This evening after work, I watched an episode of “Without a Trace”. The story line was about a young boy who was harassed, physically pushed, mocked and jeered by his classmates because he appeared weak and not cool. The episode was originally aired in 2004 on CBS and was titled- “Wannabe”. Here is a plot summary:

The FBI investigates the disappearance of Eric Miller, a middle school student who disappeared during a bathroom break. He was only away for about ten minutes, so either he or his suspected kidnappers may have known what would happen. The investigators learn that Eric had low self-esteem and saw himself as part of the loser crowd at school. When his friend tells Agent Johnson about a bullying incident and they also locate a surveillance video from a local arcade showing an older boy pushing him, they realize they may have something other than a kidnapping.

A second plot summary reads as follows:

The “Without a Trace” team is called to a school after the sudden and unexplained disappearance of a pupil during a bathroom break in class. What at first seems like a sinister kidnapping soon leads the team into high school culture and on a trail of bullying and violence.(emphasis added)

 (source link- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0749727/plotsummary )

    Yes, I realize this is a story for television. However, many of these types of stories are written about current issues. A quick search for the term “bullying” brings up a host of current references and sad stories about youth on youth violence. A website named “Bully Police” found here:  http://www.bullypolice.org/nc_law.html   bills themselves as “A Watch-dog Organization – Advocating for Bullied Children & Reporting on State Anti Bullying Laws”. I have not reviewed their entire site and this is not an endorsement, but, I did learn that 49 states have anti-bullying laws. I also found a reference to the Anti-Bullying Law in North Carolina enacted June 23, 2009. Here is a link to the copy I found on the site:

NC_law 2009

Why do I take time write about this subject? Two different survivors of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) at two separate times described to me new behaviors of the children within the group. It was told to me that certain children of those in leadership were being allowed to hit, push, scream at (pray over) and verbally assault other children and adults within the group. After reading this law and knowing that this type of behavior inside WOFF was not excluded from school hours on school grounds- the question comes to mind- does this sound like “bullying in the name of Jesus”? My first reading of the NC law does not reveal an exemption for private schools. Does Word of Faith Christian School have an anti-bullying policy and procedure? To entrust this to the teachers who are under Jane’s control, the administration of an anti-bullying policy would be like asking the fox to guard the hen house. (no pun intended..)

From my experience inside the group, this type of bullying behavior would be excused as “God’s ways” and “for the “good of the student” and showing the “love of God”? Really? Who believes that? Do we need to put a link to the Inside Edition YouTube® clip again? Is anything in that video considered bullying under the NC law? You tell me. Did our legislators intend to exempt WOFF and their practices because Jane knows best and hears God perfectly every time? Can we assume that her children are showing the “love of God” to each other as they hit and punch and scream at each other? Does child on child physical and mental abuse get excused under “freedom of religion”? Stop and carefully consider your answer.

  How can we have relative comfort in believing the reports of two survivors of WOFF when they talk about children being allowed to practice these abusive behaviors? The answer lies in the fact that these are practices that are allowed and encouraged between the older children and youth and adults. I was personally screamed at and verbally threatened several times while a member of WOFF. I know I was not the only one and I have witnessed others being verbally assaulted, kept from free movement and restrained. Can this type of behavior be classified as “bullying”? According to my reading of the law, students exhibiting the outlined prohibited behaviors against other students must be investigated. Who is charged with enforcing this law?

Let’s recap some vital parts of the law that apply to what has been seen within the walls of WOFF.

First: Whereas, the sole purpose of this law is to protect all children from bullying andharassment, and no other legislative purpose is intended nor should any other intent be construed from passage of this law;

I believe “all children” would include WOFF children- right? That is regardless of past edicts.

Second- the definition: “As used in this Article, “bullying or harassing behavior” is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic, or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and that:”

Can we say “any pattern of gestures” includes hand motions and verbal threats?

The law continues:  1) Places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or 2) Creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits. For purposes of this section, “hostile environment” means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior.

Well, “reasonable fear of harm”- anyone felt that while under the threats of a teacher or anyone in WOFF leadership? I believe Jane uses the “fear of harm” and loss as her main tool of control. This next part of the definition is a vital part of the definition- “the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior.” Are there any “reasonable people” out there who are concerned about the children in WOFF?

 We move on… “Bullying or harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, acts reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, developmental, or sensory disability, or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics.”(emphasis added)

 How wonderful this definition includes “religion”? Would it be reasonable to say that those being blasted for not submitting to Jane’s religion whether child or adult, are being “bullied” when she threatens they will lose their home, job, and family if they don’t submit and change? Yes, it is terrible that this has to be legislated. One may ask why folks don’t just leave WOFF. In short, many don’t have the means to leave.  How often have other survivors witnessed a member of WOFF being castigated or berated for “not hearing God”? Is this a “sensory disability”?

Another interesting provision: “This Article shall not be construed to permit school officials to punish student expression or speech based on an undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance or out of a desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint.”

 How often inside WOFF were “unpopular viewpoints” allowed to remain in adults- much less students?

Let’s get back to the original question- Do the activities witnessed inside WOFF qualify as “bullying in the name of Jesus”? Does your church practice “safe religion” or bullying in the name of Jesus? Does WOFF seem like a safe place for children free from “reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property?”

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 408.