Jan. 28, 2022
Telios Law has completed and released its findings into the investigation of Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ). In the scope of this investigation, no Covenant global personnel were found to be perpetrators of minors at CAJ. Children of global personnel did attend the school during the time period in question, and Covenant families were impacted by the abuse that took place at CAJ.
In 2019, the Evangelical Covenant Church partnered with other mission organizations to co-sponsor an independent investigation into allegations of abuse against minors attending CAJ from the 1960s to 1980s. CAJ is a school for missionary children that is not funded by the Evangelical Covenant Church, nor is it an entity of the Covenant.
President John Wenrich and Curt Peterson, interim executive minister of Serve Globally, offer these words regarding the investigation:
“As a founding organization of the Christian Academy of Japan and member of the Board of Directors, the Evangelical Covenant Church is deeply grieved and laments the perpetual abuse that occurred from the 1960s to the 1980s at the Christian Academy of Japan (CAJ).
“For our lack of awareness of the abuse that was allowed to continue, we lament. For not having better policies and procedures in place to protect those who are most vulnerable, we are sorry. For failing to provide students with a wonderful learning experience, we are so sorry.
“While we know we cannot take away the trauma and pain experienced, we are working to help provide care and healing. We are in full agreement with the recommendations of CAJ alumni and are working with Telios Law, CAJ alumni, and partner mission organizations to implement those steps. Policies and procedures have been put in place with the hope that no abuse of any kind ever happens again at the Christian Academy of Japan or elsewhere. We are committed to continuing the preventative work that has already begun.
“We pray that those impacted experience God’s love and healing, as well as the care they need and deserve.”
The Evangelical Covenant Church maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment or abuse. The Covenant strives to provide resources to promote healing and protect against abuse of any kind, including Advocacy for Victims of Abuse, FREE, an anti-sex trafficking initiative of the Covenant Church, and a variety of resources to keep children safe in church. We invite any individuals or families who have suffered any kind of abuse to reach out to serveglobally@covchurch.org or deborah.masten@covchurch.org.
A previous update on the investigation can be found here.
