10611 Ames Lane SOLD in 4 days! That's a Christian camp for young people nearDelevan, New York, a village southeast of Buffalo and southwest of Rochester. Wayne Aarum, a pastor and operator of the Circle C Ranch Christian camp in Delevan, who has been accused of inappropriately touching at least 21 teenage girls in the past, is now suing The Chapel megachurch over what he says are manufactured allegations against him to gain control of the camp's land. Aarum left his role at The Chapel in 2000. 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. The state's rules allow for the camps to operate with different restrictions for the vaccinated and unvaccinated, with campers over the age of five required to wear masks and maintain social distancing in most situations. But Norris, who founded Ministry Safe says she has over three decades experience litigating child sexual abuse issues, and tells 7 Eyewitness News: Few of the women who came forward during the investigation knew other; the behavior complained of spanned DECADES. My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors., She goes on to say, The notion that the allegations were planted or suggested by counselors or social workers is patently absurd.. Agendas will be posted in the Board Meeting Agenda folder under the Resource tab on the Wednesday prior to the meeting. Bob asked what it was for? However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. In her lawsuit, Snell accused Circle C Ranch and its parent organization, Living Waters Ministries, of negligently retaining Aarum on staff and thus allowing him unfettered and unsupervised access to minors on the campgrounds and during other activities, according to the court filing. One of America's most exciting Christian Camps. 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? I found each of the women to be credible, one attorney who investigated the reports of abusetold our two reporters. Jerry Gillis was appointed as lead pastor of the church in 2002 and Camardo joined the staff as executive pastor in 2010. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. I have never had any sexual interaction with anyone other than my wife. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how thisinvestigation was conducted and who conducted it. The Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Community Center. This testy relationship allegedly led one of Camardos staffers to recommend that he take up the cause of a woman who claimed Wayne Aarum had sexually harassed her while she was employed as a counselor at the Circle C Ranch camp in 2006, 13 years earlier.. The preschool and its programs are funded by tuition, fees and fundraising. Specifically, in a portion of the story about Circle C's legal counsel having recommended at a meeting that Aarum resign, they took these steps: "The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. On week ends there would be scores of men donating their time to help build the camp and Wes wife Marge was kept very busy feeding all these volunteers. Simply select the past meetings minutes you wish to view or you can view the DRAFT minutes which will be approved at the next board meeting. Bob asked how much interest? Your support allows us to continue to produce quality journalism, week in and week out. 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. 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. It's vital people describing trauma or harm be listened to with sensitivity and patience; coming forward is often an act of courage. Read their stories. As you've read, Taddeo and Silvarole spent months speaking to 16 women who described inappropriate and uncomfortable encounters with the man who hasbeen camp director or president for many years at Circle C Ranch. Homeowners must be logged onto the site to view agendas and find the link to the ZOOM meetings. The Circle C board goes on to accuse The Chapel of sponsoring anonymous claims from the alleged victims, even thought The Chapel says all information was unsolicited and the victims are not anonymous to The Chapel. All rights reserved. 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. 3,611 were here. The Aarum family has owned Circle C Ranch in Delevan for 54 years. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Got a story tip or comment? 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. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. It is independent of the Circle C Ranch Homeowners Association. They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. The Board of Directors meeting date and time is on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. To honor, Glorify and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. He never asked for a quid pro quo of any kind for The Chapels contributions.. In the civil lawsuit filed on June 2, Aarum, 55, who leads the First Baptist Church of Arcade, and sits on the board of the Living Waters Ministries Inc., which runs the Christian camp, is seeking a collective $3.125 million in damages from The Chapel for "harm to reputation, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, and emotional injury," as well as financial damages. As Ross Barker said, without Marge we would have never made it. How true! 0 We have requested to meet with them several times and each time they have refused, a statement on the camps website said, explaining the reason for the lawsuit. According to its own investigation, which included interviews with adult supervisors who oversaw youth programs in the 90s- no one saw anything inappropriate take place. Percy, as they wanted to call him, was considered by many to be the founder of the Christian Camp Ministry. Aarum Sr. managed the camp's operations until his health failed in the fall of 2019. 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. 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. Therefore, we have chosen to follow the instructions given by the Apostle Paul in Romans 13 to use the God-appointed government institutions and have officially lodged a legal complaint against The Chapel, the camp continued. Return to homepage. All fourdid not respond. "I'm just completely. There was over 100 acres of good haying land on this property so they had plenty of feed for the horses. 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. In late 2019, allegations of abuse 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. Circle C Ranch opened in the late 1960s on a 315-acre wooded parcel in rural Cattaraugus County. Being a 15 year old girl, newly diagnosed with leukemia, your entire world is crazy. In May, New York set COVID-19 rules and restrictions for summer camps to operate after sleep-away camps were forced to close last year. He has consistently denied all of the allegations against him. The Circle C board claims The Chapel at Crosspoint wants to take over the ranch and says it is spreading falsehoods about Aarum so members of The Chapel can take over the Circle C board., In documents on Circle Cs website, the board writes the campaign against Aarum was designed for the purpose of acquiring the camps property and business.. ", "The USA TODAY NETWORK asked for comment from five individuals whosupport the Ranch and the Aarums. 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. 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. He never asked for a representative on the board of directors of the Living Waters Ministries Inc. Dear Chapel family, 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. Please click here to learn how. The USA TODAY Network New York found that concerns about Aarum's behavior with girls were reported to leadership at both The Chapel and Circle C Ranch, and also to Aarum himself, at least 20 times since 1997, according to excerpts from the employee personnel file and interviews with youth group members at The Chapel, Circle C staff and pastors in the Western New York area. 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. In his lawsuit, Aarum accuses The Chapels Executive Pastor John A. Camardo and members of his staff of orchestrating the campaign to damage his reputation because he refuses to support the sale of some of the 315 acres of land connected with his camp to developers seeking to build a $500 million windmill project. The Circle C Child Development Center is a private, not-for-profit company with a volunteer board of directors. 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.. And at its best, local journalism reveals truths that leaders and institutions of importance would much prefer remain hidden. Together they worked to increase contributions from the members of the church and expand the churchs membership with three satellite locations. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial, according to the court filing. 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. None agreed to interviews on the recordfor this story, and they didnot provide additional sources who would be willing to comment on the record.". Less than a week after the USA TODAY Network New Yorkpublished its investigation into the allegations against Aarum in June, Circle C Ranch announced it would pivot its typical summer camp schedule for 2021 to family weekends, which would include parents as well as children. 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 details, the word choices and the extra effort to confirm facts and reach difficult-to-reach people all matter greatly. The Double H Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It isan investigative journalist's role to examine possible abuses of power or allegations of misfeasance or malfeasancethoroughly,keeping fairness and accuracy front and center in their work. I found each of the women to be credible; patterns of predatory behavior emerged and grew more egregious as time passed. Although he considered this womans accusation to be criminal in nature, Mr. Camardo did not make a report to any law enforcement authority or encourage the woman to do so. In a March 26 interview with Buffalo TV station WKBWs 7 Eyewitness News Aarum said he had not been given the opportunity to defend himself by MinistrySafe and that witnesses who supported him had not been interviewed. Thank you for your support. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In an exclusive interview with 7 Eyewitness News last month, Aarum and board member Daryl Dekalb made that same suggestion while strongly denying the allegations against him. Wayne Aarum, a pastor and operator of theCircle C RanchChristian camp in Delevan, who has been accused ofinappropriately touchingat least 21 teenage girls in the past, is now suingThe Chapelmegachurch over what he says are manufactured allegations against him to gain control of the camps land. https://terrace-healthcare.com/news/generic-cialis.html. To reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may know that they are born again. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Nothing happened. Living Waters Ministries says it takes allegations serious, and thats why the ranch says it conducted a thorough investigation of these circumstances assisted by professional experts.. After Bible School, University and Seminary Wes went full time into the Lords work. It matters in small towns. At least 21 women reportedly told lawyers hired by The Chapel that they were inappropriately touched by Aarum who worked with the church as one of the directors of student youth groups from 1990 to 2000. Marges love for the Lord led her, along with her other jobs, to be the teacher of a womens weekly Bible study. Aarum has repeatedly denied any allegations of inappropriate conduct. The church continued to contribute financially to the camp each year and recommended it to families. %PDF-1.6 % "The camp programs, which ran primarily in the summer, complemented [T]he Chapels youth programs, which ran primarily during the school year. set COVID-19 rules and restrictions for summer camps, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. circlecranch.com under the "Resource" tab. You can also join. 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. Attorney Steven Long of Williamsvillelaw firm Long & Paulo-Lee, PLLC, who represents Aarum, did not immediately return requests for comment. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. 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 months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum,and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. It finally became a reality when in 1968 he found the property where God wanted him to start that camp. ContactSarahat STADDEO@Gannett.com or (585) 258-2774. 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. To reach the Ranch Association Executive Director Michele Brethower, click here. Dr. Andrews never sought to influence the operations of the camp. As a result of her abuse, Snell experienced mental and psychological effects, including fear and anxiety that have required professional treatment, the lawsuit alleges. Wayne Aarum, pastor accused of abusing teens, sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. Like much of the world, they've been closely watching what's been unfolding in Afghanistan. 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. He also currently serves as pastor of theFirst Baptist Church of Arcade, New York. Two other days, July 3 and 31, are designated as "Family Fun Days," according to the website. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. Those allegations outlined in a report from The Chapel and Ministry Safes Kimberlee Norris say the abuse happened during the 90s, during a time Aarum was involved with The Chapel and when the Chapel says it had partnered with Circle C Ranch. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. 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. information shared on its website on Monday. Last week, Aarum filed a civil lawsuit against The Chapel alleging defamatory statements. The Chapel recommended the camp to members of its congregation and contributed funds to help expand the camps facilities and enable the camp to operate on a basis that was affordable to campers from Christian church youth groups and families at all income levels," the suit continues. Website Terms & Conditions | CCHOA Privacy Policy| Social Media Policy | Feedback, Copyright 2015 2022 Circle C Ranch HOA | Design by Austin Web Design.com, The Board of Directors meeting date and time is on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. The camp was founded by Wayne Aarums father Wes Aarum Sr., and both Wayne and his brother, Wes Aarum Jr., serve on the board. INVESTIGATION: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, More:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. Now God would go to work and make this camp a reality. This website was created for residents in order to provide you with more convenience and opportunities to share ideas and information; get news and announcements; access an online resource center for important He was born in Buffalo, NY into a godly family and at 17 years of age accepted Christ into his life. Water exercise is for everyone! When Andrew died in 1999, however, the new management at The Chapel became more expansionist and financially oriented, the suit argues. When requesting that we follow the guidelines for settling disputes as outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18, we were told that Matthew 18 doesnt apply. It all started in the heart of an evangelist named Wes Aarum. In addition to his duties at Circle C Ranch, Aarum also currently serves as a pastor at First Baptist Church of Arcade in Wyoming County. We believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, the creation of man by the diret act of God, the Incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement for the sin of mankind, His death, burial, resurection, and His coming again bodily to take His saints to be with Him forever. God knew that Wes would need a man that would be a confidant, a prayer partner, on who could give wise counsel and one who had the same soul-winning burden and vision for the camp that he had. Pine brook was a great soul-winning camp and that summer hundreds of teens accepted Christ. 2021 5622 5612 2022 5622 5612 Circle C Governing Documents All of the Circle C HOA's defining documents can be found on the HOA website at . Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Kanakuk Petition Reaches 15,000 Signatures, Southern Baptist Conventions Lawyers to Cut Ties after Vote to Waive Privilege, Christian and Missionary Alliance to Leave Colorado Springs for Ohio, Arkansas Judge Dismisses Duggar Sisters Lawsuit, Christian Filmmaker Arrested Following Investigation of Child Sex Predators. The 2022-2023 CDC Board of Directors are: Warren Faulkner, President Melinda McKenna, Board Member David Wagner, Board Member Aaron Sotak, Board Member Randy Glenn, Board Member Sign-up for our newsletter! Theyspoke to 19 other individuals including persons who worked at the camp, relatives and local pastors. How easy is it to make anonymous declarations?. Links to the ZOOM meetings and meeting agendas may be found on the website at www. The CCHOA will host Circle C's Semi-Annual Garage Sale on Saturday, April 29th. Especially about potency and trying to defeat erectile dysfunction. 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. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. The conduct was at times private and at other times out in the open when other camp staffers would be able to witness it, according to Snells lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges The Chapel's executive pastor, John Camardo, used the abuse allegations against Aarum as a way to damage Aarum'sreputation and ability to conduct business, according to the filings. Missed chances:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. endstream endobj startxref She was saved as a teenager, went to Buffalo and became a Registered Nurse. Follow heronTwitter @Sjtaddeo. Homeowners are encourage to host their individual garage sales on 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 under the Home button. 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. Group led Water Aerobics starts on Tuesday May 2nd! In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. This is the Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Circle C Homeowners Association. 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. When the camp went to pay Bob back he made it a gift to the ministry. Aarum, in recent sermons, has compared the accusations to Jesus being crucified by people he helped, as reported by The Roys Report. Judge Rules That Michigan Public University Violated the Rights of Christian Student Group, Citygate Network Seeks Greater Diversity in National Rescue Mission Leadership. He met Margaret Stevenson who had been born on a farm in Pennsylvania (which would prepare her for life at the Ranch). 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. Member will be given 3 minutes to address the board. 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. Circle C board defends accused camp director Weeks after a Delevan minister and local camp director Wayne Aarum was accused of sexual misconduct by 21 former campers and staffers, the Circle. The accounts of the women, describing incidents involving Wayne Aarum that took place when they were Circle C Ranch campers, are troubling and concerning. 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. Michael Kilian is executive editor of the Democrat and Chronicle. Getzville in New York, from 1991 to 2000 before becoming director of Circle C Ranch. You learn and grow so much by working and camping there. Miracle after Miracle, God has provided for Circle C Ranch and as long as God continues to provide, we will continue to serve Him! 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. Some things have changed but these three things will never change! 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. I don't know, but one thing I am sure of is that Taddeo and Silvarole will be ready to write about it. Oh, and if you have a good story tip, on any subject, please let us know. 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. Ross had been a board member of Canadian Youth for Christ when Wes had been the President and was such a blessing to that ministry. It was decided that he should be contacted and asked for a loan of $30,000. Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. 10614 Redmond Rd SOLD in 7 days! To email a Board member directly, click their email address below. For thirty years, from 1968 to 1999, the close friendship between the Andrews family and the Aarum family was important for their organizations and their personal satisfaction with their work. 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. Wes said he didnt know. %%EOF A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. 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, as well as be added to our email list. 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. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how this . Have questions about what happened at your last Associations Board Meeting, well this folder has the answers. What else might develop? A friend of Ross & Wes was a man named Bob Lowe who was a very successful businessman. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. by Webmaster | Oct 20, 2014 | Board of Directors Meeting. "Double H Ranch changed my life in more ways than one. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the HOA office at 512-288-8663. "Due to Covid Restrictions we have decided to pour all of our resources into our family camp weekends," the website reads. DELEVAN, N.Y. (WKBW) Weeks after a Delevan minister and local camp director Wayne Aarum was accused of sexual misconduct by 21 former campers and staffers, the Circle C camp director has not stepped down. Name* Email* CAPTCHA Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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