[Vision2020] Another Dangerous, Illconceived Enterprise

[Rosemary Huskey]

Greetings  Csaba Leidenfrost, Gordon Wilson, Matt Gray, John Carnahan,
Jeremy Bunch, Bill Church, Ed Iverson, John Grauke, Wes Struble, John
Sawyer, Dale Courtney, Ben Merkle, Douglas Wilson, Mike Lawyer, Jim Nance,
Matt Meyer

I write this letter to you through the office of Mike Lawyer, assistant to
Doug Wilson, and also to Vision 2020, a community chat group.  I am using
both venues because it is possible that this letter may not be forwarded to
you by Mike Lawyer or Doug Wilson but perhaps a non-Kirk neighbor or
associate will be kind enough to send you a copy.  Because I understand the
role you play in the governance of Christ Church it is right and fair that
you know what I have to say to and about you. In a sense it is a private
communication but I also believe that non Kirk members of our shared
community (frankly, my primary concern) benefit from an understanding of who
you are, and how your attitudes, values, and behavior impact those of us who
are not members of your church.  

After many years of studying your blogs and literature (I use the latter
term in the broadest sense of the word), witnessing your direct and indirect
machinations in city and county government as elected officials and
petitioners, and noting your involvement in judicial matters on behalf of
convicted felons who are/were church members my level of concern about the
damage you do has escalated, based in part on the swaggering, arrogant
remarks below.

"There are certain moves, certain strategies, certain plans, certain ways of
thinking, that are God
<http://dougwils.com/s7-engaging-the-culture/deception-and-the-culture-war.h
tml> 's version of the purloined letter. God hides some of His best work in
plain sight. So should we."
<http://dougwils.com/s7-engaging-the-culture/deception-and-the-culture-war.h
tml> Deception and the Culture War  Posted on
<http://dougwils.com/s7-engaging-the-culture/deception-and-the-culture-war.h
tml> Friday, July 12, 2013 by  <http://dougwils.com/author/admin> Douglas
Wilson 

Surely members, deacons, and elders of Christ Church do not include the
Center for Biblical Counseling among the best works of the Kirk.  Indeed,
how could they?  Like so many of your ventures this one appears to be
grounded in what I refer to as the Mickey Rooney School of Fun and Frolics.
That is, all it takes to have a successful show (school, business, idea) is
grandpa's barn (Anselm House in this instance), a Judy Garlandesque sidekick
(the Greyfriar acolytes and Biblical Counseling trainees), and a desire to
be on center stage (an ever present component of Kirkish manliness).

Mickey Rooney, whatever his short comings (no pun intended) was a trained
performer. In contrast, Mike Lawyer has an undergraduate degree in
Philosophy, and two theological degrees.  His terminal degree, D. Min.,
would be laughable if it didn't provide pseudo-credentials that imply more
than they deliver. A Doctor of Ministry, or D. Min. for Mr. Lawyer required
<http://www.wts.edu/2013-2014catalog/degree_programs/dmin/program_length_and
_time_limit.html> "eight week-long modules of course work or the equivalent,
and [completion of] an Applied Research Project."  This is far less
supervised work and academic training than a licensed hair dresser in Idaho
<http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title54/T54CH8SECT54-805.htm>  is
required to have. A total of eight weeks spent on campus over a six year
period and some supplementary study at home is not an academic program.  The
counseling emphasis of the D.Min. degree offered by Westminster Seminary,
not surprisingly, emphasizes biblical theory and application
<http://www.wts.edu/2013-2014catalog/course_descriptions/dminmodules.html>
in place of  a broad academic background with an emphasis on course work
leading toward professional licensing.  A comparison of a Master's level
program (not a doctoral degree) in Counseling at Idaho State University
<http://www.isu.edu/hpcounsl/documents/MHC%20PPS.pdf>  demonstrates the
sharp contrast between the programs.  And, that is my point, why is it that
a counseling license or an elementary/secondary teaching certificate from a
regionally accredited college or university are unimportant in the world of
Kirk?   It is my sense that in an effort to cover (with some exceptions) a
lack of academic credentials (which offers at least a modicum of
credibility) you pretend that professional standards can/should/must be
brushed aside in favor of ego and a false sense of aptitude.  Why is it that
you always seek out and celebrate the lowest common denominator instead of
acknowledging and striving after true excellence?

Mike Lawyer feels confident that through the "gifts of the Holy Spirit" he
can help his clients confront and defeat the following
<http://www.cbcmoscow.com/counseling/information-about-counseling/> "sins"
if they are truly prayerful and repentant. 

*	Marriage and Family Problems
*	Divorce and remarriage
*	Anger
*	Anxiety
*	Depression
*	Decision-making
*	Fear and panic
*	Grief and suffering
*	Drug and alcohol addiction
*	Pornography
*	Homosexuality / Lesbianism
*	Attempted suicide
*	Financial problems
*	Other life-dominating problems

It seems absurd to have to point out, that sin is NOT the cause of mental
illness and emotional problems.  If faith healing for mental health issues
has become the Kirk's preferred treatment of choice, why in the world
haven't you all renounced Calvinism in favor of a) pilgrimages to Fatima;
b) Christian Science;  or, c) the introduction of snake handling and poison
drinking as proof of your faith and God's mercy at Sunday worship service?
(Let's hear it for option "c." Doug could lead the congregation in his
special rendition of Sweet Home Alabama with a diamond back rattlesnake
dangling from either hand. I'd love to watch that dog and pony show.  And it
makes just as much sense as Mike Lawyer's et al pretend counseling routine.

However, and there is always a however, if one is a clever boots with an eye
for a legal way out of a potentially tight situation, there is a little
paper work
<https://christchurchmoscow.wufoo.com/forms/counseling-application-personal-
info-agreement/>  Mr. Lawyer's potential clients must complete prior to
being accepted into "treatment." (Additional application forms may be found
here
<https://christchurchmoscow.wufoo.com/forms/application-for-counseling/> .)
The disclaimers are adroitly worded so he and his "students" avoid any
liability or responsibility for outcomes.  In particular, a client must
agree, with the following premises (note: all bolding is mine and is not
found in the original text):

that Mr. Lawyer and his cohorts are not licensed nor considered professional
counselors in Idaho;  (does this excuse them from the "burden" of
professional ethics and conduct since they aren't professionals ?)

that they (Mr. Lawyer and his cohorts)  may lack any specialized training in
psychology; 

that counselors-in-training
<http://www.cbcmoscow.com/training/counseling-in-a-week/>  (which could
theoretically include members of the public who pay $60 to take Mr. Lawyers
week long Train to Be A Counselor course) may sit in on and thus be privy to
the intimate details of the client's struggles; 

that the sessions will or may be audio recorded and retained (securely  -
whatever that means) by Mr. Lawyer;

that the bible (and presumably, Mr. Lawyer understanding of the text) is the
final authority on all counseling related issues; (does that mean a angry
husband gets to stone his adulterous wife? or kill his rebellious child?) 

that the client will be exhorted (and expected?) to confess and ask
forgiveness  from those he/she has sinned against; 

that, information obtained during counseling may be released to church
leadership including elders and small group leaders which will allow them to
"shepherd" the client appropriately ; (how's that for ultimate power
unleased??)

that solutions for all problems in life are found in the Bible, 

that the client agrees not [to] seek redress of grievances associated with
the counseling process or disputes associated with the process thru the
secular legal system but only through the church of which they are a member,


and that they "agree not to hold the counselor and/or Christ Church and its
leadership financially or legally responsible for the results of the counsel
provided or for any decisions I (the client) make based on that counsel."

The long and the short of this is that a client's most intimate problems
could be, and have been, discussed by ministers, elders, small group leaders
(which by the very vagueness of the term could include every aspect and
level of church membership).  And, you know that that is a true and accurate
statement. I think a billboard on the south couplet out of town would be
nearly as confidential - after all, not every citizen in Moscow heads
towards Lewiston on a regular basis.  

More importantly to you as elders, it is no doubt a comfort that no matter
how wretched the outcome or how grave the consequence of Mr. Lawyer's
counseling, neither he nor Christ Church will likely be found financially
responsible.  Moral responsibility is an entirely different kettle of fish,
isn't it?

You may avoid individual and corporate responsibility for this wildly
irresponsible project of Mr. Lawyer, but what will your response be when
(not if) violence or harm comes to a confused, depressed, mentally ill,
perhaps schizophrenic or sociopathic client or others who must interact with
them?  Do you really think that Mr. Lawyer is in a position to competently
conduct and arrive at a sophisticated clinical diagnosis or even to
knowledgably assess each and every client's emotional status?  Do you even
begin to understand how outsiders may view your sponsorship of ill-trained
clinical practitioners? Is the voyeuristic desire to stick your collective
noses into the private affairs of others so overwhelming (or so handy for
dossier collection) that you, without a moment's reflection applaud this
sordid sideline business?  What happens when one of Mr. Lawyer's trainees
(with an official looking Kirk endorsed certificate in hand) commits an
egregious offense and blames it on the training received at Christ Church?
You may enjoy adequate legal protection thanks to the 1st Amendment, but I
don't have to tell you how your critics on the national level will gleefully
eat you for breakfast.  It will make the Sovereign Grace Ministry
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Grace_Ministries>  mess look like an
old ladies' tea party in comparison.

But let's (pretend?) consider for a moment that you have individually, if
not collectively, a conscience.  Shut the Biblical Counseling Center down
immediately or resign from your position of authority over it.  Turn the
problem over to Doug and Ben. Let them prove that they care enough for
fragile, lost souls looking for help that they will recruit (and the Kirk
will pay the salary of) a Christian mental health professional who is a
licensed to practice in Idaho.  And, because his competency will be
recognized by an accrediting institution with standards quite outside
friendship and personal ambition, he will know that mental health issues are
complex and unlikely to be handled competently by amateurs using only a
personal interpretation of scripture and unbelievably inane self-help books
as a viable treatment plan.  (I use the masculine pronoun to describe the
person since I know you would never hire a woman for a leadership or a
position of authority.)  Further, I would hope that all elders will
immediately distance themselves from intimate information that is absolutely
none of your business and obtained under the seal of confidentiality. Unless
of course, you are prepared to let the community know you willingly and
eagerly wish to be publicly linked to the mission and protocols of Christ
Church's sponsorship of the Center for Biblical Counseling.

Rose Huskey

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20130922/959c675c/attachment-0001.html>