He said no one at the present and George said he would bring his crew up every weekend and do the job as a gift to the Lord. The windmill project developer made efforts, beginning in 2015 and continuing in 2019 to purchase access to the land controlled by the board of directors of Living Waters Ministries Inc. both for the construction and operation of very large windmills and for the construction and operation of the very large transmission line associated with the windmill project. Aarum, in recent sermons, has compared the accusations to Jesus being crucified by people he helped, as reported by The Roys Report. A social worker can get anyone to say anything, Dekalb said. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. The Circle C Child Development Center is a private, not-for-profit company with a volunteer board of directors. Living Waters Ministries says it takes allegations serious, and thats why the ranch says it conducted a thorough investigation of these circumstances assisted by professional experts.. I found each of the women to be credible; patterns of predatory behavior emerged and grew more egregious as time passed. Our Goal: "To reach young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to encourage godliness in their lives, and to send them out as equipped witnesses for His kingdom." Growth of Circle C Ranch . A spokesperson for The Chapel says it has absolutely no interest in acquiring Circle C Ranch., But the Circle C board says thats simply not true, and claims The Chapel has put forth a campaign to destroy Wayne Aarums reputation., Everything thats been presented to us is anonymous, said Dekalb about the accusations. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. Dr. Andrews never sought to influence the operations of the camp. In a letter to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Norris outlined dozens of alleged incidents connected with the youth group and the camp, including Aarum touching girls intimately, saying intimate things to them, and entering cabins while girls were changing clothes. Last week, Aarum filed a civil lawsuit against The Chapel alleging defamatory statements. %PDF-1.6 % https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. He was an authority figure and an adult; they were teenagers. INVESTIGATION:These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, 'He was my identity':How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma, More:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. That man was Mr. Ross Barker a businessman from Toronto. Circle C Ranch's board of trustees said they did their own investigation. The lawsuit alleges The Chapel's executive pastor, John Camardo, used the abuse allegations against Aarum as a way to damage Aarum'sreputation and ability to conduct business, according to the filings. Specifically, in a portion of the story about Circle C's legal counsel having recommended at a meeting that Aarum resign, they took these steps: "The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. ContactSarahat STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. The board - which consists of Wayne Aarum, his brother, Wes, and Daryl Dekalb - posted a 34-page report on the. Without a transmission line to transport the electricity generated by the windmills in an economically feasible fashion, the windmill projects economic value diminishes substantially, the lawsuit said. hbbd```b``"Idjd2d f;0>[Ha`bd` Ig[ '3 At this age, he began to take care of his health. 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The Double H Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It isan investigative journalist's role to examine possible abuses of power or allegations of misfeasance or malfeasancethoroughly,keeping fairness and accuracy front and center in their work. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. Theyspoke to 19 other individuals including persons who worked at the camp, relatives and local pastors. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. Like much of the world, they've been closely watching what's been unfolding in Afghanistan. That was of the Lord. Snells lawsuit alleges that Circle C Ranch failed to investigate claims against Aarum in a timely fashion and report findings about his conduct, and failed to terminate him in light of his inappropriate and predatory actions and behaviors with minors, according to the paperwork. Reach him at mkilian@gannett.com. More:Christian camp Circle C announces changes to summer program after abuse allegations surface. Such stories cannot be rushed. There was over 100 acres of good haying land on this property so they had plenty of feed for the horses. In May, New York set COVID-19 rules and restrictions for summer camps to operate after sleep-away camps were forced to close last year. This helps build confidence among readers inthe validity of the work. Thank you for your support. Follow heronTwitter @Sjtaddeo. That investigation found more than 20 women who said Wayne Aarum touched them inappropriately or fostered inappropriate and abusive relationships with them, both at The Chapel in the 1990s and later at Circle C Ranch, according to a report prepared by MinistrySafe investigator Kimberlee Norris. circlecranch.com under the "Resource" tab. In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. information shared on its website on Monday. The leadership of New York Christian camp Circle C Ranch defended operations director Wayne Aarum against claims that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple girls beginning decades ago, saying an internal investigation showed there was "no substantial credible evidence" of misconduct. If you are not a subscriber, or if you want a friend or loved one to enjoy the D&C like you do, please share this link with them featuring special subscription offers:https://bit.ly/3zlqulC. Prior to becoming director of Circle C Ranch, Aarum worked as a youth pastor atBuffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. In the civil lawsuit filed on June 2, Aarum, 55, who leads the First Baptist Church of Arcade, and sits on the board of the Living Waters Ministries Inc., which runs the Christian camp, is seeking a collective $3.125 million in damages from The Chapel for "harm to reputation, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional injury," as well as financial damages. Shortly after her graduation they were married. They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. Aarum served at The Chapel, located in the suburb of Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. Aarum has denied the allegations and continues to serve on staff at the camp. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage $14,800. In a written response to the allegations posted on its website, Circle C leaders defended Aarum, saying he has been systematically denied the right of every person in the American systemto know and confront accusers, and alleged that The Chapels leadership turned to social media influencers and the pastors of other churches to help distribute its anonymous claims., The leaders said sponsoring anonymous claims is directly counter to the Bibles specific teachings., In another documentone of seven on the siteCircle C accused the Chapel, a megachurch with an enormous budget, well over $12 million annually, of trying to acquire the Ranchs property, a very choice 315 acres of rural land, by demanding a board restructuring to exclude members of the family that began the Ranch in 1968 and has run it ever since.. Bill wanted to make sure that every building was winterized so the camp could operate year round. Miracle after Miracle, God has provided for Circle C Ranch and as long as God continues to provide, we will continue to serve Him! The camp was going to be a western town called Circle C Ranch (Circle C standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the Lord. What else might develop? They have been a team that Gdo brought together. In addition to his duties at Circle C Ranch, Aarum also currently serves as a pastor at First Baptist Church of Arcade in Wyoming County. If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site, as well as be added to our email list. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He later died in March 2020. Have questions about what happened at your last Associations Board Meeting, well this folder has the answers. The leadership of New York Christian camp Circle C Ranch defended operations director Wayne Aarum against claims that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple girls beginning decades ago, saying an internal investigation showed there was no substantial credible evidence of misconduct. Aarum and the Living Waters Ministries Inc., according to the lawsuit, had maintained a peaceful, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationship with The Chapel for more than 30 years due to the founding of the two organizations by two close friends, James Andrews at The Chapel in 1961 and Wesley Aarum Sr. at the Circle C Ranch in 1968. For months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum,and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. None agreed to interviews on the recordfor this story, and they didnot provide additional sources who would be willing to comment on the record.". An email to Wayne Aurum, and a call to attorney's in Williamsville who are representing Aurum in the defamation lawsuit were not returned Monday. Instead, he used the allegation to begin a campaign to remove Wayne Aarum from his leadership at the Circle C Ranch, because he opposed the sale of camp land to a large wind project developer from Chicago. . 1179 0 obj <>stream This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Furthermore, Taddeo and Silvarole included what could be learned about how camp leaders dealt with complaints made about Aarum: "Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. The suit is seeking more than $2.5 million in damages for "harm to reputation, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional injury," as well as an additional $625,000 in financial damages, according to court filings. While holding a crusade in Erie, PA Wes met a man named George Mckinley who asked him who was doing the plumbing for the camp? A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. For thirty years, from 1968 to 1999, the close friendship between the Andrews family and the Aarum family was important for their organizations and their personal satisfaction with their work. He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. 10614 Redmond Rd SOLD in 7 days! This website was created for residents in order to provide you with more convenience and opportunities to share ideas and information; get news and announcements; access an online resource center for important association documents and forms; join discussion forums; utilize the member directory; and much more. Return to homepage. Year Lots in the Association Lots paying full assessment . If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site. To reach the Ranch Association Executive Director Michele Brethower, click here. Nothing happened. The camp is veering from its traditional model this summer, insteadfocusing on "Family Camp Weekends" in July and August, according to information shared on its website on Monday. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Agendas will be posted in the Board Meeting Agenda folder under the Resource tab on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. 10109 Hibiscus Cove SOLD in 9 days! Some former staff said Aarum typically targeted specific girls who were pretty, slim, emotionally fragile or those who had father issues and that girls complained to staff asking for help in avoiding [Aarum]., In a March statement, The Chapels board and pastoral leadership said both their leadership and MinistrySafe have found the allegations to be credible.. The lawsuit stated that the Chapels leadership was aware of the increasing value of the property and embarked on a campaign to remove Aarum from the board of Living Waters Ministries Inc., to create a more favorable board of directors to control the Circle C Ranch Camp and the use and disposition of its land.. Ross had been a board member of Canadian Youth for Christ when Wes had been the President and was such a blessing to that ministry. As an evangelist eh spoke at many youth camps during the summer and that desire to starta a camp grew even stronger. Yet the information reporters learn has to be vetted as well as it can be, too. According to its own investigation, which included interviews with adult supervisors who oversaw youth programs in the 90s- no one saw anything inappropriate take place. He bought drugs on this website https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. Aarum, whose late father, Wes Aarum Sr., founded Circle C Ranch in 1968, previously worked as a youth pastor at Buffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. We have repeatedly requested to know who the anonymous accusations are coming from and again, with the exception of one instance, they have refused. Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle 'C' Ranch (Circle 'C' standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the . They know Mr. Aarum personally, often for decades, and they know he would never intentionally harm anyone.. If you're on the Circle C website, the camp has seven new documents that outline why they say Aarum is innocent. Bob asked when he would pay it back? For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". In . You learn and grow so much by working and camping there. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the HOA office at 512-288-8663. Read their stories. In a March 26 interview with Buffalo TV station WKBWs 7 Eyewitness News Aarum said he had not been given the opportunity to defend himself by MinistrySafe and that witnesses who supported him had not been interviewed. The letter says 27 individuals offered corroborating evidence for the 21 victims, including former Circle C employees, church leaders, and volunteers who witnessed inappropriate behaviors. It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors., She goes on to say, The notion that the allegations were planted or suggested by counselors or social workers is patently absurd.. endstream endobj 1155 0 obj <. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. "Due to Covid Restrictions we have decided to pour all of our resources into our family camp weekends," the website reads. The USA TODAY Network New York found that concerns about Aarum's behavior with girls were reported to leadership at both The Chapel and Circle C Ranch, and also to Aarum himself, at least 20 times since 1997, according to excerpts from the employee personnel file and interviews with youth group members at The Chapel, Circle C staff and pastors in the Western New York area. Email:[emailprotected] It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. Please consider becoming a digital subscriber. I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. DELEVAN, N.Y. (WKBW) Weeks after a Delevan minister and local camp director Wayne Aarum was accused of sexual misconduct by 21 former campers and staffers, the Circle C camp director has not stepped down. The details, the word choices and the extra effort to confirm facts and reach difficult-to-reach people all matter greatly. A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. In his lawsuit, Aarum accuses The Chapels Executive Pastor John A. Camardo and members of his staff of orchestrating the campaign to damage his reputation because he refuses to support the sale of some of the 315 acres of land connected with his camp to developers seeking to build a $500 million windmill project. All rights reserved. Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. For months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum, and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. How easy is it to make anonymous declarations?. Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his home, phone calls and an email to his wife.". On week ends there would be scores of men donating their time to help build the camp and Wes wife Marge was kept very busy feeding all these volunteers. During his tenure at The Chapel, pastors spoke to Aarum multiple times about his conduct with girls in the youth group, according to excerpts from Aarums employee personnel file at The Chapel. Therefore, we have chosen to follow the instructions given by the Apostle Paul in Romans 13 to use the God-appointed government institutions and have officially lodged a legal complaint against The Chapel, the camp continued. In the interests of fairness, the two reporters pursued interviews with supporters of Aarum. When requesting that we follow the guidelines for settling disputes as outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18, we were told that Matthew 18 doesnt apply. Your support allows us to continue to produce quality journalism, week in and week out. by Webmaster | Oct 20, 2014 | Board of Directors Meeting. You can also join via video conferencing (Zoom), the Zoom link can be found under the Resource tab and meetings are open to the community. When Andrew died in 1999, however, the new management at The Chapel became more expansionist and financially oriented, the suit argues. Being a 15 year old girl, newly diagnosed with leukemia, your entire world is crazy. The one thing they do not have is a childrens ministry like that, said Dekalb. The Board will send a reply through the HOA Office after the meeting. Although he considered this womans accusation to be criminal in nature, Mr. Camardo did not make a report to any law enforcement authority or encourage the woman to do so. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. A friend of Ross & Wes was a man named Bob Lowe who was a very successful businessman. Aarum left his role at The Chapel in 2000. That can be the case in the busiest of news years (ahem, 2020) or on the slowest of news days. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. "So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". That's a Christian camp for young people nearDelevan, New York, a village southeast of Buffalo and southwest of Rochester. 2023 Board of Directors Goals Now God would go to work and make this camp a reality. In her lawsuit, filed last month in Cattaraugus County under the state Child Victims Act, Snell claims Aarum, 55, touched her inappropriately between 2008 and 2015, when she was a minor, including touching her genitals, breasts and buttocks; rubbing her inner and upper thighs and pressing his pelvis into her back. Whether you are a loyal D&C reader or a new one, please know that stories like this are possible because of subscribers like you. The camps parent corporation, Living Waters Ministries, said in response: At the outset, a flat statement: Wayne Aarum, the Operations Director of the Circle C Ranch, never engaged in any of the conduct described in Ms. Norriss report.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. At least 21 women reportedly told lawyers hired by The Chapel that they were inappropriately touched by Aarum who worked with the church as one of the directors of student youth groups from 1990 to 2000. . To reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may know that they are born again. Sarah Taddeo is an enterprisereporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. He never asked for a representative on the board of directors of the Living Waters Ministries Inc. This testy relationship allegedly led one of Camardos staffers to recommend that he take up the cause of a woman who claimed Wayne Aarum had sexually harassed her while she was employed as a counselor at the Circle C Ranch camp in 2006, 13 years earlier.. Prior to 2020, when COVID-19 preventedthe camp from operating in the summer, Circle C Ranch would host grade and high school-agedchildren without their parents, according to former camp staff. Reporters also tried to contactRonald Snell,a longtime friend of Wes Aarum Sr. andCircle C board member for a short period, whowas also present at the meeting. Aarum also said in a video posted to the Circle C Ranch website this summer that he never received complaints at the time the alleged abuse occurred about his behavior in either positions he's held at The Chapel or at Circle C Ranch. Wayne Aarum, a pastor and operator of theCircle C RanchChristian camp in Delevan, who has been accused ofinappropriately touchingat least 21 teenage girls in the past, is now suingThe Chapelmegachurch over what he says are manufactured allegations against him to gain control of the camps land. It's particularly true, though, when enterprising reporters receivea good story tip and stay with it until they get to the heart of an important story that otherwise would never have been told. Just after the story published, the camp announced a change for how it will operate this summer, emphasizing the presence of families there and not individual teens. In late 2019, allegations of abuse began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. "The camp programs, which ran primarily in the summer, complemented [T]he Chapels youth programs, which ran primarily during the school year. Throughout this entire time we have done our best in trying to resolve the issues they have put forth. %%EOF He met Margaret Stevenson who had been born on a farm in Pennsylvania (which would prepare her for life at the Ranch). The board of Circle Cs parent corporation, The Living Waters Ministries and people who are close to Aarum say he is innocent of the sexual harassment claims against him. It matters in small towns. Attorney Steven Long of Williamsvillelaw firm Long & Paulo-Lee, PLLC, who represents Aarum, did not immediately return requests for comment. You can also join via video conferencing (Zoom), the Zoom link can be found under the " Resource " tab and meetings are open to the community. It all started in the heart of an evangelist named Wes Aarum. It is a credit to Taddeo's and Silvarole's reporting that they did everything humanly possible to find out more about what has occurred over the years at Circle C. Ranch. 1.) While this is not the path we had ever hoped for, we simply refuse to allow this unjust activity to continue any longer for the sake of the camp, our families, and the lives of so many we pray are yet to be impacted for good by the ministry God birthed over 53 years ago in the heart of Mr. Wes.. A USA TODAY Network Investigation found thatAarum, 55,touchedat least 16teenage girls inappropriately, according to their firsthand accounts. According to information shared on its website, Circle C Ranch said state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the sudden change in programming to include now the parents of children.
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