Dr. Walt Thompson Admits: Danny Told Him
"The Allegations Are 30 Years Old"
But They Clearly Aren't
In the fourth email below we have the
first of Walt's statements that brought on the current crisis.
Bob: "3ABN Needs Better Damage Control"
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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Bob |
| To: |
Walt Thompson |
| Subject: |
[Fwd: Re: Gailons last email to me. "We got a problem"] |
| Date: |
Thu, 23 Nov 2006 09:30:06 -0600 |
|
Hi Walt.
I thought I'd pass along our email interchange to you.
I really think that 3ABN and Danny need better damage control,
and have felt that way since being told by a major 3ABN player
in August, simply because I was asking questions, that I was
"led of the pits of hell" and was "one sick puppy."
Danny's replies below illustrate yet again the need for better
damage control. Tommy has had these allegations hanging over
his head for years, and if he has ever been cleared, Danny won't
say. And if anything is in the works to either prove or disprove
these allegations, Danny won't say. "I will refrain from answering
your questions at this time."
Yet while he can't bring himself to answer simple questions,
he has no problem whatsoever digging up dirt and using it to
attack others with, as he makes clear below.
This sort of PR and damage control approach, it's beyond me.
The whole situation comes across as if the more allegations
there are, the more the one alleged to have done wrong ends up
in the limelight. That's the appearance when Tommy is featured
so prominently at rallies and at the MAP Seminar. And that appearance
is not helpful to the mission and prosperity of 3ABN.
If 3ABN is going to prosper in the years to come, there needs
to be a drastic change in PR and damage control.
God bless.
Bob
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Walt: "ASI Has Advised Us Not to Answer Questions"
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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Walt Thompson |
| To: |
Bob |
| Subject: |
Re: [Fwd: Re: Gailons last email to me. "We got a problem"] |
| Date: |
Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:30:48 -0600 |
|
Hi Bob,
ASI has advised us to discontinue communication with our accusers
while they are working. I will wait for the process to occur
before commenting futher.
Walter Thompson MD
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Bob: "Are People Who Ask Questions 'Accusers'?"
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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Bob |
| To: |
Walt Thompson |
| Subject: |
Re: Gailons last email to me. "We got a problem" |
| Date: |
Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:18:36 -0600 |
|
Hi Walt.
I would imagine that folks who have a few questions would
not be called "accusers," and thus I wonder if you might have
a few comments about the propriety of putting Tommy in the limelight
before the allegations against him get resolved. It just doesn't
seem wise to me.
I was talking to a conference official the other day, and
they said that anyone who knows about the allegations regarding
Tommy who doesn't report them to the proper authorities could
be in trouble. I certainly don't want to get into any kind of
legal trouble, and so I'm wondering if these allegations were
ever reported to the authorities? To whom and when?
Hope your Thanksgiving is going well.
Bob
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Walt: "The Allegations Are 30 Years Old"
Walt says below that the allegations are 30 years old and that Tommy apologized. Problem is that at least
part of that can't possibly be true.
Walt claims that the 3ABN board knew all the facts. Did they really? Walt's later letter indicates otherwise.
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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Walt Thompson |
| To: |
Bob |
| CC: |
Danny Shelton |
| Subject: |
Re: Gailons last email to me. "We got a problem" |
| Date: |
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:26:23 -0600 |
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Dear Bob,
The allegations against Tommy were made about 30 years ago.
They were reported to the proper authorities. No physical actions
ever occured. Tommy appologized to the kids and offered recompence.
The DA said there was no case. No restrictions were ever imposed.
Tommy is employed by 3abn with full board approval, knowing the
facts. The author of a book, "These kind don't change, do they?"
was interviewed on 3abn recently. You may wish to purchase that
book and read itl (The sad thing about this is that the ones
who are loudest in spreading falsehood know this, yet continue
to agitate and keep the fires burning.)
Jesus said, he that is without sin, let him cast the first
stone. I would echo Jesus statements today. All of us at 3abn
are human. All have sinned. But, thank God, He forgives and uses
our fallings as stimulants to make us grow. 3ABN is in the work
of healing broken people, but we too are still in a sense broken.
Almost every employee has a record they would not be proud of.
Yet, Got takes great pleasure in accomplishing His purposes on
earth by people just such as us. No where in the Bible are there
examples of people who have fallen who have suffered the wrath
of God who have confessed their sins and learned from their mistakes.
Yet, for the past almost 3 years 3abn has been bombarded with
lies and insinuations. Of course, we know where they come from,
and we know that no one ever wins when he enters argument with
the devil. Therefore, we have tried to let the Lord fight our
battles. We have resisted the temptation to take on the battle
ourselves and I am sure have sometimes said too much or too little,
but never the less, know in our hearts that we have taken the
high road in this battle. Attorneys that have looked at the evidence
agree full heartedly. While not everyone may agree with the decisions
we have made, we have continued to rejoice with the blessing
of our Lord.
Yes, it is wearing. I can only thank God for giving Danny
the strength of faith and health to hang on as he has done. I
am sure it is only by God's amazing grace that this has occured.
And I must thank our faithful viewers and supporters who by their
prayers of intercession have joined the powers of heaven in this
battle.
You speak of the need for damage control. Please place yourself
in Danny's shoes for just one day and try to imagine how you
would respond. Then imagine being the source of bombardment day
after day, seemingly unendingly. It has not been easy. Danny
is a fighter. Without his determination and resiliency, this
ministry would have been taken down long ago. I have no doubt
that God chose Danny for this task, recognizing that all of our
greatest strengths are sometimes also our greatest weaknesses.
Yes, I know he sometimes would be better off to keep quiet, let
the Lord fight his battles and relax, but that is not always
easy. Most of all is the difficulty of knowing when to speak
and when to be silent. God told ancient Israel that they should
wait upon the Lord and He would fight their battles, but I find
it interesting that they still had to go into battle and fight
- Gideon is the classic example. While God took the battle into
His own hands, Israel was called to do it's part before God could
do His thing. Rather than faulting Danny for his tendencies to
defend himself, I find I must lift him up in prayer.
You propse to me "that folks who have a few questions would
not be called 'accusers." This would ordinarily be true, but
when in battle for long periods of time, even good soldiers sometimes
develop shell shock. When "friends" turn out to be enemies over
and over again, one soon "learns" that he can trust no one. A
number of e mails and letters that I have written as private
responses have appeared on the Internet forums, "spun" to fit
the desire of the "friend" who placed them there.
Thanks for your interest,
walt
Walter Thompson MD
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Gailon: "Where Is ASI's Impartiality?"
Gailon points out two indications that ASI is not being impartial:
- They are advising Danny and Walt not to answer questions, something one's lawyer might say.
- Attorney Harold Lance approached Linda Shelton on November 12 through an intemediary, GW, something a lawyer would do if he was representing the other side.
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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
G. Arthur Joy |
| To: |
Bob, Walt Thompson |
| CC: |
Linda Shelton, Harold Lance, Esq |
| Subject: |
Re: "We have a serious problem" |
| Date: |
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 15:40:56 +0000 |
|
I am beginning to believe that the entire process proposed
by ASI is an attempt to whitewash the issue. Why would ASI be
giving any advise to 3ABN and if they are, then where is the
impartiality?
This would clearly explain why Harold Lance opted to use an
intermediary to approach Linda, rather than approach her himself.
Unless Harold Lance specifically denies these allegations
and the ASI "adviser" properly identified, there is little value
in this approach.
Smells too high heaven!!! Very disappointing!!!
And remember who the original accusers were here- Danny &
3ABN!!! Wouldn't be here today if 3ABN had done it's job properly
on all the issues.
Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter
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Bob: "I See Discrepancies"
Before Walt's information can be scattered about, a few clarifications are needed:
|
-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Bob |
| To: |
Walt Thompson |
| Subject: |
Re: Gailons last email to me. "We got a problem" |
| Date: |
Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:02:03 -0600 |
|
Thanks very much for your reply, Walt.
[Note: I wrote the following reply before getting two emails
from Gailon, and so I want to add this brief note to reassure
you: Gailon is NOT getting a blind copy of my reply because,
though it may correct false information he has, a few details
need to be clarified before it will be effective, and my reply
would best not be forwarded hither and yon without those clarifications.
No one is getting a blind copy of this reply.]
It is the kind of information that you have provided that
is most helpful. I first heard about these allegations around
August, and this is the first I've heard that there have not
been new allegations for the last 30 years, that no physical
actions occurred, and that Tommy apologized. Of course, this
puts things in a different light, and it is this kind of information
that can go a long ways towards squelching rumors.
And squelching rumors and criticisms is what I like to do.
For example, there was a rumor accusing Melody of getting married
the day after her new husband's divorce was final, and I was
able to verify that his divorce was actually final a year before,
and was able to squelch that rumor.
I am a little puzzled about a couple inconsistencies I see.
Why in 2003 was it recommended to Tommy by letter sent to you
that he issue written apologies when he had already apologized?
And if he apologized, how can it also be true that one of the
Church of God churches he pastored became split over the issue,
some folks taking his side and some folks taking the side of
the alleged victims, and that after one of his staunchest supporters
died, her son came forward and told his story?
It's possible that the person associated with that congregation
was just pulling my leg in giving me these details that make
it appear that Tommy did not apologize, and that possibility
only appears in light of the information you have given. But
on an issue as important as this one I just want to make sure
I've got the correct picture. Do you have a suggestion on how
to harmonize these two different accounts?
In that 2003 letter you were invited to make contact with
some of the alleged victims, their families, and the two associations
that had given Tommy his credentials. Of these individuals and
parties, how many did you actually contact? I ask that just to
verify that the source of your information regarding apologies
and no physical actions was not just one-sided. If both sides
told you that that was the way it was, then that has to be the
way it was, and I can then better use this information to put
a halt to some of the rumors circulating out there.
Another possible question might be, if there have not been
any new allegations for 30 years, why would the 2003 letter ask
Tommy to apologize to the congregation in Virginia where I think
he was still pastoring in 1999?
One last, simple request. I can relate to your shell shocked
analogy. I think everyone at some point must feel that way. After
Hal Steenson told me I was "led of the pits of hell," was "one
sick puppy," needed "to get a life," was "sick," and needed "to
be born again," and then repeatedly threatened to call security
at ASI simply because I was asking a few questions privately
in a way that no one else could hear, I tried to excuse his unbecoming
behavior by saying that he must have been having a bad day, and
must be under strain because of all the attacks. But then when
I've gotten no reply whatsoever to my emails asking respectfully
and kindly for an apology, when I've gotten no apology whatsoever
after asking for one via Joe O'Brien and John Lomacang, and after
discussing the matter with Elder Denslow, every month that goes
by it becomes increasingly difficult to justify his unbecoming
behavior in this way.
It's this kind of thing that is a real problem. Jesus said,
"Agree with your adversary quickly while you are in the way."
By no stretch of the imagination could I be characterized as
an adversary when I chatted with Hal at ASI. If we are to agree
quickly with our adversaries, how much more readily with our
friends?
So my simple request is that you ask Hal, when opportunity
arises, to apologize to me for the insults and threats he gave
at ASI.
I have two more issues that trouble me a bit, but this is
long enough, and so I'll close for now.
God bless, and have a good Sabbath.
Bob
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When Walt Thompson finally did answer these questions, it was a shocker.
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