Professional Review 1--Purpose

July 2024
Originally Posted August 2018
 
Purpose

"Review and learn from what happened,
support good practice, and restore relationships." (p. 113)

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord…Therefore love truth and peace.” Zechariah 8

The purpose of this blog is to share the initial investigation done in 2008 by Rand Guebert. So far it has been shared privately with government investigative agencies in different countries and several colleagues and consultants.

"This review [investigates] several overlapping matters that have affected the mission, member care, and church community...[and] aspires to promote transparency, accountability, good practice, and healthy relationships." (Proposal, p. 112) 

"This professional review has been organized to draw together the various events that have led to the dismissal of Drs. Kelly and Michele O’Donnell from YWAM [and other organizations/networks] and to the potential loss of millions of dollars by investors in Nordic Capital Investments (NCI) and Stichting Dutch Investments (SDI).  Many of these events are related and overlap, and this review attempts to place them in context." p.1

We are sharing this review now with the support of many colleagues in hopes that the international Church-Mission Community (CMC) and general public will get a better understanding of the widespread and ongoing reality of corruption--outside as well as inside the CMC. Corruption is far more than financial crime, since it also includes many other abuses of power and exploitation, such as  sexual misconduct, cover-ups, silencing others, and leadership/group rationalizations. We hope that this review will encourage the CMC and general public to hold their leaders accountable--and themselves--for the good governance, responsible management, and personal integrity needed to prevent corruption and bring corruption into the light. 

More specifically, we also hope there will be a far more accurate understanding of the NCI et al. fraud, including what has contributed to obscure it and cover it up, and the heavy price paid by many people confronting it, especially within the CMC (e.g., discrediting, dismissals, physical danger). There is much to learn from this protracted case of corruption and the largely unanswered calls for assistance via verifiable disclosures and independent reviews. In spite of the long-term and ongoing damage, the time is still opportune for people to reverse course and act with integrity. As stated in the concluding paragraph of the Integrated Executive Summary:

"YWAM and other groups are only being challenged now because of the integrity and perseverance of the O’Donnells and those who have stood by them in these last difficult years.  The need for accountability and restitution in varying degrees clearly lies with YWAM, Le Rucher, WEA-MC, MC-E and involved churches [Youth With A Mission, Le Rucher Ministries, World Evangelical Alliance-Mission Commission, Crossroads Church etc.].  In authoritarian settings nearly everyone is too vulnerable to stand up to the power of the leaders—staff have limited rights and limited resources on which to rely.  The time has come for the truth to be known and justice to prevail, without which there can be no proper basis for organizational health and reconciliation.  For everyone involved it is not too late to act with integrity and seek redress, both publicly and privately."

Keep in mind that Mr. Guebert conducted his 2008 initial investigation without the benefit of the 3000+ pages of documents released in 2010 by the Swedish government--focusing on the NCI fraud case. The Swedish documents fill in many of the details about how NCI operated and who was affected; provide a context for why fear, cover ups and dismissals could be so widespread in the CMC; and by and large confirm the concerns and conclusions in the initial investigation. Additional organizations have also been approached for assistance, for example to investigate how they (and their members or member organizations) have been affected, share information, and hold people accountable in light of good practice standards, but to little avail.

Mr. Guebert continues to welcome contributions to make the review as accurate as possible, especially from people who have not yet given their input and perspectives. Please feel free to share any additional information and documents via the comments and/or by email (lovingtruthpeace@gmail.org). You are also welcome to include your name below in support of the purpose of the weblog and the Professional Review:  "To review and learn from what has happened, support good practice, and restore relationships."

For an updated summary regarding NCI and related events (e.g., court cases, requests for assistance, lack of disclosures), we encourage you to read the "Summary and Summons" on the PETRA People weblog. 

“There is a story here that EVERYONE should know. Everyone should have the opportunity to evaluate whether the ends justify the means." Rand Guebert (16 December 2016, comment on the Shine the Light-Together website), 

Sincerely,

Michèle and Kelly O’Donnell

Moderators

---------------

We support the purpose of this weblog and Professional Review:

"Review and learn from what happened, support good practice,
and restore relationships."

Ron Williams
Dr. Bill Clark
Dr. Ralph Winestock
Tina Quick
Dr. Jonathan Quick
Tricia Johnson
Dr. Todd Johnson
Valerie Bertozzi
Patricia Shepherd
Dr. William Watson
Hollis Lewis, JD

Note:
We (Kelly and Michele O'Donnell) have authorized, as required in the Professional Review, to share this information on this weblog, initially with a limited group of people. In posting the Professional Review, we are not implying any criminality in the NCI case beyond those implicated in the verdicts of the Swedish court (2010) and any courts in the future. We do however continue to align with the many colleagues, victims, and general public who over the past 11 years have  strongly urged all those affected by the NCI fraud to share information to help fill in the missing pieces as well as for organizations affected by the fraud and their specific leaders and Boards to share information and authorize independent reviews. We also join with others in supporting Mr. Guebert’s conclusions that the discrediting and dismissals which we received must be understood in light of the NCI fraud and our commitment to consistently act with integrity.