Advent Talk

Issues & Concerns Category => 3ABN => 3ABN (Links & Resources) => Topic started by: Daryl Fawcett on February 08, 2008, 06:54:17 AM

Title: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Daryl Fawcett on February 08, 2008, 06:54:17 AM
The following, adressed to Calvin of BSDA, from Kay Kuzma has been copied over from BSDA:

-----beginning of quote-----


Dear Calvin,

I have become aware that your site published Johann Thorvaldsson's article about "The Story of Linda Shelton." (Note:  See this article in a later post) Since I am mentioned in that article, I thought you might be interested in publishing a response to correct the misinformation given about my involvement. If you need to call me, my # is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you. Kay Kuzma

Here is my statement:

To those who may question my involvement with 3ABN and the circumstances which led up to Linda Shelton leaving 3ABN:

Yes, I was involved in what happened at 3ABN concerning Linda however the internet article in which you read about my involvement titled "The Story of Linda Shelton" by Johann Thorvaldsson, is saturated with the writer's biased personal perceptions and has very little to do with what actually happened. I was there ? I know. Rather than address each falsehood, which would be too time consuming, I will simply address the three major errors concerning me:

Here is what was printed about me:

"Long before Linda's dismissal, Dr. Kay Kuzma was assigned to help Linda manage after being fired. She was also supposed to interview staff members to find a good reason to fire her, so one wonders what really is behind this upheaval?"

Here is what actually happened:

1) I was not brought in early - in fact, I was brought in during the last six weeks after Danny and Linda had been in months of counseling with professionals - with Linda still refusing to follow what the counselors suggested, i.e., unanimously the counselors told her that she would have to give up her relationship with the doctor in Norway who she was spending up to six hours each day talking with.

2) I was not brought in to help Linda "manage" after she was fired - she was never fired. The committee I was on (and later the Board) repeatedly gave her opportunity to talk with them trying to bring resolution and restoration to both her ministry at 3ABN and her marriage. She refused at every point. There was never discussion concerning "firing" Linda when I became involved - only a discussion on how to help her. There was such a concern for Linda's reputation that the entire Board was not initially notified about the situation until it became an absolute necessity to do so. I was on a small committee of two Board members, the 3ABN attorney, and myself. The small committee's discussion centered on how to save Linda for ministry. Linda talked to me one time and refused any further contact I tried to make with her.

3) I was NOT asked by 3ABN to interview staff concerning Linda. Linda, herself, asked me to talk with the staff. She even gave me the specific names of the people she wanted me to talk with. The results from the interviews with the employees Linda suggested weren't flattering to her. When I tried to get back with her, she refused to answer my calls.

The overwhelming error in Mr. Thorvaldsson's account of the events surrounding Linda Shelton's departure from 3ABN gives witness to the fact that his observation was from many thousands of miles away and only receiving his information from the two involved in the duplicity. Hopefully it has become apparent to you, as I pointed out the error contained in these three lines alone, that this entire article is full of misinformation. If you would like specific answers to any other point, I'll be happy to share. God is good and truth will prevail even though there are those who are trying to stir up controversy.

I believe the most important thing to understand is that eventually the fruit of a person's decisions will become evident. Although I will not comment further about what happened to lead up to Linda's departure from 3ABN, we know that the other man had been to the States and spent time with Linda before she left Danny, and that immediately after she left Danny, the other man was with Linda. A few weeks later they spent time traveling together through Europe.

Please remember, 3ABN is not Danny or Linda's ministry - it is God's, and every day we all see incredible miracles as God is moving His ministry forward. It's been a very difficult time - as we all love Linda and recognize how much God used her in her role as co-host with Danny. God truly gifted her with the ability to write beautiful songs that have been a tremendous blessing to thousands.

Thanks for remembering 3ABN in your prayers - and thanks for not sharing Mr. Thorvaldsson's article with anyone else - since I know you don't want to be a part of spreading misinformation.

Sincerely,

Kay Kuzma

-----end of quote-----

Note:
I did some reformatting for easier reading, however, the text itself was not touched. - Daryl.
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Johann on February 08, 2008, 02:25:35 PM
Below I will insert my comments to the KK statements:

The following, adressed to Calvin of BSDA, from Kay Kuzma has been copied over from BSDA:

-----beginning of quote-----


Dear Calvin,

I have become aware that your site published Johann Thorvaldsson's article about "The Story of Linda Shelton." (Note:  See this article in a later post) Since I am mentioned in that article, I thought you might be interested in publishing a response to correct the misinformation given about my involvement. If you need to call me, my # is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Thank you. Kay Kuzma

Here is my statement:

To those who may question my involvement with 3ABN and the circumstances which led up to Linda Shelton leaving 3ABN:

Yes, I was involved in what happened at 3ABN concerning Linda however the internet article in which you read about my involvement titled "The Story of Linda Shelton" by Johann Thorvaldsson, is saturated with the writer's biased personal perceptions and has very little to do with what actually happened. I was there ? I know. Rather than address each falsehood, which would be too time consuming, I will simply address the three major errors concerning me:

I'd say that Kay Kuzma was hired to be biased!
Quote

Here is what was printed about me:

"Long before Linda's dismissal, Dr. Kay Kuzma was assigned to help Linda manage after being fired. She was also supposed to interview staff members to find a good reason to fire her, so one wonders what really is behind this upheaval?"

Here is what actually happened:

1) I was not brought in early - in fact, I was brought in during the last six weeks after Danny and Linda had been in months of counseling with professionals - with Linda still refusing to follow what the counselors suggested, i.e., unanimously the counselors told her that she would have to give up her relationship with the doctor in Norway who she was spending up to six hours each day talking with.

KK was brought in before Linda was dismissed. I had a 45 min. conversation while she was working with the matter, and she told me a number of things "in all confidence". At that stage she did not hesitate sharing her present thoughts of the whole situations. This seems completely changed by the time she writes this letter.

How did KK know what all the counselors were telling Linda? Were there really any professional counselors? How did she know?
Quote

2) I was not brought in to help Linda "manage" after she was fired - she was never fired. The committee I was on (and later the Board) repeatedly gave her opportunity to talk with them trying to bring resolution and restoration to both her ministry at 3ABN and her marriage. She refused at every point. There was never discussion concerning "firing" Linda when I became involved - only a discussion on how to help her. There was such a concern for Linda's reputation that the entire Board was not initially notified about the situation until it became an absolute necessity to do so. I was on a small committee of two Board members, the 3ABN attorney, and myself. The small committee's discussion centered on how to save Linda for ministry. Linda talked to me one time and refused any further contact I tried to make with her.

KK told me herself she was suppose to help Linda to manage after 3ABN. KK makes a false statement that Linda was not fired. It is true that Linda refused to cooperate with KK - because she felt KK was too biased against her. I believe it was at this stage I had my 45 min. talk with KK. After that talk I encouraged Linda to give KK another chance, but Linda felt she had already been overwhelmed by her bias.
Quote

3) I was NOT asked by 3ABN to interview staff concerning Linda. Linda, herself, asked me to talk with the staff. She even gave me the specific names of the people she wanted me to talk with. The results from the interviews with the employees Linda suggested weren't flattering to her. When I tried to get back with her, she refused to answer my calls.
Again quite different from what KK told me. The impression KK gavae me then was that the board could no dismiss Linda because of her  and Danny's marriage problems. So 3ABN asked KK to interview people to discover grudges against LL which could be used as a basis to dismiss Linda. KK told me that not all of those she talked to were cooperative. So it is possible - I do not know - that they discided this would not work as a means to get her fired.
Quote

The overwhelming error in Mr. Thorvaldsson's account of the events surrounding Linda Shelton's departure from 3ABN gives witness to the fact that his observation was from many thousands of miles away and only receiving his information from the two involved in the duplicity. Hopefully it has become apparent to you, as I pointed out the error contained in these three lines alone, that this entire article is full of misinformation. If you would like specific answers to any other point, I'll be happy to share. God is good and truth will prevail even though there are those who are trying to stir up controversy.
Again KK is wrong. I had most of this information from KK.
Quote

I believe the most important thing to understand is that eventually the fruit of a person's decisions will become evident. Although I will not comment further about what happened to lead up to Linda's departure from 3ABN, we know that the other man had been to the States and spent time with Linda before she left Danny, and that immediately after she left Danny, the other man was with Linda. A few weeks later they spent time traveling together through Europe.
From what source does KK get this information?
Quote

Please remember, 3ABN is not Danny or Linda's ministry - it is God's, and every day we all see incredible miracles as God is moving His ministry forward. It's been a very difficult time - as we all love Linda and recognize how much God used her in her role as co-host with Danny. God truly gifted her with the ability to write beautiful songs that have been a tremendous blessing to thousands.

Thanks for remembering 3ABN in your prayers - and thanks for not sharing Mr. Thorvaldsson's article with anyone else - since I know you don't want to be a part of spreading misinformation.

Sincerely,

Kay Kuzma

-----end of quote-----

Note:
I did some reformatting for easier reading, however, the text itself was not touched. - Daryl.
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Daryl Fawcett on February 10, 2008, 08:17:44 AM
Your response to KK's letter here doesn't look good for the integrity of KK, especially where you were there and in communication with KK, etc. at that time.

I consider your response an eye-witness response to KK's letter.
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Johann on February 10, 2008, 09:24:40 AM
I do have overwhelming reasons for taking my stand on the whole issue, and there is nothing the other part has done yet to make me hesitate.
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: inga on February 10, 2008, 10:56:01 AM
Daryl,

When you copy things onto this board from somewhere else, it is extremely important for you to include the original date. Otherwise it seems as though these were recent letters, and that leaves a false impression.

Inga
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Daryl Fawcett on February 10, 2008, 01:39:12 PM
As I thought anybody who is following all of this would realize they were copied from another forum, which was also copied from yet another forum, I never thought about quoting the date of their original posts.

Suffice to say, they aren't new and recent letters.

If and/or when I get a chance, I wil try and edit into the OP the date they were originally posted.
Title: Re: Kay Kuzma Response to the Linda Shelton Story
Post by: Johann on February 10, 2008, 02:15:55 PM
The KK letter should be from 2004