fact you feel…”? What does that mean? It seems that whoever the “you’s” are, their feelings are a fact and it is this fact of having feelings they are being tormented about? Eh? I have no idea what this might mean.

Leaving that aside, is seems that the “fact” is the people “feel” the years have been wasted. Er, might that not be worth exploring at all? Would it not be good to know whether they years have been wasted to not? Either way, would it not be good to know why “some of you” feel that way? If the years have indeed been wasted, that would clearly explain why people feel that way. If that is the case, it would be kinda good to know how that could happen in this organisation that claims a special presence of and guidance from God.

If the years have not been wasted, then why do some people feel that way? Are they mistaken? In that cases. should someone not be expelling why the years were not wasted? None of this is really telling us anything at all, it is all just once again somehow trying to make the congregation feel it is all their fault and the only thing they can do is obey the exalted leaders.

I also wonder how Diana even knows how people feel - had God told her how they feel, has there been some sort of survey that helps understand the views of the congregation or is this just apocryphal, based on second or third hand comments from one or two people? Does the “some” mean two or three, or the vast majority of the congregation? If you are a member of the congregation, were you asked about this? We have no idea whew the information came from and how many are affected, but this too is just psychological manipulation, trying to get others in the congregation to think, “thank goodness it is not me that is getting a row."

Much of this also directly relates to the more general Struthers obsession with ignoring the issue and shooting the messenger.


I was not happy with what you said in the sermon.
- you have a spirit of criticism that needs to be dealt with.

What happened here was wrong
- You are conducting a vendetta against the church.

I think we should try to help there people on the forum
- you are losing your focus on God.

I am struggling with the way I am ignored
- you need to sort yourself out with God.

I have a complaint about the church
- you have “seeds of bitterness”.

I am being tormented by the fact that I feel years have been wasted
- you need to forget about it.


In every case the problem is redirected to be about “you”, the person bringing the problem. There is never an underlying issue to be examined or resolved, it is always the fault of the person raising the issue. Never, ever, “OK, let’s look into that issue” or “oh, I wonder if I (the leader) may have done something wrong, or could have done something better. How can I learn from this and do better next time?”


Finally, we have to remember this is not just a bit if advice that is being given, this is preaching from the pulpit. In many churches (including Struthers to some extent) announcements are either before or after that actual service, the reason being that we should not mix the sacred and the mundane - the service is focussed on God, not details of what is on next week. But what we are looking at here is part of a sermon. A sermon carries a solemn responsibility to preach the word of God. Is there anyone reading this who believes that Diana’s words quoted about discharged that responsibility to faithfully preach the word? It is not even based on the Word.

The original motto of Glasgow was, “let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word”. That was what the City Fathers believed - that the faithful preaching of the Word would lead to the city and the people in it flourishing. How far we have fallen. No wonder Struthers is not flourishing.

Reply to Anonymousfornow:

Andrew Jewell made a public announcement of his departure himself at the end of the most recent Glasgow monthly Saturday night meeting on Sept 14th.


Reply to Pheobe2

You wording is very appropriate!

“I thought he had been identified by the Powers that Be as an eventual successor to Mrs Gault!”

He was indeed. Not only did we all understand that had been said by both Miss Taylor and Mr Black, but all the signs were that Mrs Gault herself was in favour of that outcome.

But now it appears these people should more accurately be referred to as “The Powers that Were”

The “Power(s) that NOW be” – well it seems she has taken a different view.



Which does prompt an interesting further question.

Let us assume a lot of the tiny Struthers branches might well cease once the present local leadership steps down.

And let us assume the new leader is content with her own church appointment, her sergeant appointed for Newmains, her pals in Neath and with her close friend newly being put in charge of Glasgow.

That leaves 2 significant appointments for the new overall Struthers leader in change still to announce. So after the present leaders step down:

Who has she now decided will be the leader in Greenock?

And which of her trusted lieutenants has she decided she will put in as the new leader in Falkirk?

Interesting reads this pass few weeks.


But to change the subject for a minute .I brought this up with a few others.

I was thinking of arranging a larger meet up with x members from Struthers so we can all give each other more support Show your not alone and meet some old friends for a catch-up .All welcome.

Would anyone else like to come .If yes I was thinking the end of November beginning of December. Place to be confirmed nearer time.
Who's interested? No pressure as I know some don't really wish there true identity be knowing. Myself I really don't care who knows who I am. So my pm are open to those who wants more details .But would love you all to be there.

Some really excellent analysis and comments of late.

Petitor said this:

"Finally, we have to remember this is not just a bit if advice that is being given, this is preaching from the pulpit. In many churches (including Struthers to some extent) announcements are either before or after that actual service, the reason being that we should not mix the sacred and the mundane - the service is focussed on God, not details of what is on next week. But what we are looking at here is part of a sermon. A sermon carries a solemn responsibility to preach the word of God. Is there anyone reading this who believes that Diana’s words quoted about discharged that responsibility to faithfully preach the word? It is not even based on the Word".

Regardless of one's theological views, this is really important. Many, through various reasons, may be led to believe that what is said from the pulpit is "true" or "gospel". It's therefore potentially very influential. Also, when you're sitting in a meeting with a group of your peers listening to one person speaking, it can be very highly emotionally charged, particularly if you're invested in the person that's speaking.

It's absolutely critical that no matter WHO you are listening to, you challenge and you 'safety-check' what is being said.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I am no fan or defender of Hugh Black but you would have to concede he was a skilled orator and I can understand fully why so many were misled by his ideas. What I can't wrap my head round is the utter mediocrity of the current lot: why anyone would want to listen to them is beyond me.

Hi
referring to blackwatch

‘ can't wrap my head round is the utter mediocrity of the current lot: why anyone would want to listen to them is beyond me.’

But blackwatch don’t you understand that they are the anointed ones. The ones who have utterly laid down their lives for the sheep and in doing so have entered the inner sanctuary and hear directly from God. They have knowledge that you and I and the rest of the sheep don’t have. God has given them the secrets to your soul and to mine so that they can lead you and I into the inner place as well. They even set themselves apart from the majority of other Christian groups to ensure we are not contaminated, especially from any Bible training because that will suck the spiritual life right out of you. No, let them interpret what the word says through this special revelation and lead the sheep into the light!
Also repeating what the petitor said
‘also wonder how Diana even knows how people feel - had God told her how they feel’
I mean does Diana and the others not have full orb ministries, discernment, word of knowledge, teaching, the ability to see and cast out Demons, gift of healings, and multiple revelations of the Godhead. They know exactly how you feel and they have the authority direct from God himself to reveal it to you.
If I told this forum what one of their anointed ones told me I had in me(some of you know) you would see how utterly correct they are —- NOT!!
Actually the complete opposite!
Well enough of the sarcasm….sorry for not being gracious enough.

Phoebe 2 mentioned Gnosticism:
Gnosticism, in layman's terms, was a religious movement in Christianity. It held that the path to escape the suffering of the earthly realm lay through the acquisition of secret, divine knowledge.

I agree with Phoebe 2 in this… their believes are mixed with this as well as mysticism (the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender)
And this is why people follow every word, either because they want this so called power as well….as Diana did from Miss Taylor or they need their support and guidance just to follow Jesus, so they too can experience the glory of God that evidently continually falls in the meetings.

Just to clarify -- even though I disagree with SMC's stance on so many fronts, I wouldn't want to misrepresent them (and I realise some of you may be Googling "Gnosticism" and wondering just what I'm wittering on about!) -- in speaking of SMC's "gnostic" tendencies, I'm not in any way accusing them of gnostic heresies such as a denial of the true humanity of Christ or other basic Christian doctrines (as I've said before their public Statement of Faith is fundamentally orthodox). What I'm referring to is the implicit suggestion in so much of what they preach that (i) the physical aspects of life are inferior to the spiritual; (ii) a select group has special insight (esoteric knowledge). These are both attributes of Gnosticism in its essence. SMC has what Robin Arnaud defines as "a shrouded form of renegade Gnosticism".
By the way the whole article from which I'm quoting is worth reading and I think reflects very accurately the experience of many in this forum -- I know that as I read I thought "I could almost have written this myself"! For those who are interested, you should be able to access it by just typing "Reaching those still trapped by charismatic chaos" into your browser. It's uncomfortable reading and you may not be in agreement on every point.

Re Phoebe 2
Just to clarify -- even though I disagree with SMC's stance on so many fronts, I wouldn't want to misrepresent them (and I realise some of you may be Googling "Gnosticism" and wondering just what I'm wittering on about!) -- in speaking of SMC's "gnostic" tendencies, I'm not in any way accusing them of gnostic heresies such as a denial of the true humanity of Christ or other basic Christian doctrines (as I've said before their public Statement of Faith is fundamentally orthodox). What I'm referring to is the implicit suggestion in so much of what they preach that (i) the physical aspects of life are inferior to the spiritual; (ii) a select group has special insight (esoteric knowledge). These are both attributes of Gnosticism in its essence. SMC has what Robin Arnaud defines as "a shrouded form of renegade Gnosticism’

I didn’t put heresies for a reason in the interpretation… I’ve thought that they had ‘Gnosticism’ mixed up in their practises but not the heretical kind re the person of Christ.(I won’t go into what gnostics believe here because it’s not relevant)
And I didn’t think you thought that either….because I thought you made it perfectly clear in your statement.
So unclear what you thought I believed you were stating?
Didn’t google the statements in a ‘vacuum’ either. Simply took the simplest interpretation which didn’t include any heresies e.g held that the path to escape the suffering of the earthly realm lay through the acquisition of secret, divine knowledge. That was the focus in my post as it was in yours? No?
I looked into Gnosticism years ago because like yourself and many others in the forum I have listened to and have read many of the modern reformed pastors (some of which you have quoted) including their present understanding of the charismatic movement particularly NAR. Like struthers these charismatic churches have the same underlying problems and prevalent spiritual abuse. So it’s a well discussed topic and concern for Pastors in America in particular because it is making its way into reformed churches. Lots of great discussions between well known charismatic leaders/pastors and those that come from a reformed background. In addition you have the ‘American Gospel’ and ‘Cessationist’ movie and conferences. We might not agree with everything they say but you do get great questions and answers.
Sorry if you thought I misinterpreted you Phoebe 2.
My post was supposed to be ‘tongue in cheek’ again apologise to anyone else if it was taken seriously :)

No, Amazing Grace -- I didn't think at all that you had misinterpreted me but I thought others might have done! Anyone like yourself who has been helped and informed by men like Sinclair Ferguson and the late R.C Sproul must be very much on the same wavelength as myself! I think in fact your journey has been very much like mine. Blessings!

As I said away back I had put a complaints into SMC now I have finally been given a Answe to it .
So First here is the complaint I put in then there A


Date 21 May 2024
To: The Chair of the Board of Directors of Struthers Memorial Church

I would like this complaint to be considered immediately at the highest level within the charity.
I have read the Complaints Procedure. I believe Stage 1 does not apply since my problem started
from a one-to-one conversation with a pastor who then used that situation to exploit my trust in her,
and to conspire with Hugh Black to blame and victim shame me. Talking directly to that pastor would
be traumatic and I have no confidence in that route.
Nor do I think Stage 2 is appropriate. That would require me to write to the pastor concerned
directly. Given that I feel my concerns and needs were not addressed by her but she coerced me
into covering them up, I do not think it is reasonable to expect me to risk that again.
As it is feature of “natural justice” that someone other than the person the complaint is about hears a
complaint, I would ask that this is considered immediately and urgently by the Chair of the Board of
Directors of the Struthers Memorial Churches. In spite of the fact that your Complaint Policy
document online indicates that is Mrs Grace Gault, I do not believe that to be correct since she is no
longer a director. Please confirm who the Chair of the Board of Directors who handles complaints
actually is.
My complaint is this:
I regularly attended the Falkirk Church in the early 1980s while a pupil at Victoria School then
Graeme High School. At the time I was in the church I was a very unhappy child who lived in a very
mentally and physically abusive family home. My hope as a young teenager from this background
was that, in attending the church, I was going somewhere that was going to protect me and help
me. But instead, even after I had become a Christian and regularly attended the Falkirk church,
Greenock Saturday night services and camps to learn about God I was further abused and made
terrified by being repeatedly told I was in sin and possessed by demons. This resulted in me being
preached at and prayed over in a negative and harsh way which made me feel more vulnerable.
This went on from when I was nine years old to my late teens.
I frequently spoke to Jennifer Jack about the abuse in my home life. I now understand the church
leadership had a legal and moral duty to help me, and specifically to help me find appropriate
support from the proper authorities outside the church. For example they could have contacted, and
made sure I received help from, social work or my school. In spite of the fact that I told them about
the abuse in my family life, they never took these or any other steps to help me.
I was never comfortable with this lack of support, but did not at the time fully understand what the
church did and did not do, and the reasons it had such a huge impact on me. I now however
realise that, rather than offering me support, the leaders played on my weakness and brainwashed
me to believing the abuse I was encountering in my home life was my fault and was deserved
because I allowed myself to be possessed by demons.
I finally left the church because of the horrific experiences during one of worst times in my life. This
haunted my life for another 15 years after I left. I was raped at the age 14/15 by a member of the
Falkirk church who was a couple years older than me. This would be in 1981/82. I told no one but
Jennifer Jack and Hugh Black. After my initial talk with Jennifer Jack I hoped I would get sympathy
and help. But once she had spoken to Hugh Black they both seemed to agree to blame me for what
had happened to me and I was soon to be told it was my fault yet again. They both claimed it was
my fault because they said they had told all the young people many times never to be alone with a
member of the opposite sex. They informed me it was not a rape but they had decided it was
consensual. Since I had put myself “In the path of the devil” by doing this the fact that something
had happened was my fault and, yet again in my life, I was made to feel blame.
It was explained to me by both leaders that since “I invited Satan in” I had to be ministered to for
several weeks. So for five weeks I had to travel to the meetings in Greenock and be taken into the
vestry for prayer to be delivered from the demons I had opened myself up to. I was made to believe
it was all my own fault and that I deserved everything that happened.
I now believe that was a lie and I did not deserve to be raped.
What made things even worse is that they told me not to talk about it to anyone else. I foolishly and
stupidly complied with this instruction and never did. I now feel that was the worst possible advice.
They did not inform the youth leader in the Falkirk church who they know I trusted and looked up to.
Nor did they inform my parents and their advice prevented me from telling them myself. Their
instruction not to tell anyone also prevented me from speaking to the police and they took it upon
themselves to agree not to inform the police. I think this was wrong and did not help me as the
victim in any way.
To make things even worse in the middle of all this trauma, blame and self-doubt they had created
within me they then made it clear that they expected me to come to meetings each week with this
person who had attacked me attending the same meetings. This was too much to bear. I then left
the church and broke contact with everyone there, though I now realise some people there could
have been helpful and supportive if I had been able and allowed to confide in them.
It would have been very difficult for me to go against these instructions from the leaders , as the
consistent message was that the leaders knew best and to disobey them was to disobey God.
My mental health was at an all time low and I considered ending my life. I then went on at 18 years
of age to marry into what became a very sexually, mentally and physically abusive relationship. I
was poorly equipped to handle this because I still thought for another 15 years I deserved
everything that happened to me - because the two leaders from Struthers Memorial Church I had
confided in told me this. Now in my eyes they are as bad as my ex-husband. They harmed me and
damaged me, and set me up for failure.
After I left the abusive relationship through the help of friends and after counselling I met the man I
am married to now who has helped me realise I wasn't to blame for want other people did to me and
helped to me to rebuild my life and become the stronger person I am today.
After 40 years I decided I needed to tell those I had left behind the truth about what had happened
to me. I recently contacted some people from the old days and read the posts on the Forum. I am
telling people about my experience and it seems from what I read that the practice in the church has
not got better but has got worse. I don't want any other child or adult to go through what I
experienced. I want to know this has stopped and can never happen again.
Why I'm speaking about this experience now is for my granddaughter who just about to start High
School. She asked her mum while she was visiting me if it was okay for her to go to a youth meeting
at church with her friend. Alarm bells went off in my head and painful memories came up. I told my
daughter not to let her go then had to talk to her about why I was so against it. I was sexually
abused, mentally abused and emotionally abused in a place that is meant to be a place of God and
a place of safety. I feel that what happened to me is still being covered up by Struthers Memorial
Church.
I'm asking you to acknowledge what was done wrongly and give me written assurance you know
and agree about what should have been done and what would be done now in the same
circumstances. I believe what your organisation did to me in my circumstances as I have described them here was
wrong, a betrayal of my trust in the Falkirk church leader and Hugh Black and your actions deeply
harmed me. I believe what was done to me was wrong. Do the Directors agree?
Unfortunately from reading about other peoples experiences on the Forum I am afraid that nothing
has changed. Please answer the following questions to assure me abuse like I experienced is being
taken seriously by the Directors of Struthers Memorial Church.
1What are the range of actions the Charity Board can take to censure or discipline a church
leader?
2Does the Charity Board regard what Jennifer Jack did in regard to me in relation to this
complaint was wrong and damaging to me?
3Which of the range of actions available is to be taken to address the harm done by Jennifer
Jack in this case?
4Will these actions ensure that she fully understands the seriousness of what she has done,
the rules she has broken and the damage she has caused to my life?
5Would someone reporting a rape accusation in 2024 to someone in Struthers automatically
result in the police being informed?
6In the view of the Charity Board should Jennifer Jack and Hugh Black in 1981/2 have
informed the police of my being raped?
7Are Struthers church leaders still praying over kids and telling them they are possessed by
demons? Is this ever now done in a public setting? Is this ever now done in a private setting?
8 Does the Charity Board think Jennifer Jack was correct to tell me at 14/15 years old, and
without informing my parents, that I has allowed myself to become demon possessed and then
place me on a regime of church punishments to deal with that solely based on her personal and
unprovable belief that that was true? Is that acceptable conduct in Struthers Memorial Church? Is it
allowed in the safeguarding guidelines? Where exactly in them?
9Would the church allow a young person like my grand-daughter to attend if it was against the
wishes of the parents? Is there an age at which the church would allow someone to attend against
the wishes of their parents?
10Do those running this charity and leading the church own up to mistakes and learn from
feedback and complaints such as this or is that just words in a Safeguarding Policy for show? How
will the Charity Board convince me that things are safe for children like my granddaughter?
11 What is the plan to help the people posting on the online Forum and bring closure and hope
to those who are still in suffering and in pain because they feel let down and betrayed by their
Struthers Church leaders? Are the Charity Board even concerned at all about

here is there replay back sorry it has took me so long to post this but at the moment I have ongoing health issues and I have had to take rime to think what I was going to do
First response email

Thank you for your patience while we organised for an independent organisation to investigate your complaint. 

Thirty-One: Eight is an independent national charity that works across the UK to equip faith groups, individuals and government with the right skills and knowledge to protect vulnerable people. They have agreed to look into your complaint on our behalf and will be in touch with you soon to arrange to speak with you.

You may be aware that we usually seek to respond to complaints within 28 days. Where that is not possible because, for example, the investigation has not been completed we commit to keeping you up to date. The negotiations to have the investigation into your complaint done externally have taken time, but I hope this in itself provides some reassurance and that this update is helpful. Thirty-One: Eight will speak to you about the time they feel is needed to complete their work.

Following completion of the investigation Thirty- One: Eight will provide a report and recommendations to us and we will then be back in touch with you.

Some of the questions you have listed in your letter are things that we can respond to just now and that do not need to be part of the investigation. Thirty-One: Eight have suggested responding to them now which may be helpful for you rather than waiting for all your points to be answered once their work is completed.

The questions are:
Questions 1. What are the range of actions the Charity Board can take to censure or discipline a church leader?
Struthers Memorial Church has a code of conduct for ministers, staff, volunteers and members, which outlines the values we expect to be demonstrated in their conduct. It is supplemented by our safeguarding policy which has specific guidance on working with children and vulnerable adults. If there is concern about conduct, an investigation would take place and this may result in disciplinary action being taken. A range of measures may result, including a verbal or written warning, suspension and permanent or temporary removal from position. It may also include appropriate developmental matters such as training.  
Question 5. Would someone reporting a rape accusation in 2024 to someone in Struthers automatically result in the police being informed?
Any crime, particularly a serious crime of this nature, would be reported to the police.

Question 9. Would the church allow a young person like my grand-daughter to attend if it was against the wishes of the parents? Is there an age at which the church would allow someone to attend against the wishes of their parents?
Churches are open establishments and free to enter. We would not therefore stop, for example, a 14-year-old from joining a service. However, we are clear that parental consent for involvement in any activities is required for all those under the age of 16 years. 

We hope that this is helpful and that the independence of the investigative process is reassuring to you. If you have queries in the meantime, please let us know.

Best Wishes

Diana Rutherford

Diana RutherfordChair of Board of Directors Minister of Struthers Pentecostal Church, CumbernauldE: d.rutherford@struthers-church.org



second email and you will see all my questions have not been answered still and you will understand how I now feel let down by them again

Re Complaint

As you are aware following your complaint of May 2024 we commissioned an
independent agency, ThirtyOne:Eight, to look into the matters you raised. This was
to ensure that your concerns were properly considered as they relate to individuals in
positions of authority in Struthers Memorial Church.

We are aware that the investigation has taken some time and want to thank you for
your cooperation and patience with the process. We are pleased to let you know that
we have now received the final report and have considered their conclusions and
recommendations. I am writing now to let you know the outcome.

We asked ThirtyOne:Eight to consider the personal circumstances you raised from
when you attended the church in 1980s, the context and environment at the time,
and also to provide us with their views on our current safeguarding processes to
inform our learning. Given the time lapse between the incident and circumstances
you describe and the present day, ThirtyOne:Eight note that they base their
conclusions on the information available. They also note the very different societal
and cultural context in the 1980s from those in place in the present day.

I summarise the conclusions and outcome below:

In the view of ThirtyOne:Eight there was no deliberate intent to cause harm to
those attending the church. However, they note that the environment and
culture at the time, while positive for many, had a negative impact on some.
They did not identify any abusive practices but note that prayer practice in the
1980s would not be appropriate by today’s standards.
As a church, we acknowledge your experience was not positive and want to
apologise for any negative impact your attendance at church in the 1980s has
had on your life.

On the information available, ThirtyOne:Eight were not able to establish if
there was or was not a failure to report the incident, nor if the individual
concerned was aware of the serious sexual incident described in your
complaint.
We have reviewed the report carefully. ThirtyOne:Eight could not establish
failure to report the incident, but the reviewer suggested that the individual
may have known that there was an unspecified issue between you and
another young person. There is therefore no evidence of misconduct. In
recognition of the criticality of those involved with children and young people
having up to date knowledge and understanding of young people and
disclosures, we are updating our procedures regularly and arranging specific
training for those in positions of authority.

Laying on of hands as part of prayer and ministry is accepted as having
happened in the 1980s and continues in the present day. Practice today is
noted to be governed by appropriate safeguarding checks, including consent.
ThirtyOne:Eight note that if the circumstances you describe took place that
would be inappropriate. They also note that the church’s current policy and
guidance on prayer acknowledge the importance of consent and include
processes for ensuring this is applied.
Struthers Memorial Church has trained all those working with children and
adults on safe prayer practice and consent.

ThirtyOne:Eight did not find that scripture was misused at the time of your
attendance at church. They note, however, that the presentation of biblical
beliefs, while positive for some may result in others feeling undue pressure to
conform.
Struthers Memorial Church has taken this feedback on board and included
this area in our training to ensure that no undue pressure results from how
Scripture is presented.

In commissioning ThirtyOne:Eight, Struthers Memorial Church also sought their
expertise to ensure that our current processes and procedures are up-to-date and
will work further with them to ensure that they reflect best practices.

We are aware that your wish in making this complaint was to ensure that no one else
experienced the same negative impact you described from your attendance in the
1980s. We reiterate our apology and hope that the actions noted above provide you
with the level of assurance you were seeking.

With best regards

Diana



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2024 03:51AM by FalkirkBairn67.