information shared on its website on Monday. Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer, and Jerry Gillis, lead pastor at The Chapel, discuss the allegations against Wayne Aarum. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. He previously has said that Chapel leaders were not seeking to take control of the Circle C Ranch board or the camp property. The accused, Wayne Aarum, is the director of Circle C Ranch camp in Delevan, New York. I dont want any more children to come through his camp.. There is absolutely no credibility to any of these things, Dekalb said. I think she and other survivors felt responsible to bring it to light., The former employee said she never recognized Aarums interaction with girls as inappropriate while she worked there as a teen. And of course if you have any questions please email us or call the office at info@circlecranch.org or (716) 492-3687. "Wayne has ministered to thousands and thousands of kids over the years, and we never heard anything from anybody.". A detailed report written by Norris to State Children and Family Services officials was given Sunday to the 21 women who came forward. Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer, and Jerry Gillis, lead pastor at The Chapel, discuss the allegations against Wayne Aarum. Aarum has denied any wrongdoing, and he told his congregation in April that he never intended to offend anyone with his remarks or actions. 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. Aarums denials prompted Elle Campbell to post on Twitter that she was one of the 21+ victims and 27+ corroborators who were interviewed for Norris report. The former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared retribution from Aarums family, said the woman came forward because Aarum still has access to kids through his work at Circle C Ranch. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. The work poses many challenges. Some former staff said Aarum typically targeted specific girls who were pretty, slim, emotionally fragile or those who had father issues and that girls complained to staff asking for help in avoiding [Aarum]., In a March statement, The Chapels board and pastoral leadership said both their leadership and MinistrySafe have found the allegations to be credible.. A camp director and pastor with ties to a megachurch in western New York has been accused of inappropriately touching more than 20 women when they were teenage girls. It matters in suburbs. Investigation: 16 women say this pastor and camp president abused them. Waynes brother, Wes, was highly regarded as a minister at the Chapel for many years, as well. Chapel leaders learned a few months later about additional allegations of inappropriate behavior by Aarum during his time as a church staff member from 1991 to 2000. I have zero recollection of that. It matters in cities. In addition, a contemporaneous writing provided evidence that the behaviors were previously reported to camp leadership. The longtime director of a Christian youth camp in Delevan is refusing to step down despite complaints that he inappropriately touched young women and girls. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. I remember a lot of hugs lasting a little too long.. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. My youth group never went back to Circle C.. It takes courage to stand up to The Chapels leadership and demand that they stop spending large amounts of the members money pursuing a broad attack on Wayne Aarum that they believe is factually unsupportable, the statement said. 1.) To reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may know that they are born again. Two men face multiple charges following a chase and search Saturday night in the Town of Collins, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reported Tuesday. Wayne Aarum, pastor accused of abusing teens, sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. As you've read, Taddeo and Silvarole spent months speaking to 16 women who described inappropriate and uncomfortable encounters with the man who hasbeen camp director or president for many years at Circle C Ranch. She also said Aarum on occasion grabbed her from behind and pulled his pelvis tight to her body. 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.. Another alleged victim wrote to the I-Team that the inappropriate contact such as the unsolicited long hugs and hands near or on the breasts and hips were so disturbing that the youth group she was a part of confronted Aarum and his father. For months, The Chapel facilitated conversations between women like McDonald, who say they were abused by Aarum, and the Circle C Ranch board of directors. 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. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. The lawsuit alleges The Chapel's executive pastor, John Camardo, used the abuse allegations against Aarum as a way to damage Aarum'sreputation and ability to conduct business, according to the filings. A youth pastor and Christian camp director who was accused of inappropriately touching 21 girls is suing the Amherst megachurch that hired a lawyer to investigate the allegations. The camp is veering from its traditional model this summer, insteadfocusing on "Family Camp Weekends" in July and August, according to information shared on its website on Monday. An email to Wayne Aurum, and a call to attorney's in Williamsville who are representing Aurum in the defamation lawsuit were not returned Monday. But the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team heard from multiple women who said they were not included in the MinistrySafe investigation, which examined claims stretching as far back as the 1990s, and who said their allegations stem from a time at Circle C Ranch between 2000 and 2016. Click here to read the full statement from The Chapel. While at that camp Wes got to thinking that maybe someday he would be able to start a camp where young people could come to know Christ. Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. 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. They initiated the whole process because she wanted [him] not to be able to work with kids anymore. In an interview in March with WKBW-TV, Aarum said he had "zero recollection" of touching anyone inappropriately. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Delaware North scores with billboard with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka, well, you know Pastor accused of touching girls sues Amherst church over allegations, Watch now: Youth pastor, Christian camp director accused of inappropriately touching teen girls, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary, Citizens travel to Peru's capitol Lima to protest against Boluarte, Senators react to the end of emergency SNAP benefits, Russia accuses U.S. of intent to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Chapel leaders say they began hearing troubling allegations about Aarum in October 2019 and again in February 2020. Women allege WNY Christian camp director has abused teens since 1990s. You have permission to edit this article. Nothing happened. Sarah Taddeo is an enterprisereporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. It was those subtle touches that made me scared and uncomfortable., Another woman who is now 29 said that when she and her friend were waiting for a ride home from the camp in 2007 or 2008, Aarum came up behind the girl and said [he] hugged me from behind. Neither I nor MinistrySafe (or any representative of the law firm) have ever offered information for payment to Circle C or Living Waters Ministries. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. Reporters also tried to contactRonald Snell,a longtime friend of Wes Aarum Sr. andCircle C board member for a short period, whowas also present at the meeting. Chelsea Carnahan told The News that Aarum stroked her back, hair and legs during one-on-one counseling sessions when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. We believe in the Divine Inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, the creation of man by the diret act of God, the Incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His vicarious atonement for the sin of mankind, His death, burial, resurection, and His coming again bodily to take His saints to be with Him forever. The longtime director of a Christian youth camp in Delevan is refusing to step down despite complaints that he inappropriately touched young women and girls at the camp and when he was a youth pastor in the 1990s at one of the areas largest churches. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) Three days after sexual misconduct allegations were raised about a Cattaraugus County youth camp director -- allegations the camp director denied -- additional women have come forward to say that they either witnessed or experienced as teenagers inappropriate sexual contact by Wayne Aarum. 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. I still dont know, although they have accused me and pretty much condemned me, I dont know what Im accused of, Aarum said. In addition to his duties at Circle C Ranch, Aarum also currently serves as a pastor at First Baptist Church of Arcade in Wyoming County. It would have all the mystique of the Old West and it would look like a town in the 1800s. But Dekalb defended Aarum as a "true Christian" and said he had done nothing wrong. 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. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how this . Wes Aarum preaches at Kingdom Bound at Darien Lake in 2012. A copy of the report, which was obtained by 7 Eyewitness News, stated: In the course of the MinistrySafe investigation, these behaviors were communicated: -stroking legs (outside clothing and on bare skin), -touching vaginal area- outside clothing (in shorts or jeans), -touching, rubbing and stroking breasts, outside clothing, -stroking from hips to breasts, clothed, on the side of the body, -pressing penis into back of girl (hugging from behind), -rubbing penis repeatedly in a girls presence, -extended hug of a partially dressed girl", The report stated that 27 people came forward to corroborate some of the alleged behaviors, including hand rubbing inside of thighfailing to honor preference NOT to be touched and meeting 1/1 with girls late into the night.. Read their stories. That was of the Lord. "Circle C Ranch is aware of allegations raised against our President. 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