Confronting Corruption (Dec. 2011--Jan. 2012)

Insipid Salt and Illusory Light

 Christ cleansing the temple
Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1875

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You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become insipid, wherewith shall it be salted?

It is no longer fit for anything but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men.

(MT 5:13, Darby Bible)

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The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body
will be full of  light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
(MT 6:22-23, New American Standard Bible)

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The track record for dealing with fraud in the CMC is undeniably mixed at best. Unfortunately what can only be called cowardice and cover ups are often the predominant (and carefully disguised) responses from those in positions of influence. We are reminded of the introductory comments on the PETRA People web site (homepage) in which moral salt becomes insipid and illuminating light becomes illusory.

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The most disconcerting aspect of NCI is not simply the lost money. Nor is it simply the negative emotional impact on the lives of so many "investors" and their family members and colleagues. Rather it is the consistent response of individuals/leaders within the church-mission community: unwillingness to investigate or get informed, fear of reprisals, self-protection, and discrediting those calling for transparency and accountability, all at the expense of vulnerable people. It is time to change this course and to act with moral courage and united strength.
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Here are two updates followed by renewed calls for courageous and united action.

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PART ONE: UPDATES----Being Salt and Light

Update One: NCI Case

The NCI fraud was investigated by the Swedish National Economic Crimes Bureau (EBM), starting in August 2008. The EBM eventually chose to keep the focus limited with regards to tracing money and prosecuting people (a Swedish person only, Mr. Westergard). The 28 October 2010 verdict from the Uppsala, Sweden court found Mr. Westergard guilty of fraud (sentenced to four years of prison and required to repay some of the victims). This verdict (the fraud, not the responsibility to repay) was then appealed to the Svea court in Stockholm with the Svea court’s decision on 28 October 2011 upholding the previous verdict and sentencing the defendant to 3.5 years of prison. This second verdict was then appealed to the Swedish high court on 23 November 2011. This is the final appeal possible in Sweden. The high court's decision about accepting the appeal could take up to six months.

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For more background on the NCI case, concerns, and the way forward, see these two summary documents from the PETRA People website:

NCI Summary Information
Suggestions: Going Forward

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Update Two: Salt and Light Summons  

One of the many recent resources linked on  the PETRA People website is the compelling article posted in the Global Conversations section of the Lausanne Movement’s website. This article was featured in its monthly Connecting Point newsletter (November 2011) and is titled:  Salt and Light: Christians' Role in Combating Corruption, by  Paul Batchelor and Steve Osei-Mensah. These authors unequivocally call for the global church to acknowledge and confront the rampant corruption in its midst, with a special challenge for individuals, leaders and the Lausanne Movement itself to take practical, tangible action. Their brief description of “seven widely-recognised principles or approaches”  that governments, regulators and organisations use to confront corruption are also applicable to the CMC. Here are some excerpts:

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·         “We will argue that the time has come to make this a truly global effort among evangelicals.”

·          “Furthermore, if the church becomes more vociferous in its opposition to corruption, as I would urge it should, then we must beware of the risk of hypocrisy if our own house is not put in order first.”

·         “We must not turn a blind eye to or condone corruption. The evidence of its corrosive effect is clear and the biblical teachings are unambiguous. Now is the time for the Lausanne Movement to build on the foundation laid in Manila [1989] and the actions which have followed in some parts of the world, to initiate a truly global programme of action against corruption involving churches and individual Christians in all fields, whether in government, business or academia.”

·         “Christians must take great care that they are not unwittingly complicit in someone else’s corruption, no matter how innocent the motive or scheme may at first appear. This requires constant vigilance and prayer for wisdom and discernment and the courage to take a stand.”

·         “We should pray also for the same Holy Spirit’s power to take our stand, however painful, in obedience to the Lord. Daniel’s faith was not without cost. Many whistle-blowers in today’s world also show great courage and we should pray for their fortitude.”

·         “But this change of life is not simply a matter of private belief and personal behaviour, it is a call to reach out to others and, where necessary, to be active in the ‘public square’ to engage with and confront the contemporary culture. Part of this requires action by each of us individually. Part relates to our specific field of service whether in government, business, academia or the church. And part relates to how we can bring each of these together to harness the synergies of collective action.”

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PART TWO: CALL TO ACTION--Being Salt and Light

 Here are three action points in support of the summons in:  Salt and Light: Christians' Role in Combating Corruption  and the PETRA Statement 2011; A Call for Transparency and Accountability.

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Action Point One: Lausanne Movement

We encourage a group of leaders of the Lausanne Movement to meet and form a high-level working group that will openly and globally address the problem of corruption in the CMC as well as identify and develop resources to help. This group could also build upon the work of the Lausanne Standards comprised of  “affirmations and agreements for giving and receiving money in mission.” These standards, when joined with other guidelines for accounting, whistleblower protection, and dealing with fraud, can collectively be important educational tools/safeguards for the CMC (and with regard to cultural variations).

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Action Point Two: Organizations Affected by NCI

The request still stands by the signatories of the PETRA Statement which urges the organizations affected by NCI to take action. This request has largely been unheeded.
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We also strongly encourage Christian leaders of organizations that have been affected to offer their assistance: to get accurately informed, review their responses to date, and to prioritize meeting together with internal and external professional consultants and the IPT for support and accountability. Some of the main organizations include: Youth With A Mission (YWAM), YWAM France/Swiss Romande, Mercy Ships, and Youth For Christ Switzerland; Le Rucher and its Mercy Ministries Associations; churches in France, Holland, Switzerland, and Sweden; and in addition people/projects around the world that have been affected by or benefited from NCI.

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For example see the latest letter and links to supportive documents sent to YWAM leaders: Request to YWAM Leaders for Assistance (5 June 2011)

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For example see the Joint Statement issued by the Mercy Ministry Boards in June 2011 (France, Switzerland ,The Netherlands). (Note you can contact these Boards to get the Statement). One of the key missing pieces in this Statement was the absence of any mention of Mercy Ministries International, which the Swedish EBM investigation and Swedish court documents show received significant amounts of NCI money. Also absent are the mention of any such money flows, the money that went to Le Rucher and the special NGF account, the responsibility to verifiably disclose the money flows, and the commitment to return NCI money that does not rightfully belong to them. See some examples of the NCI-related money flows: Some Examples of NCI Money Flows to and from MM/NGF et al

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For example the European Evangelical Mission Association (EEMA) issued a public statement regarding NCI on 13 June 2011. This statement was changed however in the public statement issued the next day, 14 June 2011.  It is not clear why the first seemingly authoritative and  well-researched public statement needed to be changed and reissued the next day, and why differences exist. For instance compare the yellow highlights (13 June) with the blue highlights (14 June) below. It would be very helpful if EEMA could kindly clarify these changes as well as the specific investigations, investigative methodology, and research reports that support their assertions.
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13 June 2011:

“I can assure you that this is not the case and we have explored this matter fully and seriously….Following the recent article in Christianity Today, we are pleased to release the following public statement based on our investigation and responses to many individuals….Le Rucher has not benefitted from this fraud in any way…. We have investigated this matter over many years….We believe the mission community has fully investigated this matter and that the guilty have been successfully prosecuted through the courts.”

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14 June 2011:

It is based on our research into this issue, our opinion of the situation and previous statements the EEMA to individuals who have enquired. You may use it as you wish in full and send it on to other people…. Following the recent article in Christianity Today, we are releasing the following statement based on our investigation and responses to many individuals…. [This authoritative, investigated assertion from the 13 June 2011 statement is now omitted:  “Le Rucher has not benefitted from this fraud in any way]….We have investigated this matter over many years… We believe the mission community has fully investigated this matter and that the guilty have been successfully prosecuted through the courts.

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For example leaders in the churches in the Geneva area have been asked to help, including the leaders at Crossroads Church in Ferney-Voltaire. See:

Letters to Church Leaders in the Geneva-Lausanne Areas (two letters, 2010, 2011)

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For example leaders in Youth for Christ (YFC which is recognised internationally for its Christian minsitry) have not authorised a review of how their organisation in Switzerland was affected by NCI. The name “YFC” and their address in Coppet, Switzerland was used in much of the NCI-related correspondence, as listed in the Swedish EBM and Swedish Court docs. (Note that there was overlap between Board members of YFC Coppet Switzerland, Board members of Mercy Minsitries, and the Elders Board of Crossroads Church in Ferney-Voltaire by Geneva. It would be very helpful for current and previous members of these governing bodies to meet and review the NCI matter with transparency and accountability.) See: Two Swiss addresses used for corrrespondance including Youth For Christ (YFC) and Le Rucher Minstries

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For example it would be very helpful for Mercy Ships International to issue a statement with verification regarding any way that they may have been affected by NCI. For example in the Swedish EBM investigation and court  documents  as well as documents from the Salzburg, Austria court, there is mention of the three million US dollar transaction related to NCI that was sent from Switzerland to Austria. This money is said to have been to benefit Mercy Ships. It was immediately frozen in November 2001 by the Austria government. See the “NCI Documents” section on the PETRA People web site, and then open up the “Austria case” folder in the attachments.  

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Action Point Three: Independent Professional Team

The request still stands by the signatories of the PETRA Statement which urges that an Independent Professional Team form and take action.

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We strongly back the formation of an Independent Professional Team (IPT). An IPT would review the data/evidence concerning the NCI scheme as well as the related organizational governance issues/practices. It would encourage the needed forensic accounting for money flows and put a mechanism in place, with due consideration of any court cases by governments and others, whereby money could be fairly returned/recovered for investors.

Christ cleansing the temple

Raymond Blaze, 19th century

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FINAL THOUGHTS--Being Salt and Light

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We must not turn a blind eye to or condone corruption.

The evidence of its corrosive effect is clear and the biblical teachings are unambiguous.

(Salt and Light: Christians' Role in Combating Corruption, Batchelor, Osei-Mensah, 2011)

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How will we in the CMC (individuals, leaders, and organizations) resolutely be salt and light? And how will we prevent and deal with moral salt that becomes insipid and illuminating light that becomes illusory? We encourage you to read the Salt and Light article, discussing it with colleagues and noting for example the seven principles/approaches described in the article. We finish now by repeating the instructive quote from the home page of the  PETRA People website, calling for “moral courage and united strength” in response to the NCI case (PETRA People web site, homepage).
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The most disconcerting aspect of NCI is not simply the lost money. Nor is it simply the negative emotional impact on the lives of so many "investors" and their family members and colleagues. Rather it is the consistent response of individuals/leaders within the church-mission community: unwillingness to investigate or get informed, fear of reprisals, self-protection, and discrediting those calling for transparency and accountability, all at the expense of vulnerable people. It is time to change this course and to act with moral courage and united strength.

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