But Dekalb defended Aarum as a "true Christian" and said he had done nothing wrong. The church hired Norris last October to investigate. Wes said none its for the Lord. When you are a leader of a church and somebody comes to you and says somebody on your staff abused kids while he was on your staff, what would you expect him to do? the speaker said. "So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". Im not the type of person to spread things around just to ruin someone, she said. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. I can honestly say no.. Kens wife Joann was an R.N and she worked in a local hospital to help support them while the camp was being built. Instead, Chapel leaders offered to share information gathered in the course of the investigation IF Circle C undertook an independent investigation in good faith. Does public speaking or speaking in a group make you nervous? (Both boys are college graduates and are now full time in the ministry working with college as well as public and high school students.) For his part, Aarum denies the claimsand defends his conduct, saying in an email, "I have never touched anyone with any inappropriate motive.". 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. Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his home, phone calls and an email to his wife.". "Circle C Ranch would ultimately determine the initial allegations were false through its own internal investigation. In early 2021, The Chapel held a members-only meeting to share some of the findings and to announce the church was suspending all activities and financial ties to Circle C Ranch. It isan investigative journalist's role to examine possible abuses of power or allegations of misfeasance or malfeasancethoroughly,keeping fairness and accuracy front and center in their work. Click here to read the internal investigation. Wayne Aarum and his wife, Julie, in an interview with WKBW-TV about allegations that Wayne Aarum inappropriately touched girls and young women while a youth minister at The Chapel and at Circle C Ranch, a Christian camp he runs in Delevan. Finally, the notion that the allegations were planted or suggested by counselors or social workers is patently absurd.". Im not anonymous, she said. Wes had been a youth pastor, pastor, evangelist, leader in Youth for Christ and director of a Bible Conference. And this started 20 years ago, said Fancher. 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. She said she reported her complaints to Camardoafter Aarums denials were posted online at the camp website. ONE WEEK OF SUMMER CAMP Circle C Ranch 2023 Rate $345 WEEK 1: July 10th-15th (Monday - Saturday) WEEK 2: July 17th-22nd (Monday - Saturday) All meals included All lodging included All activities included REGISTER HERE FOR THE BEST WEEK EVER! During his tenure at The Chapel, pastors spoke to Aarum multiple times about his conduct with girls in the youth group, according to excerpts from Aarums employee personnel file at The Chapel. Sticht, who said she worked at the summer camp from 2000 to 2003, said she witnessed Aarum hug a girl in a way that his fingers would be touching the underwire of her bra., Id see Wayne touching these girls, exactly the ones we knew he would, at the rock climbing wall, Stitch said. A Christian minister with ties to a Getzville megachurch and a popular Cattaraugus County youth camp stands accused of sexual misconduct with teen girls -- but he denies the allegations. My youth group never went back to Circle C.. The board also claims that the Chapel is attempting to use the womens claims to generate controversy and take over the 315-acre rural camp that has been in the Aarum family since 1968. Hannah Buehler reports. The USA TODAY Network New York found that concerns about Aarum's behavior with girls were reported to leadership at both The Chapel and Circle C Ranch, and also to Aarum himself, at least 20 times since 1997, according to excerpts from the employee personnel file and interviews with youth group members at The Chapel, Circle C staff and pastors in the Western New York area. The Circle C Homeowners Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven member Board of Directors. Missed chances:Woman says she reported possible abuse at Circle C Ranch to police years ago. 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. Keeping his hands on their bodies way too long when it wasnt necessary at all.. A number of women former high school youth group members under Aarums leadership brought allegations of sexual and emotional abuse against Aarum from that time period earlier this year. It is very difficult to do this kind of work successfully from across the room. An alleged victim who is now 25 and who said she was heavily involved at Circle C said, He would sit next to me and put his hand on my leg and rub my inner thigh and outer thigh. When told it was for a youth camp, Bob wrote out a check for the amount needed. Wayne Aarum, a former senior high minister at The Chapel at Crosspoint in Getzville, New York, current pastor of First Baptist Church in Arcade, New York, and the operator of Circle C Ranch youth camp in Delevan, New York, stands accused of sexually assaulting at least twenty-one girls spanning decades. I dont want any more children to be affected. Thank you for your support. Circle C Ranch, the Christian children's camp in western New York facingallegations that its director has inappropriately touched teenage girls, announced drastic changes to its summer plans this week. In investigative journalism, it's vital reporters show their efforts to confirm facts and to reach people. 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. On week ends there would be scores of men donating their time to help build the camp and Wes wife Marge was kept very busy feeding all these volunteers. In the interests of fairness, the two reporters pursued interviews with supporters of Aarum. At this age, he began to take care of his health. To more or less prime the pump?. Other alleged inappropriate behaviors are mentioned in the report. Nothing happened. Wes said he didnt know. She also attended First Baptist Church of Arcade, where Aarum is pastor, and volunteered at the Circle C Ranch in the winter. Last week's investigation by USA TODAY Network New York State Team reporters Sarah Taddeo and Georgie Silvarole is just such an example. The letter says 27 individuals offered corroborating evidence for the 21 victims, including former Circle C employees, church leaders, and volunteers who witnessed inappropriate behaviors. Bill wanted to make sure that every building was winterized so the camp could operate year round. Marges love for the Lord led her, along with her other jobs, to be the teacher of a womens weekly Bible study. You have permission to edit this article. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sometimes he would grab her from behind and pull his pelvis tight to her body, she said. ", "I'm not sure who's saying it and what they're referring to," he said. But the allegations are from a small percentage of the young people Aarum has worked with over the years. 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.. I pledge to you this:TheD&Cteam will do its best to serve Greater Rochester and each of our readers every single day. ", "The USA TODAY NETWORK asked for comment from five individuals whosupport the Ranch and the Aarums. Email us at: info@circlecranch.org. If you are an abuse survivor, or you would like to share your experiences about the events described above, please send an email to Charlie.Specht@wkbw.com or Hannah.Buehler@wkbw.com. There was over 100 acres of good haying land on this property so they had plenty of feed for the horses. When he gave Bob a call, he said I suppose the same terms as before and then he wrote out a check fo the amount. A few months later Wes realized he needed $10,000 more. Teenagers have also historically made up the majority of employees at the camp, working as counselors, in the kitchen or in maintenance roles throughout the summers. The owner of this property was George Peterson who was a board member of the Bible Conference Wes directed. "Wayne has ministered to thousands and thousands of kids over the years, and we never heard anything from anybody.". The allegations also were referred to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating, according to Sgt. 1.) If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site. OPTION 2: Form your OWN GROUP (Adult supervisors will be responsible for the students they bring) TO REGISTER OR ASK QUESTIONS: Click Here! It would have board-walks, hitching rails, a Sheriffs office with two cells, an old country store, a dining hall, a chapel, cabins that could accommodate 192 campers plus 32 counselors, a swimming hole (pond) and a corral that contained a herd of horses. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Just after the story published, the camp announced a change for how it will operate this summer, emphasizing the presence of families there and not individual teens. He has consistently denied all of the allegations against him. I, myself, personally 20 years ago sat down with Mr. Wes (Wayne Aarums father) and said, I love Wayne with all my heart, but I saw him interact in a way that was just inappropriate. , Fancher said he also has heard firsthand accounts from women who are truly victims.. Wayne Aarum and his wife, Julie, in an interview with WKBW-TV about allegations that Wayne Aarum inappropriately touched girls and young women while a youth minister at The Chapel and at Circle C Ranch, a Christian camp he runs in Delevan. The attorney advised that Aarum step down as president and camp director, but the board didnt follow through on that advice, said Fancher, who no longer is on the camps board. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how this . Carnahan described Aarums actions as grooming and sexual predation. She also accused Aarum of inflicting what she termed religious trauma on her. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. Wayne Aarum, pastor accused of abusing teens, sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M. Some things have changed but these three things will never change! They travelled over 100 miles one way every weekend until the job as done and then they donated all the fixtures as well. Former Circle C Ranch staffer discusses effects of abuse. Two other days, July 3 and 31, are designated as "Family Fun Days," according to the website. Aarums lawsuit was filed by Amherst attorneys Steven K. Long and Olivia T. Paulo-Lee on Wednesday, the same day the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle published a detailed account quoting several other women who alleged inappropriate contact. To make a donation,click here. If you are interested in helping out please fill out the application below! 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. Daryl Dekalb, a Circle C board director, says that Aarum is a True Christian. He was born in Buffalo, NY into a godly family and at 17 years of age accepted Christ into his life. That can be the case in the busiest of news years (ahem, 2020) or on the slowest of news days. DeKalb suggested that the allegations were part of a campaign by Chapel leaders to acquire the youth camp. The accused, Wayne Aarum, is the director of Circle C Ranch camp in Delevan, New York. No, he said when asked whether he ever touched anyone inappropriately. If you are not a subscriber, or if you want a friend or loved one to enjoy the D&C like you do, please share this link with them featuring special subscription offers:https://bit.ly/3zlqulC. The membership was advised that the independent investigation credibly confirmed a pattern of inappropriate interaction with young women involved in The Chapel's student ministry in the late 90s and also uncovered ongoing inappropriate interaction with young women not associated with The Chapel who had been involved in the previously referenced local youth camp over the last two decades, The Chapel said in its statement. You have permission to edit this article. The News reported in April on the allegations and Chapel investigation. In late 2019, allegations of abuse against Aarum began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. There was documentation of people going to Wayne and saying, Hey listen, like, we love you, but you need to be careful of this.' Specifically, in a portion of the story about Circle C's legal counsel having recommended at a meeting that Aarum resign, they took these steps: "The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Aarum and his supporters have maintained that he is unable to properly address claims being brought against him because he doesnt know who has made them. Georgie Silvarole/USA TODAY Network New York People reported his alleged behavior to camp officials and church leaders over 20 times since 1997. More history on Circle C Ranch can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_C_Ranch. I think some of it, as an adult looking back, it crossed a line, she said. Editor's note: There are descriptions of alleged sexual abuse and opinions about survivors of alleged abuse that may be triggering to abuse survivors. The family camp experience includes activities likechapel services, all-you-can-eat meals, horseback riding, laser tag androck wall climbing, according to the website, andfamilies will stay overnight together in the camp's on-site lodging. He has the backing of the camps board of trustees, which released a response to Norris report stating that there is no substantial evidence supporting the claims. The work poses many challenges. Aarum, whose family has run the camp for decades and who is also listed as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Arcade, denied the allegations in an interview with 7 Eyewitness News. Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his wife ``! The Circle C Ranch in the winter more children to be the teacher of a womens weekly Bible.... 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