Drew’s Account of Bullying and Denial of Rights by the PSU
This has been the most soul destroying, emotionally depleting ordeal of our lives and has rendered me unemployable in my life long calling to ministry. We still pray and trust that God will grant me the opportunity to defend myself against the complaints leveled against me.
In November 2012, we were on the verge of committing to work at a Christian Camp in Queensland. Our passion for frontline evangelism was rekindled and we were excited about the future. We contacted those we regarded as friends and supporters, and were stunned by the response of one of these supposed allies. He, AS, emailed us that he had been talking to the PSU, did not want me in ministry and would not talk to us. As there had been no prior indication from him this was devastating. Hope turned to dismay and I contacted the PSU and arranged to meet with them to discuss the concerns raised in vague generalisations by AS in his email. In the meantime, with the encouragement of the PSU AS canvassed everyone he knew via email and Facebook telling them about his accusations and calling for others to come forward and join him in his complaint. Ultimately there was one other, AW whose complaint was taken up also by the PSU. Two others were related to the first complainant and their complaints did not concern the PSU.
This first meeting was not a discussion but an ambush. On the morning of the meeting, the PSU Director turned the concerns of the two complainants into his own version of complaints. He wrote them, he signed them and he delivered them to us at that meeting. They have refused to provide a document signed by the complainants. Prior to the meeting, I asked if Pip could come with me. The Director reluctantly agreed but said “Don’t bring anyone else”. This is against all standards of basic legal procedure; I wish I knew then, what I know now. He also told me that there were no complaints, only a few issues in the file that we could discuss on the day.
Lies and deception, with a large dose of incompetency thrown in!
We would have fared better with the Police, because they would have conducted the meeting with transparency, according to an established set of rules, allowing me legal representation.
The unprofessional and underhanded way in which this and subsequent meetings were run by the PSU (who in most peoples’ assessment, represent the Christian church), is incomprehensible. We were confronted with not one Director but two, not issues in our file, but complaints, not discussion but interrogation. I should have walked out then and there, but their deception included setting themselves up as being on our side as well.
The PSU have rules, which they call the Discipline Ordinance, but whether or not they use them is up to the Director’s discretion. Yet, they would hold me accountable to them.
According to their rules, I should have been advised to seek legal counsel. I was not. I should have been given at least 21 days to respond. I was not. There should have been an independent investigation. There was not. I only know this now because I have read their rules. I was naïve, gullible and unprepared. Now I am not!
Both the PSU directors harassed and hounded me for further details of the activities raised in the complaints. They did this while applying their own interpretations of abuse onto my answers. I was in complete shock, unable to defend myself and by the end of their assault, unwilling to defend myself. I entered that meeting foolishly thinking that the PSU, as a Christian organisation, would help me reconcile to my brother. I left that meeting believing that I was such a deplorable person that I should never have entered the ministry. This is nothing short of abuse, by those who are supposed to defend the abused!
No “innocent until proven guilty” in the PSU.
That night I wrote two “unqualified apologies” with the words of the PSU ringing in my head, “This is the best thing for the complainants and will stop them moving to a charge”. I sent them the next morning. I didn’t care anymore, because my head was also filled with plans to suicide. The only job in my life to which I had been totally dedicated, had been taken from me and I saw no purpose for my future.
These apologies were all the PSU needed to declare me guilty.
As I have said, during this time, the PSU had also granted permission for AS to conduct his own investigation via email / Facebook. What a surprise that this led to gossip!
To “put an end to the gossip” they had created, the PSU informed me that an announcement would have to be made at my former church. Having been told that this announcement was simply to inform the parishioners that a complaint had been made, I agreed to this and even offered to be the one to make such an announcement. But the PSU had an entirely different agenda. They sent me the draft, which declared much more than just the existence of a complaint. Then, on the day of the announcement, the PSU informed me that they had added the words “grooming behavior”. I physically collapsed. I now understand that they felt they had to label my actions, to justify their expeditious conclusions of guilt.
My “apologies”, made under extreme duress, aimed at reconciling with the complainants, were now the grounds for public humiliation.
In the PSU’s words to my Bishop, the issue was then “done and dusted” in their view. Instead of working for the Diocese, they suggested that we return to our ministry in Queensland, as they were an independent board, or possibly work for another denomination or in another state. Clearly, they did not see me as being a threat to children. But for the sake of their reputation, they were prepared to condemn me without a fair trial.
Once we had had time to reflect and pray over all that had happened and the growing rumors in the Christian community, we decided we could not lie down and play dead.
We were now aware that in the highly sensitive environment of the Royal Commission on abuse, that the PSU’s real agenda was to present itself as an organisation aggressively prosecuting offenders. The PSU is prepared to sacrifice a few vulnerable innocents to present themselves as “zero intolerant” to sexual abusers. But it is reprehensible to act as though the ends justify the means.
None of the concerns listed in the complaints written by the PSU Director, allege sexual abuse or harm. Having no investigator’s report to send to the Police and the CCYP, the PSU Director sent his version of the complaints and my apologies.
Even with these primary documents, the police have never considered it worthy of investigation or charge. When I contacted them, the Chief Inspector of the NSW Sex Crimes Division said that if I decided to return to working with children all that would be required would be a “conversation” with them.
The PSU Director’s response to our complaint against his failure to follow the Ordinance, was to pass the responsibility to the Professional Standards Committee. They in turn have notified us that the case will be proceeding to their Tribunal. It would seem that their aim now is to break us financially through excessive legal costs and when they have found us guilty of their charges against us, to officially ignore the substantial complaint we have submitted to the Archbishop against them. Insult upon injury and tactics even pagan lawyers could not adopt!
I am deeply saddened that someone I regarded as a ministry colleague would be so deceived by the PSU that he would become my enemy.
I am distraught that the Youth Ministry to which I dedicated the best years of my life, would now have a pedophile reputation.
I am heartbroken that the church and parish I loved, now sees me as someone who manipulated the gospel for sinister means.
I am utterly demoralized that the rumors that the PSU has spread have caused such irreparable damage to my personal ministry reputation.
I am furious, that an organisation seen to represent the church sees fit to destroy marriages, families and ministries merely to cover their own incompetency of the past.
And I deeply mourn the eternal consequences for those youth who may turn from their faith because of this situation.
The PSU has failed in its duty to uphold the innocent and we need to hold them accountable. We have tried in every way possible to do this for over a year.
We need help to strengthen our “voice”.
Please read more on this website. Please write to the Archbishop:
Archbishop Glenn Davies
St Andrew’s House, Sydney Square, PO Box Q190, QVB Post Office NSW 1230
Please post a blog.
Please keep us in your prayers.
Drew