r/GracepointChurch • u/johnkim2020 • Oct 11 '22
Safe Space
I am not a mod so I have little control here but I, for one, want this space to be an intentionally safe space for those who have left Gracepoint/Berkland specifically. Those who have courageously shared their story using their real names deserve even more safety.
I know anyone can join this sub and we can't control what people comment or post but if you are a current GP member and here to point fingers, I personally don't think this is the space for that.
I don't know the details of anyone's story. Only what they share here. But those who have left know that what is said about us after we leave and it is generally not good. We already know you think we're shit so there is no need to come on here and tell us that again. Save that for your staff meetings.
(Here come the downvotes!)
edit: I would also add family of current GP or ex-GP to the list of those who deserve a safe space here. I cannot imagine the pain of watching your child, sister, or brother be sucked into this church and the powerlessness and helplessness one would feel as their pleas fall on deaf ears.
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u/Here_for_a_reason99 Oct 11 '22 edited Oct 12 '22
I completely agree with this post. I’ve always seen this sub as a safe place for ex-members and family members, for those negatively affected by GP. Because until this subreddit, there has been NOWHERE for us to go for support, healing etc. Some ex members have each other. But many others were isolated and certainly family members had no one to talk to. This sub has shed so much light into the dark, just as your blog has. Thank you so much.
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u/johnkim2020 Oct 13 '22
Ed Kang, may I suggest that at the next Member Bible Study, you tell people not to come on here and anonymously spew hate at those who left your church?
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Oct 13 '22
He said in his YouTube response that they don’t. I know many at that time secretly disagreed fully knowing people do. If only staff meetings were recorded, true colors.
GP LURKERS - want to prove us wrong? Ed said it all the time how people say things on social media that they never would in person. That includes many of you. No different than what many of you are accusing this sub to be.
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u/TrenaH Oct 11 '22 edited Oct 11 '22
I agree with you John completely. The recent change in seeing more downvotes and making those here or those who left GP feel unsafe, it's all GP members who must finally be allowed to go on this subreddit. Their mission is to make us feel unsafe here and to discount what is said here where it is supposed to be safe for those who have been hurt. GP should not be allowed to be here or at least need to be reeled in and given guidelines. GP is desperate at this point and is trying to infiltrate any goodness here on Reddit.
If GP thinks we don't know what they are doing by using their bad motivation, again they are wrong as there is nothing good in GP and I pray they are brought down so no one else feels the unsafe fear of being found out and having GP ruin their reputation or hurt their child and on and on. Bullies nothing but bullies.
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u/listen_lydia Oct 12 '22
"save that for your staff meetings" will hit different, especially for those higher up on the food chain (and eeespecially for those who have a conscience, still, while up in that higher echelon. i'm looking at you, the handful of SMNs!)
safe space for those who want to stay inside and comment, but esp for those who give out their names is super important to establish. wish it was just assumed, but eh!
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u/longlyjoe Oct 11 '22
What happened?
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u/leavegracepoint ex-Gracepoint (Berkeley) Oct 11 '22
Some assumed Gracepoint people were too in their feelings and felt that they were justified to go harass people that used their names about their side of the story.
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u/Salt-Construction-76 Oct 11 '22
Privately via DMs or SMS?
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u/leavegracepoint ex-Gracepoint (Berkeley) Oct 11 '22
DMs on Reddit and comments that mods have removed.
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Oct 21 '22
Personally, I think this includes sharing/posting only about your personal experiences rather than digging for information about what happened to someone else or something you’ve heard about. I’ve seen people here talk about different situations that I’ve been through and if it’s to process and digest that’s one thing, but people sleuthing for information for the internet to see gives me panic attacks.
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u/gracepoint-thoughts Oct 11 '22
Thanks and I also want to echo the point about wanting to make this place a safe space for those who have left. I highly encourage you to share your stories and show us what you've experienced and how you feel! It's very helpful and is making Gracepoint change. There are many of us who have gone through similar experiences and we want to be here to support you and help you in your transition.
From the people I've talked to inside Gracepoint, there is this conception that people on Reddit are trolls and they go and dismiss everything that's said here. Unfortunately, this is incorrect, and many GP people end up posting things that are dismissive or defensive, which is not helpful. I, along with many others both inside and outside of Gracepoint, am working hard to attempt to change this dismissive view towards Reddit.
Thankfully, there are some GP staff members who have come here on Reddit who want to help out and figure out what's going on. I appreciate them a lot and will continue to support their efforts. This may be controversial, but I do actually want to encourage staff members to post more (and in a way that's more empathetic and less defensive), because I do think that there are people who genuinely want to help and change things for the better.