Our Life Together Vol. 3, Nr. 37, September 16, 1975 -- Part 1

This was one of the more controversial events in the life of our community; Ken turned a woman "over to Satan." I remember this event -- as an event -- but not all of the details. I have been trying to sort the facts out as well as I can. I believe that the issue was that the woman in question was facilitating an adulterous affair between one of our young woman with a married man. I am sure there were more complicating issues, but I think that this was the basic issue. Ken went over to talk this over with the woman and got nowhere. This is when he "turned her over to Satan." Ken did nothing to her. In the parlance of Charismatic theology, he removed his Spiritual Covering. In other words, his protective pastoral authority would no longer be a protection. If one doesn't believe in things like this -- he did nothing. I am harping on this a little because this was mentioned as one of several instances of the abuse of authority by Ken.

This is similar to excommunication, although there was no official action by the church, or the leadership of the church. I am sure that the woman in question was hurt by this action. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he discusses turning one over to Satan. Ultimately this was not bad, because the purpose was for the repentance of the man and his restoration to the fellowship. Unfortunately this woman was never restored into our fellowship. Was Ken right in doing this? I don't think we will ever know. I do know that Ken himself was emotionally hurt over this issue also. It wasn't a pretty picture.
Clay has a neat article that actually goes along with Ken's article on Self Sufficiency in my last post. It wasn't written in tandem with Ken -- nor was it a follow up; but it certainly relates.
Judy Copeland is the sister of Elizabeth Ballesteros, Sam's wife who was a missionary to Bogota, Columbia. Judy and Elizabeth currently live together in Washington State.

Dawn Schmid shows up on OLT quite often. She writes several poems. She was very active in the hospital ministry. She still lives local. I did see her a few years ago.
Larry makes a good point about the need to remember our past. I think that many of us who are a part of the church are woefully ignorant of its history; both the glory and the inglorious; and there are both.