And at its best, local journalism reveals truths that leaders and institutions of importance would much prefer remain hidden. Victims come forward in Circle C sexual-misconduct case. . Nothing happened. In October 2020, they hired MinistrySafe founder Kimberlee Norris, who completed her investigation in December 2020. Delaware North scores with billboard with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka, well, you know Pastor accused of touching girls sues Amherst church over allegations, Watch now: Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary, Citizens travel to Peru's capitol Lima to protest against Boluarte, Senators react to the end of emergency SNAP benefits, Russia accuses U.S. of intent to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. Some of the allegations date back to 1990s, when Aarum ran a ministry program for high school students at the Chapel. Another woman wrote that the hugs were so bad that he proceeded to rub my back and hug me for an uncomfortably long time, and did not let go when I tried to pull away.. 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.. The smart way to start your day. Girls, now women, who participated in the investigation said that the behaviors became so normalized that they assumed others, including parents and ministry leaders, knew and approved, Norris wrote in her letter to the state office. ", "I'm not sure who's saying it and what they're referring to," he said. But the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team heard from multiple women who said they were not included in the MinistrySafe investigation, which examined claims stretching as far back as the 1990s, and who said their allegations stem from a time at Circle C Ranch between 2000 and 2016. ORIGINAL STORY:. In late 2019, allegations of abuse against Aarum 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. Bob asked what it was for? I think she and other survivors felt responsible to bring it to light., The former employee said she never recognized Aarums interaction with girls as inappropriate while she worked there as a teen. They spoke to Aarum, who denied any wrongdoing, according to the Chapel's statement. 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. It finally became a reality when in 1968 he found the property where God wanted him to start that camp. That was of the Lord. Aarum has denied any wrongdoing, and he told his congregation in April that he never intended to offend anyone with his remarks or actions. 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. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Thursday, April 8, 2021. At 18 years of age he was the lifeguard at Pine brook, a very unique teen camp in Pennsylvania whose founder was Percy Crawford. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. They initiated the whole process because she wanted [him] not to be able to work with kids anymore. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Delaware North scores with billboard with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka, well, you know Police release names of victims in Millersport Highway crash in Amherst, Man accused of fatally shooting co-worker arraigned on second-degree murder charge, Buffalo Police with search warrant seize drugs, guns, arrest four, 5 years after Buffalo Diocese sex abuse scandal erupted, victims still waiting for compensation, Two men arrested in the Southtowns after chase and search, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary, Citizens travel to Peru's capitol Lima to protest against Boluarte, Senators react to the end of emergency SNAP benefits, Russia accuses U.S. of intent to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. read more Filed Under: Church 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. In addition, a contemporaneous writing provided evidence that the behaviors were previously reported to camp leadership. The state's rules allow for the camps to operate with different restrictions for the vaccinated and unvaccinated, with campers over the age of five required to wear masks and maintain social distancing in most situations. It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. He previously has said that Chapel leaders were not seeking to take control of the Circle C Ranch board or the camp property. as part of a USA TODAY Network New York investigation, These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Pastor accused of abusing teens sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At one point in the meeting, Randy Fancher, a former trustee of the Circle C Ranch, said the camps board hired an attorney more than a year ago to investigate an allegation against Wayne Aarum. Powered by Kenny & Elle Campbell and friends of victims of abuse. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Chapel in Amherst said it cut ties with the Circle C Ranch following an internal investigation by a Texas lawyer that found Wayne Aarum hadengaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviors, such as stroking the legs and touching the clothed breasts and genital areas of young women and teenage girls. $10- ages 10+ $5- ages under 10 He assured them they wouldnt see this behavior again, she said. Campbell declined to comment further when contacted by The News. 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. Norris runs MinistrySafe, which provides training and screening to prevent child sex abuse in churches, camps, youth sports and other settings. I think she is in a place in her life where shes ready to come forward, the former employee said. The allegations also were referred to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating, according to Sgt. Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. In one letter, the board accused the Chapels executive pastor, John Camardo, of defamation. The Ranch owed (Snell) a heightened, fiduciary duty of care because they held themselves out as being able to provide a safe and secure environment for children, the lawsuit read. 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. When you are a leader of a church and somebody comes to you and says somebody on your staff abused kids while he was on your staff, what would you expect him to do? the speaker said. Sticht, who said she worked at the summer camp from 2000 to 2003, said she witnessed Aarum hug a girl in a way that his fingers would be touching the underwire of her bra., Id see Wayne touching these girls, exactly the ones we knew he would, at the rock climbing wall, Stitch said. He was born in Buffalo, NY into a godly family and at 17 years of age accepted Christ into his life. Wayne Aarum and his wife, Julie, in an interview with WKBW-TV about allegations that Wayne Aarum inappropriately touched girls and young women while a youth minister at The Chapel and at Circle C Ranch, a Christian camp he runs in Delevan. She was saved as a teenager, went to Buffalo and became a Registered Nurse. Oh, and if you have a good story tip, on any subject, please let us know. I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer, and Jerry Gillis, lead pastor at The Chapel, discuss the allegations against Wayne Aarum. Little id any of us realize what a blessing that would be, as the Winter Snow Camps have brought in thousands of campers with hundreds of them accepting Christ.. Chelsea Carnahan, 28, recounted how Aarum would stroke her back and hair, hold her hand and touch her legs during one-on-one counseling sessions and talks when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. Call our office at: (716) 492-3687. I found each of the women to be credible; patterns of predatory behavior emerged and grew more egregious as time passed. That man was Mr. Ross Barker a businessman from Toronto. all you can eat pancakes, eggs, juice, and coffee. After article publication, the law firm has been inundated with calls and emails from additional fact witnesses and victims. Instead, Chapel leaders offered to share information gathered in the course of the investigation IF Circle C undertook an independent investigation in good faith. Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the. 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. Both of the local jurisdictions that were contacted in this investigation had determined that, given the passage of time (in some cases) or the nature of non-criminal allegations (in others), the allegations are not believed to be subject to criminal prosecution, they stated on The Chapel website. The longtime director of a Christian youth camp in Delevan is refusing to step down despite complaints that he inappropriately touched young women and girls at the camp and when he was a youth pastor in the 1990s at one of the areas largest churches. Kimberlee Norris, the co-founder of Ministry Safe, a Christian sexual misconduct investigative and prevention service, , said 21 women told her in interviews Aarum had touched them inappropriately, with incidents dating back to when he was a youth minister at. As an evangelist eh spoke at many youth camps during the summer and that desire to starta a camp grew even stronger. The former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared retribution from Aarums family, said the woman came forward because Aarum still has access to kids through his work at Circle C Ranch. To make a donation,click here. This helps build confidence among readers inthe validity of the work. The News reported in April on the allegations and Chapel investigation. He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. Georgie Silvarole/USA TODAY Network New York People reported his alleged behavior to camp officials and church leaders over 20 times since 1997. Email us at: info@circlecranch.org. Wayne Aarum, pastor accused of abusing teens, sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. "So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". What else might develop? Reach him at mkilian@gannett.com. A USA TODAY Network Investigation found thatAarum, 55,touchedat least 16teenage girls inappropriately, according to their firsthand accounts. We have reporters standing by. The attorney advised that Aarum step down as president and camp director, but the board didnt follow through on that advice, said Fancher, who no longer is on the camps board. As you've read, Taddeo and Silvarole spent months speaking to 16 women who described inappropriate and uncomfortable encounters with the man who hasbeen camp director or president for many years at Circle C Ranch. Im not anonymous, she said. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. For many years, The Chapel, a popular nondenominational megachurch with several offshoot congregations, encouraged families to send their children to Circle C Ranch. I think some of it, as an adult looking back, it crossed a line, she said. According to a report released by Ministry Safe, Wayne Aarum engaged in the following illicit activities: -stroking legs (outside clothing and on bare skin), -touching vaginal area- outside clothing (in shorts or jeans), -touching, rubbing and stroking breasts, outside clothing, -stroking from hips to breasts, clothed, on the side of the body, -pressing penis into back of girl (hugging from behind), -rubbing penis repeatedly in a girls presence, -extended hug of a partially dressed girl. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. 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.. 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