Lt. Clay Perry of the McLennan County Sheriffs office told the Observer that officers decided not to pursue a prosecution against Klingensmith. But honestly the definition of "cult" seems so open, I'd prefer to just say that they cut off members from outside contact. The Bible says youre allowed to discipline children, but everything was magnified with Blair, she said. Women wear long dresses and long sleeves. Whats untrue is that there is some sort of caste system where people must reach the top level to be fully saved, they say. Through the years, he says he has learned when something might be gained from meeting with group leaders and when it wont. The environment in Waco is particularly ripe for such accusations to fester, Homestead Heritage followers say. Thats patently false, members say. A fourth has been charged and will likely soon plead guilty. Ex-members have posted passages from Homestead Heritage literature, but much is quoted out of context, they say. But he has found its leaders and followers not only extremely theologically literate but also uncommonly gracious. 64 reviews of Homestead Heritage "There is so much to see at Homestead Heritage, you should visit their website at www.homesteadheritage.com to get a good feel for all they offer. Read Our Story Watch Video Read Our Blog Frequently Asked Questions "A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. You went to group functions and then as a guy I would have had to go to one of the lower elders and tell them God had told me I should marry a certain girl and then that process would have begun. In accordance with . The organization doesn't consider Homestead Heritage dangerous in a physical or legal sense, he says. They talk of secret meetings and secret documents. Since then, the board has exploded with posts, thrusting the Waco group into an unwanted glare shed mostly by its critics. The law in Texas is gray here. George had been telling this man to turn himself in. What was your impression of him? He then said the group would come to the same fiery end that the Branch Davidians met in April 1993. While its true the document is not given to members nowadays, thats because the church no longer uses it. Most of the accusations were written by ex-member Jeremy Crow. . All Homestead Heritage asks of such people is that if they join a church with greater light, then tell Homestead Heritage leadership where it is, leaders say. It was published in the February 2005 edition of Christianity Today, a magazine distributed throughout North America. Although the group was founded by Blair Adams, he has no more authority than the other ministers, they say. We literally had meetings in which we were trained to memorize these., Beechner said they were trained to answer in a way that deflected the question. He concedes that he got the type of vehicle wrong but says it was a simple mistake. I remember sitting on my bed and realizing I was going to have to change what I thought was reality and in my head it felt impossible. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. EDIT: What about the people who interacted more with the public? BTW: Joseph Ratliff, who "was convicted of five counts of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and indecency with an 8-year-old boy" has been released from prison and is back at Homestead Heritage, working at Brazos Walking Sticks. Homestead Heritage is an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community. Doesnt it make you mad that your dad, who I believe is an honorable man, was made to shield for someone who does not have the courage to sign his own letter?. An ex-member told me, To join, first of all you have to say youve heard from God that this is a place youre supposed to be. I still am to an extent but I love interacting with people now. The more hes learned, the more hes been impressed, he says. WFAAs investigation is believed to have found further evidence of abuse what Shipp describes as compelling personal testimony and physical documentation that Elders of Homestead either knew or should have known that children were being sexually and physically abused within the community., In his entire career, Shipp says hes never had to work so hard to corroborate allegations of an important story. What started out at a lone complaint from a former member (who later decided it was too risky to continue providing me with information) evolved into a laborious quest to track down and authenticate allegations of abuse. he says. D) I never once would have dreamed of calling it a cult, that was unheard of for members. They don't practice any sort of sex Ed and enforce strict abstinence and it leads to a lot of the kids (and adults) doing some really weird sexual stuff. The Shrinking actor talks mental health, being queer, and why the Lone Star State is the perfect home for his new play Silver Foxes. Scroll down for video Unreported abuse: Blair Adams, church leader at Homestead Heritage, has been accused of covering up widespread abuse of children and teenagers Sexual exploitation of. Basically, did you see or hear anything that corroborates that? He told me tonights broadcast is explosive stuff.. We at Homestead Heritage hold no ill will towards any of the former members who instigated and participated in this slanderous media attack against us (which has found two venues but is really one story with common sources). Another charge leveled at the group to make it appear cultic, members say, is that leaders exercise authoritarian control. In the past, its primary focus has fallen on religious movements that many would consider aberrant. A few people have left over the years. But he still worries that others might not bother to investigate the group after hearing lies from ex-members. Did you have much privacy growing up, or were you constantly around other people? Since then, the board has exploded with posts, thrusting the Waco group into an unwanted glare shed mostly by its critics. Now that he is a member, he laughs at how preposterous those fears were, Smith says. A fourth has been charged and will likely soon plead guilty. Add in distortions about customs and claims of abuse and even the most wholesome religious group can be branded a cult, he says. Officer Brad Scaggs escorted the bulky 54-year-old to the interview room and pressed the record button on the video machine. He dragged me by the ear, threw me down on the floor, took a wooden spoon and beat me until I was black and blue, he said. Such distortion is one reason why Homestead Heritage opts not to post on the F.A.C.T.Net board, members say. Because of all the crazy things that go on in the world, (people) are a little suspicious, Wheeler says. That belief isnt arrogance, longtime member Joel Stein says. The rationalization that Elder and other ex-members have engaged in, the group says, has left those ex-members vulnerable to Watchman Fellowships manipulation. It was seen as lustful. He went into some detail, saying it happened about five times. DeLong said he had told an elder at his church about the abuse shortly after the first time it happened. I love answering good questions that make me think about why I am who I am. In Internet posts, for example, the group and its leadership have been compared to Nazis, Jim Jones and Warren Jeffs. The sharing of leadership doesnt end there, the group says. Theologically it therefore is considered to be a cult of Christianity. Was your family's safety threatened when you left or was that not a concern? Such an inquiry would be the minimum to be extended to a friend nation who South Africa shares a common heritage ( Ubuntu). I was told the leadership was trying to get him counseling and help before they turned him in because they didnt want him to go to jail., Bill DeLongs son Andrew, then an employee of Brazos Walking Sticks, a company affiliated with Homestead Heritage, pleaded guilty to four offenses of child sexual assault, waiving his right to a jury trial and his right to appeal. One former member, who asked to be identified only by her married name, Birkbeck, told me Ratliff was allowed to remain in the community for seven weeks after he admitted to elders his sex offenses against children. But it took me a lot longer to get past the belief I was going to hell. Alex Hannaford writes about the death penalty, crime, prisons, religion and human interest issues for the Telegraph, Times and Guardian in the UK, and to GQ, The Nation and the Texas Observer. They tell anyone on the outside theres a plurality of elders but in a regular church, those elders are chosen by the members. Besides, Arnn says, he has volumes and volumes of Homestead Heritage literature. However, all of my childhood friends are gone, all my current long term friends are from when I was 16 onward. and pray about it. But yes, they do have great food! More importantly, though, Homestead Heritage wants its beliefs to be imparted in a more personal manner. It began with Arnn individually contacting people who left the group. Today, she said, some of the kids of group leaders do online college what she refers to as their cameo students.. Their silence on the Web might play into their critics claims that they have something to hide, leaders acknowledge. This was no isolated incident. Due to an editing error, we incorrectly reported that Bill DeLong told police he continued sexually abusing a young girl after admitting his abuse to a church elder. In the end, the magazine opted to publish one of the critical letters, written by ex-member Bob Beechner, along with an editors note. On one hand, the Baylor University seminary professor wanted to let others know about a group he considers unique on the countrys religious landscape. 2021 The Texas Observer. We have reposted it following a recent report on Homestead Heritage by WFAA in Dallas. . Furthermore, the Observer has allegedly "learned from a number of different sources of other cases of sexual abuse within Homestead Heritage. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? Joseph Ratliff was convicted of five counts of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and indecency with a child. They reject the idea of once saved, always saved.. It was founded by Blair Adams, a tall, imposing, bearded man, and his wife Regina, who according to one former member, had broken away from a Pentecostal church in Austin a few years before. Crow, who left the group seven years ago, said young men growing up in the community are made to suppress their desires and sex drive. I had some substance abuse issues for a while because it was the first time I realized I could actually control the way I felt and I'd been depressed just about my entire life lol. But my parents have set up a pretty awesome support network for people who leave and a few families left after us and are great friends now. Members also point to a statement Arnn made later in that first Internet post about Homestead Heritages Sunday meetings being open only to certain people. Search results for "Heritage" at Rakuten Kobo. Heritage Acres Homestead Sticker HomesteadMoma (60) $2.50 FREE shipping Organic Onion Chive Live Plants SPRING PLANTING Bare Root Plants Herb Hardy to 30 Below Zero Cuisine Multiplying Perennial plus Self-Seeds AllButTheFarmSink (122) $3.00 Homestead Heritage Pottery/Ceramic/Signed Kelle/Vintage treasuresbyirma (85) $43.15 FREE shipping For both posts, and several others, the group provided the Tribune-Herald with documentation it believes shows Crow to be a liar, or at least wildly careless with the truth. Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. Yikes. Alex Hannaford writes about the death penalty, crime, prisons, religion and human interest issues for the Telegraph, Times and Guardian in the UK, and to GQ, The Nation and the Texas Observer. If you still express interest and the elders feel like you are into the "vision" (basically you are more likely to agree with them) you can start visiting regularly on Friday nights. It would go on and on like this. It was, he said, an intense mix of Pentecostal preacher with fire-and-brimstone judgment. John said his father was a leader one minute and demoted the next. If you ever discussed it with other members or your family, how did they handle your questions? Because of that reaction, Morgan came to Waco to talk to people on both sides. He chooses the elders; they choose the group leaders; the group leaders choose the members. The group said those crises and shortcomings help explain the troubled states of mind that spurred some of the accusations. But if that doesnt work, the church takes a series of increasingly severe steps. Members still go to local stores for some needs. Welcome to our online showcase of unique, traditional, solid wood furniture. If you support this mission, we need your help. Characteristics of such groups include not quickly admitting people into the group and not allowing people to stay if they dont follow group rules. In the full version, Beechner said Olson should have questioned the leaders more closely than he did; that members believe Blair Adams has a special revelation from God; that baptism into the group involves making a blood oath promising undying faithfulness to the group and obedience to the groups leaders and a promise never to leave under any circumstances. This is a Christian community of farmers and crafters who offer their beautiful, handmade furniture, soaps, home decor, and products from the foods they grow on the farm such as hand-milled flours, mixes, jams, and . Thanks! My requests to interview Ratliff and both DeLongs in prison were turned down, and none of the men replied to letters sent by mail. The group noted that the attorney Elder hired became so impressed with the churchs handling of the matter he started bringing his family to Homestead Heritage events and continues to do so. They have a book they give members called "Questions Visitors Most Often Ask" in which they tell you how to answer questions. Theyve literally called us just about every name in the book, Wheeler says. I'm done now! Wheeler reported the phone call to the McLennan County Sheriffs Office, but officers couldnt trace it. So many people who started to tell their stories backed out for fear of severing ties with family and friends within the compound many took months to convince to talk Some would only talk on background, others were able to provide me with compelling evidence but wished to remain anonymous. But rather than report DeLong to police, as required by law, that elder, George Klingensmith, decided to pray about it with him instead, according to both DeLong and Klingensmiths statements to officers. Years later, he asked her about it, but she denied it had ever happened. List of Pennsylvania State Drug Abuse and Treatment Centers Like a favorite place to go, favorite activity, etc? That's why I wish they knew that there are other options that are so much better. Youre not even allowed to talk to girls, and masturbation is forbidden, he said. DeLong then told the officer that sometime around March 2003, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, according to his statement. The thinking is that if critics can be shown to be lying about one thing even small matters it stands to reason theyre lying about other allegations. Others dont want to admit they freely made a decision to join a group they later ended up disagreeing with, he says. The way the group lives is a much stronger statement than any written document, they say. At first my mom wasn't going to leave and they were going to have to get a divorce and stuff but luckily she got out as well after a bit. All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. It had to be, because they were terrified of being berated by the elders. I'm a former member of Homestead Heritage, a cult located in Waco, TX. He pleaded guilty and didnt offer up anything in mitigation. So far, they havent learned of any group with a greater amount of revelation in all areas, they say. Size: 6 PackColor: Brown Verified Purchase. Members produce much of their own food, whether from individual efforts such as home gardens or group projects such as Homestead Heritages cattle ranch. 388 Halbert Lane, Waco, TX 76705 (254) 754-9604. But my dad stayed in town and started speaking out on web forums and to news reporters about what was happening. He kept silent. What originally drew your parents in to joining? The last resort is putting members on disassociated or disfellowshipped status. An attorney I spoke to said one defense to a charge of assault can be force necessary to discipline a child. To make matters more complicated, when a religious community is involved, the state is reluctant to interfere. The woman he was referring to in the Internet post, he says, was not the woman the church provided documentation on. They've been doing lots of really terrible things, and it's getting worse. But after praying and studying Scriptures, they came to the conclusion they should not only give Elder the money he sought, they should give him more. At one point after the launch of the Internet discussion board, he proposed a dinner meeting between himself, a former member of the church who posts online in Homestead Heritages defense and the former members father, who is still a member. The group does teach that the spirit of Jesus is manifested within the body of Christ. He was the greatest thing that ever lived. Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2023. But the intent of discipline is not punitive. We raise a few Barred Rocks and Australorps because they are a nice meat-chicken that also happens to lay large brown eggs that are favorites at our house. Homestead Heritage is one such group and is especially easy to single out, Wheeler says, because its beliefs are fundamentally at odds with the prevailing mores of todays Western society. I believe in God but I dont believe in religion, he told me. Were only certain people allowed to do so? homestead heritage abusecarlton fisk hall of famecarlton fisk hall of fame In the case of Bill DeLong, the fact that George Klingensmith, the church elder, knew about his child sex abuse a year before DeLong turned himself in, meant he too may have committed a crime under Texas law. We all were. Partners must notify. The truth is the group believes salvation comes through grace and that Christs blood alone cleanses them of sin, members say. I mean, we had a garden back then that I liked but I still do! Hey, I meant to ask you this earlieris your username a reference to Monty Python?? Making the point that Watchman Fellowship claims to be a truth-discerning ministry, Homestead Heritage officials furnished documents which show that several articles on Watchman Fellowships site about Branch Davidians were written by a man named James Trimm.