About the Independent Abuse Review Panel

Most children of missionaries value their experiences in distant lands. However, in the 1990s several found the courage to report to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that years earlier they had been sexually abused while attending boarding schools in Congo.

Many spoke of serious life-long consequences: self-hate, low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, struggles with depression, alcoholism/drug addiction, eating disorders or forming long-term relationships.

One woman said, “I gave up my idea of God as a strong, loving deity who stayed by me in times of good and bad … I gave up my relationship with my parents and all adults as people who could be trusted … I gave up the joy of waking up to a new day full of promise and excitement.”

Committed to furthering the healing process, PC(USA), in 2002, appointed the Independent Committee of Inquiry (ICI) to investigate abuse that had occurred in the Congo. In 2004, after the ICI had completed its work and representatives of PC(USA) had responded personally to survivors, the church extended its inquiry beyond the Congo. It formed the Independent Abuse Review Panel (IARP).

IARP Members

James Evinger of Rochester, New York, was a member of the Independent Committee of Inquiry (ICI).  A Presbyterian minister, he does clinical research at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He has consulted with presbyteries, congregations and individuals regarding cases of clergy sexual abuse and has authored articles on the subject. For 20 years he taught classes for parents and foster parents on how to talk comfortably, competently and age-appropriately with children about sexuality.  Jim is an avid hiker who particularly enjoys the Rocky Mountains.

Carolyn Whitfield is a Presbyterian layperson from Rochester, New York. She served on the ICI as staff and primary contact person for Congo survivors. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Rochester. Her research into how states determine child welfare policies complemented work as a consultant for social service agencies examining programs and policies related to child abuse and neglect. Her interest in child welfare polices grew out of her experience as a social worker in a child welfare agency.  She has two cats and serves as a foster home for two others.

Judie Wiley of Williston, Vermont, is a Presbyterian and a social worker with 25 years of experience working as a psychotherapist with a specialty in child abuse, survivor and perpetrator treatment. She has worked with presbyteries to provide classes to both pastors and laity on sexual misconduct. She was the founding therapist of a Child Advocacy Center offering counseling to children, adolescents and their families at the time of disclosure. Currently she provides training to new state child welfare workers for the state of Pennsylvania and consults with a county social service agency. Judie’s newest passion is learning to paint watercolors.

These are the people who are committed to the IARP’s mandate, as expressed in the Charter, to “pursue truth, encourage healing, and promote justice” in the lives of survivors, those accused, their families, and out faith community. They will serve on the Panel until the end  of its Charter in December 2009.

The work of the IARP

The panel’s charge is to receive and respond to allegations of past physical or sexual abuse “where either 1) the accused was formerly under appointment by (Worldwide Ministries Division or one of its predecessor Presbyterian Church world mission bodies) and not currently under appointment; or 2) the abused individual (adult or child) was formerly in the mission field because of a WMD appointment.”

Proceeding fairly and impartially, the IARP

• pursues the truth by locating victims and others having knowledge of the scope of abuse;
• encourages healing by listening to victims and other witnesses; and
• promotes justice by encouraging the denomination’s accountability in relation to findings of abuse.

All communications to the IARP are kept confidential.

How you can help victims

If you or someone you care about was physically or sexually abused while parents served PC(USA) or one of its predecessor denominations as a missionary, contact:

IARP
P.O. Box 18241
Rochester, NY 14618
(866) 313-3694 (toll-free)
Email IARP

If you or someone you care about is currently being physically or sexually abused while missionary parents serve PC(USA), contact:

Patricia A. Hendrix
Sexual Misconduct Ombudsperson
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
100 Witherspoon Street, Room 3608
Louisville, KY 40202
(888) 728-7228 ext. 5285
Abuse hotline:
(888) 728-7228 ext. 5207
International abuse hotline:
(502) 569-5207