Dismissal and Overseer response

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, a post and query appear on CCF regarding the whereabouts and disposition of the two sister workers, Reta Fuhrman and Tamara Wagner. Up to that moment in time few, if any, of the Friends in AZ or any of the staff, outside of those delivering the message, were aware of what had taken place.

An anonymous email is sent to the CA/AZ/NV staff on Sunday evening inquiring to the disposition of Reta and Tamara. A response was forthcoming on Monday afternoon, December 11, 2023. The response is below.

Mon, Dec 11 at 3:45 PM

Dear friends and fellow workers,

Some have begun to ask about future plans for Reta Fuhrman and Tamara Wagner and we feel it’s best to send some details.

Reta is becoming less able physically and that has become more of a load for her coworker and the fields where she has been. We asked her to step aside from being active and suggested she would consider being listed in a “helpling as able” capacity thus giving her time to consider options and find the right place as well as helping in Gospel meetings occasionally. Reta preferred that her name be removed from the list.

As we have worked toward new workers’ arrangements for California and Arizona we have been unable to find a sister that was comfortable being a coworker with Tamara. There is the possibility that a place will open up for her on another staff and we are certainly open to that option.

We do appreciate very much the care, labor and sacrifice of these ladies, and know that they have been a help to many of us. Much time, care and thought have gone into these decisions.

Thanks for your care, understanding and prayers,

Kent, Rob, John and Joe

While the above is an explanation, it also demonstrates a poorly thought out response, disparages both Reta and Tamara.

WHAT is the logic behind this decision to ask Reta Fuhrman and Tamara Wagner to step aside?
Does Rob Newman, Kent Williston, John Parish or Joe Alexander care to speak up and provide an explanation?
Which of these men, practiced “discernment” in arriving at this decision?
Did God or the Holy Spirit move one or all of them to make this decision?

When some speak about God and the Holy Spirit, one also must look beyond to the spoken word(s) and look to the deeds/actions/results. Using those three things as a filter/context, there is a discrepancy between the word and deed.

Moving on to December 13, 2023 around 3:00PM PST, an email is sent to Rob Newman, Kent Williston, John Parish and Joe Alexander from one of the friends in San Deigo. It is outlined below.

December 13, 2023 3:00PM PST

Kent, Rob, John, and Joe,

Disappointment and despair does not begin to describe the effects of your letter. Either what you wrote in your public email is true, or it is not, about none of the sisters being willing to be with Tamara Wagner.

IF IT IS TRUE — not only was it cruel, unnecessary, publicly-shaming, and humiliating to tell the entire world (as you know all emails become at this time), you breached the confidentiality of every other sister worker on the staff. If it is NOT true — you slandered those sisters who have not said this. Who you have not asked. Either way, you have made public a very private personnel matter.

IF IT IS TRUE — I wonder if you can comprehend the depth of the pain and sorrow you have caused? To disdain and disparage Tamara’s entire life of service to the God of heaven and His people with the flick of a pen/a few strokes of the keyboard. There are so many other ways you could have accurately conveyed that Tamara would no longer have a companion — and it sounds like maybe she will get one on another staff. For example: “Currently Tamara is without a companion while we see what other arrangements can be made. For now, Tamara will be in [GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE/OTHER INFO].” All true. Ironically, the things you should NOT share, you do.

John 10:12 KJV But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. I don’t know if you are the hirelings or the wolves. But these actions are not those of a true shepherd. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Not “betray my sent ones” and “terrorize my sheep.”

IF IT IS TRUE — I notice that Tamara was currently with a sister who was quite willing to be with her and they were in the middle of a gospel meeting season. If the issue is a companion, she has one — Reta Fuhrman. If it is true, why did you just dismiss the only sister worker who was willing to be with Tamara, in the middle of the year? Why not wait until convention time or a time when they were not actively in the middle of their year?

And as for Reta. As to your statement that Reta’s health was “more of a load” for her coworkers and her fields. “More of a load”? Well sure, when you have a disability it’s technically true that it can be “more of a load.” But enough of a dire emergency that she must be dismissed now? Immediately? When — according to you — she is the ONLY sister worker who is willing to be with Tamara? That does not make too much sense.

IF IT IS TRUE THAT her health is “more of a load” — or a burden — Galatians 6:2 KJV Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

IF IT IS TRUE THAT Reta’s health is “more of a load” — oh, how cruel and callous it was to publicly announce that as if she were simply a burden to be unloaded. How did you dare to speak for all of us — her co-workers and her fields — in this cruel manner? There are so many other ways you could have accurately framed your dismissal of her. Then again, maybe it would have placed you in a poor light. Again — I am, and we are, devastated that you were willing to denigrate and despise the lifelong tireless sacrifice of a dear beloved sister with a few ill-chosen words. Do you understand that you have likely caused years of pain and sorrow for her? Imagine her struggling to survive and find some purpose and peace in this moment, thinking back over her life of honest and true sacrifices and realizing that the last words said to the flock about her — in the letter dismissing her — were those. The mind boggles. (And the same, for Tamara.) Every single one of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs is wrapped up in the ministry for these sisters (this is true for most workers, generally, but especially sisters) and you would throw these sisters out like so much refuse.

Apparently you decided that “more of a load” meant “too much of a load.”

IF IT IS TRUE that Reta’s co-workers and her fields have said she is “too much of a load” — then you have breached the confidentiality and trust of all those co-workers. And have grouped all of us in the “fields” with whoever thought Reta was too much of a load — after she gave her whole life for us. I do not wish to be grouped in with whoever said that — if any of them ever did.

IF ANY OF IT IS FALSE — I have no words. (But Jesus has many strong words for it.)

Well, either way I have a few more words if you will indulge me. If you will not — God knows I tried. I kind of feel it is “pearls before swine” but send this I must.

A silver lining: the international outpouring of love and support for these sisters as a response to this ill-conceived letter of betrayal.

Spiritual Outlook: Another silver lining is that — as more and more breaches and betrayals occur, more and more people will seek God even more fervently and will get back to scripture. We are in perilous times. Elijah thought he was the only one who was doing right. Daniel and his friends were alone in doing the right thing where they were. This letter and so many other actions show that we are in similar times. There are very few of God’s servants who can be trusted currently. (None of you who signed this letter can — that is clear.) There are many friends who blindly follow these workers. I believe this letter alone shows He is not with you who wrote this letter at this time. I pray you will repent. Baalam was a false prophet with a true message. Elijah was fed by the ravens. It has been revealed to me that this is one of the explanations for how God is feeding His people through some of the workers.

Human Outlook: On a more human level, this letter evinces what we refer to in the corporate world as glaring “opportunities” or “gaps” or “misses.” I would like to suggest some communication and leadership resources that I think would be helpful for all of you if you plan to continue in leadership positions. There are so many things out there that would help. Use a throwaway email address to sign up for the test and profile — one that you don’t care if you get spam to (you can create a free gmail address just for this).

Free personality test, type descriptions, relationship and career advice 16personalities.com

TeamDynamics – MBTI Team Building Activities drive.google.com
There are many other resources aside from the below. I encourage you to seek them out regarding appropriate communication from leadership, emotional intelligence, etc. Such as 7 Steps for Better One-on-Ones with Employees

Betrayed and sorrowful, we carry on.

Continuing, December 13, 2023 at 9:37 PM PST, an apology email is sent out to all the CA/AZ/NV friends and workers from Kent Williston apologizing for the email sent out two days prior. While displaying contriteness and offering his sincere apologies, there is no mention of having Reta or Tamara back on the CA/AZ/NV staff.

December 13, 2023 at 9:37:56 PM PST

From: Kent Williston <kentwilliston@gmail.com>
Date: December 13, 2023 at 9:37:56 PM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject:My deepest apologies

Dear elders, I’m so sorry to have troubled you before to forward the previous email. I wonder if you would be so kind as to forward this one to any who received the first one. I’m so sorry for all the trouble and distress caused. -Kent

My dear friends and fellow workers,

I want to do my best to try and express my sorrow and beg for your forgiveness for the letter I sent out about Reta and Tamara, and I especially beg forgiveness of them and for the pain this has caused them. I also give my sincere apologies to Rob, John and Joe who trusted me and agreed to add their names to the letter.

I wish somehow I could go back and unwrite what I had written, but as our study this week makes so clear our words can have profound effects and cannot be undone.

At the time I felt the letter was needed as a response to those who were demanding answers and transparency but I understand that I was very wrong.

I am also aware now that there are some sisters that would be comfortable and happy to be with Tamara, so I deeply apologize for that false statement. I’m so grateful for Tamara’s understanding and kindness to me through all of this.

Many are likely unaware, but Tamara felt called and offered to labor in South America some years ago. She recently received a very hearty welcome to labor there and is very happy this door is finally opened. We too enter into her joy as she looks forward to being able to go. We will support her in every way possible to fulfill her calling of God to labor there, and appreciate her sacrifice to so willingly and unselfishly labor abroad. Her name will appear on the new workers list this week in her new country of labor.

I understand that nothing I can say can now fix what I have done. I’m so sorry for the grief that this has caused to many. I beg for your prayers, and I beg for more guidance of the Holy Spirit and wisdom from above.

With true sorrow,

Your undeserving brother,

Kent

An apology for the misguided email which was couched as an explanation for asking Reta Fuhrman and Tamara Wagner to step aside, had zero explanation of the logic behind the decision to remove them.

The above email states the desire to “unwrite” some of the words that were written. Well, HOW ABOUT MEDITATING/PRAYING/CONTEMPLATING YOU ALL’S ACTIONS BEFORE TAKING THEM? Clearly the initial email on Monday afternoon was a knee-jerk reaction to craft a “response to those who were demanding answers and transparency“, which was poorly thought out, and poorly executed. Thus, the apology email. It’s like Rob Newman, Kent Williston do not get it. They continue to bumble along, “hold strong”, “keep on keeping on”, or “fill-in-whatever-euphemism” we have all heard before, and yet, here we are.

The decision to remove these two sister workers was made by WHO, ROB NEWMAN? If so, why has he not owned up to the decision? Why is he hiding? Is not God on his side, standing against the outsiders and unbelievers? Is God assisting him with these decisions, which have created backlash to his decisions?

Has the ministry become so embedded and co-mingled/co-dependent with the friends that actually going out and evangelizing has become too daunting? If so, where is the “faith” and “belief” that God will provide for all ones needs? Has the ministry gone so far astray with only preaching to the friends, that the lost souls OUTSIDE of meeting, OUTSIDE the “truth”, OUTSIDE the “friends”, now it will go back to being done the way Jesus taught?

Has anyone within the ministry considered reaching out to those who are asking the tough questions, to understand why the ministry is being questioned? Being asked, would be a welcome step to understanding.

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