Does Ethnos360 take responsibility for child protection?

Recently, a document was filed in the lawsuit against Ethnos360, formerly New Tribes Mission, responding to the allegations made in the complaint. This document replies to each point with some variation of "admitted," "denied," or "without knowledge, therefore denied." I think it's really important for members of Ethnos360, their supporters, and the churches that fund this organization to understand what obligation (or lack thereof) Ethnos360 believes they have to their members and missionary kids. Some of these answers should be absolutely astonishing if you believe the forward-facing (marketing/recruitment) claims about child safety made by this organization.

There are significant inconsistencies in their assertions, but a few stand out. The complaint alleges negligence and describes the relationship between Ethnos360, its members, and their children. Here is a list of things Ethnos360, via this document, denies:

• 95. "Defendant Ethnos was in a position of trust and confidence with Plaintiff, as she and her parents looked to Defendant Ethnos for education, supervision, safety, security, and guidance." DENIED

• 96. "Defendant Ethnos owed a duty to Plaintiff to:"

  • "a. Establish, implement, and enforce policies within Ethnos to protect minors from sexual, physical and emotional abuse." DENIED

  • "b. Establish, implement, and enforce procedures and protocols on the mission field to protect minors from contact with dangerous people." DENIED

  • "c. Provide appropriate training and awareness to its employees to identify and report child abuse..." DENIED

  • "d. Adequately investigate allegations of abuse that become known or are brought to Defendant Ethnos." DENIED

  • "e. Report all knowledge or suspicion of sexual abuse on a minor to the relevant agencies." DENIED

  • "f. Provide proper security at to ensure the safety of the minor children of its missionaries..." DENIED

  • "g. Use reasonable care to ensure Plaintiff's safety, care, health and well-being." DENIED

• 102. "At all material times to this lawsuit, Defendant Ethnos was responsible for the training, supervision, and retention of employees of Ethnos..." DENIED

• 103. "At all material times to this lawsuit, Defendant Ethnos owed a legal duty to its members and the residents residing in Indonesia as Ethnos missionaries, including Plaintiff, to:"

  • "a. Provide adequate training to its employees, to include training on sexual abuse of minors..." DENIED

  • "b. Supervise all employees, including providing necessary and appropriate discipline, training, guidance, and correction when needed." DENIED

Let that sink in. Reread and remember that Ethnos360 denies each statement. They deny being responsible for establishing, implementing, and enforcing procedures and protocols to protect minors; they deny they are obligated to provide training and awareness to employees to identify and report child abuse; they deny they are obligated to report knowledge or suspicion of child abuse; they deny their duty to train and supervise their employees; they deny being obligated to provide necessary and appropriate discipline, training, guidance, and correction when needed. This is not the image that Ethnos360 presents to members and the public. The website claims, "Ethnos360 strives to keep children safe by reducing situations of risk, having accountability for adults in contact with children, and training members in our child safety policies." This seems to directly contradict this filing.

This is not the first time their court filings contradict the image they portray to the public, the promises they make to prospective members making decisions about their children's safety, and the churches and supporters who fund them. The question is which version will you believe? Will you believe the version they use for marketing, recruitment, and media, or will you believe what they argue in court, which also aligns with their actions?

Missionary kids will not be safe as long as they think they have no obligation to protect them.