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News and Ideas from around the Anglican World |
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Autumn 2007
Former students allege abuse at Grenville Christian CollegeSchool linked with Anglican Church accused of cult practices
Three of the five headmasters were Anglican priests: Rev. Al Haig in the early 1970’s, Rev. Charles Farnsworth, 71, of Brockville, for two decades until 1997 and Rev. Gordon Mintz for the last two years.
The school closed suddenly on Aug. 1 after 37 years as a private Christian boarding school citing “changing demographics, declining enrollment and increasing operating costs.”
Grenville offered grades JK-12 on a 264-acre campus overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It charged up to $35,000 for tuition and board.
On Sept. 6 the chairman of the school’s board of directors, Canon Geoff Jackson, offered a personal apology to any student who had suffered abuse.
Former students are discussing on an internet site the psychological trauma that they say resulted from their time at Grenville. Several were also interviewed by the Globe and Mail.
Many told of being ordered from their beds in the middle of the night and subjected to “light sessions” in which they would be made to sit in a dark room with a bright light shining on their face. They were to confess their sins to teachers and staff whom they couldn’t see. Ruth Buddington, 33, says she was also shown the flames of the boiler room and told they were the flames of hell.
The school had links to a cult known as the Community of Jesus in Massachusetts. The community’s founders, Mother Cay Andersen and Mother Judy Soerenson, lived at Grenville for several months in 1973. Staff children feared being shipped off to the community in Massachusetts while other children, like Ruth Buddington, were sent up to Brockville from the Massachusetts cult.
A British student, Andrew Hale-Byrne, told of being forced to take part in an exorcism in the school chapel in the middle of the night. Richard Van Dusen reported that he was held down by one teacher while being beaten bloody by another with a heavy wooden object. Michael Phelan, a professional musician, said he was forbidden from playing the piano by staff because it would make him “haughty.”
Girls who had long hair were apparently told by staff that they were Jezebels while staff would check girls’ wardrobes to make sure they only wore modest clothes.
Joan Childs who worked at the school for 30 years posted an apology on the internet: “What was done to people at GCC was very wrong. I was very wrong. And I am so sorry for all the hurt that was caused to each of you by me and by all of us in positions of leadership.”
Joan Childs’ daughter, Mel Childs McDaniel, 30, was a former student. She told the Globe and Mail that the school divided into two communities: the overseas students and wealthy students from Ontario, and then the children with behavioural problems and the children of staff, almost all of whom belonged to the Community of Jesus. McDaniel claimed that the staff children were treated the most harshly. They were removed from their parents and assigned to live with other staff who could randomly punish them.
The school flew the Anglican flag and held compulsory Anglican worship services. A former bishop sat on the school’s board of directors. Bishops and even a Primate had dedicated new buildings.
The school was not under the control of the church, but priests at the school were licensed as clergy by the diocesan bishop. Bishop Bruce told the Globe and Mail that his diocese “at no time had any contractual or de facto responsibility or control over the operations.”
Wayne Varley, the diocesan executive officer, told the Anglican Planet that Grenville was “its own legal entity and had no legal connection or relationship with the diocese, just as the diocese was its own legal entity.” The school and diocese, however, had a “pastoral relationship.” A bishop would, at the invitation of the college, officiate at Confirmation services in the school chapel or offer a prayer at graduation.
“While the diocese could investigate Anglican clergy at the school, the diocese would not have jurisdiction over the rest of the staff at Grenville,” Varley said. “They were hired by Grenville and were accountable to Grenville.”
Retired Bishop Peter Mason told the Globe and Mail that he was asked to advise some staff in 2001 about psychological trauma in the religious community that ran the school and its “spiritually misguided experiences of the last 20 years” as one former staff member wrote him. But Mason told the Globe that at no time was he aware that students were abused.
Mason said he had a “pastoral but not canonical relationship” with the school when he was Bishop of the Diocese of Ontario. He said he was aware that staff had been subjected to “light sessions” but not students.
Varley did not know if Bishop Bruce would consult his predecessor.
Bishop Bruce was accepting any written correspondence (including email) that was in the first person and signed. About a dozen letters had arrived by press time “alleging misconduct against two clergy of the Diocese of Ontario” and Bishop Bruce along with the Chancellor [legal advisor] of the Diocese has begun discussions with some complainants “to clarify the substance of their allegations.”
On Sept. 7 Bishop Bruce issued a letter saying: “In accordance with the Canons [laws] of the Diocese which relate to discipline and misconduct (Canon 35) I have begun a process of inquiry.” He would notify anyone against whom a complaint had been made “of the substance of the allegations and allow a response if they wish. The complainant is informed of any response. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response the process may continue with a face-to-face meeting between the parties. Advisors may be present. My decision will then follow.”
At any point in the process Bishop Bruce has the discretion to refer the matter to the Diocesan Court and remove himself from the process until the Court has reached a decision and recommended action. Action could range from an admonition to “deprivation of the office and ministry” of a priest.
Bruce wrote that “as chief pastor of the Diocese of Ontario I want you to know that this matter is being dealt with seriously and that I will do my utmost to respect the dignity and privacy of all involved.”
At press time no civil or criminal action has been taken against the diocese. Varley said it was “early stages” and he didn’t know if the diocese would be sued.
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(Staff)
The Bishop of Ontario, George Bruce, has begun investigating
allegations that Anglican clergy engaged in cult practices, physical
abuse and sexual improprieties at Grenville Christian College in
Brockville, a school in his diocese.|
Copyright The Anglican Planet © 2007 |