If you’ve already listened to Atheist Nomads Episode 2, then you can feel free to skip down to the bottom for an update on this story. For everybody else, this is just a brief summary and you can find discussion about it on the podcast.

I heard a fair amount about Dr. Samuel Pipim in college and even had to read parts of a compilation of essays he contributed to in the Seminary. The reason for this was that he was the major opponent of my college professor (and friend) Dr. Alden Thompson after he published his 1991 book, Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers.

On the one side, you had someone who acknowledged that there are factual errors and contradictions in the Bible, thought it valuable to try to understand a text within its historical context, and used metaphors to describe the way in which it was inspired. On the other side, you had people who preferred to ignore the factual errors and contradictions in the Bible, disregard historical context, and didn’t like his choice of metaphors.

Pipim was an engineer in Ghana when he joined the Adventist church and he quickly became a pastor. A few years later he went to Andrews University for graduate study at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary where he earned a doctorate in theology. He then stayed in Michigan working as a pastor and evangelizing to students at the University of Michigan. Like a lot of pastors, he also has done a lot of travel to various speaking engagements around the world.

In January 2011 he went to Botswana where he raped the college student who had organized his trip. While he didn’t use physical force, he was in a position of power over her and he had sex with her against her objections. Let’s be clear hear, if you use a position of power to have sex with someone over his or her objections, then it’s clearly not consensual and non-consensual sex is rape.

It wasn’t until May of last year that the young woman brought this to the attention of her pastor, but it quickly moved up the hierarchy to the division president over that part of the world who called Pipim on it. In response, Pipim resigned his ministerial credentials and his local congregation removed his membership.

The local pastor continued to work with and counsel Pipim and they had planned to rebaptize Pipim, thus readmitting him to the church, on 06/09/12. Two days before the scheduled baptism, some church members came to the pastor with information about another “moral failing”, for which I have no other details. After conferring with the conference president and Pipim, the baptism was canceled.

Now, more about these “moral failings,” it’s code for adultery. That is all that Pipim has admitted to, adultery. Pipim didn’t merely commit adultery and it wasn’t merely a “moral failing,” he raped a young woman and that’s criminal.

As I mentioned I would on the podcast, I have contacted Pipim and offered to help him raise the funds to return to Botswana where he can face criminal charges. Maybe after he’s done some hard time he return to his former church.

Here’s what I sent him using the contact form on his website:

As of yet, you have not admitted to nor apologized for your abuse of power that led to non-consensual sex. That is not merely adultery, it is rape. It’s not merely a moral failing, it is criminal.

I would like to help you make things right. However, the only way you can do this is by returning to Botswana and facing justice. To that end, I offer my assistance in raising funds for a one way ticket back, where you can be arrested and tried.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks,
Dustin Williams

I’m not holding my breath for a response.

It’s nice to see that Adventists aren’t as quick to brush things under the rug as Catholics are, but a stronger response from the leadership would be nice to see. After all, Pipim has published two books, written several essays, and continues to travel and speak, all since his partial confession. This pathetic sack of shit hasn’t even taken a break to think about his actions or done a thing to even attempt to make things right.

Sources:
Wikipedia
Adventist Today
Spectrum 06/06/12
Spectrum 06/08/12

Thanks to B for the tip!