For over 30 years, survivors of abuse at Avalon Community Church (ACC) have carried the heavy burden of trauma, silence, and betrayal. Many bravely came forward, only to be ignored, dismissed, or lied to by church leadership. Our community has been misled for decades while ACC continued to collect tithes and operate without accountability.

On October 19, 2025, ACC’s remaining 25 members voted to dissolve the church. This was a small but important victory for survivors and for our town. Out of 25 votes, only one opposed dissolution. By voting to dissolve, ACC has publicly admitted that it can no longer continue as it has.

But despite this vote, ACC leadership still insists on controlling what happens next:

They want to decide which religious organization will purchase the church property.
They want to decide which organization will manage the victims’ fund.
They continue to meet privately under the name “Something New” while still collecting tithes into ACC’s bank account, despite claiming the church has been “closed” since July 2024.
This is unacceptable. The same group that failed to protect victims, covered up abuse, and misled our community cannot be trusted to decide the spiritual future of Avalon or control the resources meant for survivors.

Our Community Deserves a Voice
Avalon has been without a trusted place for Christians to worship since 2024. Survivors and community members alike deserve to have a say in what comes next. Decisions about:

Who purchases the church property
What new faith community is established in Avalon
How the victims’ fund is managed and distributed
These important decisions should not be made by the same 25 members of a dissolved organization that has just admitted its negligence. These decisions must be made by the community as a whole, with survivors at the center.

Our Demands
We call on ACC leadership to:

Host four open community meetings where all Avalon residents can participate in discussions about the future of the church property and the victims’ fund.
Allow survivors and community members to vote on which organization will purchase the property and which organization will manage the victims’ fund.
Ensure full transparency in the sale of assets, the disbursement of funds, and the management of donations.
Cease all deceptive practices, including collecting tithes under the name “Something New” while claiming the church is closed.
Why This Matters
This is not just about buildings or bank accounts. It’s about trust, healing, and justice. Survivors of abuse at ACC deserve to know that the resources set aside for them will be managed with integrity. Our community deserves to know that the next church in Avalon will be one we can all trust—free from the shadow of past abuse and secrecy.

For too long, decisions have been made behind closed doors. It’s time for openness, accountability, and community-led healing.

Join Us
Sign this petition to demand that Avalon Community Church leadership step aside and allow our community and survivors to decide the future of our town’s spiritual life and the victims’ fund. Together, we can ensure that what comes next is built on truth, justice, and healing—not secrecy and control.