homestead heritage abuse

All a member must do in such a scenario is explain the situation and the group will gladly understand, they say. I remember being so surprised just watching the intro to CNN News and how the camera feels like it is flying through the letters and being spellbound by all of the sound effects and everything. But thats it. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? The hope is the person will realize the disadvantages of living outside the group, drawing him or her back into the fold. Homestead prides itself on being an intentional Christian community valuing sustainability, agriculture, self-sufficiency and craftsmanship. "A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. He refers to a constitution the group produced in the late 1980s as a secret document meant only for the eyes of candidates for their highest level of membership. But the specific violation is not the issue. Church leaders follow the biblical pattern of first going to someone in private about the offense. Youre not even allowed to talk to girls, and masturbation is forbidden, he said. But it took me a lot longer to get past the belief I was going to hell. DeLong then told the officer that sometime around March 2003, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, according to his statement. But he still worries that others might not bother to investigate the group after hearing lies from ex-members. They think it must be true.. It was to set the record straight, especially for those outside the group to whom Elder had given his epistle. I also used to get super emotional in movies, I would cry when the actors did, laugh with themman, that was awesome. The kids there get married at 18, 19, and theyre so anxious to get married in order to get out from under mom and dads control and to feel like theyre free, but when they do, the elders start telling them what to do, and they discover that theyre not free at all., Former member Katherine Beechner told me that elders even interfere with sexuality within the confines of a marriage. It was published in the February 2005 edition of Christianity Today, a magazine distributed throughout North America. r/AMA 6 yr. ago. 2021 The Texas Observer. If children at Homestead Heritage misbehave, many parents practice corporal punishment. More importantly, though, Homestead Heritage wants its beliefs to be imparted in a more personal manner. Their literature was mostly books about how we should behave and how we should explain ourselves to outsiders. He started getting to know Homestead Heritage members in 1996. Worse, members say, Arnn sent Owens son, Daniel, an e-mail in which he said he didnt believe his father had written the letter himself. It would seem to me that most people would think that such a man is one of low character, even a coward. The concept isnt unique. It is a community that former members say represses sexuality, tries to deal with crimes in house and is controlled by an authoritarian regime; a community, former members say, that operates very much like a cult. Its forcing people not to be human., Janja Lalich, a sociology professor at California State University and author of two books on recovering from cults and abusive relationships, said sexual repression is one of most powerful ways that a group can exert control. They let me do this and didnt have enough concern to take him away, she said. Publications, Forms and Documents. He then said the group would come to the same fiery end that the Branch Davidians met in April 1993. Visitors see traditional craftsmen and women who bake their own bread, sow their own crops, make their own furniture and build their own homes. Heritage Acres Homestead Sticker HomesteadMoma (60) $2.50 FREE shipping Organic Onion Chive Live Plants SPRING PLANTING Bare Root Plants Herb Hardy to 30 Below Zero Cuisine Multiplying Perennial plus Self-Seeds AllButTheFarmSink (122) $3.00 Homestead Heritage Pottery/Ceramic/Signed Kelle/Vintage treasuresbyirma (85) $43.15 FREE shipping Its literature stresses simplicity, sustainability, self-sufficiency, cooperation, service and quality craftmanship. She lived in McKeesport, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States in 1910 and Homestead, Dade, Florida, United States in 1935. Throughout the week, a steady stream of brothers and sisters arrived from Texas to help with the final push to completion. Such meetings tend to flow week to week and would likely prove difficult for a visitor to make sense of, he says. (I realize this could be too specific). Consequently, they have begun eyeing any group outside the mainstream. One ex-member of Homestead Heritage sent me a copy of commonly asked visitors questions a publication not meant for anyone outside the church. That's why I wish they knew that there are other options that are so much better. But before the letter was published, some people bothered by the Christianity Today article took their complaints to a far broader forum: the World Wide Web. For many of us who know history and see how it works, its pretty concerning.. If members see such a person in public, they might say hello. I lived in chalk bluff when I was younger. Over time, however, Watchman Fellowship and anti-cult activists have run out of truly dangerous groups to pursue, Wheeler says. This public condemnation from the pulpit can escalate, he wrote, until the leaders are shouting and pounding the lectern. He suspects the caller was a member of a New Zealand anti-cult group that he believes has had contact with an ex-member of Homestead Heritage. I mean, when you live on 60 acres you can always find a place to sneak away to. I'm not really sure what drew my parents into joining but they come across as a "counterculture" community and my parents were (and still are) very into growing food and animals and living off the land as much as possible. For example, one person proficient in leather work has been experimenting with making footwear. Heritage School of Woodworking Our Heritage School of Woodworking, located in Central Texas, has successfully taught thousands of aspiring woodworkers over the past 20+ years. As I got older I heard stories and read articles about what happens there. Homestead Heritage certainly has its quirks, Olson says. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. But instead of taking the matter to police, Sandy said, the elders dis-fellowshipped the individuals she said were culpable and forced her to accept responsibility for her part in what they deemed immoral relationships. The Observer has urged Sandy to go to the police to report the individuals responsible. Cafe Homestead serves fresh, natural food true to its setting at Homestead Heritage, a traditional farming community. But it does believe the group deceives people and is spiritually abusive. Besides, Arnn says, he has volumes and volumes of Homestead Heritage literature. Watchman Fellowship created an Internet discussion board about Homestead Heritage through F.A.C.T.Net. Were only certain people allowed to do so? The short teaser on ABCs Dallas affiliate WFAA says its two-part investigation (the first airs tonight at 10pm) exposes the secret lives behind the walls of a seemingly perfect community outside of Waco. Members also point to a statement Arnn made later in that first Internet post about Homestead Heritages Sunday meetings being open only to certain people. Gary Green and Arthur Brown Jr. are set to be killed next week by the State of Texas. South Africa's relationship to Zimbabwe, is not ANC-ZANU PF, but South Africans-Zimbabweans. If there is one thing on which most ex-members agree, it is the level of control the leaders of the group exert on their followers. About one fourth of them live on the Brazos de Dios community property, and the remainder live on their own personal properties in the surrounding area. He met with Homestead Heritage leaders as well as some ex-members. Glencore says the Aboriginal heritage application under federal law covers 156 square kilometres or 15,600 hectares, which is more than 20 times the size of the area involved in the Glendell IPC decision. Are there any things you were taught in the cult that are hard for you to remember are false? Every accusation so far has been false, he says. Others were affiliated with anti-cult groups or those that defend Christian doctrine. After a while they start making the Friday night meetings more similar to how they really are. If you still express interest and the elders feel like you are into the "vision" (basically you are more likely to agree with them) you can start visiting regularly on Friday nights. Homestead Heritage claims most criticisms amount to secular attacks on religious freedom, but all of the ex-members the Observer spoke to still consider themselves religious. A full year would go by before DeLong once more talked with Klingensmith about the abuse, court records show. I wanted to understand whether there was something about the culture inside Homestead Heritage that could allow these abuses to happen or worse, foment them. Besides ex-members, those posting on the site are Watchman Fellowship officials, a few ex-members who defend Homestead Heritage and interested outsiders. Like any non-compulsory group, the only way it can preserve itself is through the power of the gate, Wheeler says. They were doing just what they were supposed to do, and their discipline was absolutely effective. Only then did he give himself up. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. His parents were teenagers when they joined the group, and his dad was a one-time leader. OK, apparently I had a lot of questions! Olson described the sect as a mix of Pentecostal fervor with Anabaptist simplicity and accountability. He wrote although they dont use the word Trinity in teaching about the Godhead, his close questioning detected no aberrant teachings about God., Olson noted that the group made decisions by consensus; babies were typically born at home; and prayer and medicine were combined for health and well being. For both posts, and several others, the group provided the Tribune-Herald with documentation it believes shows Crow to be a liar, or at least wildly careless with the truth. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? A fourth has been charged and will likely soon plead guilty. The truth is that group needs are never placed over family needs. So far, they havent learned of any group with a greater amount of revelation in all areas, they say. Then, after the negativity of Adams condemning someone, the service would once again become uplifting. You brought me into this world and gave me my name. So I didn't personally experience that but it did happen and it is surprising to me how many other people I have talked to that have left have told me it happened to them. A number of former members the Observer spoke to said they believed Blair Adams sees himself as a messenger from God. At least 20 people who were critical of the article contacted the magazine, says deputy managing editor Timothy Morgan. It began with Arnn individually contacting people who left the group. For years, some former members of Homestead Heritage say they felt power- less to counter the stream of glowing news media reports about the local religious community. Others helped with the story but, because they still have family members inside the community, refused to speak publicly. Others boil down to a he said/she said contest. . In 2007, the Waco Herald-Tribune ran a feature that voiced some of those concerns of spiritual abuse but after its publication, ex-members claimed the story didnt go nearly far enough. He also wrote the reason outsiders were forbidden from attending Sunday church meetings was that theyre reserved for disciplining members in front of the entire congregation. Why would it open itself up for discussions with local theology professors and students? Basically, did you see or hear anything that corroborates that? The charge that Homestead Heritage leaders profess to be Christ in the flesh is a perfect example, he says. The psychological impact of this was terrible.. They were seperationists who exerted a high . Such people want to raid the literature, not read it, Wheeler says. In the past, its primary focus has fallen on religious movements that many would consider aberrant. Some Anabaptists, for example, practice familial shunning. They reject the idea of once saved, always saved.. I'm done now! D) I never once would have dreamed of calling it a cult, that was unheard of for members. She told an elder about the abuse she suffered, who in turn informed other elders in the church. Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including outdoor grills and BBQs and swimming pools. And as long as the leader is allowed to act without any checks and balances, they tend to become more and more domineering., Homestead Heritage has made new members sign and notarize a resolution obtained by the Observer, which states, among other things, that each openly, voluntarily, under no coercion agrees, even should [they] leave the fellowship to never bring before the public outside our church any disagreement the individual may have with the church, any accusations of wrongdoing or any charge or suit or court action against any of its members., It says all disputes should be settled within [italics theirs] the confines of the church covenant., Tellingly, it also states: Since the church is the Bride of Christ, we do not view its marriage relationship to God as a public spectacle; nor for us is religion an agent, or the proper province, of the corporate State and its investigative, police and judicial services.. Nor do we hold any personal animus towards the media personnel involved. Church elders failed to promptly inform law enforcement of sexual abuse of children, as required by state law. It also talks about Adams owning a Toyota Land Cruiser and a private ranch in Colorado. Hi! To back up its claim the document is not secret, Homestead Heritage presented the Tribune-Herald with affidavits from nearly 50 people who say it was read and that copies were distributed during a meeting in Colorado in 1988. It's funny because they believed the world was going to end in y2k and people spent a fortune on huge water resivoires and all sorts of stuff like that but my dad didn't buy into it. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. I read once about a guy who's family was involved in Scientology and his mom finally packed up him and his brother and left their brainwashed dad and took off because they knew they wouldn't be able to leave any other way. You dont question it., Most members of Homestead Heritage are so closed off from the outside world, ex-members say, that its exceedingly difficult for anyone to alert the authorities if they suspect wrongdoing. I mean, we had a garden back then that I liked but I still do! Whenever they quote our literature, member Nathan Tittley says, you really have to watch the ellipses.. Texas Observer exclusive: Waco religious group accused of child abuse, beatings and cover-ups. In other words if the leaders forgive you, its forgotten, and its like it never happened.. Thats why living in community is so important, members say. All critics have to do is twist such groups views of authority into authoritarianism and many people are willing to condemn them, Wheeler says. So basically not many people leave but a few have over the years. Besides ex-members, those posting on the site are Watchman Fellowship officials, a few ex-members who defend Homestead Heritage and interested outsiders. The church also created an online petitionasking former members to sign a statement that said although they were no longer associated with Homestead Heritage, the church ministry would never tolerate, much less promote, make exception for, or cover up the heinous crime of sexual abuse of children. The petition said any publication associating the ministry with such behaviors is defamatory. Improve this listing Similar Experiences We all were. Homestead Heritage is an intentional community in rural Texas. The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. They talk of secret meetings and secret documents. Its literature stresses simplicity, sustainability, self-sufficiency, cooperation, service and quality craftmanship. Its true that violations of the groups patterns can result in discipline, members say. So many people who started to tell their stories backed out for fear of severing ties with family and friends within the compound many took months to convince to talk Some would only talk on background, others were able to provide me with compelling evidence but wished to remain anonymous. G) Most people who leave end up rejecting everything they ever thought they knew about life and it gets people into all sorts of trouble. It lists hundreds of questions, including controversial ones like Did you find it necessary to cut off relationships with old friends and family when you joined this fellowship?; What do you believe about dating?; Who is your leader here? and Are you a cult? Blair Adams composed a number of the answers. Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, Abbott Wants to Deny Undocumented Kids a Public Education, Border Security Is a Financial Black Hole that Will Consume Us All, Two Executions, Many Questions about Mental Health, Innocence, Remembering a Social Justice Lawyer Extraordinaire. The Glendell decision covered 750 hectares as well as the homestead. Members also supplied documents showing that the ranch is owned by the church, not Adams. But honestly the definition of "cult" seems so open, I'd prefer to just say that they cut off members from outside contact. My legs, everywhere. He was the greatest thing that ever lived. Homestead Heritage leaders monitor the site and investigate each allegation, Wheeler says. When Roger Olson set out to write an article about Homestead Heritage, he had some reservations. After weighing his options and talking over his qualms with Homestead Heritage leaders, Olson decided to go ahead with the article. Many churches once employed a probationary period. To disprove Crows assertions about Adams living situation, for example, the group provided photos of his purported vehicle a Toyota 4 Runner, not a Land Cruiser as well as his home, decked out with cloth couches and run-of-the-mill appliances. Furthermore, the Observer has allegedly "learned from a number of different sources of other cases of sexual abuse within Homestead Heritage. This is done over a long period of time. The group noted that the attorney Elder hired became so impressed with the churchs handling of the matter he started bringing his family to Homestead Heritage events and continues to do so. Although Elders letter to church leaders criticizing Homestead Heritage was hurtful, that wasnt the reason the group wrote a formal response, members said. Theyd talk about different implements to use that wouldnt leave marks., Once he got too old for beatings, John said he had to endure being berated by the elders for two or three hours at a time. The truth is visitors are asked to come to Friday night meetings because they will be more edifying, followers say. Heritage's Elder Rights Program focuses on the prevention, intervention, detection and reporting of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Thanks! He has been decried by numerous religious groups for misrepresenting and faking his credentials. According to several ex-members I spoke to, the only person who has never fallen from grace in this way is Blair Adams. That causes some people, like the ex-members, to make claims of abuse against those who continue exercising such discipline, they say. A year after that, Bill DeLongs 23-year-old son Andrew was told he would serve 15 years in prison after admitting four counts of sexual assault against two children. On one hand, the Baylor University seminary professor wanted to let others know about a group he considers unique on the countrys religious landscape. Held in members homes and attended by about 100 people, their size allows visitors to get to know the group more easily, they say. But rather than report DeLong to police, as required by law, that elder, George Klingensmith, decided to pray about it with him instead, according to both DeLong and Klingensmiths statements to officers. Some still have a novice period before confirmation. While its true the document is not given to members nowadays, thats because the church no longer uses it. Members produce much of their own food, whether from individual efforts such as home gardens or group projects such as Homestead Heritages cattle ranch. In fact, according to court records, DeLong claimed the abuse stopped after he confessed to a church elder. Ex-members have intentionally tried to stoke those fears by comparing Homestead Heritage to the Branch Davidians and other cults, members say. The only times Homestead Heritage has refused to give or sell its literature to someone was when members concluded a persons motive was to attack, not learn. Thanks! Lt. Clay Perry of the McLennan County Sheriffs office told the Observer that officers decided not to pursue a prosecution against Klingensmith. While generally true, the statement is deceptive because it falsely implies meetings are closed to hide secrets, the group says. Does that make them a cult? Its a process that never stops. I pray to God and cry my tears. This follows Februarys Texas Observer story, Heritage of Abuse in which I exposed accusations of child abuse, beatings and cover-ups leveled at the group. For after all, I am your daughter.. List of Pennsylvania State Drug Abuse and Treatment Centers . March 7: Cimarron Boulevard from Cimarron Drive to Cimarron Common. Sandy says she informed an elder, but instead of taking the matter to police, she says he dis-fellowshipped the individuals she said committed the crimes and forced her to accept responsibility for her part in what they deemed immoral relationships. The Observer urged Sandy to go to the police to report the individuals responsible. Now that he is a member, he laughs at how preposterous those fears were, Smith says. If you express interest in joining the elders have to talk to you which I guess is part of the vetting process. This story was originally published Friday, Feb. 10. Photos, illustrations and other art may be available for syndication but must be confirmed. Skip to main content. Here, a small but ever-growing group of believers came together from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to worship and share their lives . After about a year it was clear to me this act that Bill had done was weighing very heavy on him, Klingensmith wrote in his statement. They strictly enforce dress codes (I remember an elder yelling at me for wearing a T-shirt). This tasting is in partnership . They've been doing lots of really terrible things, and it's getting worse. Luckily he still turned himself in but it makes you wonder how many times this doesn't get reported. An ex-member told me, To join, first of all you have to say youve heard from God that this is a place youre supposed to be. They say it's for "nurses, doctors and teachers" but they don't use any teachers. They used to get pissed at me when I would climb the fence to fish this pond. You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. Did you encounter anything like that or have someone tell you about that sort of thing? At the crux of those punishments is isolation from the group, with disfellowshipment being more severe. He chooses the elders; they choose the group leaders; the group leaders choose the members. As the teaser for WFAAs investigation says: Some fear for the children that remain in the community.. He first got to know Homestead Heritage in 1999 and since then has visited its property near Chalk Bluff numerous times, often bringing along his students. It had to be, because they were terrified of being berated by the elders. But if that doesnt work, the church takes a series of increasingly severe steps. Alexander said the man snapped it in half. The same thinking, not secrecy, guides distribution of literature, members say. A few people have left over the years. Also, what did people in the community think in general about the visitors that came through? And if part of that is letting people know what I personally saw and experienced then I'm more than happy to do that. What can we do? Size: 6 PackColor: Brown Verified Purchase. It has grown to a 140-acre operation. EDIT: What about the people who interacted more with the public? The paperwork indicates her treatment included more than 25 visits to specialists, two major surgeries and other procedures and testing. But stranger things have happened, he says. Due to an editing error, we incorrectly reported that Bill DeLong told police he continued sexually abusing a young girl after admitting his abuse to a church elder. Members believe they would have prevailed in court, too, after Elder brought legal action against them. . A chief task with any prospective member is communicating not only what the group believes but how that plays out in the context of community life, they say. We wondered if something was up, it seemed a little off. A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept.It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals and livestock. Theologically it therefore is considered to be a cult of Christianity. People who dont continue walking in a relationship with God can jeopardize their salvation, they say. If the group really had something to hide, Wheeler says, why would it host so many public events? We would hope that local and state authorities would begin to understand that the long-standing allegations of child endangerment need to be more carefully considered.. She told me she is considering counseling. We could be a family again. Waco, Texas Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. If he says take out the trash, you dont question it; if he says the sky is green, the sky is green; if he says he has to put his hand there, you have to let him. Yarden agrees, saying it concerns him that the plan laid out two years ago in that early morning anonymous phone call to Howard Wheeler now appears to be unfolding.