
Four foundational principles are woven into the fabric of the Bridges & Balm bylaws and policies: trust, transparency, privacy, and avoidance of conflicts of interest. These are living guideposts that shape our daily decisions and actions.
For sexual assault survivors and those transitioning out of the ministry, trust is hard to build, yet quick to dissolve at the slightest misstep. We’ve learned this truth through countless conversations and through the brave survivors who have shared their stories of how they’ve been hurt in this faith community. Transparency serves as our commitment to honor that fragile trust, ensuring we remain worthy of the confidence placed in us by the communities we serve.
At Bridges & Balm, we've made it our mission to provide detailed, clear accounts of our financial stewardship. But true transparency reaches far deeper than balance sheets and budget reports. It demands the courage to invite you into our decision-making process, to share not just what we decide, but why and how we arrive at those choices. It requires us to remain accountable to you – our survivors, transitioning workers, and donors – even when the path forward is painful. At the same time, we must balance transparency with the privacy of all involved with our organization.

What it means to practice transparency while maintaining privacy is weighing a little heavier than usual right now because of some especially difficult decisions we have needed to make in the past few weeks. While we cannot provide specifics, we are committed to adhering to the assistance policies defined in our operating procedures and meeting the expectations of our donor and assistance communities. We make decisions based on the best information available to us at any given moment, knowing that new information may emerge tomorrow that changes everything. We will do our best to respond accordingly and in a timely fashion.
Transparency is about doing what's right, even – especially – when it's uncomfortable. We make decisions based on the best information available to us at any given moment, Every fresh allegation of childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault sends ripples of pain through our community. To every survivor who has ever felt silenced or doubted, we want you to know this: We believe you. We are sorry this happened to you, and we are committed to aiding your healing process and while doing our best to demonstrate a basic standard of humanity that stands firmly beside the vulnerable and wounded.
Comments