Access to MinistryWatch content is free. The work poses many challenges. Thank you for your support. 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. Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister at, in Getzville, New York, current pastor of. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how this . ORIGINAL STORY:. Nothing happened. The details, the word choices and the extra effort to confirm facts and reach difficult-to-reach people all matter greatly. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. Michael Kilian is executive editor of the Democrat and Chronicle. They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. I dont want anyone else to have to go through what I went through. OPTION 2: Form your OWN GROUP (Adult supervisors will be responsible for the students they bring) TO REGISTER OR ASK QUESTIONS: Click Here! Many of the allegations, which have been reported by Chapel leadership to the State Office of Children and Family Services, deal with alleged conduct occurring at the Circle C Ranch youth camp in Delevan, where Aarum serves as president. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. I worked in the ministry, my wife and I have worked in this ministry, all of those same years that theyre talking about. Multiple women told the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team that Aarum would sometimes touch intimate areas and would grab their bra straps. Another alleged victim wrote to the I-Team that the inappropriate contact such as the unsolicited long hugs and hands near or on the breasts and hips were so disturbing that the youth group she was a part of confronted Aarum and his father. After meeting Wes and both of them realizing that someday they would be a team she went to Bible School to be better prepared to be the wife of a preacher. The Chapel first hired MinistrySafe in 2019 to improve its policies after unrelated sexual abuse allegations at its Lockport worship site were reported by The Buffalo News in 2019. . Keeping his hands on their bodies way too long when it wasnt necessary at all.. Some former staff said Aarum typically targeted specific girls who were pretty, slim, emotionally fragile or those who had father issues and that girls complained to staff asking for help in avoiding [Aarum]., In a March statement, The Chapels board and pastoral leadership said both their leadership and MinistrySafe have found the allegations to be credible.. 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. Wayne S. Aarum claimed in a defamation lawsuit that The Chapel and its executive pastor, John Camardo, engaged in a sustained campaign of . Does public speaking or speaking in a group make you nervous? 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Sex Abuse Survivors Call for System-Wide Audit of Southern Baptist Convention, Church Hires GRACE to Investigate Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Musician Chris Rice, Facing Trial, Brian Houston Steps Aside as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong, Mercy Corps Rocked by Sexual Abuse Claims Against Founder, Alabama Church Leader Charged with Sexually Abusing Member of Her Youth Group. 10451 Ashcraft Rd Delevan, NY 14042 One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. Miracle after Miracle, God has provided for Circle C Ranch and as long as God continues to provide, we will continue to serve Him! Some of the allegations date back to 1990s, when Aarum ran a ministry program for high school students at the Chapel. 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. Website Terms & Conditions | CCHOA Privacy Policy| Social Media Policy | Feedback, Copyright 2015 2022 Circle C Ranch HOA | Design by Austin Web Design.com, South West Austin Toastmasters Welcomes Circle C Residents, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_C_Ranch. A camp director and pastor with ties to a megachurch in western New York has been accused of inappropriately touching more than 20 women when they were teenage girls. Aarum, in recent sermons, has compared the accusations to Jesus being crucified by people he helped, as reported by The Roys Report. For many years, The Chapel, a popular nondenominational megachurch with several offshoot congregations, encouraged families to send their children to Circle C Ranch. 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. The News reported in April on the allegations and Chapel investigation. 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. 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?. "This is why we're suspicious of these charges. Aarum has denied any wrongdoing, and he told his congregation in April that he never intended to offend anyone with his remarks or actions. The Chapel has thousands of members on its rolls and helped launched several other congregations in Western New York. Mr. Barker became the Vice-president and chairman fo the Circle C Ranch Board adn has worked with Wes in that capacity up to this very day. Circle C Ranch, the Christian children's camp in western New York facing allegations that its director has inappropriately touched teenage girls, announced drastic changes to its summer. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The allegations also were referred to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating, according to Sgt. Former Chapel minister, Circle C youth camp director denies sexual misconduct Report stated 21 women have made allegations A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular. If you are an abuse survivor, or you would like to share your experiences about the events described above, please send an email to Charlie.Specht@wkbw.com or Hannah.Buehler@wkbw.com. Circle C Ranch has provided a written response on its website in response to these allegations. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. He was not available Wednesday to speak to The News, said Dekalb. Editor's note: There are descriptions of alleged sexual abuse and opinions about survivors of alleged abuse that may be triggering to abuse survivors. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. A Chicago developer has been eyeing the 315-acre Circle C Ranch camp property for a proposed $500 million windmill project, but the camps board has refused to sell or lease the land, according to court papers. Officials at the Chapel said they were first made aware in 2019 of allegations about Aarum's inappropriate behavior at the camp and took that information to the Circle C Ranch board, according . Some members defended Camardos handling of the situation, including an unidentified board member in the meeting who pointed to the Catholic Diocese of Buffalos troubles in recent years for sweeping all of this stuff under the rug.. We all knew starting on Monday -- when the campers arrived -- we all could pick out which of our girls were going to receive the most attention, be the favorite and the ones we would keep an eye on, Heather Sticht, a former employee of the camp, said in an interview with 7 Eyewitness News. Click here to read the statement from Circle C Ranch. 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. 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 board also claims that the Chapel is attempting to use the womens claims to generate controversy and take over the 315-acre rural camp that has been in the Aarum family since 1968. 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. Read their stories. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. Some things have changed but these three things will never change! I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive," Aarum said in an email to USA TODAY Network reporters on April 28, 2021. It would have board-walks, hitching rails, a Sheriffs office with two cells, an old country store, a dining hall, a chapel, cabins that could accommodate 192 campers plus 32 counselors, a swimming hole (pond) and a corral that contained a herd of horses. You have permission to edit this article. "He totally denies any wrongdoing whatsoever," said Dekalb, who is also a former member of the Chapel board. 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. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. Last week, Aarum filed a civil lawsuit against The Chapel alleging defamatory statements. 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. Aarum is seeking $3.1 million in damages. Two other days, July 3 and 31, are designated as "Family Fun Days," according to the website. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. We never saw anything even approaching this.. Oh, and if you have a good story tip, on any subject, please let us know. That investigation found more than 20 women who said Wayne Aarum touched them inappropriately or fostered inappropriate and abusive relationships with them, both at The Chapel in the 1990s and later at Circle C Ranch, according to a report prepared by MinistrySafe investigator Kimberlee Norris. For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". and we are celebrating 10 years of building community through these great events. I have never had any sexual interaction with anyone other than my wife. Little did he realize that 23 years later God would let him have the desire of his heart. Wes had been a youth pastor, pastor, evangelist, leader in Youth for Christ and director of a Bible Conference. That was of the Lord. Report stated 21 women have made allegations. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. "Due to Covid Restrictions we have decided to pour all of our resources into our family camp weekends," the website reads. 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. all you can eat pancakes, eggs, juice, and coffee. I have zero recollection of that. Circle C Ranch opened in the late 1960s on a 315-acre wooded parcel in rural Cattaraugus County. 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 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. Chapel leaders learned a few months later about additional allegations of inappropriate behavior by Aarum during his time as a church staff member from 1991 to 2000. When he gave Bob a call, he said I suppose the same terms as before and then he wrote out a check fo the amount. 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. 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. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the driving force. This helps build confidence among readers inthe validity of the work. ", "The USA TODAY NETWORK asked for comment from five individuals whosupport the Ranch and the Aarums. Click here to read the full statement from The Chapel. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. Two men face multiple charges following a chase and search Saturday night in the Town of Collins, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reported Tuesday. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. Aarum filed a lawsuit against The Chapel on June 2, 2021, accusing the churchs executive pastor, John Camardo, of defamation, saying statements related to the allegations against him were used to damage his reputation and his ability to do business, according to Aarums filing. Carnahan said she was not among the 21 unidentified women cited in the investigative report. She said, If they're thinking of sending their children there this summer, I want people to know.. Camps are also required to collect information about the vaccination status of each camper and staff member, and perform health screenings upon arrival. 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. Click here to read the internal investigation report provided by Circle C Ranch. The inappropriate behavior included stroking legs and touching clothed breasts and genital areas, according to a letter Norris sent to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Sticht said she brought the complaints to Wes Aarum, the brother of Wayne Aarum who was also involved in ministry at the camp. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the. Aarum denies the allegations against him and continues to operate the Circle C Ranch. But she said that it is important that parents be aware of the allegations when making decisions about their kids. It matters in suburbs. Aarum served at The Chapel, located in the suburb of Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. 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. Read the full story from News Staff Reporter Jay Tokasz. Pastor accused of touching girls sues Amherst church over allegations. $10- ages 10+ $5- ages under 10 Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. You have permission to edit this article. He wanted to give his last years to the Lord and became the head man of the construction of the town. Besides doing the cooking, she became the office manager, the accountant, head of the medical dept, and a mother to their 2 sons, Wes & Wayne. 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. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage - $14,800. One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. That always raises the risk that someone will find the teacher to be too close for comfort. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. We have TWO options for bringing campers to Snow Camp. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's officials confirmed that they are investigating the matter. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? After article publication, the law firm has been inundated with calls and emails from additional fact witnesses and victims. Neither I nor MinistrySafe (or any representative of the law firm) have ever offered information for payment to Circle C or Living Waters Ministries. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle C Ranch (Circle C standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the Lord. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. read more Filed Under: Church A friend of Ross & Wes was a man named Bob Lowe who was a very successful businessman. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. He continues as First Baptist Church of Arcade pastor and Circle C Ranch director. 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. That can be the case in the busiest of news years (ahem, 2020) or on the slowest of news days. Chelsea Carnahan told The News that Aarum stroked her back, hair and legs during one-on-one counseling sessions when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. If I have offended you, I will apologize, he said during a church service in April. Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. 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. My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors. The family camp experience includes activities likechapel services, all-you-can-eat meals, horseback riding, laser tag androck wall climbing, according to the website, andfamilies will stay overnight together in the camp's on-site lodging. That man was Mr. Ross Barker a businessman from Toronto. Wondering what your camper will need? Please consider becoming a digital subscriber. 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. 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, 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. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. Call our office at: (716) 492-3687. I have been a staff reporter at The Buffalo News since 2002 and currently am part of the watchdog team. It finally became a reality when in 1968 he found the property where God wanted him to start that camp. Over the last year, we have shared several updates regarding our response to the allegations brought to us of inappropriate behavior of Wayne Aarum, a former employee of The Chapel, current President of Circle C Ranch (a youth camp in the Western New York region) and Pastor at First Baptist Church of Arcade. But Carnahan said she has made clear on social media who she is and what she alleges Aarum did. Chapel leaders say they began hearing troubling allegations about Aarum in October 2019 and again in February 2020. 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. He previously has said that Chapel leaders were not seeking to take control of the Circle C Ranch board or the camp property. No, he said when asked whether he ever touched anyone inappropriately. 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. 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 I think she is in a place in her life where shes ready to come forward, the former employee said. Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls. Judge Rules That Michigan Public University Violated the Rights of Christian Student Group, Citygate Network Seeks Greater Diversity in National Rescue Mission Leadership. It takes courage to stand up to The Chapels leadership and demand that they stop spending large amounts of the members money pursuing a broad attack on Wayne Aarum that they believe is factually unsupportable, the statement said. ContactSarahat STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. Clergy are mandated. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the court filing. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Im not the type of person to spread things around just to ruin someone, she said. Prior to becoming director of Circle C Ranch, Aarum worked as a youth pastor atBuffalo-area megachurch The Chapel in the 1990s. "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. The accounts of the women, describing incidents involving Wayne Aarum that took place when they were Circle C Ranch campers, are troubling and concerning. "Circle C Ranch is aware of allegations raised against our President. Three people were killed in the one-vehicle crash:Dakota Eldridge, 20, of Cheektowaga; Isabella French, 19, of Buffalo; and Azathiel Pabon, 1, Prosecutors accuse Abdul Hussein, 25, of intentionally firing at his co-worker, a 62-year-old man, who police found shot to death about 3:30 , Four people were arrested and drugs and guns were seized Wednesday as the Buffalo Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant in the 200 b, Five years later, despite promises to do right by abuse victims,the diocese has not paid a penny in damagesto an estimated900 people who fi. These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, He was my identity: How emotional, spiritual abuse creates lasting trauma. Dekalb appeared to place blame on the women who have come forward, even though leaders at The Chapel have described them as credible and courageous. Amherst Police officials did not respond to an inquiry by 7 Eyewitness News, but Daryl DeKalb, a board member at Circle C Ranch, said none of that is true and defended Aarum. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Percy, as they wanted to call him, was considered by many to be the founder of the Christian Camp Ministry. Circle C Ranch, the Christian children's camp in western New York facingallegations that its director has inappropriately touched teenage girls, announced drastic changes to its summer plans this week. 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. A number of women former high school youth group members under Aarums leadership brought allegations of sexual and emotional abuse against Aarum from that time period earlier this year. If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site. Bob asked when he would pay it back? Campbell declined to comment further when contacted by The News. Through all this, Aarum remains as the Circle C camp president today. Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister at The Chapel at Crosspoint in Getzville, New York, current pastor of First Baptist Church in Arcade, 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. After hearing a report of abuse by a former staffer at the Circle C Ranch, The Chapel hired Ministry Safe to conduct an investigation. The membership was advised that the independent investigation credibly confirmed a pattern of inappropriate interaction with young women involved in The Chapel's student ministry in the late 90s and also uncovered ongoing inappropriate interaction with young women not associated with The Chapel who had been involved in the previously referenced local youth camp over the last two decades, The Chapel said in its statement.
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