Mercy Ministries

For the Catholic religious order, see Sisters of Mercy.

Mercy Ministries is an international, Evangelical, charismatic, Christian, charitable organization that offers a long-term residential program for young women aged 13–28^[1] who struggle with various "life controlling"^[2] issues. In 2008, the top issues that Mercy Ministries reported themselves to be dealing with were: eating disorders (69%), self-harm (60%), sexual abuse (55%), emotional/verbal abuse (55%), depression (55%), chemical dependency (49%), physical abuse (37%) and pregnancy (6%).^[3] Some residents attend the program for help with issues that are defined as such because of the Evangelical world-view within which Mercy Ministries operates. These include lesbianism and sexual promiscuity.^[4] The program also assists girls and young women who are seeking an alternative to abortion, giving them the option of placing their child for adoption or help in preparing to parent their child while they complete the program requirements.^[5] It was founded in Monroe, LA in 1983 by its President, Nancy Alcorn.^[6]

In 2008, Mercy hired an outside firm to survey almost 400 former residents about its effectiveness. Of these 400 former residents, 93 percent said their stay at Mercy transformed their lives.^[7]

An Australian affiliate that ran two locations was criticised for mistreatment of its clients, misleading claims, and use of exorcism. It closed in 2009, with each director being required by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to apologise, submit to further training and compensate all clients affected.^[8]

(The charity is not affiliated with the Catholic order, the Sisters of Mercy, who sometimes use the term "Mercy Ministries" in relation to their own work.)^[9]

Ethos

Founder Nancy Alcorn worked for eight years for the state of Tennessee. At first she worked at a correctional facility for girls, as an athletic director. After this, she supervised foster-care placements, working also with the Emergency Child Protective Services Unit, investigating charges of abuse and neglect.^[10] Her experience showed her that there was a need for a different sort of intervention, as secular state run programs were not producing the necessary results. Many graduated to the adult prison system without getting the help they needed. She was appointed Director of Women for Nashville Teen Challenge where she worked for two years. This experience brought her to believe that an approach based in her Evangelical Christian faith would be more effective.^[11]

When the first Mercy Ministries resident gave birth, Alcorn reports "I sensed the Lord say, ‘If you will be obedient, this will be the first of hundreds of babies saved from abortion because girls have a practical way that they can come and choose life.'"^[12] In addition to decision-making classes to help pregnant clients choose whether to parent their child or place their child, Mercy Ministries also runs an adoption agency, for clients who choose to put their child up for adoption.^[5] Alcorn has stated that Mercy Ministries also welcomes girls who are "struggling with their sexual orientation."^[13]

The organization has consequently faced controversy around the issues of sexuality and abortion; like many other Evangelical organisations, it has a counter-cultural standpoint.^[14] Evangelicals believe that they should contradict the practices of their culture, where they believe the Bible considers those practices to be sinful. A former resident reports that educational videos from ex-gay spokesperson Sy Rodgers, formed part of the course. Rogers has said: "Homosexuality is out of tune with religion; it is not what God planned for human sexuality."^[15] Residents were also issued “separation contracts” to prevent lesbian relationships from forming.^[16] LGBT publication SX News has reported that then Executive Director of Mercy Ministries Australia, Peter Irvine, confirmed Mercy Ministries' "non-acceptance of GLBTIQ lifestyle and abortions."^[17] and that "Mercy Ministries doesn't support the gay lifestyle." However, in an 18 March 2008 interview, Irvine insisted that “Mercy Ministries does not target any group, including the gay community, and does not have an anti-gay program."^[18] Mercy Ministries maintains that conversion therapy is not a part of its program.^[19]

Such controversy emerges from the different ethical standpoints employed by observers. Those who employ virtue ethics ask questions about the purpose of any practice, whilst others use a rights based, deontological or utilitarian approach. The Evangelical Christian commitment to virtue as a basis for ethics brings them into direct conflict with those who believe in moral relativism, or that someone should not be discouraged from doing anything they want with their own body.

Locations

There are seven locations world-wide, with plans for four further projects. The US facilities are located in Monroe, LA, Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO and Sacramento, California.^[20] The Nashville home is also the site of Mercy Ministries' international corporate headquarters and where its staff training takes place.^[13] The organization is planning additional US locations in Charlotte, NC and Destin, FL.^[21] Beginning in 2001, Mercy Ministries expanded internationally and now operates homes in Vancouver, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand; and Bradford, United Kingdom. There are also plans to work in South Africa and Peru.^[22] Two locations in Australia closed in 2008 and 2009.^[23][24]

Starting in 2007, Mercy now has an international board to oversee its worldwide operations. All homes have to sign a ministry collaboration agreement, and each international home is treated as a franchise with requirements to meet Mercy's U.S. standards. Under this agreement, the board is allowed to sanction or dismiss affiliates that violate the agreement. Alcorn stated: "If there is a gross violation of the Mercy vision and a refusal to change — then we have the right to take action. We have a right to tell them they can no longer use our name."^[7]

Funding

Nancy Alcorn has quoted three core principles of the Mercy Ministries program when it comes to finance: take the girls in free of charge; tithe 10% of funds to other ministries; and never accept money with strings attached, such as state or federal funding.^[25] In 2008 Alcorn revisited these principles while speaking at the Capital Christian Center in Sacramento about Mercy Ministries' plans to expand to the Sacramento area, stating "God spoke to me years ago, 'if you'll take the girls in free of charge, if you will be committed to give at least 10% of what comes into your ministry to other ministries, and offerings when I tell you, then I'll make sure that I set up divine connections, and your needs will be met through your giving.'"^[26] However, a scandal in Australia involved residents being forced to hand over their unemployment cheques to the ministry, as well as being promised psychological and other professional health which was not, in fact, offered. After the Australian branch closed down completely, the former directors admitted wrongdoing and were ordered by the court to pay compensation to each woman who had been through their program.^[27]

Until October 2009, it was a requirement that Gloria Jeans coffee shops have a collection box for Mercy Ministries at every store.^[28]

Australian controversy

In 2008, an article in The Sydney Morning Herald alleged mistreatment of Mercy Ministries Australia (MMA) clients, and that false claims had been made about the services offered. Instead of receiving counseling from qualified professionals, they were placed in the care of Bible students, who only offered prayer and Bible readings. One client said: "while there was nothing that was formally termed "exorcism" in the Sydney house... in her mind, [her treatment amounted to] exorcism."^[29] Another article alleged that clients were expelled without warning, follow-up or support.^[30][31] Former residents claimed that MMA falsely advertised their program as free of charge, when in fact qualifying residents were at that time required to sign over Centrelink benefits during their time in the program.^[32]

Soon afterwards, MMA announced it would close its Sunshine Coast facility, citing "strategic and resourcing issues."^[33]" Founder and President, Nancy Alcorn said: "What we are trying to do is to get back to the level of excellence and professionalism." MMA was not providing the appropriate standard of care.^[7]

Although at first a director of MMA, Peter Irvine, denied the allegations,^[34] he later retracted his statement and issued an apology.^[35] Several of MMA corporate sponsors severed their connection,^[36][37] and Hillsong Church in Sydney removed^[38] references to MMA from their own website. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began an investigation.^[39] In late 2009, MMA announced closure; by the end of the year, former directors had admitted to false, misleading and deceptive conduct by wrongly claiming their residential care programs were free and included support from psychologists, dietitians, general practitioners and counsellors. They were ordered to pay $1050 to 110 young women who took part in their programs, the total being $118,154.^[27]

Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries, said that she was disturbed that the girls had been asked to sign over their unemployment benefits. "Taking those funds, it sends the wrong message," she said. "This is their money."^[7]

Exorcism

As well as residents making official complaints about their treatment at Mercy Ministries Australia,^[40] some former Nashville residents have also spoken about being required to take part in group prayer sessions for casting out demons. One former resident stated she was warned after the exorcism that if her eating disorder persisted, the demons would return.^[7] A former resident leaked to the media a copy of "Restoring The Foundations", the previous counseling model used to treat residents at Mercy Ministries. The book contains sections including "Identifying Additional Demons", "Doing the Actual Deliverance", "Commanding", "What to do With Obstinate Demons", "Demonic Oppression" and "Scriptures that Demons Hate."^[41][42] The website now speaks of a replacement curriculum: "Mercy Ministries International formalized its Christian-based counseling curriculum in June 2008. This curriculum is now used in all Mercy Ministries homes throughout the world. It is called “Choices That Bring Change” and helps young women work through a counseling process that explores issues of faith, forgiveness, family, overcoming abuse and past hurts, and general life principles."^[43]

Demonic oppression is addressed in a series of books by Nancy Alcorn that Mercy recently published. In a sermon posted on YouTube, Alcorn claimed Mercy's approach to be superior to conventional psychology, which often relies on psychotropic medication. She said that girls with issues like sexual promiscuity or eating disorders have opened themselves up to demonic activity. "Secular psychiatrists want to medicate things like that," she said. "But Jesus didn't say to medicate demons, he said to cast them out."^[7] Nonetheless, the website currently displays the following information: "As a Christian organization, Mercy Ministries believes that spiritual warfare is real and that prayer plays an important role in healing and spiritual growth. Mercy Ministries does not perform or endorse exorcisms as part of its treatment curriculum. Our emphasis is on the power of God’s grace and unconditional love to help hurting young women overcome addictions and past hurts."^[44]

The Nashville Scene reported that as at October 2008, almost 1/3 of young women who were treated at the Australian homes have reached out for help after they were damaged by their time in the program. ."^[45]

References

1. ^ Admissions- Mercy Ministries of America
2. ^ About Mercy Ministries
3. ^ Statistics
4. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Five St. Louis Graduates Find Joy and Freedom". http://www.mercyministries.org/LearnMore/MercyNews/FiveStLouisGraduatesFindJoyandFreedom.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Mercy Ministries. "Our Program". http://www.mercyministries.org/OurProgram/Overview.aspx. Retrieved 2008-06-17. 
6. ^ Mercy Ministries. "History". http://www.mercyministries.org/AboutUs/OurFounder/History.aspx. Retrieved 2008-06-17. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f} [1] - The Tennessean, August 1, 2008
8. ^ UNDERTAKING TO THE AUSTRÄLIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION
9. ^ "The business of giving Mercy" - Sydney Morning Herald, 18 March 2008
10. ^ They Found his Mercy
11. ^ Our Founder
12. ^ "Career Minded — Mercy Ministries President" – Brio and Beyond, July 2005.
13. ^ ^{a b} Mercy Ministries. "Press Center". http://www.mercyministries.org/shared/audio/public/Nancy_Radio.mp3. Retrieved 2008-06-16. 
14. ^ "Borders passes the hat for anti-gay, pro-life charity " – Crikey, 14 November 2007
15. ^ God's cure for gays lost in sin
16. ^ "God’s Cure for Gays Lost in Sin " – The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 March 2008
17. ^ "Gloria Jean’s Coffees under fire" - SX 21 November 2007
18. ^ "In the Name of Mercy " – GayNT, 28 March 2008
19. ^ "ACCC investigates Mercy Ministries" – SX News, 21 April 2008
20. ^ Locations
21. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Locations". http://www.mercyministries.org/AboutUs/Locations.aspx. Retrieved 2011-07-14. 
22. ^ History
23. ^ UNDERTAKING TO THE AUSTRÄLIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION
24. ^ Mercy Ministries History, from their website
25. ^ Mercy Ministries. "Mission and Vision". http://www.mercyministries.org/AboutUs/WhoWeAre/Mission.aspx. Retrieved 2008-06-18. 
26. ^ Capital Christian Center. "Sermon Archives". http://media.ccconline.cc/sermons/2_10_08.mp3. Retrieved 2008-06-18. ^{[dead link]}
27. ^ ^{a b} Pollard, Ruth (17 December 2009). "Mercy Ministries admits claims were false". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/national/mercy-ministries-admits-claims-were-false-20091216-kxl4.html. 
28. ^ Coffee giant embroiled in bitter battle over beans (Sydney Morning Herald)
29. ^ "They prayed to cast Satan from my body" - Sydney Morning Herald, 17 March 2008
30. ^ "They sought help, but got exorcism and the Bible" - Sydney Morning Herald, 17 March 2008
31. ^ "No mercy for transgressions" - Sydney Morning Herald, 19 March 2008
32. ^ Mercy Ministries Australia. "Frequently Asked Questions". http://www.mercyministries.com.au/pages/default.asp?pid=26. Retrieved 2008-06-17. 
33. ^ Mercy Ministries Australia. "Press Center". http://www.mercyministries.com.au/pages/default.asp?pid=95. Retrieved 2008-06-17. 
34. ^ "The sky's the limit - Mercy Ministries' success stories" - Hills News, 1 March 2008
35. ^ "Time to have mercy on the broken of mind and spirits" - Sydney Morning Herald, 17 January 2009
36. ^ "Corporations move quickly to cut ties" - Sydney Morning Herald, 18 March 2008
37. ^ "The Business Of Giving Mercy" - Sydney Morning Herald, March 18, 2008
38. ^ "Hillsong – Mercy Ministries no more?"'Sean the Blogonaut' - Mercy Ministries watcher, January 23, 2009
39. ^ "Mercy Ministries Misinformation Referred To ACCC" - Αustralian Democrats Press Releases, 16 April 2008
40. ^ "Mercy Ministries To Close Home" - The Sydney Morning Herald, June 7, 2008
41. ^ "Mercy Ministries exorcism books leaked" – LiveNews, 26 November 2008
42. ^ "Mercy Ministries exorcism books"
43. ^ Mercy Ministries FAQ<
44. ^ Mercy Ministries FAQ
45. ^ Mercy Ministries Update From Australia

External links

• Mercy Ministries of America
• Mercy Ministries Canada
• Mercy Survivors
• Mercy Ministries UK
• Mercy Ministries Australia
• Mercy Ministries New Zealand