[Vision2020] Response to Doug's letter to Bill London

Fri, 5 Mar 2004 00:13:59 EST

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Visionaries, Douglas Wilson, and those who lurk from the Kirk:

I want to thank Bill London for continuing this dialogue.  I also acknowledge 
Doug Wilson's effort to respond to 2020 readers via Bill.  Further, I 
reiterate my previous position that any generationally diverse congregation will have 
among its members young men, who, on occasion, act in ways that make mature 
adults (Reformed or not) shake their heads in complete dismay and disbelief.  
That young men can be completely selfish dunderheads is not exactly news to 
most of us, and there is no earthly reason to believe that somehow Christ Church 
or New St. Andrews should be immune from this burden. No particular blame 
should be attached to CC, NSA, or the larger Reformed Evangelical faith because of 
the actions of a few self-centered, greedy little brats.  While there is no 
defense for their behavior or attitudes, I find their conduct, in many ways far 
less offensive (maybe my tolerance level is higher than most) than I do the 
deeds of the elders who "guide" them.  It is the responsibility of adults, and 
certainly elders and pastors, to model high moral standards and provide 
measured, and seasoned counsel. In this situation, Doug Wilson, you and the 
Dougsciples failed miserably.  

In allowing, and apparently supporting, Ethan's excuse that a church elder 
gave him permission to operate an illegal casino you accepted the 
rationalization of a young man on the hot seat.  In fact, if memory serves me, the original 
gambling story appeared on the Christ Church site. That is where I first 
learned of it.  On that site there was a discussion of young men meeting an elder 
and telling him they were off to Coeur d'Alene to visit the casino.  Since he 
didn't throw himself in front of the car, the young men involved in organizing 
the casino eagerly extrapolated his "consent" to justification for 
establishing their own gambling hall.  (Is this an example of NSA logic?)

I am identified, correctly, as a strong critic of Wilson, Inc. Nonetheless, 
even I do not believe for a single moment that any church leader, including 
you, Doug, would ever have tolerated such an ungodly, illegal plan.  This 
self-serving excuse should have been quashed as soon as it was brought forward. That 
you allowed this ridiculous story to have legs is an example of your own 
impaired moral judgment.  

Of greater interest, however, to the larger community is your willingness to 
cover up the criminal behavior that occurred in the casino.  In your capacity 
as pastor it is appropriate to rebuke miscreants. In your capacity as a 
citizen you became party to the deed by orchestrating the cover up.  I need hardly 
remind you that providing alcohol to minors is a serious civil offense.  I need 
hardly remind you that operating an illegal casino is a serious civil 
offense.  And this is where the overweening hubris of Christ Church leadership 
becomes a serious irritant to many of us on Vision 2020.  Your actions clearly tell 
us that you believe your ecclesiastical authority supersedes civil authority.  
I don't accept that.  How is it different from the Roman Catholic cover up of 
sexual abuse complaints?  Your concern for the reputation of your church, and 
I might add, your own reputation, led you to show complete disdain for the 
civil consequences of such criminal behavior.  That you compounded that error by 
taking tax exempt money, in effect, money from the pockets of non-Christ 
church members, as well as innocent members of your own congregation in order to 
"protect" the image you wish to project beyond the pulpit is cowardly. What 
lesson did you plan to teach by your handling of this affair -- that boohooing in 
front of the Head of Household meeting is sufficient punishment?  That the 
laws of the state of Idaho don't apply to law breakers who are members of Christ 
Church?  That if one person sins, all must (literally) pay for it?

I am particularly offended that you claim Ethan has become "teachable."  By 
whom?  You?  If so, he has no doubt learned well that you covered up his 
crimes, arranged for payment of debts that rightfully belonged to him as originator 
of the casino, or worse still, allowed his parents to shoulder his burden.  
This whole sorry story would have passed beyond anyone's interest if there was 
any reason to believe that lessons in accountability and responsibility (both 
in mentoring the perpetrators and in honoring state and federal laws) had been 
instilled into the Christ Church leadership.  Nothing could be further from 
the truth.  Thanks to your continuing arrogant, unapologetic behavior 2020 
readers and contributors are rightfully left to wonder what other crimes you will 
contrive at covering up -- and at what cost to our community?  You have, in 
effect, instituted your own little Dougocracy - and it's working out about as 
well as I might have expected...poorly.  

I wish with all my heart that your congregation will grow in grace and 
knowledge and will recognize that it is not about religion, it's all about Doug's 
empire.  Doubtless, if they reflect on the topic, that will remember many, many 
examples (unknown to most of us), that illustrate abuses of church power and 
civil law.  When that happens, and it will eventually, the community of Moscow, 
and your ex-congregation members will be healthier, happier, and safer as a 
consequence.  And by the way Doug, why are you in such a lather about this, we 
were told on V2020 that you found Doug Splotch  "a hoot."

Rose Huskey
Once you lose your integrity everything else is easy.

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<DIV>
<DIV>
Visionaries, Douglas Wilson, and those who lurk from the Kirk=
:
&nbsp;
I want to thank Bill London for continuing this dialogue.&nbs=
p; I also acknowledge Doug Wilson's effort to respond to 2020 readers via&nb=
sp;Bill.&nbsp; Further, I&nbs=
p;reiterate my previous position that any generationally diverse congregatio=
n will have among its members young men, who, on occasion,&nbsp;act in ways=20=
that make mature adults (Reformed or not) shake their heads in complete dism=
ay and disbelief.&nbsp; That young men can be completely selfish dunderheads=
 is not exactly news to most of us, and there is no earthly reason to believ=
e that somehow Christ Church or New St. Andrews should be immune from&nbsp;t=
his burden.&nbsp;No particular blame should be attached to CC, NSA, or the l=
arger Reformed Evangelical faith because of the actions of a few self-center=
ed, greedy little&nbsp;brats.&nbsp;&nbsp;While there is no defense for their=
 behavior&nbsp;or attitudes, I find their conduct, in many ways&nbsp;far les=
s offensive (maybe my tolerance level&nbsp;is higher than most) than I do th=
e deeds of the elders who "guide" them.&nbsp; It is the responsibility of&nb=
sp;adults, and certainly elders and pastors,&nbsp;to&nbsp;model high moral s=
tandards and provide measured, and seasoned counsel.&nbsp;In&nbsp;this&nbsp;situation,&nbsp;Doug Wilson,=
 you and the Dougsciples failed miserably.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
In allowing, and apparently supporting, Ethan's excuse that a=
 church elder gave him permission to operate an illegal&nbsp;casino you acce=
pted&nbsp;the rationalization of a young man on the hot seat.&nbsp; In fact,=
 if memory serves me, the original gambling story appeared on the Christ Chu=
rch site.&nbsp;That is where I first learned of it.&nbsp; On that site there=
 was a discussion of young men meeting an elder and telling him they were of=
f to Coeur d'Alene to visit the casino.&nbsp; Since he didn't throw himself=20=
in front of the car, the young men involved in organizing the casino eagerly=
 extrapolated his "consent" to justification for&nbsp;establishing their own=
 gambling hall.&nbsp; (Is this an example of NSA logic?)
&nbsp;
I am identified, correctly, as a strong critic of Wilson, Inc=
. Nonetheless, even I do not believe for a single moment that any chu=
rch leader, including you, Doug, would ever have tolerated such an ungodly,=20=
illegal plan.&nbsp; This self-serving excuse should have been quashed as soo=
n as it was brought forward. =
That you allowed this&nbsp;ridiculous&nbsp;story&nbsp;to have legs is&nbsp;a=
n example of&nbsp;your own&nbsp;impaired moral&nbsp;judgment.&nbsp; <=
/P>
&nbsp;
Of greater interest, however, to the larger community is your=
 willingness to cover up the criminal behavior that occurred in the casino.&=
nbsp; In your capacity as pastor it is appropriate to rebuke miscreants. In=20=
your capacity as a citizen you became party to the deed by&nbsp;orchestratin=
g the cover up.&nbsp; I need hardly remind you that providing alcohol to min=
ors is a serious civil offense.&nbsp; I need hardly remind you that operatin=
g an illegal casino is a serious civil offense.&nbsp; And this is where the=20=
overweening hubris of Christ Church leadership becomes a serious irritant to=
 many of us on Vision 2020.&nbsp; Your actions clearly tell us that you beli=
eve your&nbsp;ecclesiastical authority supersedes civil authority.&nbsp; I d=
on't accept that.&nbsp; How is it different from the Roman Catholic cover up=
 of sexual abuse complaints?&nbsp; Your concern for the reputation of your c=
hurch, and I might add, your own reputation,&nbsp;led you to show complete d=
isdain for&nbsp;the civil consequences of&nbsp;such criminal behavior.&nbsp;=
 That you compounded that error by taking tax exempt money, in effect, money=
 from the pockets of non-Christ church members, as well as innocent members=20=
of your own congregation in order to "protect" the&nbsp;image you wish to pr=
oject beyond the pulpit&nbsp;is cowardly.&nbsp;What lesson did you plan to t=
each by your handling of this affair -- that boohooing in front of the Head=20=
of Household meeting is sufficient punishment?&nbsp;&nbsp;That the laws of t=
he state of Idaho don't apply to law breakers who are members of Christ Chur=
ch?&nbsp; That if one person sins, all must (literally)&nbsp;pay for it?</FO=
NT>
&nbsp;
I am particularly offended that you claim Ethan has become&nb=
sp;"teachable."&nbsp; By whom?&nbsp; You?&nbsp; If so, he has no doubt learn=
ed well that you covered up his crimes, arranged for payment of debts that r=
ightfully belonged to him as originator of the casino, or worse still,&nbsp;=
allowed&nbsp;his parents to shoulder his burden.&nbsp;&nbsp;This whole sorry=
 story would have passed beyond anyone's interest if there was&nbsp;any reas=
on to believe that&nbsp;lessons in accountability and&nbsp;responsibility (b=
oth in mentoring&nbsp;the perpetrators and in honoring state and federal law=
s)&nbsp;had been instilled into the Christ Church leadership.&nbsp; Nothing=20=
could be further from the truth.&nbsp; Thanks to your continuing arrogant, u=
napologetic&nbsp;behavior 2020 readers and contributors are rightfully&nbsp;=
left to wonder what other crimes you will contrive at covering up -- and at=20=
what cost to our community?&nbsp; You have, in effect, instituted your own l=
ittle Dougocracy - and it's working out about as well as I might have expect=
ed...poorly.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
I wish with all my heart that your congregation will grow in=20=
grace and knowledge and will&nbsp;recognize that it is not about religion, i=
t's all about Doug's empire.&nbsp; Doubtless, if they reflect&nbsp;on the to=
pic, that will remember many, many examples&nbsp;(unknown to most of us), th=
at illustrate abuses&nbsp;of&nbsp;church power and civil law.&nbsp; When tha=
t happens, and it will eventually, the community of Moscow, and your ex-cong=
regation members will&nbsp;be&nbsp;healthier, happier, and safer as a conseq=
uence.&nbsp; And by the way Doug, why are you in such a lather about this, w=
e were told on V2020&nbsp;that you found Doug Splotch&nbsp; "a&nbsp;hoot."</=
FONT>
&nbsp;
Rose Huskey
Once you lose your integrity everything else is easy.<=
/P>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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