Posted on 12/16/2020 6:27:28 AM PST by SeekAndFind
An apologist with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries is calling for repentance and "reparations" in response to how accusations of misconduct and other scandals were handled.
In a five-page letter addressed to RZIM leadership, Max Baker-Hytch, a senior tutor with the ministry's Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and a lecturer at Wycliffe Hall in England, wrote that he was troubled by how the organization responded to the misrepresentation of the deceased apologist's academic credentials and sexting allegations involving Lori Anne Thompson, a Canadian woman, both of which were first reported in 2017. The letter also mentioned more recent allegations that Zacharias had sexually harassed several massage therapists at day spas that he co-owned.
The letter was sent last week and an anonymous RZIM employee leaked the letter to independent investigative journalist Julie Roys, who noted Saturday that Baker-Hytch confirmed that the letter was indeed authentic though he declined to discuss the matter further on the record.
Baker-Hytch asked RZIM to make "meaningful reparations" to the alleged victims and radically change the culture of the ministry.
Regarding the credential misrepresentation, he said the ministry had exhibited "slowness and reluctance to set the public record straight, which finally happened only after a great amount of external pressure was brought to bear on the issue.”
Even when the ministry issued a public statement it did not take enough responsibility for the errors, Baker-Hytch said, adding that it was embarrassing to him, as an academic. The late apologist never earned a doctoral degree though he was conferred several honorary doctorates and some members of the RZIM staff possess doctorates.
Regarding Zacharias' interactions with Thompson, Baker-Hytch said the ministry withheld information and that "shifting narratives" about what happened pervaded the handling of the matter, noting that leadership asserted that Thompson and her husband were attempting to extort money from the ministry.
Additionally, he continued, a December 2017 update to staff from the RZIM president claimed that no money had been exchanged between Zacharias and the Thompsons when, in truth, Zacharias had paid the couple $250,000 as part of a settlement in a lawsuit against the Canadian couple a few months earlier.
In a statement to Roys on Saturday, Sarah Davis, the CEO of RZIM and the eldest daughter of the late apologist, said the accusations against Zacharias have "naturally resulted in some internal angst and questions.”
“In addition to finding the truth, that is why RZIM has commissioned Miller & Martin to conduct an independent investigation and is awaiting its conclusion,” she added, noting that the organization is committed to releasing the findings of the investigation upon its completion.
The investigation, however, is only limited to what happened at the day spas, and nothing to do with Thompson, Roys reported.
RZIM defended its handling of the Thompson matter in a statement emailed to The Christian Post in late September, asserting that while Zacharias should have immediately disclosed the fact that Thompson sent inappropriate photographs to him, "he denied any sexually or romantically inappropriate conduct. [And] stood by that statement until his death."
His denial is consistent with the character of the man we knew and worked alongside for years," the ministry added at the time.
Baker-Hytch also said in his letter that the immediate denial that the spa allegations were true was "hugely damaging" since two Christian publications followed up with stories verifying the identities of the victims. He explained that RZIM President Michael Ramsden and Senior Vice President Abdu Murray had remarked during an October Zoom call that they thought the victims were either not credible or nonexistent and appeared to liken what was happening to Zacharias to the false charges the Apostle Paul faced in Acts 17.
“If there is even the faintest hint of a self-preservation or damage control mentality in our response to all of this, not only will that be wholly futile but it will prolong the agony we are enduring. Drastic and deeply humbling steps will be required in order to demonstrate to the world that we are serious about rebuilding our institutional culture from the ground up,” Baker-Hytch concluded his letter, stressing the necessity of organizational repentance.
“The reality is that Ravi’s reputation is in tatters; but his legacy — this team — need not be. ... If we choose to act justly and do the right things, we could become known as the gold standard for how to recover from a tragic situation such as this and move forward in a way that beautifully demonstrates the faith we commend.”
I will be following this ... sort of.
Scripture is so clear - a pastor and/or elder must be BEYOND REPROACH.
And this: discipline is to be handled according to Scripture and within the Body of Christ (I think that means “local church”).
I suppose I should be providing proof texts.
That is all I can think of for now.
The pastor has died and can no longer defend himself. His “team” seems to want to benefit financially from whatever goodwill is left in the name.
Advice: either close the ministry or turn it over to family, or whoever, will defend it. Those proclaiming to be shocked at the gambling that was going on should set up shop in their own name and do their good work there.
The March of Dimes was just too good of a fundraising machine for staff to close it when a cure for polio was found.
Send me just $19.95 a month so that I can help disabled veterans of the Spanish-American War.
My first question is why in the first place would a teacher of Christianity hire massage practitioners in a new age setting like a "day spa"?
I am a believer in therapeutic medical massage for things like orthopedic or sports injuries, etc.; but quite obviously the "natural healing" field is ripe for exploitation by infiltrators and temptations by the participants, whether staff or customers. Why in the world did he think he could skate around the possible pitfalls?
Wasn’t the Liberty Univesity guy also a part owner in a Day Spa/Gay resort?
I liked Ravi. But is concerning.
Clearly a serious, ongoing, deep sin going on there. Tarnishing what had been a very good ministry.
No sense candy coating it. Something rotten was in Denmark.
I have some (humanly speaking) sympathy for boards of directors in these cases. I can imagine the thinking: “He is an excellent teacher. He has done so much good. So many wonderful people are employed here. If there was a scandal, what would happen to them? If we let this out all the good that has been done will be destroyed. So many will be harmed! Better to cover it up.”
It’s a seductive line of reasoning. But sadly it must be discarded. Even though, short term, you are harming a lot of people - it is not you harming them. It is Ravi.
You Persevero seem to think the proof is there. Can you show me what I am missing?
A teacher with multiple honorary doctorates was called “doctor”.
A $250K settlement was paid to the Thompsons.
Ravi was part owner of day spas.
Other actual facts?
It seems the day spa was openly very new age and non christian in its stated philosophy and objectives. Nothing that as a Christian I would partake in let alone run. That’s not a rumor.
And there are copies of texts or messages to the woman in question from Ravi that are quite condemning. This is also hard evidence.
I believe the board or members thereof have confirmed the $250,000 was a hush money payoff. Money ill spent as I guess now she is talking. Money from loyal supporters used this way I suppose. Although one could say perhaps from sales of books and such, perhaps also from loyal supporters.
I have not followed the situation avidly but did read a long article on things when they first came out. No denials I am aware of.
Thanks!
Ping to CP.
I recently found CP’s old thread, and was shocked at some of the replies. I got a lot out of RVIM, but to be honest allegations like this must be investigated and handled immediately.
In my role in various organizations, we have some quite clear lines of responsibility for mandatory reporting. I also have a few of my own. One is “No organization is worth a soul”.
Thank you freeper “redgolum” for the above update and ping. Pinging the posters from prior thread about investigations into the Ravi Zacharias scandals.
$250K would be considered very little compared to even what a false allegation would cause as far as bad publicity for the ministry. It could be argued it was paid even if the allegation was false. All these stories have a intentional purpose behind them — the liberals/non-Christians benefit from bringing down Ravi, even posthumously as his talks and work and books are still influential.
Maybe you should stop getting all your news from CNN.
Really? Do you feel the the billions of allegations against President Trump needs to be "investigated and handled immediately"?
LMFAO.
Agreed it could just be hush and Ravi could be innocent from that one piece of “evidence.”
The article I read was not from cnn but from a Christian site, lamenting the revelations. I think perhaps the Christian post. Read it a few months ago but remember it because I was so shocked.
It outlined not only the payment, but regrets from the board or board members, and copies of texts from Ravi to the woman in question.
No need to be hostile about it. I don’t hate Ravi. I was shocked. I have some sympathy for the board but think they ultimately did the wrong thing here.
For one thing they disserved Ravi. He could have profited from exposure rather than being enabled about it.
A recent thorough article in many of the issues including links to the pretty condemning email here:
https://world.wng.org/2020/10/new_sexual_misconduct_claims_surface_about_ravi_zacharias
World Magazine is a long-standing Christian publication. Not cnn
I read through he whole article. It’s based largely on a story by Christianity Today, which is a anti-Trump, anti-Christian publication (therefore “CNN” is quite accurate).
The article is based almost entirely on unnamed sources, except for one woman who seems was fired in 2012. She waits 8 years until Ravi can’t defend himself to make allegations, none of it witnessed, based on one unnamed employee.
As to the Canadian couple, they were trying to cash in on $5 million. No one has actual texts nor email that Ravi sent, as apparently these were “deleted” to “protect” him.
Stop listening to CNN. And in case you don’t understand, CNN is not literally just CNN. It’s a metaphor for leftist media. And in case you didn’t know, “long standing Christian” publication or organization has little meaning nowadays. World Vision is radical Israel hating LGBTQ supporting. I’d say more than 80% of supposed “Christian” organizations are similar.
World Magazine is not Christianity Today is not CNN
the emails are pretty convincing.
Disbelieve them if you want. He did not break a civil law and he is dead, anyway. He can’t be put on trial. The Lord knows. I don’t hate the man.
You mean the emails that the Canadian woman “deleted” that somehow her sister got? We don’t even get a copy of the email — we’re told supposedly what they say.
You “don’t hate the man”. Damning with faint praise much?
Or does your liberal Bible instead twist the words of Jesus that it’s enough to “not hate”, instead of loving your neighbor. You’re missing another sermon by Rob Bell.
By the way, World Magazine would never run a negative article on Rob Bell nor Brian McLaren, I guarantee it.
Also, read the article you linked. It quotes extensively from “Christianity” Today, and is based almost entirely on their premise.
Therefore, I return to my first response to you, which I hope you’ll be able to process a bit more astutely than literally. For you own good:
Stop watching CNN.
Or maybe being in complete denial of the spa scandals is like denying voter fraud took place?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.