GOD, GREED, and the SEARCH FOR A GOOD SAMARITAN: Bronwen’s Story
A decades-old dark partnership continues to victimize the vulnerable.
IN MY END IS MY BEGINNING.
Earlier this week I wrote an email titled “Asking for your help” to Sacramento’s Arden Christian Church and its LA lawyer. In it, I begged the church to do the right thing. The moral thing. The church, you see, and its lawyers, are refusing to return money that morally belongs, and has been promised to, my sister Bronwen Gadeberg, who is elderly, widowed, medically fragile and developmentally delayed; and who has only these funds between her and losing her safety, security, health, and home.
Despite the church’s recorded and written promise, Arden Christian and their lawyer replied with silence. The email said, in part, “I’m begging you. Release the promised funds to me via my 501(c)3 California non-profit, Bronwen’s Way, to deposit into her trust account at Wells Fargo by April 1, the 10th anniversary of her husband Gerald Warren Gadeberg’s death. If the church chooses not to, I’m so sorry to say I will have to take this issue to the court of public opinion. I will have no other choice. I will have been forced to.”
I wrote this because, after working with Arden Christian Church for two years to obtain monies rightfully due my sister; after telling the church every few months that time was running out... time finally ran out.
My sister has between two and three months’ funds left to her name – as of March 28th, 2024, this amounts to exactly $14,953.10. The church is holding between $200,000 and $250,000 promised to her. These funds come from the sale of property Bronwen and her husband Gerry lived in for 34 years, initially owned by his parents, and then held in a trust designed by Carolyn M. Young, a conservator with a criminal record and a longstanding habit of keeping what isn’t hers. Her cover? Designating any remaining funds to Arden Christian Church when she was done harvesting them. With these funds, Bronwen could live safely for the rest of her life.
The church, it seems, has other plans.
So instead, like all vulnerable people at the mercy of fate, Bronwen faces a future of exploitation, danger, even death. All because of of a broken promise.
This, just as her funds had finally become available.
Just as the churches’ lawyers got involved.
Just as the church got greedy, and went silent.
What follows is the story I wish I didn’t have to write: About a church that promised to do the right thing for its most vulnerable parishioner, but when tempted by money, betrayed that promise and abandoned her.
And about my desperate search for a good Samaritan – a journalist, a lawyer, an ombudsman, a philanthropist, a mayor, senator, governor; someone – to help me save my sister’s life.
I’m sorry Arden Christian Church has forced me to write this story, but I’m sleepless with worry over my sister’s dark future... so though I’m sick to my stomach and my hands tremble as I type these words, this is the story I have to tell.
It goes like this.
Sometime in the 90s, Arden Christian Church, of the Disciples of Christ denomination in Sacramento, California formed a cozy relationship with a dubious court-appointed conservator and fiduciary, Carolyn M. Young, also Sacramento-based. Young found her clients among the churches’ parishioners, and when those clients died, Young arranged for the church to receive endowments from their trusts: all remaining monies transferred to Arden Christian, so there was very real motive to expose their older congregants to the danger of Young’s highly questionable business.
This deal clearly satisfied the church and the conservator.
But it posed a very real threat to the partnership’s victims. And it is still harming vulnerable victims today.
Young preferred to create trusts for the elderly and developmentally delayed. These were simple, unsophisticated people easily, and tragically, exploited. In fact, Young has been charged with battery and elder abuse of her clients, and there are legions of family members racked with guilt and devastated by the treatment of their vulnerable parents, siblings, and children. These victims, with emptied bank accounts and ruined lives are among the scores who have registered complaints against Young.
Now one victim, my sister Bronwen Gadeberg, who is elderly, widowed, medically fragile and developmentally delayed, is asking the church for justice: the return of monies from real and liquid assets resulting from a condominium sale that rightfully belong to her.
Arden Christian Church has had a chance to do the right thing. Right now, it’s looking like it won’t.
Bronwen has roughly two-three months’ funds left before this frail 72 year old woman faces a frightening, dangerous reality.
Only two things will save her now: a return of her money, and a good Samaritan who will fight alongside me to make that happen.
And time is running out.
This is Bronwen’s story, as told by her sister, Mary McDonald-Lewis.
THE STORY BEGINS: The Birth of Four Babies.
On January 11, 1945 Karen Margaret Gadeberg was born to Herbert and Jewell Gadeberg. Not long after, on June 12, 1947, her brother Gerald Warren Gadeberg came along.
In October 1948, James “Jimmy” Dale Crowder was born into the post-war baby boom.
And on December 30 1951, Bronwen Lee Lewis was born in Stockton, California to James Ford and Barbara Lewis.
All four babies were, to varying degrees, developmentally delayed. The four grew up, educated in both special ed and mainstream classes, as was the pedagogic philosophy of the 70s and 80s. And all four found a lifelong partner.
Bronwen and Gerry met in a sheltered workshop in 1972 and married in 1975. Karen married Jimmy in 1980. Both couples remained married until their spouse died: 39 years for Bronwen and Gerry when he passed from a massive heart attack in 2014; 42 years for Karen and Jimmy when she passed in 2022. These four faced tough challenges throughout their lives, but this much was true: they were lucky in love.
They were also lucky to be loved and cared for by their parents: all four had strong family connections who saw to their health and wellbeing. In fact, both couples lived in tidy condominiums in the Casitas Arden Townhouse complex in Sacramento, California bought by Gerry and Karen’s parents, Herbert and Jewell Gadeberg in the 80s.
THE STORY CONTINUES: The Love Story.
Bronwen and Gerry moved into their condo in 1980 and lived there until Gerry’s death -- 34 years. They paid the mortgage from Bronwen’s job at the Army Depot, and Gerry’s at McClellan Air Force base, writing a $430 rent check every month, made out to Herbert Gadeberg, for at least 20 years, if not longer.
The couple led a good, simple life. Gerry played softball on a local team, while Bronwen collected dolls and loved puzzle books. Both were medalists in the Special Olympics. Gerry could drive, while Bronwen could manage their bills; together they built a happy marriage.
Memories of married life.
And they attended Arden Christian church with Gerry’s folks.
That’s where Herbert and Jewell met Carolyn M. Young, the court-appointed fiduciary and conservator – allegedly a good Christian devoted to helping her clients.
Young, who often hunted for clients in church congregations, convinced Herbert and Jewell to put both condominiums in the Herbert W. Gadeberg Family Trust in 1998, with a simple directive:
When either Karen Crowder or Gerald Gadeberg dies, their spouses must be evicted; the condos sold; and all assets provided to the surviving sibling. And that upon the death of the surviving sibling, all remaining assets were to be allocated to Arden Christian Church.
The pretty condo and the lost profits.
Interestingly, the trust also stated that “Gerald Gadeberg shall have the right to reside in the real property located at 3130 Via Grande, Sacramento, California, without the payment of rent, homeowner's dues or repair expenses. Expenses of the real property including any mortgage payments, homeowner’s dues, taxes, repair expenses shall be paid from Gerald’s Trust.” This, while Carolyn M. Young collected monthly payments from the couple. As we shall see, this is not out of character for Young, whether or not it is within keeping of the law.
But the trust was formed in 1998, and the future was a long way off, it seemed.
The future, though, has a way of arriving when it is least expected, and most destructive.
The couple lived contentedly, unaware of the danger heading toward them just a bit over a decade ahead, like a train coming over the last pass, losing its engineer, and slowly picking up speed.
THE STORY SADDENS: Death and Eviction.
On April 1, 2014, Gerald Gadeberg got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Bronwen did not hear him get up, but she heard the crash in the bathroom as he fell. She was at his side as she wept and dialed 911, and still there when he passed from the massive heart attack shortly after. He was 67 years old, and they had been married just shy of 40 years. They had lived in their condominium for 34 years.
Bronwen was devastated. Her Romeo, her Galahad, her “Ger-Bear,” as she had always called him, was dead.
Her world spun, flipped upside down, and broke open.
Bron’s situation wasn’t helped by her poor health, which included a pre-diabetic condition and issues with obesity, high blood pressure, and joint and bone problems. And it was profoundly complicated by her grief.
Then Carolyn M. Young issued her edict, wielding the trust like an ax and a crowbar: Bronwen was to leave the condominium immediately. Where the widow went and how she funded this transition was of no concern to Young; what mattered was Young wanted Bronwen out, and she wanted to get her hands on that real estate.
Grief and loss.
In October, 2014 I relocated Bronwen to Atria El Camino Gardens. Our mother, Barbara Lewis, had passed in 2003, and we had both inherited a modest amount of money. I had been made executor of my mother’s estate, and then of Bronwen’s inheritance via a second trust, and these were the funds I used for her move. (In the spirit of complete transparency, let the record show that our two brothers had also inherited, but as with many families, they do not help or support Bronwen in any way, and are not a part of this story. Her care is entirely my responsibility.)
I was proud of finding Bronwen a beautiful new home in this retirement community, one where she could make friends, take part in activities and be cared for. I knew my mom and dad would be proud of me, too. And I was so pleased that she was safe and that, as her grieving found grace and her new life began, she would be happy at Atria.
But I knew Bronwen’s funds wouldn’t last forever. And I knew there was a crooked trust, and a crooked fiduciary, I would need to take on in time.
Now the future was rounding the far curve, and the unmanned locomotive was coming at us hard. Unless a miracle happened, I feared the collision course we were on.
And it lay dead ahead.
THE STORY DARKENS: Carolyn M. Young.
The court-appointed fiduciary and conservator Carolyn M. Young makes her money designing questionable trusts, and providing conservatorship over her elderly and developmentally delayed clients that are not only negligent, but cruel, and criminal.
The long and checkered past and present of Carolyn M. Young.
For decades, she has preyed upon the unsophisticated, weak, and vulnerable. The trust she drew up that stole my sister’s rightful ownership of the condo she was evicted from was crafted in 1998; just two months ago a horrified client reviewed her on Google, writing:
“My son's special needs trust was transferred to Zack Young based on a recommendation from our previous fiduciary. We had no say in the decision. In the 4 years he held his trust we did not have ONE single communication from him. We attempted to contact multiple times and NEVER got a response.
Rest assured though, HE TOOK HIS CUT of our 16 year old disabled son's money but never spoke to us one time. It took us contacting a lawyer to get it moved to a different company. I'd run as far as you could from every utilizing this company at all costs. They'll take your money and ignore you every step of the way.”
(Zack Young, by the way, is Carolyn’s son who now handles Young’s legal affairs; her daughter Lindsay Bowman is also involved in some very dark dealings as yet another executor specializing in exploiting the elderly.)
From a few years back:
“A disgusting disgrace to the human experience. Taking advantage of families and the elderly in the last years they have together for her own monetary gain. Want to not be able to see your loved one, hire Carolyn Young. You want someone to change the Trust of your loved one so your entire Family reaps the consequences of this woman's greed, hire Carolyn Young. Dear Carolyn Corrupt Young, You are a waist (sic).”
“ZERO STARS...this company lied to me and my friend until they got their hooks into her pension and Social Security. They are not looking out for her interests: tricked her into going to group home and disposed of her entire house full of belongings against her wishes. STAY AWAY FROM Carolyn M Young Fiduciary Services! ... In the beginning of the C Young nightmare, right after my friend was taken away, they did not secure her home, someone entered and I'm sure had their pick of whatever they wanted ... Please do not trust Carolyn Young Fiduciary services with your loved ones' finances when they are at their most vulnerable times of their adult lives!”
The above and many more are found on Google reviews. And from Yelp:
“If you have an elderly loved one, beware of her agenda. You may think she's administering the trust to make sure your loved one can live as he/she wants for the rest of his/her life. That's not the plan. ... It's like getting sucker punched.”
Young’s cruelty extends to animals as well. From one of over two dozen charges complaints found here: Young's animal cruelty and other shocking complaints.
“Not sure how CMY and Zachary Young can live with themselves after allowing a conservatee’s pet die of starvation. This happened while they charged and paid themselves fees. How cruel. These people are not normal and have little concern for others.”
Young also hunts for prey using the Sacramento County Adult Protective Services system. This is where she caught Mary Jane Mann, and in 2006 she was assigned conservatorship over her. Mann’s family objected, and court hearings were initiated.
Then CBS affiliate KOVR-TV 13 producer David Clegern investigated, and found that Young “effectively took over Mann’s life without Mann’s knowledge [including] Mann’s bank accounts, investments, and her trust. Young had Mann’s mail forwarded to her office and had Mann’s driver’s license lifted.” The report also claimed that Young stole from Mann, threatened her, battered her and trespassed onto her property.
The story, entitled “A Life Hijacked,” was part of KOVR's “Call Kurtis” investigative series, and was reported by Kurtis Ming.
Young sued CBS for defamation, by the way.
And lost.
More information on the court proceedings: Young VS CBS Broadcasting
“Call Kurtis” is still providing in-depth investigations: Call Kurtis.
Young faced a second exposé in 2012, an ABC 10 program entitled “The Price of Care: Investigating California Conservatorships.” It describes Young as “one of the most well-known and powerful fiduciaries in Northern California.”
In it, Young is damned by several horrified, guilt-ridden clients. One, Michelle Vinall, sickened by Young’s treatment of her mother, commented “’Young and co., including all those interconnected from the judicial system, and attorneys ... are all feeding from a ‘parasitic trough that will deplete enough assets that should have been enough for three lifetimes.’”
Which may explain how it is that this fiduciary, in her 2020 tax statement, “Carolyn Young reported managing $111,472,265.81.” And how “In his 2020 statement, Zach reported managing $135,000,000. Lindsay reported $30,513,047.38.”
Taken together, that adds up to $277,000,000 of other people’s money Young Fiduciary Business manages.
The ABC 10 program can be found here: The ABC exposé of Carolyn M. Young
Carolyn M. Young, in fact, did not follow the directive of the trust she crafted for Herbert and Jewell Gadeberg. She didn’t sell Bronwen’s condo after Gerry died. Instead, she installed an elderly homeless woman, Virginia Weaver in it, sticking her in a hospital bed in the living room and abandoning her in filth, squalor, and urine-soaked sheets.
No one has ever been successful at bringing Carolyn M. Young, Zachary Young, or Lindsay Bowman to justice. They have exploited, abused and profited from the elderly and developmentally delayed; they have starved at least one dog to death; Young has been accused of battery against on an 86-year-old woman.
That’s truly a baffling tragedy.
Equally baffling: why Arden Christian Church allowed Carolyn M. Young to feed off its parishioners. Unless the endowments – all the money left over when the old and vulnerable died being directed to the church – influenced it to look the other way?
THE STORY HARDENS: Fighting for Justice.
Young never alerted Arden Christian Church when Karen Crowder died, which was when the church was due to have the assets, real and liquid, distributed to it.
I alerted them, though, on September 6, 2022, via an email to the churches’ pastor, Godfree McIntyre
I wrote McIntrye that Karen had died, and that her husband, Jimmy, was safe in the care of relatives in Oologah, Oklahoma. There were funds and there was real estate hidden by Young that were endowed to the church, I wrote the pastor. Church staff needed to dig around in their file cabinets and find that trust. And if they couldn’t find the trust, I had a copy I could send.
I alerted the church because I thought, “This is my sister and her husband’s church. This was their faith home. Gerry’s memorial was here. These Christians profess to love my sister – surely we can fight for the return of these assets together, and work out a moral resolution here. Surely the church will do the right thing.”
Thus began what I thought was going to be a beautiful partnership – together the church and I were going to fight Carolyn M. Young; we were going to regain those lost liquid and real assets, and we were going to benefit the church, and my sister: the woman who was rightfully due those assets, and who was two years’ away from being broke.
My contact at the church was a wonderful woman, Merial Coffeen. Merial was a miracle: she had been raised in the church, and as a young parishioner had known Herbert and Jewell Gadeberg, Karen and Jimmy Crowder, and Bronwen and Gerry Gadeberg. Merial was also the board president, and CFO for the church. I couldn’t believe my luck! She was kind, supportive, and deeply devoted to doing the right thing at the time. Merial was my new friend, and I felt lucky to have found her.
On behalf of the church, I brought what I thought were the finest, most moral lawyers I’d ever met to the team: Mike Hackard and his son-in-law Brian Geremia of Hackard Law. That firm kindly reduced its 40% contingency fee to 15% when it heard the story I told them: the crooked trust, the crooked trust executor, whom they well knew and had battled before; the lost condo, my sister’s impending peril. And the kind church, eager to do the right thing for everyone. Mike Hackard, a devoted Christian himself, felt called to do this. I called it another miracle.
Geremia took the lead on the case, and was successful in obtaining some liquid assets from Young. We will never know how much Young robbed from the trust, but I was thankful and relieved to know that there was money in the bank for Bronwen. Merial wrote me on 5/09/23, “We do have money in a savings account for Bronwen. I would prefer not to distribute it until the condo is at least all repaired and we have it on the market. However, in two months (heaven forbid it takes that long to get the condo on the market) l can distribute $32,500, which will hold her for quite a few more months. I presume I will make the check payable to the Bronwen Gadeberg Trust account. Is that accurate?”
Later, Merial offered to have the church pay Bronwen’s rent at Atria from “her” account, direct depositing $4000 a month for rent and living expenses into Bron’s bank. The timing couldn’t have been better, as Bronwen was about a year away from running out of funds by now, and we needed to stretch out what remained.
Soon after this, in a phone conversation, Merial and I came to an agreement: when the condo was sold and all the assets combined, the church and Bronwen should share the total of the assets, after costs, 50-50. I recall this conversation well. I was, as I often am, out walking my dog. My feet felt like they had wings at their heels after we’d hung up: Bronwen was going to be saved!
This agreement was later voted up by the Arden Christian Church board, so that record exists in its minutes.
A brief aside: I never told my sister about the financial jeopardy she was in, not wanting to worry her. But when Merial gave me this news, on my next trip to Sacramento I cooked a special meal – a vegetarian version of my mother’s stroganoff that Bronwen has always loved – and brought it to her residence. We ate al fresco, and I told her “Bronwen, you’re safe. You’re safe! You’ll never have to worry about a place to live or people to care for you, ever.” Soon, I had to exchange those words for a bitter truth.
Back to the condo: The next step was to renovate and sell it. Mimi Scherber, Mike Hackard’s sister, joined the team as the realtor. After endless months of deep cleaning, painting and polishing, Lyon Real Estate put the condo up for sale. The market was slow, and I watched my sister’s bank account get lower and lower as the months passed. Finally, it sold.
But something odd was happening. First, after promising to cover Bronwen’s rent out of her share of the initial distribution, after only two months’ rent was deposited, Merial stopped the payments altogether, explaining the CFO of Disciples of Christ had gotten involved, and he had prohibited further outlay.
And when the condo sold at the end of January, 2024, Merial didn’t tell me it had.
And neither did Mimi. Or Brian. Or Mike. I found out on my own, sleuthing online.
Excuses were made. Communication slowed to a drip.
And now that there was hard cash at play, a spendy new LA lawyer, Rodney Gould, was brought in by the church as its mouthpiece and strongarm. Obstacles began to be placed in my path.
“The church can’t just give you the money,” I was told in a phone call with Merial. “It can only distribute to another non-profit.”
So I immediately launched “Bronwen’s Way,” a California 501(c)3, with a terrific board and the mission of “providing funds to the elderly developmentally delayed for shelter and living expenses.” I let the church know that on March 1, 2024, our EIN and bank account would be ready to receive the distribution, as per its requirement.
There was no response to my providing what the church demanded. And time marched relentlessly forward, toward my sister’s impending homelessness.
Arden Christian Church: The Pharisees and Luke1:1-2 1.
I sensed the grip of the churches’ hand around the profits from the condo sale, and sent an email to Merial, reminding her of Arden Christian’s published mission, and that regardless of pressure from the CFO at Disciples of Christ, that Arden Christian had agency over its policies. I quoted from the mission, writing “’In the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations are connected to each other and to the whole church by a common covenant that continues to allow for each expression of church life (congregational, regional, and general) to be self-governing (emphasis mine) and to make decisions that are only binding upon the body that has taken the decision. Each expression thus has its own rights and responsibilities – all set within a mutual covenantal accountability.’
The churches’ minutes on this subject are clear on the churches’ expression of church life, and the act of moral duty this is and it is designed to be self-governing. This tells me that you could write the check, a total of the initial dispersal and the proceeds from the sale of my sister’s property minus the various deductions, today, and be well within your faith’s guidelines.
Not only within them: acting upon them.”
The churches' mission statement.
My reasoning, however, was met with what was becoming very familiar by now: complete silence.
I still couldn’t figure out why no one was talking to me. Where was our raucous celebration, our toast and cheer to victory at the end of this long, hard fight? Where was the final check to my sister? When I enquired of Merial, I finally received a curt reply on 02/03/24: “We will be distributing 50% of the net proceeds of the Gadeberg estate. Our attorney will be in touch with you regarding the distribution. I appreciate your patience with this process.”
I replied “Oh this is very good news indeed, Merial — and I know YOU are the one behind this beautiful outcome. I’m so pleased. Thank you. ... the next time I’m in town — sometime in March, most likely — man oh man dinner is on me, with my ever thanks. You are our hero, Merial. I can’t be more grateful.”
But Merial’s earlier, brief response was the last time I ever heard from her, or anyone at Arden Christian Church.
And in the near distance, I could see the runaway train on straight rails, steaming and smoking and heading square for my sister and me.
THE STORY DERAILS: Greed over God.
The locomotive haunting my sister and me has barreled down, and we are nearly under its wheels. On 02/07/24 I called the LA lawyer, Gould, to introduce myself and get a sense of timeline for fund distribution, only to be shockingly barked at by him. He interrupted, condescended, and dismissed me. He questioned my motives, demanded my credentials, established his authority over my sister and me in a single, short, rude, harsh conversation.
A month later, when I asked Gould for an update, he replied with a single sentence: “Still working on the trust document.”
My reply to Gould: “This translates to ‘still spending an elderly, developmentally delayed, widowed woman’s money, as she faces homelessness.’ ... On March 20th I will be in Sacramento, shooting video for my exposé against Arden Christian Church, the Disciples of Christ, and you. I will be shooting video in front of her stolen condo, in front of the hypocritical church, and will be taping several specific interviews with Bronwen: how she felt about living at the condo, how she felt about being evicted, what her fears are as she faces living on the streets. My sister, by the way, is an excellent interview subject. Of course, you won’t be touched by her, but thousands will be.”
Gould responded with silence.
In the absence of any information from Gould, from Merial Coffeen, from Mike and Brian at Hackard Law, from Mimi Scherber, all of whom along with Carolyn M. Young have profited off my sister’s stolen property, I am left with a chilling suspicion: I think, after two years’ working in partnership toward the moral and yes, godly goal of righting the harm done to Bronwen – that the church, the lawyers, the realtor have all conspired to do the wrong thing.
I think they are going to rob my sister.
With two-three months’ savings left, at 72 years old, in ill health and unequipped to fully understand why she has been betrayed, Bronwen will lose her home and be forced into unsafe living conditions. Rocked by a manmade temblor as mortal as a massive heart attack, her world is about to spin, flip upside down, and break open... again.
A frightening future.
That oncoming train robs me, too, as it smashes into our lives. It has splintered my sleep. Collapsed my health. Shattered my peace of mind. Damaged my faith in God, and destroyed my trust in Christians.
THE STORY ENDS: Sorrow and Hope.
Every time anyone in this story has pocketed cash from the liquid and real assets of the crooked Gadeberg trust, they have stolen parts of Bronwen’s life. Her safety. Security. Health. Her quality of life – even the length of her life.
Carolyn M. Young. Arden Christian Church. The Disciples of Christ. Mike Hackard and Brian Geremia, Hackard Law. Mimi Scherber, Lyon Real Estate. Rodney Gould, Law Office of Rodney Gould. All of these people and entities have chosen to enrich themselves from these assets, 50% of which were promised to Bronwen by Arden Christian Church.
And with every passing day, more of these funds are spent.
At one point I had calculated that 50% of the assets (untampered with) would just about support Bronwen, allowing her to remain at Atria El Camino Gardens, for the rest of her life, health allowing. Now I don’t believe she will receive any funds – and if she does, they will have been bled so dry by the profiteers feeding off them, they will be nearly worthless.
I was once so grateful and optimistic about my friendship with Merial, with Mike and Brian, with Mimi. I thought we were a team, on the side of right. But I was wrong – they never shared the same goal.
And I was once so proud of the work I’d done for Bronwen – I always thought my mom and dad would be proud of me too. But I’ve failed them. And her.
I ended the email I started this story with, writing to Merial, Hackard, Geremia and Schermer:
“I do not want to [take this issue to the court of public opinion]. I thought we all were, and would remain, friends, united in common cause. I used to dream of raising a glass to our victory.
But I have to do whatever I can to protect my sister and to achieve a moral end here. This may mean I will not get to enjoy that friendship, that shared sense of victory. It will likely mean I am reviled. And I’m sad and sorry about that, in nearly equal measure to my resolve to protect my sister.
I’m writing to beg you: Please provide the 50% of liquid and real assets promised to my sister by April 1, 2024. Again, if the church chooses not to, I regret to say I will release ‘Bronwen’s Story’ to the press. The church will have taken all choice away from me with its choice. She is my priority, past the loss of comradeship, past the discomfort I feel about having to do so.
Please help me to not have to do this. And most importantly, please help my sister.”
I signed off with “Still grateful for all you have done,” and added a PS: “If you’re wondering why you’re included on this email, there are two reasons. First, in some way I considered you on ‘Team Bronwen’ — my God, I was moved to tears at your care at times, and never failed to express this. And second, if I am forced to release the story, you’ll find you're included in it, and I wanted to give you the respect you are due in advance.”
No one addressed in that email ever replied.
It is April 2, 2024. Arden Christian Church has not deposited my sister’s promised funds into Bronwen’s Way, the non-profit account it demanded of me; the account designed to receive them.
So I must end this article with its beginning:
This is a story about a church that promised to do the right thing for its most vulnerable parishioner, but when tempted by money, betrayed that promise and abandoned her.
And about my desperate search for a good Samaritan – a journalist, a lawyer, an ombudsman, a philanthropist, a mayor, senator, governor; someone – to help me save my sister’s life.
The future has exploded into the station on relentless iron rails, and Bronwen’s life is about to be razed by it. Please. Someone. Help me piece it back together before it’s too late.
I’m begging you.
The last word belongs to Bronwen.
The Author: Mary McDonald-Lewis • mary@marymac.com • 503-705-1363
The Fiduciary: Carolyn M. Young - https://carolynmyoung.com/
The Church: Arden Christian Church - https://ardencc.com/
The Estate lawyers: Hackard Law - https://www.hackardlaw.com/
The Trust lawyer: Rodney Gould - https://www.rodneygouldlaw.com/
The Realtor: Mimi Scherber - https://www.golyon.com/
The Church Lady: Merial Coffeen - mjcoffeen@hotmail.com
Errata: Bronwen was evicted from her condo in October, 2014, not June.
I’m sorry, and sad to say this is a familiar pattern to me. I’m worried a similar issue played a role in a relative’s death. I’m only a lowly paralegal, with passing familiarity with trusts. I wonder if your sister might have had a right to something called an elective share? And if some elder/disabled abuse played a role in hiding that right from her? But it’s SO hard to get good, unbiased legal representation. It might be hard to get an answer to that question. Well, if you ever need a second head to scratch, hit me up. That’s so low.
This is a horrific story. I am so sorry that you and your sister have had to endure this journey.
I hope this finds you a lawyer that will take these folks out.