Thursday, January 15, 2009 Marie O’Hara
Mailing Address
Bolivar, MO 65613
Invitation to Reconciliation and the
Restorative Justice Process
Pastor Billy Russell, Former Pastor Ray Leininger, Restorative Justice Process
and Interim Pastor Rodney Reeves
and the Staff, Trustees, Deacons and Congregants of
The First Baptist Church of Bolivar
316 North Main Street
Bolivar, MO 65613
Phone: (417) 326-2431 Fax: (417)-326-4706
Restoring a Brother
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.16 But if he won't listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.
17 If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you.
--- Matthew 18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Dear Brothers and Sisters of First Baptist Church in Bolivar:
In the past several years, as you may be aware, I have repeatedly attempted to communicate with Southwest Baptist University, the Missouri Baptist Convention and (more recently) the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri concerning my outstanding claims against individuals and officials associated with Southwest Baptist University, the Missouri Baptist Convention, and former Pastor Ray Leininger, the Trustees, the Deacons, and the staff of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri.
As I explained in my November 11, 2007 letter to you:
Specifically, these claims involve: malicious slander and defamation; harassment; intimidation; retaliation; witness tampering; forgery; obstruction of justice; fraud; the conspiracy to defraud and harm in collaboration with city, county, and state officials; the conspiracy to defraud and harm in collaboration with Southwest Baptist University, Southern Baptist and Missouri Baptist Conventions and other church officials; the conspiracy to defraud and harm in collaboration with local business and community members; the intentional infliction of physical damage, pain and suffering; the intentional infliction of emotional distress and social, spiritual, and psychological anguish, pain and suffering; financial damage and losses; the invasion of privacy and violation of confidentiality; pastoral negligence and the abuse of pastoral privilege and authority, and various conspiracies to cause injury, humiliation, debasement, and harm.As you can see, these claims are a serious, long-standing affront to Jesus Christ and His Church. Further, it is impossible to ignore the reality of the involvement of a sizable portion of the membership of your congregation.
In seeking a means of resolving these circumstances, I have studied the Holy Scripture, particularly the text of Matthew 18, which concerns the restoration of an errant brother. However, I was surprised to discover that I interpret this passage with a different emphasis than many scholars do.
As the process of restoration reaches its zenith in Verse 17, I believe that the intent in the command to “tell it to the church” is not to humiliate, shame, or exile the brother. Instead, I believe this is an admonition to notify the Church as a whole – as the Living Body of Christ – that there is an urgent need to initiate a more comprehensive and cooperative effort to rescue this straying brother by providing a mediating and buffering presence, lest the Church of Jesus Christ be disgraced by malfeasance and divided by internecine struggle.
My understanding of this passage, I am prayerfully convinced, is well in keeping with the character, identity, mission, and Spirit of Christ Jesus.
For this reason, I have written to request the intervention of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri – both as individuals and as members of this congregation – in implementing a Process of Restorative Justice.
Restorative Justice: The Principles and Process
Restorative Justice?
Perhaps this terminology is completely unfamiliar to you. Or, has the concept been used (and abused) so imprecisely that its meaning is diluted or obscured?
In order to clarify the use of the term in this context, I request that you familiarize yourselves with the document, Statement Of Restorative Justice Principles As Applied in a School Setting (2nd Edition, 2005).
The Statement may be freely downloaded and printed from the United Kingdom Restorative Justice website at the URL address: http://www.restorativejustice.org.uk/Resources/pdf/Principles_Schools_2005_2nd_ed.pdf
So as to provide a common platform for communication, please review this publication, which enumerates, summarizes, and elucidates the lexicon and Principles of Restorative Justice.
As the Statement encapsulates, the Principles and Values of Restorative Justice:
... form the basis for restorative practices in all settings, using all models, where the primary aims are to repair harm and promote dialogue. ... Supporting this framework of Principles are the values encompassed by the Restorative Justice Process. Restorative practices are underpinned by a set of values, these include: Empowerment, Honesty, Respect, Engagement, Voluntarism, Healing, Restoration, Personal Accountability, Inclusiveness, Collaboration, and Problem-solving.
Even with this qualification, this Statement Of Restorative Justice Principles As Applied in a School Setting (2nd Edition, 2005) will serve us well, I believe, as a pragmatic architecture upon which to construct a systematic accord of conduct.
Nevertheless, I will admit to my own arrière pensée, that is, an unstated doubt that prevents me from accepting this Statement wholeheartedly.
Restorative Justice: The Limitations
As vital and instructive as the Principles of Restorative Justice (as delineated in this Statement) may be, these Principles are, nevertheless, limited.
Although I will continue to refer to this process and procedure as Restorative Justice, this term may overstate my actual intent and approach.
Particularly since the death of my widowed sister and the orphaning of her four remaining children in June 2007, I recognize that what I have lost as a consequence of my interaction with First Baptist Church of Bolivar and her members cannot easily (or ever) be "restored."
In truth I tell you, I do not believe that you can “restore” to me what you do not possess yourselves.
Wouldn’t “true” Restorative Justice require a willingness to grapple with and engage the Holy Spirit in reclaiming -- for my benefit and on my behalf – that which has been lost?
Quite honestly, as the years have become decades and each wrong has multiplied scores and hundreds of times over, I have no real confidence that any of us could sustain the exploit and effort necessary to win such a Restorative Justice.
Nonetheless, my prayer is that through this process you may experience for yourselves – by the forgiveness and redemption of Christ Jesus – the re-visioning of your own souls, that you might more richly reflect the magnificence of the Ancient of Days.
And, therefore, since “true” Restorative Justice appears beyond our capacity, would it not be in all of our best interests to consider a viable alternative?
Restorative Justice: Keeping Competence and Confidentiality
This coming week, various individuals associated with this situation will be receiving – by fax, by mail and by delivery – “The Invitation to Reconciliation and Restorative Justice,” which I will hereafter refer to as “The Invitation.”
Within “The Invitation,” I have outlined a means by which we may communicate (and, hopefully, resolve) this situation.
To insure ordered and confidential communication, I respectfully petition that you contain your contact with me to those modalities specifically authorized and detailed in writing.
(To forestall misunderstanding, please note: My auxiliaries, those who aid me in errands, do not have the authority to speak for me. For this reason, please do not question them, as this may needlessly complicate or hinder this matter.)
Likewise, in order to minimize chaos, it would best serve our mutual interests if you were to designate in writing – through the process described in “The Invitation” – those individuals who are appointed to speak or act on your behalf.
Please honor my request to respond to this “The Invitation to Reconciliation and Restorative Justice,” – either to accept or decline – by Sunday, January 25, 2009.
I thank you for your consideration and cooperation.
Praying Wholeheartedly for Your Integrity,
Marie O’Hara
