The 3abn Saga, is it becoming a witch hunt? Options

[Clay]

I have said it privately, and now I will put it out there for discussion...most of the discussion about 3abn has centered around Danny, his treatment of Linda, his management style, perceived wrongs he has done, his influence, his morality.... at times it has veered into those who have influenced Mr. Shelton or who has provided financial backing.....

Of late the discussion appears (to me) to be expanding into Mr. Shelton's extended family more and their deeds and misdeeds.... I don't think its right, nor fair to "expose" them..... to me when you go there it is akin to being a witch hunt... why would we need to know about extended family to understand what kind of person Mr. Shelton is?

thoughts?

[PrincessDrRe]

We would only need to know about "extended" family if they are involved in the atrocious actions of Danny. If they ("extended" family) are directly involved, cover up for Danny, have been "in the area" when acts have taken place, or actually condone his actions - then sadly; they are fair in the discussion.

Now, along with this....

If the "extended" family is not directly involved and has no support of Danny - they would not be discussed now would they?



It's like when we were in Kindergarten - when one in the class got into trouble and all got the punishment. Sadly with Danny - he's gonna end up bringing all down in a sense.

My take!

[Denny]

If the extended family are included in his misdeed and mistreatment of Linda then include them, if not leave them out.

[Clay]

We would only need to know about "extended" family if they are involved in the atrocious actions of Danny. If they ("extended" family) are directly involved, cover up for Danny, have been "in the area" when acts have taken place, or actually condone his actions - then sadly; they are fair in the discussion.

Now, along with this....

If the "extended" family is not directly involved and has no support of Danny - they would not be discussed now would they?



It's like when we were in Kindergarten - when one in the class got into trouble and all got the punishment. Sadly with Danny - he's gonna end up bringing all down in a sense.

My take!

how about adult children who have their own issues, or siblings?

How far do you go?

[Fran]

I have said it privately, and now I will put it out there for discussion...most of the discussion about 3abn has centered around Danny, his treatment of Linda, his management style, perceived wrongs he has done, his influence, his morality.... at times it has veered into those who have influenced Mr. Shelton or who has provided financial backing.....

Of late the discussion appears (to me) to be expanding into Mr. Shelton's extended family more and their deeds and misdeeds.... I don't think its right, nor fair to "expose" them..... to me when you go there it is akin to being a witch hunt... why would we need to know about extended family to understand what kind of person Mr. Shelton is?

thoughts?

Shall we ignore members of his family that have legal issues that were paid off. Do we still want that person around children at 3ABN?

[Denny]

Shall we ignore members of his family that have legal issues that were paid off. Do we still want that person around children at 3ABN?

Only if one has a family with no skeletons.......

This post has been edited by Denny: Aug 24 2006, 08:52 AM

[Clay]

Another question.... IF Danny had never divorced Linda, would the people who have spoken out now, spoken out if the marriage was intact and ok?

[PrincessDrRe]

Another question.... IF Danny had never divorced Linda, would the people who have spoken out now, spoken out if the marriage was intact and ok?

Not a word would be spoken.....

[Daryl Fawcett]

Not a word would be spoken?

Why not?

Are you in fact saying that it was the separation and divorce of Danny & Linda that was the key that opened up Pandora's Box?

[watchbird]

Another question.... IF Danny had never divorced Linda, would the people who have spoken out now, spoken out if the marriage was intact and ok?

That depends on whether enough of them had gotten together so as to feel somewhat safe in speaking out. The very first conversation that I had with someone who had worked at 3ABN for years started out with that person saying ..... this is NOT about Linda. The financial "irregularities" (to put it as kindly as possible) were an ongoing thing before Danny ever made his first move against Linda. His CFO had resigned because of what she described as "illegal" things she was being asked to do long before the "Danny vs Linda" battles began. The immoralities of those prominent in the ministry have a much longer history than merely the past two years. The problems caused by Directors of 3ABN who taught and encouraged Danny in his claims to being a special mouthpiece of God .... all of these existed prior to, and continue on to this very day, with these basic beliefs showing up ever more blatantly on TV as time goes on rather than being more or less confined to the 3ABN "compound".

All of these .... including the extensive moral abberations need to be fully known to the public. Otherwise, those that are coming to the point of recognizing that there must be a "Housecleaning" of major proportions at 3ABN will be all to liable to think that they will have done their job if they only sidline Danny and force him to stop speaking against Linda.

These things WILL come out. We have the choice whether to let them come out here, where we are all basically friendly....... or whether to wait and let people be shocked by them when they come out in more unfriendly places.

I don't think we need to chew too lustily on any "juicy bone". But I do think that the facts need to be revealed and the emphases need to be made, that ALL of those who have been assoicated with Danny in advisory or empowering positions must be removed ... and that ALL of those who have been involved with repetitious moral lapses should also be removed .... and that these must be permanent bans.

Somehow we must send a signal to our church leaders that we as Adventists are no longer willing to put up with the "save the surface"..... "sweep everything under the rug"...... mentality and polity. We want complete opennes, and complete disclosure. And this does not apply only to 3ABN, but to all other actions which require "settlement out of court" or EEOC actions, etc.

[Statrei]

Shall we ignore members of his family that have legal issues that were paid off. Do we still want that person around children at 3ABN?

That response summarizes this whole fiasco. Everybody involved seems to have accepted 3ABN as the face of Adventism. This explains this overwhelming desire to "cleanse the sanctuary." That is a pity.

[PrincessDrRe]

Not a word would be spoken?

Why not?

Are you in fact saying that it was the separation and divorce of Danny & Linda that was the key that opened up Pandora's Box?

I guess I can only go from what I know/have heard.

I didn't hear anything negative at all about Danny Shelton PERIOD until the breakup of Danny & Linda. Not one negative word up to that point. The minute they broke up - the "stuff" hit the fan and was immediately spread....

JMO - from what I heard/saw....

[Fran]

Another question.... IF Danny had never divorced Linda, would the people who have spoken out now, spoken out if the marriage was intact and ok?

Yes, I would have. The IL vs. 3ABN Property Tax Lawsuit came out BEFORE the divorce. It clearly states that financial dealing of 3ABN were not honest. How can a Corporation 20 years old, explain that they do not follow GAAP?

It says that the valuing of Trust funds was questionable. Their value was determined by 3ABN. They were never appraised by qualified people. Example: A non-cash gift is given to 3ABN. It would have appraised for say $500,000. Yet, 3ABN assess the value at say $20,000 and sells it to family or friends.

Many of their assets were never found! They were not reporting Lease/Rental income from the entities that are not 3ABN. Like Subway, a barber shop...........

In fact I would assess the rating of the audit to be an "F" for 3ABN.

Yes, I would have spoken up about this on its own. 3ABN's Financial Manager, that the lawsuit identified as Danny Shelton, needs to be removed on these points alone. Period.

Now that allegations include molestation, he needs charges brought against him and a court needs to put him behind bars for a very long time if a court finds these accusations are true.

If the courts decide otherwise, I would still keep my children and any other children I see around him, away from his presence. I base this on the problems that his daughter has exibited in her behavior. That is not to criticize his daughter in anyway because what happened to her was NOT her fault. She has enough to deal with without everyone condemning her. She probably needs more time to figure out how it all happened.

I would also make sure no male children were anywhere near Tommy Shelton! Too many people know what happened in that case!

YES, I would have spoken out.

When someone has been abused mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, sexually, ... this person cannot figure things out because the things are happening *to* them. They have a very distorted, clouded view of what AVERAGE is. What is normal, acceptable behavior. What is a normal acceptable family. How does a normal acceptable father act? They may even think maybe this happens to every child! They just don't know. They may even think maybe all kids get beat or molested! They do not know how a husband is supposed to act or behave. How does one break the mold?

The experience is life changing and getting it straight takes a lifetime.

Having a knowledge that this is not right while experiencing it is very confusing. In fact, it is learned behavior; taught by the father, mother, spouse or an outside party. Goodness knows there are many children that abuse their parents!

3ABN is a wonderful medium through which to spread the Gospel. However, the financial and deviant sexual behavior alone should demand that Danny Shelton be removed, along with any who cooperated with him in his behavior.

[no_cults]

I have said it privately, and now I will put it out there for discussion...most of the discussion about 3abn has centered around Danny, his treatment of Linda, his management style, perceived wrongs he has done, his influence, his morality.... at times it has veered into those who have influenced Mr. Shelton or who has provided financial backing.....

Of late the discussion appears (to me) to be expanding into Mr. Shelton's extended family more and their deeds and misdeeds.... I don't think its right, nor fair to "expose" them..... to me when you go there it is akin to being a witch hunt... why would we need to know about extended family to understand what kind of person Mr. Shelton is?

thoughts?

If those exposed are leaders who hold prominent positions in this ministry
just happen to members of his family, then I don't think this constitutes a
"witch-hunt".

More and more, 3ABN is looking to me like Danny's personal "piggy bank"
to be used to benefit him and his family and co-horts. There are many
who sacrificially have given their scarce resources to this "ministry" to spread
God's word. I don't think that adding to Danny's wealth, hobbies, horses,
and recreational activities fall into that category. Sorry, but the minute Danny
accepts this money and uses it to create a luxury lifestyle for himself, his family
and cronies.... he leaves himself and those he appoints as "exposed". Especially
when those who are actively involved in the management are destroying innocent
people with lies and innuendo. Is this the sort of ministry that we would even
WANT to ask God's blessing upon? I don't think so.... until there is a largescale
housecleaning with some sort of real over-sight established and financia matters
are totally transparent. (I guess I am dreamin, huh?)

Any member who supports the church or who supports 3abn (or who has supported)
not only have the right, but the responsibility to do what they can to make sure
that "God's money" is used for God's business. This also falls into the category
of stewardship.


to this ministry.

[Clay]

while some of the material shared predates the divorce, the question remains why didn't we hear anything? Some of these forums have been around longer than 2 years, so if people were speaking out where were they speaking out?

As far as how or where the info comes to light i.e. friendly or unfriendly what difference does it make?