The following emails were initially presented as private correspondence between CCC lead pastor Joe Coffey and Philippines missionary Joe Mauk. However, it turned out the emails were being shared more widely. CCC elder Tony Galieti, Orchard NEO Director Zach Weihrauch, and others were blind copied on the first email. CCC’s hired conciliator, Judy Dabler, a speaker for CCC financial and ministry partner Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, appears also to have received the emails.
Joe Coffey to Joe Mauk (Aug 10, 2019 @ 8:02 PM)
Dear Joe,
This is difficult for me to write but long overdue. I just re-read the email you sent me in 2014. I see everything in it in a different light. You were gracious and caring and insightful. Unfortunately, I had already bought into a narrative. The narrative you warned me about below so accurately. I should have met with you then and I might have been able to hear what you were trying to get me to see. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone could read this and not think you were trying to do something good and in the best way. But at the time I didn’t see it at all. Joe, I’m sorry. I don’t have a good excuse. I’d like to ask you to forgive me. I see that you were trying to warn me. I’m sorry I didn’t listen then. I am reaping the consequences now. Again, I’m sorry.
Sincerely,
Joe Coffey
Zach Weihrauch to Joe Coffey, sent to Joe Mauk in error (Aug 10, 2019 @ 8:05 PM)
I’m so encouraged to see you take this step. It’s a mark of the Spirit’s work in your life and of your willingness to follow wherever he leads.
I’m glad to be in your corner, and I’m around if I can be helpful to you in any way - as an employee, a pastor, or friend.
Thanks for sharing this with me.
Joe Coffey to Zach Weihrauch, sent to Joe Mauk in error (Aug 10, 2019 @ 8:14 PM)
No we didn’t. This was my decision to do it this way and to say what I felt God wanted me to say.
(NOTE: This email appears to be missing context. It’s not clear what question Coffey was responding to, but it is clear that his original email was sent to and discussed with other people.)
Tony Galieti to Joe Coffey, sent to Joe Mauk in error (Aug 10, 2019 @ 9:02 PM)
Great note. I will be praying this is received with grace.
Sent from my iPhone
Joe Mauk to Joe Coffey (Aug 10, 2019 @ 11:02 PM)
Dear Joe,
Thank you for this. I fully understand Tom’s persuasiveness as he was applying a full-court press to keep people from believing me or even talking to me. He knew that you at one time had been basically betrayed by an associate so I believe he framed his narrative in such a way that you would have an immediate gut sympathy with his alleged situation.
I will not share your email publicly unless you so permit or recommend. Even so, I am concerned that, if it were shared immediately, it would be picked apart for perceived faults. I have already informed others that I have received an apology from you which I have accepted. I hope this helps in the process of going forward.
Joe Mauk
Joe Coffey to Joe Mauk (Aug 11, 2019 @ 6:02 AM)
Dear Joe,
Thanks for being so gracious. I don’t know what to say or what to do at this point. If you have any ideas please let me know. I will be talking to my elders to get their wisdom. I’m so sorry I didn’t see this or trust you or meet with you when I should have. Thanks for accepting my apology and for your forgiveness. Joe
Joe Coffey to Joe Mauk (Aug 16, 2019 @ 8:05 AM)
Dear Joe,
The elders of our church(including me, particularly me) feel like we have done a lot of damage and need to start the process of healing what we have done.
Much of the damage has been with relationships that need to be reconciled. I feel like I need to do that with you first. We heard about a ministry called Creative Conciliation. They specialize in the hard work of biblical reconciliation. They have agreed to help me and our church do whatever we need to try to heal this. I’d like to ask if you would be willing to reach out to Judy Dabler to hear from her what it might look like for our relationship to be healed. Thanks for considering. Her email is {Redacted}.
Thanks Joe. I realize this has been a long slog through the last 5 years. I would love it if somehow Jesus could redeem and restore this.
Sincerely,
Joe
Judy Dabler to Joe Coffey, sent to Joe Mauk in error (Aug 16, 2019 @ 9:30 AM)
Hi Joe, I have made some proposed changes to your draft for you to consider.
Dear Joe,
Thank you for accepting my apology. I know that I have done a lot of damage, and I want to start the process toward healing. The elders of our church agree.
Much of the damage that I want to see healed has been with relationships that need to be reconciled. I feel like I need to do that with you first. We heard about a ministry called Creative Conciliation. They specialize in the hard work of biblical reconciliation. They have explained to the elders what is involved in a reconciliation process and are willing to have that same conversation with you. Would you be willing to reach out to Judy Dabler at Creative Conciliation to hear from her what it might look like for our relationship to be full reconciled and healed? Her email is {Redacted}.
Thanks Joe. I realize this has been a long slog through the last 5 years. I would love it if somehow Jesus could redeem and restore this. Thanks for considering this.
Sincerely,
JoeJudy Dabler, Certified Christian Conciliator
Joe Mauk to Joe Coffey (Aug 28, 2019 @ 7:08 PM)
Hi Joe,
I wrote an email to you on Aug 18 (your 17) and did not receive a reply for a good reason. It looks like I sent it to myself! - and I didn’t double check until now. I will send it now below. (Having the same first name can be interesting sometimes!). In the meantime I have listened twice to your recent CCC family meeting and was impressed that it represented a good potential foundation for future progress. I have also seen feedback from several advocates, those with whom you are seeking reconciliation.
I have a few recommendations and observations.
At a minimum, I would recommend that every elder read every post on the justiceforsankey.com website. This will show clearly why many believe this has been a very intentional coverup for many years and a “we’ve only known for 26 days” apology will not be satisfying. Some of the site’s posts may be overstating some things. Without an independent investigation it is hard to know. But an understated answer does not satisfy.
I noted that Jim College is one of the elders. He was presented a year ago (by an Akron Christian leader) a 100-page dossier of documented evidence Tom was not being truthful. He then referred the matter to the board. The decision of the board was apparently to double down on Tom’s truthfulness- at least according to subsequent action and non-action. This man and the other elders are now claiming they had no idea anything was wrong with Tom’s story until Suzanne’s report came out. This needs to be explained and certainly included in any apology. There was a basket catch culpability included in the apology but the depth of the details received by elders and their subsequent doubling down on their denial and harsh treatment of members and advocates leaves the basket apology unsatisfying.
Another missionary reported to me that he had a phone conversation with you in 2014 and that you stated you knew Toto had done wrong but your friendship with Tom was the reason for your current actions. The “26 days ago” apology perhaps should have included “I had doubts about Toto since 2014”.
I can understand from a church viewpoint the need to put this mistake behind and move forward. However, buried truth may act as dragging anchors on forward progress.
Joe Mauk
Here is my Aug 18 email wrongly sent. I am sorry this didn’t get to you right away.
Dear Joe,
I am thankful for our recent correspondence and several things you have said I have taken as indicating important first steps in your journey out of the experience of the can of worms of errors resulting from widespread deception.
I was pleased to receive your initial apology and accepted it as such. The need for a reconciliation process between you and me seems a little strange as we only met once in the Philippines and once at one of your church functions. It seems to me that reconciliation is far more important with members with whom you have had a long term relationship and have been mistreated by your and the church’s attitude and actions. I did appeal to you for your help to solve Tom’s wrong approach to the Sankey problem and I have accepted your apology for not responding to my plea. However, there are many instances of public slander against me and my family that have not been acknowledged. Further, some of the facts needed in determining slander/non slander, right action/wrong action, willfully wrong/ignorantly wrong cannot even begin to be determined without an independent investigation.
Therefore, I am unwilling to start a formal “reconciliation” process at this point. I have become aware that our correspondence is being copied to others from the outset so obviously no confidentiality agreements or sympathies apply any longer. I feel no need to contact your conciliator regarding this decision as she is monitoring our correspondence anyway.
IMO, the information communicated to the church by leadership has resulted in a great mass of misinformation that needs sorting out for the truth’s sake and as a basis for true healing, restoration and reconciliation in the future. This would be the starting point- a foundation of truth ascertained in the best possible, most objective and impartial, way.
Joe Mauk
Sent from my iPhone