Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 1988 Page 109
people is necessary, [but] doing so in a responsible manner is even more necessary.
If it would be helpful, I can put you in touch with the director of the school Miss Jacobson
attended. He is apologetic for the problems Miss Jacobson encountered, and has apologized to her.
8 April 1988
Thank you for your letter of 2nd February. I appreciate your prompt response. [Dr. Langone wrote
Mr. McClung and explained that YWAM's director and founder, Loren Cunningham, had been
contacted.]
It was good to get to know more about the American Family Foundation, your editorial policies, and
to receive the copy of the special issue [of the Cultic Studies Journal] that was done on evangelical
organizations and their relationship to cultic manipulation.
However, you still did not deal with one of my most basic concerns, which is your responsibility to
pursue fairness in a much more thorough manner than you have demonstrated.
I appreciate the fact that we are at fault for not answering your letter. I believe Mr. Cunningham
was mistaken in not doing so, and I will be discussing this fact with him later to find out why.
However, you printed an article from a young lady that basically branded us as a cult. Although she
did acknowledge, as you pointed out, a few positive things about our organization, it was in a very
damaging context. She compared us to the ―Moonies,‖ making extreme statements about our
organization throughout.
In my research on the matter, I felt like we had made serious mistakes in our relationship to Miss
Jacobson. A thorough investigation by outsiders would come to the conclusion that though some
of our leaders were offensive, hurtful, and unwise, Miss Jacobson was not blameless. To go into
print, especially in a journal that is dealing with cults, manipulation, and other issues without doing a
more thorough investigation I believe is irresponsible on your part. I believe you have a greater
responsibility to be more thorough, ethical, and to assume innocence until you have proven
otherwise. Furthermore, a copy of the article by Miss Jacobson was not sent to us before it was
printed. I believe you owe us an apology for not doing so. You ask others to face their mistakes I
believe you must also do the same.
I want to state that I am in favor of the existence of your organization. I often teach on the cults
myself. All I am trying to say to you is that you need to be more thorough in the future.
I remind you that your words live on in print and can be extremely damaging and misrepresentative. I
feel our organization was tried and found guilty without a proper investigation or hearing. I believe
you owe us an apology.
I would appreciate it very much if you would print both my letters as a response to the article, with
an apology for treating us the way you did. If you will not apologize, I would appreciate a
statement in one of your following editions saying the fact was that there was only one letter
written by your organization with no investigation of the charges made by Miss Jacobson. I would
think that would show some editorial responsibility to those whose reputations and feelings you
could be damaging.
Again, thank you very much for hearing me out on this subject. As you can tell, I have strong
feelings, but they are not directed toward you personally. As I have said, I feel that the need for your
journal and your organization is unquestionable. Please continue your endeavors.
people is necessary, [but] doing so in a responsible manner is even more necessary.
If it would be helpful, I can put you in touch with the director of the school Miss Jacobson
attended. He is apologetic for the problems Miss Jacobson encountered, and has apologized to her.
8 April 1988
Thank you for your letter of 2nd February. I appreciate your prompt response. [Dr. Langone wrote
Mr. McClung and explained that YWAM's director and founder, Loren Cunningham, had been
contacted.]
It was good to get to know more about the American Family Foundation, your editorial policies, and
to receive the copy of the special issue [of the Cultic Studies Journal] that was done on evangelical
organizations and their relationship to cultic manipulation.
However, you still did not deal with one of my most basic concerns, which is your responsibility to
pursue fairness in a much more thorough manner than you have demonstrated.
I appreciate the fact that we are at fault for not answering your letter. I believe Mr. Cunningham
was mistaken in not doing so, and I will be discussing this fact with him later to find out why.
However, you printed an article from a young lady that basically branded us as a cult. Although she
did acknowledge, as you pointed out, a few positive things about our organization, it was in a very
damaging context. She compared us to the ―Moonies,‖ making extreme statements about our
organization throughout.
In my research on the matter, I felt like we had made serious mistakes in our relationship to Miss
Jacobson. A thorough investigation by outsiders would come to the conclusion that though some
of our leaders were offensive, hurtful, and unwise, Miss Jacobson was not blameless. To go into
print, especially in a journal that is dealing with cults, manipulation, and other issues without doing a
more thorough investigation I believe is irresponsible on your part. I believe you have a greater
responsibility to be more thorough, ethical, and to assume innocence until you have proven
otherwise. Furthermore, a copy of the article by Miss Jacobson was not sent to us before it was
printed. I believe you owe us an apology for not doing so. You ask others to face their mistakes I
believe you must also do the same.
I want to state that I am in favor of the existence of your organization. I often teach on the cults
myself. All I am trying to say to you is that you need to be more thorough in the future.
I remind you that your words live on in print and can be extremely damaging and misrepresentative. I
feel our organization was tried and found guilty without a proper investigation or hearing. I believe
you owe us an apology.
I would appreciate it very much if you would print both my letters as a response to the article, with
an apology for treating us the way you did. If you will not apologize, I would appreciate a
statement in one of your following editions saying the fact was that there was only one letter
written by your organization with no investigation of the charges made by Miss Jacobson. I would
think that would show some editorial responsibility to those whose reputations and feelings you
could be damaging.
Again, thank you very much for hearing me out on this subject. As you can tell, I have strong
feelings, but they are not directed toward you personally. As I have said, I feel that the need for your
journal and your organization is unquestionable. Please continue your endeavors.
