Determining the Truth of Abuse in Mission Communities: A Rejoinder and New Agenda

To support their opposition to utilization of the psychological construct of recovered memories, Priest and Cordill cite two denomination-sponsored inquiries into allegations of abuse on the mission field.3 The first was the Independent Commission of Inquiry, conducted 1996-1997, which was established by the Christian & Missionary Alliance regarding its Mamou Alliance Academy, 1920s1971, at Mamou, Guinea Republic, West Africa (hereafter Mamou inquiry).4 The second was the Independent Committee of Inquiry, conducted 2001-2002, which was established by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) regarding its mission, 19451978, in the former Democratic Republic of the Congo (hereafter Congo inquiry).5 For the sake of disclosure regarding our point of view, we identify our respective participation in those inquiries. In the inquiry conducted by the IARP for the Presbyterian Church, the sponsor's Charter provided means by which the Panel could recommend changes.48 Events in the course of the inquiry led the panel to make requests four times in seven years, which resulted in changes that included giving the panel discretion regarding the naming of those found to have committed abuse, restricting the panel from pursuing a case in which both the alleged offender and victim were deceased, and extending the length of the inquiry.49 Report Availability For the sake of accountability and truth, commit to make the inquiry's final report available to the public promptly after it is received.