Save-3ABN.com
Archive of content from Save3ABN.com, with continuing coverage of 3ABN saga.
[Danny Shelton and 3ABN bought the domain name Save3ABN.com in Bankruptcy
Court without proving their case in U.S. District Court. Hence this archive and new site.]
The Problem
For the last several years the international television ministry known as Three Angels' Broadcasting Network
(3ABN) has found itself beset by a growing number of moral, ethical, and financial allegations. Despite the serious
nature of these allegations, repeated calls for investigation, reform, and accountability have gone unheeded by its
officers and directors. Yet the ignoring of these allegations could potentially:
- Lessen donor confidence in 3ABN, and thus threaten 3ABN's financial support and its very existence.
- Create significant liability if the decisions of 3ABN's directors and officers result in litigation.
- Cause embarrassment to the Seventh-day Adventist Church if these allegations become more widely known.
It should be quickly pointed out that 3ABN is not technically a part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination,
and never has been. The potential for embarrassment arises from 3ABN's claims that it is advancing the mission
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, even though, if the allegations be true, it is doing anything but that.
Why This Website
It is hoped that this website will accomplish the following objectives:
- Demonstrate that Seventh-day Adventists as a whole do not tolerate the types of things 3ABN's officers and directors are accused of doing.
- Call upon the officers and directors of 3ABN to place the ones accused on administrative leave until such a time as an investigation has been completed.
- Provide a place where Seventh-day Adventists and others can voice their concerns and call for spiritual revival and reformation at 3ABN.
In short, this website is intended to be a part of a larger effort to save 3ABN to the cause, and vindicate
the character of God, whose name has been brought into reproach through the allegations leveled at 3ABN.
A Little History of the Current Crisis
By early March 2004, 3ABN co-founder Linda Shelton was being accused by her husband and 3ABN co-founder
Danny Shelton of having an inappropriate, long-distance relationship with a doctor in Norway. This resulted
in her being placed on administrative leave and eventually being terminated in disgrace and divorced. The reason
was simple: she was accused of being unfaithful to her husband, and of having committed adultery.
Linda's position as production manager was taken over by Danny's older brother Tommy, even though he had
repeatedly been accused of sexual misconduct with men and boys over a period of many years. On November 27,
2006, the 3ABN board chairman, Dr. Walt Thompson, essentially
admitted in writing that Danny had been involved
in a cover up of these allegations around May of 2003. On December 3, 2006, the Church of God pastor of the Dunn
Loring, Virginia, congregation where Tommy pastored from 1995 until about late 2000, announced that there were
three new allegations of sexual misconduct there, one involving an individual who was a minor at the time.
Danny Shelton's response to these new allegations is quite different than how he dealt with Linda. Tommy was not
placed on administrative leave, and on December 31, 2006, Danny gave Tommy a globally-televised tribute,
praising him for His Christian experience and how much better a job he had done than his predecessor. Though claiming
that Tommy was going off into retirement three months early because of poor health, Danny promised repeatedly that
Tommy would be back, as long as his health continued.
Even if Linda was guilty as charged, the difference in treatment raises many questions. And to complicate things
further, while no evidence in support of Linda's guilt has been forthcoming, credible evidence has surfaced in
support of the allegations against Tommy, including a letter of
"confession" written by Tommy himself.
These actions on Danny Shelton's part brought about the launch of this website.
Disclaimer
While Seventh-day Adventists as well as those of other faiths may provide content for this website,
this website is not in any way sponsored or endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Neither is it sponsored,
endorsed, or affiliated with 3ABN. 3ABN's official website may be reached by going to
3ABN.org.
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