I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. Im not anonymous, she said. Bill wanted to make sure that every building was winterized so the camp could operate year round. Its all lightweight stuff theyre bringing up anyway, Dekalb said. 3,832 were here. Other alleged inappropriate behaviors are mentioned in the report. He has consistently denied all of the allegations against him. It made me mad watching the interview., Aarum, reached by phone denies that and all the allegations, saying again he wants the opportunity to talk with "anyone who has a problem with him. A copy of the report, which was obtained by 7 Eyewitness News, stated: In the course of the MinistrySafe investigation, these behaviors were communicated: -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", The report stated that 27 people came forward to corroborate some of the alleged behaviors, including hand rubbing inside of thighfailing to honor preference NOT to be touched and meeting 1/1 with girls late into the night.. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. 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. I can honestly say no.. That always raises the risk that someone will find the teacher to be too close for comfort. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his home, phone calls and an email to his wife.". He assured them they wouldnt see this behavior again, she said. It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. Click here to read the full statement from The Chapel. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. Wes Aarum recently resigned from the Chapel after declining to step down from the Circle C Ranch board, according to a transcript of a meeting Camardo had with church members in January. The work poses many challenges. Aarums denials prompted Elle Campbell to post on Twitter that she was one of the 21+ victims and 27+ corroborators who were interviewed for Norris report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The accused, Wayne Aarum, is the director of Circle C Ranch camp in Delevan, New York. You have permission to edit this article. Wes said he didnt know. 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. Wayne Aarum, pastor accused of abusing teens, sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. The Chapel has thousands of members on its rolls and helped launched several other congregations in Western New York. Michael Kilian is executive editor of the Democrat and Chronicle. 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. Aarum said that he met a year ago with John Camardo, executive pastor at The Chapel, and Camardo told him that he was accused of abuse of spiritual authority and inappropriate interactions but refused to more clearly define those charges. My youth group never went back to Circle C.. This was maybe 12 or so years ago. Please consider becoming a digital subscriber. That man was Mr. Ross Barker a businessman from Toronto. It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. Instead, Chapel leaders offered to share information gathered in the course of the investigation IF Circle C undertook an independent investigation in good faith. Other inappropriate behaviors allegedly occurred during his time as Circle C Ranch director since 2000, although none of the complaints related to behavior within the past five years. 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. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage $14,800. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. A friend of Ross & Wes was a man named Bob Lowe who was a very successful businessman. A former camper and staff member at Circle C Ranch,a Christian camp in Cattaraugus County, has filed a lawsuit against the camp and its president, Wayne Aarum, accusing Aarum of grooming and sexually victimizing her between the ages of 9 and 16. In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. Circle "C" Ranch is a christian youth camp about an hour south of Buffalo New York, the setting is very unique in the fact that it is themed in the 18 See more It matters in suburbs. As Ross Barker said, without Marge we would have never made it. How true! Aarum said in his lawsuit that the relationship between the church and the camp began to cool after the death of church founder James Andrews in 1999 and the start of a more expansionist and financially oriented management of the church under new Lead Pastor Jerry Gillis. 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. Missed chances:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. Camps are also required to collect information about the vaccination status of each camper and staff member, and perform health screenings upon arrival. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. 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. Aarum denied such behavior last week, saying, I can tell you right now I never did thatand I would love an opportunity to talk to them.. 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. Daryl Dekalb, a Circle C board director, says that Aarum is a True Christian. Last week, Aarum filed a civil lawsuit against The Chapel alleging defamatory statements. Wes held a crusade in Montana and there God gave him 2 men, Ken Strait & Russ Alexander who were great with horses and hammers and they came east to help build the camp. While at that camp Wes got to thinking that maybe someday he would be able to start a camp where young people could come to know Christ. 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. I have never had any sexual interaction with anyone other than my wife. 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. If I have offended you, I will apologize, he said during a church service in April. Bob asked how much interest? https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. 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. Aarum, who was a youth pastor at The Chapel, a large Buffalo-area church, and later the camp president at Circle C Ranch, a Christian camp in rural Cattaraugus County, was a well-known. Read the original investigation: These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Aarum sues The Chapel: Pastor accused of abusing teens sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. When the camp went to pay Bob back he made it a gift to the ministry. Im not the type of person to spread things around just to ruin someone, she said. I am who I am. It matters in small towns. 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. Speaking the truth to a difficult situation can be met with hostility, fear, and a wide variety of other responses., The boards own investigative report also suggested that the unidentified women cited in Norris report may have misinterpreted Aarums gestures of good will because of a common type of trauma in their past that makes them ultra-sensitive to certain kinds of verbal Bible teaching or certain physical actions such as hugs that are entirely appropriate and not at all offensive to other women in the same circumstances.. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. As an evangelist eh spoke at many youth camps during the summer and that desire to starta a camp grew even stronger. The change comes less than a week after publication of aUSA TODAY Networkinvestigation, which found that the camp's director, WayneAarum, fostered improper relationships and touchedat least 16teenage girls inappropriately, some on multiple occasions, according to their firsthand accounts. I have zero recollection of that. The allegations also were referred to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating, according to Sgt. No, he said when asked whether he ever touched anyone inappropriately. It is very difficult to do this kind of work successfully from across the room. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how thisinvestigation was conducted and who conducted it. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Circle C Ranch has provided a written response on its website in response to these allegations. We've seen nothing, heard nothing, and they're operating from an anonymous standpoint with everybody, and we believe they have an agenda to take over the ranch," Dekalb added. She said upon receiving the letter that was sent by MinistrySafe to survivors on Sunday, she has been sick to my stomach ever since.. 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. Norris also wrote to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services with a list of dozens of inappropriate actions alleged against Aarum, including entering cabins without knocking or announcing himself, while girls were changing clothes; meeting alone with girls in his office after lights out; whispering intimate statements to girls, such as I love you and You are so beautiful; and giving back massages that included rubbing of girls buttocks. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Three days after sexual misconduct allegations were raised about a Cattaraugus County youth camp director -- allegations the camp director denied -- additional women have come forward to say that they either witnessed or experienced as teenagers inappropriate sexual contact by Wayne Aarum. He also currently serves as pastor of theFirst Baptist Church of Arcade, New York. 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. 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Litigator 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 The Chapel at Crosspoint, a megachurch in the Buffalo area. Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer, and Jerry Gillis, lead pastor at The Chapel, discuss the allegations against Wayne Aarum. Aarums lawsuit was filed by Amherst attorneys Steven K. Long and Olivia T. Paulo-Lee on Wednesday, the same day the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle published a detailed account quoting several other women who alleged inappropriate contact. 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. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. Former Chapel minister, Circle C youth camp director denies sexual misconduct 3,079 views Mar 26, 2021 A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular Cattaraugus. Aarum left his role at The Chapel in 2000. The church hired Norris last October to investigate. I dont want anyone else to have to go through what I went through. It was decided that he should be contacted and asked for a loan of $30,000. 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.. And at its best, local journalism reveals truths that leaders and institutions of importance would much prefer remain hidden. Bob asked what it was for? 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. ONE WEEK OF SUMMER CAMP Circle C Ranch 2023 Rate $345 WEEK 1: July 10th-15th (Monday - Saturday) WEEK 2: July 17th-22nd (Monday - Saturday) All meals included All lodging included All activities included REGISTER HERE FOR THE BEST WEEK EVER! 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.. 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. I dont want any more children to be affected. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. Investigation: 16 women say this pastor and camp president abused them. An alleged victim who is now 25 and who said she was heavily involved at Circle C said, He would sit next to me and put his hand on my leg and rub my inner thigh and outer thigh. According to a report . In one letter, the board accused the Chapels executive pastor, John Camardo, of defamation. In school, our teachers told us to "show our math," or how we worked out a problem. 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. Aarum has repeatedly denied any allegations of inappropriate conduct. 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. Click here to read the full statement from The Chapel. 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. 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. The investigation yielded an extraordinary amount of corroborating evidence from third party sources, most of whom were former staff members. They know Mr. Aarum personally, often for decades, and they know he would never intentionally harm anyone.. Multiple women told the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team that Aarum would sometimes touch intimate areas and would grab their bra straps. 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? The Chapel also hired MinistrySafe, an independent legal firm that looks into abuse allegations in Christian settings, to investigate allegations that abuse occurred at The Chapel in the 1990s. 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. I dont want any more children to come through his camp.. I still dont know, although they have accused me and pretty much condemned me, I dont know what Im accused of, Aarum said. It is important for you to know that both The Chapel leadership and MinistrySafe have found the allegations to be credible, and we continue to stand with those who have courageously come forward, Chapel leadership said Friday in a statement posted to the churchs website. We never saw anything even approaching this.. That was of the Lord. 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. The board which consists of Wayne Aarum, his brother, Wes, and Daryl Dekalb posted a 34-page report on the camp's website, along with a response to Norris report and various statements objecting to the Chapels actions. I remember a lot of hugs lasting a little too long.. There is absolutely no credibility to any of these things, Dekalb said. "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. For an overview of the site and a few ideas as to how it can help save you time and get you connected with your community, click About Our Website. Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister at, in Getzville, New York, current pastor of. Aarum, 54, denied the allegations and has refused to step down as camp president. Its common for women as they get along in lifeto see how their lives are not going well and when they sit down, like with a social workerand they start hearing stuff from a social worker that says to them, Well, have you ever had something in your life where maybe this is set off, the condition that youre in now? I mean, none of these women had any complaints at all until they were contacted by this group and suggestions were made to them.. WHAT TO BRING: WHAT NOT TO BRING: So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. 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. 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. 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. The News reported in April on the allegations and Chapel investigation. After Bible School, University and Seminary Wes went full time into the Lords work. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. Keeping his hands on their bodies way too long when it wasnt necessary at all.. She was saved as a teenager, went to Buffalo and became a Registered Nurse. 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. 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Some church members objected to what they considered a lack of disclosure earlier about the allegations against Aarum, while others suggested the investigation was tilted against Aarum. New York, and the operator of Circle C Ranch youth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls in the 1990s. Neither I nor MinistrySafe (or any representative of the law firm) have ever offered information for payment to Circle C or Living Waters Ministries. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Holding a crusade in a town nearby Wes was introduced to a man named Bill Daily who worked construction and was also a master stone worker. Hed get uncomfortably close to my face, and I remember thinking as a teenager about the tension of him being so close to my face, like is he trying to kiss me? said Carnahan, who now lives near Tampa and works in a restaurant. It was those subtle touches that made me scared and uncomfortable., Another woman who is now 29 said that when she and her friend were waiting for a ride home from the camp in 2007 or 2008, Aarum came up behind the girl and said [he] hugged me from behind. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the court filing. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. Aarum, whose family has run the camp for decades and who is also listed as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Arcade, denied the allegations in an interview with 7 Eyewitness News. Got a story tip or comment? 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.. Pine brook was a great soul-winning camp and that summer hundreds of teens accepted Christ. Many say the former Chapel at Crosspoint minister and president of Circle C Ranch abused his spiritual authority over three decades -- and that the inappropriate contact with teen girls was the camps worst-kept secret. After article publication, the law firm has been inundated with calls and emails from additional fact witnesses and victims. She also attended First Baptist Church of Arcade, where Aarum is pastor, and volunteered at the Circle C Ranch in the winter. Percy, as he wanted to be called, was considered by many as the founder of the Christian Camping Ministry. According to a . But she said that it is important that parents be aware of the allegations when making decisions about their kids. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. 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. READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION:These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Lasting trauma:He was my identity: How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. There was documentation of people going to Wayne and saying, Hey listen, like, we love you, but you need to be careful of this.' Carnahan had attended First Baptist Church of Arcade, where Aarum is pastor, and volunteered at the Circle C Ranch in the winter, she said. 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. Time and again, even as the local news industry has been buffeted for a quarter-century by change, reporting by trained professionals continues tobe a catalyst for positive change in our communities. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls, 21 women who alleged Aarum touched them inappropriately, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone. In addition, a contemporaneous writing provided evidence that the behaviors were previously reported to camp leadership. What else might develop? Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. Clergy are mandated. 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