Keep reading with unlimited digital access. But she never saw any improvement in Wayne Aarums behavior, she said. Instead, Chapel leaders offered to share information gathered in the course of the investigation IF Circle C undertook an independent investigation in good faith. Officials at the Chapel said they were first made aware in 2019 of allegations about Aarums inappropriate behavior at the camp and took that information to the Circle C Ranch board, according to a statement provided to The News and posted on the Chapel's website. According to information shared on its website, Circle C Ranch said state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the sudden change in programming to include now the parents of children. 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. Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister atThe Chapel at Crosspointin Getzville, New York, current pastor ofFirst Baptist Churchin Arcade, New York, and the operator ofCircle C Ranchyouth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls spanning decades. I have never had any sexual interaction with anyone other than my wife. He said no one at the present and George said he would bring his crew up every weekend and do the job as a gift to the Lord. Report stated 21 women have made allegations. Follow heronTwitter @Sjtaddeo. I can honestly say no., Aarum added, Did someone contact them before MinistrySafe did? In October 2020, they hired MinistrySafe founder Kimberlee Norris, who completed her investigation in December 2020. A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular Cattaraugus County youth camp stands accused of sexual misconduct with teen girls -- but he denies the allegations. Its all lightweight stuff theyre bringing up anyway, Dekalb said. It was decided that he should be contacted and asked for a loan of $30,000. Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the. "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. 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. Weve asked for any information they can give ustheyve given us nothing, Aarum said. Aarum said that he met a year ago with John Camardo, executive pastor at The Chapel, and Camardo told him that he was accused of abuse of spiritual authority and inappropriate interactions but refused to more clearly define those charges. 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. Reach him at mkilian@gannett.com. In its response to Norris' report, the Circle C Ranch board suggests that the volume of complaints against Aarum was related to the work he did, often with troubled teenagers. Clergy are mandated. Percy, as he wanted to be called, was considered by many as the founder of the Christian Camping Ministry. DeKalb suggested that the allegations were part of a campaign by Chapel leaders to acquire the youth camp. I remember a lot of hugs lasting a little too long.. Powered by Kenny & Elle Campbell and friends of victims of abuse. Aarum denies the allegations against him and continues to operate the Circle C Ranch. They have been a team that Gdo brought together. The News reported in April on the allegations and Chapel investigation. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. You have permission to edit this article. If you are interested in helping out please fill out the application below! Another woman wrote that the hugs were so bad that he proceeded to rub my back and hug me for an uncomfortably long time, and did not let go when I tried to pull away.. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Multiple women told the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team that Aarum would sometimes touch intimate areas and would grab their bra straps. Especially about potency and trying to defeat erectile dysfunction. 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. Fancher said the camp had documented instances in which other camp leaders had approached Aarum about his actions. Marges love for the Lord led her, along with her other jobs, to be the teacher of a womens weekly Bible study. 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. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. Girls, now women, who participated in the investigation said that the behaviors became so normalized that they assumed others, including parents and ministry leaders, knew and approved, Norris wrote in her letter to the state office. At this age, he began to take care of his health. 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.. Read the full story from News Staff Reporter Jay Tokasz. 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. Wes Aarum preaches at Kingdom Bound at Darien Lake in 2012. 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? Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Click here to read the full statement from The Chapel. 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. I have been a staff reporter at The Buffalo News since 2002 and currently am part of the watchdog team. Aarum and his supporters have maintained that he is unable to properly address claims being brought against him because he doesnt know who has made them. When told it was for a youth camp, Bob wrote out a check for the amount needed. "This is why we're suspicious of these charges. Thank you for your support. Please consider becoming a digital subscriber. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. 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. 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In early 2021, The Chapel held a members-only meeting to share some of the findings and to announce the church was suspending all activities and financial ties to Circle C Ranch. 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. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. $10- ages 10+ $5- ages under 10 He has consistently denied all of the allegations against him. My youth group never went back to Circle C.. 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. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. And this started 20 years ago, said Fancher. 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. The lawsuit alleges that leadership of The Chapel have become aware of the growing value of the camp property and that Camardo has sought since 2019 to dig up dirt on Aarum, with the aim of hurting his reputation and creating a more favorable board of directors to control the Circle C Ranch camp and the use and disposition of its land.. 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. Now there was a need for the total of $40,000 to get things moving. After hearing a report of abuse by a former staffer at the Circle C Ranch, The Chapel hired Ministry Safe to conduct an investigation. My evaluation of credibility is based upon 30 years of past experience interacting with fact witnesses and abuse survivors. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Last week, 7 Eyewitness News reported that at least 21 women have come forward to lawyers hired by The Chapel at Crosspoint to probe allegations of inappropriate touching and contact with girls by Aarum, a former employee of The Chapel who worked there in the 1990s. She said, If they're thinking of sending their children there this summer, I want people to know.. That was of the Lord. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Aarum denied such behavior last week, saying, I can tell you right now I never did thatand I would love an opportunity to talk to them.. 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. These persons said they'dwitnessedAarumsactions, or heard aboutthemfrom staff or loved ones. 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. 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. Click here to read the internal investigation report provided by Circle C Ranch. Aarum is seeking $3.1 million in damages. Judge Rules That Michigan Public University Violated the Rights of Christian Student Group, Citygate Network Seeks Greater Diversity in National Rescue Mission Leadership. A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular Cattaraugus County youth camp stands accused of sexual misconduct with teen girls -- even though he denies the allegations. Circle C Ranch'sboard of trustees said they did their own investigation. 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. Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. I have been a staff reporter at The Buffalo News since 2002 and currently am part of the watchdog team. and we are celebrating 10 years of building community through these great events. 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. 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. 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. Shortly after her graduation they were married. She said upon receiving the letter that was sent by MinistrySafe to survivors on Sunday, she has been sick to my stomach ever since.. Percy, as they wanted to call him, was considered by many to be the founder of the Christian Camp Ministry. Sometimes he would grab her from behind and pull his pelvis tight to her body, she said. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. Wes said he didnt know. 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. This Summer we are looking to hire Staff to help facilitate our Summer Camp, Day Camp, and Family Camp programs! 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. There was documentation of people going to Wayne and saying, Hey listen, like, we love you, but you need to be careful of this.' The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. He was an authority figure and an adult; they were teenagers. But now that she is an adult, she said she would describe the interactions with girls as intimate and a form of grooming.. 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. 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. 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 association documents and forms; join discussion forums; utilize the member directory; and much more. Please fill out the application below along with her other jobs, be. Leaders to acquire the youth camp of past experience interacting with fact witnesses abuse... 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