Statement - Alyssa Moore, Linda Shelton's daughter Options

[source]

July 7, 2006


This is a formal statement which is long overdue. I did not disclose this information when the events occurred because I did not want to hurt my mother. I did not want to cause trouble with 3 ABN, and I was too embarrassed to talk about it. Now that some time has passed and circumstances have changed I feel the need to share this information. I want to spare others from being exposed to the same treatment that I have experienced.

1) The repeated inappropriate actions from my ex-stepfather, Danny Shelton, occurred in the summer of the year 2000.

2) I had been away at school for some years. I was happy to be returning home to attend a local University.

3) My mother always went to bed rather early. Her bedroom was upstairs and my bedroom was downstairs. Danny started coming into my room getting into my bed and rubbing my back. He seemed to “accidentally” get too low. I told him I did not want a back rub. He ignored me. This happened repeatedly.

4) I began locking my bedroom door every night. Sometimes he would come to the door and knock again and again. I did not answer. He then repeatedly unlocked my bedroom door and
came into my room. He would then get into my bed. I was not comfortable with this but I was so tired I still fell asleep. I awoke sometimes with his hands in inappropriate places. He would say “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was your Mom.” He told me not to tell my Mom. I told him to stay out of my room. He still came. I started sleep on the living room couch so that he could not lie beside me.

5) I felt threatened and very uncomfortable with these things, so I made arrangements to move out.

Signed,



_______________
Alyssa Moore (daughter of Linda Shelton )

[simplysaved]

Honey, there are no words to say but "I am sorry that this happened to you"....and am praying for you....

I do not know whether or not you are Linda Shelton's daughter...but it appears as though you have been hurt and traumatized by someone who allowed Satan to take over their lives for a moment.

July 7, 2006
This is a formal statement which is long overdue. I did not disclose this information when the events occurred because I did not want to hurt my mother. I did not want to cause trouble with 3 ABN, and I was too embarrassed to talk about it. Now that some time has passed and circumstances have changed I feel the need to share this information. I want to spare others from being exposed to the same treatment that I have experienced.

1) The repeated inappropriate actions from my ex-stepfather, Danny Shelton, occurred in the summer of the year 2000.

2) I had been away at school for some years. I was happy to be returning home to attend a local University.

3) My mother always went to bed rather early. Her bedroom was upstairs and my bedroom was downstairs. Danny started coming into my room getting into my bed and rubbing my back. He seemed to “accidentally” get too low. I told him I did not want a back rub. He ignored me. This happened repeatedly.

4) I began locking my bedroom door every night. Sometimes he would come to the door and knock again and again. I did not answer. He then repeatedly unlocked my bedroom door and
came into my room. He would then get into my bed. I was not comfortable with this but I was so tired I still fell asleep. I awoke sometimes with his hands in inappropriate places. He would say “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was your Mom.” He told me not to tell my Mom. I told him to stay out of my room. He still came. I started sleep on the living room couch so that he could not lie beside me.

5) I felt threatened and very uncomfortable with these things, so I made arrangements to move out.

Signed,



_______________
Alyssa Moore (daughter of Linda Shelton )

May God help you find healing and inner peace to move on and live the life that He created for you.

This post has been edited by simplysaved: Oct 3 2006, 10:13 PM

[PeacefulBe]

July 7, 2006
This is a formal statement which is long overdue. I did not disclose this information when the events occurred because I did not want to hurt my mother. I did not want to cause trouble with 3 ABN, and I was too embarrassed to talk about it. Now that some time has passed and circumstances have changed I feel the need to share this information. I want to spare others from being exposed to the same treatment that I have experienced.

Signed,



_______________
Alyssa Moore (daughter of Linda Shelton )

Source, did you have permission from Linda's daughter to post this letter here? Just curious.

[Panama_Pete]

Source, did you have permission from Linda's daughter to post this letter here? Just curious.

She says, "I feel the need to share this information. I want to spare others...."

So, apparently -- on the face of it -- it is meant to be shared.

[calvin]

Source, did you have permission from Linda's daughter to post this letter here? Just curious.

Source had my permission to post the letter. This letter is in the public domain and has been distributed broadly throughout Adventist circles. Many of you insiders where aware of it

[watchbird]

She says, "I feel the need to share this information. I want to spare others...."

So, apparently -- on the face of it -- it is meant to be shared.

This is simply not true.... that it was "meant to be shared" on any forum..... and it is a real violation of express instructions that were sent out with each copy of this letter where the permission to share was very specifically limited to "ministers and church leaders", and where it was expressly directed to NOT post it on any public forum. I would hope that Calvin would make an exception of not pulling any posts and would pull this one. It was also requested that her name not be used in any discussions on a public forum, but only to identify her as Linda's daughter. That may seem like a minute distinction to some, but one's name is a very important and precious thing, and I am extremely saddened that someone would brazenly go against her express wishes in this regard.

Source had my permission to post the letter. This letter is in the public domain and has been distributed broadly throughout Adventist circles. Many of you insiders where aware of it.

Yes we were, and we shared with you assuming you would honor her and our request to respect her wishes as to distribution. I am exceedingly disappointed in your actions regarding this.

[Panama_Pete]

This is simply not true.... that it was "meant to be shared" on any forum..... and it is a real violation of express instructions that were sent out with each copy of this letter where the permission to share was very specifically limited to "ministers and church leaders", and where it was expressly directed to NOT post it on any public forum.

Well, I accept Watchbird's comment as true.

This is the first time I, for one, have seen such a letter.

This post has been edited by Panama_Pete: Oct 4 2006, 12:07 AM

[beartrap]

Nonetheless, it is out. There is way to unring the proverbial bell.

[watchbird]

Well, I accept Watchbird's comment as true.

This is the first time I, for one, have seen such a letter.

Since I am assuming that you are neither a pastor nor a church leader.... which we loosely translated as either Conference administrators or lay leaders, especially if they were in abuse counseling professions.... then you should not have received one. And it is quite possible that all who are in that category have not yet received a copy.... it is a very large task to send them out.

Nonetheless, it is out. There is way to unring the proverbial bell.

You are so correct. That being the case, it would seem to me that the best route to take from here.... "go with the flow" as Calvin says.... will be to give a certain and clear "ring" to the bell.

For starters, let's look at some of the history of the sending of this statement. It was, as I have noted, to be distributed only by email, and it was to always be accompanied by the cover letter with which it was originally sent. It was channeled through Johann, with him sending out the first waves, and others who received it sending it on to others who fit the criteria specified. That first wave included several of the top leaders of our church as well as some of the primary persons involved in the 3abn saga for the last two plus years.

It was first distributed shortly before the ASI Conference this summer, and came to Danny's attention at that time. His reaction was to first of all claim that Alyssa didn't really do it of her own initiative, that he had talked to her since the statement came out, and that it meant nothing.... in reality he and Alyssa were very "close friends". Some who heard his reaction at ASI checked with Alyssa and found that there was no truth in what Danny was saying, and in fact Danny did not even have Alyssa's current phone numbers.

At about the same time, or shortly thereafter, Alyssa made notarized copies of her statement and mailed them in hard copy to selected top church officers. This, I am told, created such a great stir in the GC waters that it sent 3abn into a "circle the wagons" mode, which was made obvious in their "3ABN Today LIVE" two hour special which was shown multiple times the weekend of August 11-13.

Note that we have previously discussed this on BSDA under the thread entitled, "3abn Presents "the Battle ..." Don't Miss It, Special program rerun times...." where we noted that Shelly Quinn's sermon in particular was best understood by those of us who knew of the statement made by Alyssa. See http://www.blacksda.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10422

At present, I am told that 3abn is demanding a "hearing" with Alyssa.... something that some of us feel is a rather inhumane way for her to go, and are hoping that she will refuse. Something as difficult for her to handle as this has to be, certainly should be handled in a counseling atmosphere rather than an adversarial one. But this is one of those things which are currently residing under the "we have to wait and see" rubric .... trusting that God has supplied her with wise and kind counselors.... both legal and psychological.... so that she is having all the help necessary to move through whatever lies ahead in this area.

Others are, I am sure, much more acquainted with the details of what it must have been like growing up as a step-daughter in the Danny Shelton household, with Melody and Danny's relationship as the closest "model" on which to build her concepts of what a father/daughter relationship should "look like". I hope that they will give us some insights into that.

Others who are reading here are trained counselors.... I hope they will now speak up and discuss in a general and professional way the hurdles and phases of healing that someone who has undergone experiences like this have to face and go through.

We have already heard from Barbara Kerr, who seemingly was the first to learn what had happened and pass it on to Linda.... who until that time had not known of it. She shared something of the way she learned about it with us in the thread pinned at the top of the menu, entitled, "Open Letter To Bsda, This letter was send to me from Barbara Kerr to publish here" . You'll find her comments on this near the end of her original letter. While I am sure there is still much that she knows that she will not share with us because of the delicate and personal nature of the information, I do hope Barb will come back and help us in our understanding of what has and is going on in this area.

May we be especially kind and loving in our discussion of this topic is my prayer today.

[Clay]

she does not need to meet with 3ABN.... she alleges inappropriate behavior, file criminal charges and let the chips fall where they may.....

[PeacefulBe]

At present, I am told that 3abn is demanding a "hearing" with Alyssa.... something that some of us feel is a rather inhumane way for her to go, and are hoping that she will refuse. Something as difficult for her to handle as this has to be, certainly should be handled in a counseling atmosphere rather than an adversarial one. But this is one of those things which are currently residing under the "we have to wait and see" rubric .... trusting that God has supplied her with wise and kind counselors.... both legal and psychological.... so that she is having all the help necessary to move through whatever lies ahead in this area.


May we be especially kind and loving in our discussion of this topic is my prayer today.

I am not a counselor but, in my opinion, Alyssa has already taken one of the most stressful steps by sharing her experience with conference leaders. I'm fairly certain she would have carefully thought about all of the ramifications coming forward could lead to, including "hearings" on the issue.

I'm concerned that if she refuses it could be viewed and exploited as an admission that her claims are unfounded. Of course, the venue of any such hearings should certainly be neutral and non-adversarial before consenting to their demands.

This young woman has proven that she has endurance just by the fact that she has survived the rigors of becoming a doctor - no light task! I'm not saying that a hearing would be a walk in the park for her, just that she appears to have the moxie to withstand it.

[Clay]

I'm concerned that if she refuses it could be viewed and exploited as an admission that her claims are unfounded. Of course, the venue of any such hearings should certainly be neutral and non-adversarial before consenting to their demands.

This young woman has proven that she has endurance just by the fact that she has survived the rigors of becoming a doctor - no light task! I'm not saying that a hearing would be a walk in the park for her, just that she appears to have the moxie to withstand it.

there is no rule written anywhere that says she is obligated to meet with people from 3abn who is owned and operated by the alleged perp.... and they are stupid for even requesting it..... she needs to file charges, hire a lawyer and let whomever talk to the lawyer....

[simplysaved]

I agree 100%....no "alleged sexual abuse victim" should ever have to face an alleged perpetrator in this context....that would do nothing but re-traumatize the victim....

there is no rule written anywhere that says she is obligated to meet with people from 3abn who is owned and operated by the alleged perp.... and they are stupid for even requesting it..... she needs to file charges, hire a lawyer and let whomever talk to the lawyer....

[Clay]

I agree 100%....no "alleged sexual abuse victim" should ever have to face an alleged perpetrator in this context....that would do nothing but re-traumatize the victim....

yanno.... your comment is definitely on point... I think folks have lost their mind.... she is not obligated to meet with them ever....

[lurker]

If Alyssa meets with the 3ABN people, she would be "put on trial" as to her truthfullness. She would be in the same position as they attempted to put Linda in when they tried to censure her. Alyssa's words will be twisted if she meets with them. Her words will likely be twisted and/or lied about if she even communicates privately with any of them especially with Danny.

She has spoken.