讓公義出現——柴玲的牧師們呼籲教會應及時行使公義不再遲延
尊敬的神州傳播協會和遠志明按牧團的董事們,
我們在2014年12月19日就我們的姐妹柴玲揭發遠志明強姦她的事件給您們發信,可至今我們沒有收到您們的任何回音,對此我們深表遺憾!這些嚴肅和不同尋常的的指控對遠志明及他的事工有著法律和見證上的深遠影響。
我們的要求是尊重,真誠,合乎福音精神的,我們只是要求您們,作為遠志明在屬靈監督員,對這些指控做一個公正,獨立的調查。
我們最終的追求是要找出當時發生的真相,達到合適的懺悔與和解。盡管這些指控是令人不安的,並且是不容易面對的,但是這是一個很好的給基督社區的機會:來支持那些曾被性侵犯的受害者,呼吁停止這樣的行為,因為這樣的性犯罪行為已經在我們的社會裡成為泛濫的疫情。我們耶穌基督的信徒必須帶領社會行使公義並幫助恢復重建。
您們至今為止,幾乎兩個月了,沒有對我們的信以任何方式作出回應。徐志秋和周愛玲牧師各自發表的公開信不但是不恰當的,不符合聖經的,非法的,不正確的,還破壞扭曲了柴玲姐妹對發生的事實的見證。我們敦促他們立即公開收回這些信件,並呼吁其他任何同樣作出不適當的評論的人,包括劉彤牧師也跟柴玲姐妹道歉。
遠志明先生一直不肯采取測謊測試,以驗證他的說法,相反柴玲姐妹早已經這樣做了。所有以上這些行為都給我們充足的證據來相信遠志明的確在24年前強姦了柴玲。而您們,通過您們的沉默和不負責任的行為,(跟遠志明)串通一氣,繼續危害柴玲女士和可能的其他受害者的。
由于我們善意追求真理及和解的努力都徒勞無gong - 包括您們缺乏正當積極地反應,缺乏尋求或知道真相的渴望,遠志明先生拒絕測謊測試,我們沒有別的選擇,只好公開地宣布,我們相信柴玲姐妹的見證是完全真實的。
對公義的遲延就是公義的剝奪!這個古老的說法最早是在耶穌在世時在猶太人的密西拿中被引用的(Pirkei Avot)。24年來柴玲姐妹一直在沉默中很多時間是獨自地承擔著這個罪惡的嚴重后果。在過去的三年半裡她耐心地以聖經裡教導的程序來面對遠志明,試圖達到他的認罪與和解,呼吁您們作為他的董事們來遵守您們的信托責任來調查。但是她不但沒有得到公義,反而受到更多的牧師們和董事們的羞辱,傷害和不理睬。這難道是神要我們來表示他向世界的公義,憐憫和真理的方式嗎?
耶穌基督警告過我們:“我實在告訴你們,這些事你們既然沒有作在一個最小的身上,就是沒有做在我的身上了。”(馬太福音25:45)我們在基督的愛中敦促您們要考慮您們行為的嚴重后果。
至于我們,忍耐已經足夠了。馬丁‧路德‧金博士說,“正義拖延得太久就是對正義的剝奪!”今天,我們發表我們回應柴玲姐妹呼求正義的聲明,我們也在耶穌的名下為數百萬像她過去一樣還在沉默中的受害者發出公義的聲音。
我們完全支持柴玲女士把這個問題向更廣泛的基督社會公布呼吁關注的行動。進而,我們歡迎並贊賞18位華人牧師們的勇敢和符合聖經教導的行動,來進行必要和必需的獨立調查。我們為他們祈禱祝福。我們為這些主內的兄弟姐妹們很驕傲。我們期待著他們對這個重要事件的調查結果。
我們呼吁所有信徒,特別是教會領袖站出來為性暴力的受害者說話,並拒絕掩盖或容忍這些罪。肇事者應被繩之以法。強姦是暴力犯罪,而且是違法的。揭露犯罪,需要很大的勇氣,但必將挽救生命。對那些已經被告知可能有犯罪的,如果他們不出面,采取打擊犯罪的行動,那他們與罪犯將會同樣有罪。我們都得給神有個交代的。經文裡寫著(神審判我們的標準和要求):”24 但願公正好像潮水滾流,公義好像河水長流。”(阿摩司書 5:24) “17 學習行善,尋求公平,指責殘暴的人,替孤兒伸冤,為寡婦辨屈。”(以賽亞書 1:17)
總之,性強暴,我們姐妹的痛苦和絕望的哭求,教會的聲譽和威信,都要求我們對這件事做出及時迅速的懺悔救贖回應。我們相信,這樣的行為是給我們的主耶穌基督帶來榮耀的。
此信發自支持柴玲和其她受害者的女童之聲的董事會和柴玲的基督教社區的成員們
(如翻譯有不確切的地方, 以英文為準)
Let There Be Justice!
February 18th, 2015
Dear Board members of China Soul and the Board of Yuan Zhiming’s ordination as a pastor:
We are disappointed and disheartened with your lack of response to our letter dated December 19, 2014 regarding the sexual assault and rape of our spiritual Sister Chai Ling by Mr. Yuan Zhiming. These are extraordinary and serious charges with profound implications both legally and to the witness of Mr. Yuan Zhiming and his Our request was respectful, sincere, and keeping with the Gospel in merely asking you, his overseers, to conduct a fair and independent investigation of these allegations. Our ultimate pursuit is to arrive at the truth of what happened, and to see appropriate repentance and reconciliation. As disturbing as these allegations are, and as difficult as they are to deal with, there is an opportunity here for the Christian community to support those who have been victimized by sexual assault, and to call for an end to such behavior which is epidemic in our society. We who are Jesus Christ’s followers must lead the way in justice and restoration.
You have failed to respond to our letter in any way. We believe that the open letters by Pastors Xu and Shu were inappropriate, unbiblical, unlawful and incorrect, and they undermined Sister Chai Ling’s account of what happened. We have urged them to publicly withdraw these letters immediately, and we urge others who also made inappropriate comments including Pastor Liu Tong to also apologize to our Sister Chai Ling. Mr. Yuan Zhiming has been unwilling to take a polygraph test to validate his assertion, in contrast to Sister Chai Ling who has done so. All of these we believe are compelling evidence that Mr. Yuan Zhiming did, in fact, prey upon and raped Sister Chai Ling and that you, by your silence and inaction, are complicit in continuing to harm Sister Chai Ling and potentially other victims.
Since our goodwill efforts of seeking the truth for reconciliation have all proved fruitless in the face of both your lack of being forthcoming and your lack of desire to seek or know the truth and Mr. Yuan Zhiming’s refusal to submit to a polygraph test, we have no other course than to declare publicly that we believe Sister Chai Ling’s account to be true.
Justice delayed is justice denied! This ancient saying was first derived from the Jewish Mishnah at the time of Jesus on earth (Pirkei Avot). Sister Chai Ling has been enduring the huge cost of this crime for more than 24 years silently and largely alone. For the last three and half years, she patiently followed the biblical process to confront Yuan in seeking his repentance and reconciliation and calling on you as his boards to follow your fiduciary obligation to investigate. Yet instead of receiving justice, she was further humiliated, harmed, and stonewalled by more pastors and board members. Is this how God wants us to represent His justice, mercy, and truth to the world? The Lord Jesus warned us in Matthew 25:45 by saying: “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” We urge you in Christian love to consider the serious consequences of your actions.
As for us, enough is enough. Again, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded all who would listen that “Justice too long delayed is justice denied!” Today, we issue our declaration of justice for Sister Chai Ling and raise our voice for millions of silent victims like her in the name of our Lord.
We wholeheartedly support Sister Chai Ling’s actions to bring this matter to the attention of the broader Christian community. We further welcome and applaud the 18 Chinese pastors’ courageous and biblical action to conduct the necessary and needed independent investigation. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. We are very proud of these brothers and sisters in the Lord. We look forward to their findings on these important matters.
We urge all believers and especially church leaders to stand up for victims of sexual abuse and to refuse to cover up or tolerate these sins. Perpetrators should be brought to justice. Rape is a violent crime, and it is illegal. Exposing the crime takes great courage. Those who are made aware that abuse may be happening will share in the guilt if they do not come forward and take actions against the crime. We shall all have to give an account to God. It is written in Amos 5:24: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” And, it is written in Isaiah 1:17: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
In conclusion, these charges of rape, our sister’s suffering and her cries of despair, and the witness and welfare of the church demand a swift response of repentant, redemptive actions. We believe this would honor our Lord Jesus Christ!
In support of Sister Chai Ling, this letter is sent by the Board of All Girls Allowed and members of Sister Chai Ling’s Christian community.
Mr. Bob Maginn
Rev. Dr. Bryan Wilkerson
Pastor David Hill
Elder Tom Colatosti
Dr. Deborah Kwolek
Mr. Mike Flaherty
Members of Ling’s Church community and friends of Ling
2015-02-18
http://www.caochangqing.com (轉載請指明出處)