{"id":5472,"date":"2024-06-22T20:34:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-23T00:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/womantowoman\/?p=5472"},"modified":"2024-06-23T12:39:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-23T16:39:26","slug":"let-us-prey-stopping-predators-in-the-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/womantowoman\/2024\/06\/let-us-prey-stopping-predators-in-the-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Let Us Prey: Stopping Predators in the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (Courtesy of Pixaby \/ geralt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Predators are quite good at targeting and preying on churches because churchgoers are generally easy, trusting targets. Unfortunately, religious organizations are less effective in stopping predators in the church. That we know. So, what can Christian churches do?<\/p>\n

Catholics have been dealing \u2013 or not dealing \u2013 with sexual abuse of children for decades. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is taking its time finding solutions to its scandal, which is more about men attacking women than child abuse. And the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is dealing with its own scandal, which is smaller but equally ugly.<\/p>\n

Sexual abuse seems rampant in the church. It makes one wonder how Christians can stop predators from preying on their churches without robbing the faith of its very essence.<\/p>\n

Are Churches Enabling Sex Abusers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n Are churches enablers? The question is akin to asking whether a rape victim is enabling the rapist. But hear me out\u2026 or rather read what an expert says.<\/p>\n Nate Brooks, a professor of counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, has a few answers about how sex abuse happens. In his article When Good Doctrine Enables Abuse<\/a><\/em>, he explains some of the situations that confront various denominations.<\/p>\n The Presbyterians<\/u><\/h4>\n***** ** When a Presbyterian friend once insisted to Brooks that her church\u2019s presbytery form of government makes abuse almost impossible, Brooks told her, \u201c\u2026this assumes that (in the case of complementarian denominations) an entirely male court of appeals is going to give a woman that they don\u2019t know a fair hearing when the accused is someone who has been their partner in ministry for years or decades.\u201d<\/p>\n ** Complementarian denominations believe that men and women have separate, complementary roles in the church. The Baptist denomination believes, for example, that men are the leaders in the church and at home, and women are followers.<\/p>\n ** \u201cIf clear-eyed impartiality and justice go hand in hand, the deck is rather stacked against the likelihood of justice being done in that kind of court of appeals,\u201d Brooks told his friend.<\/p>\n ** He further explained that her reasoning illustrated a common misperception, which is that \u201cpurity of doctrine will insulate a faith community from abuse and exploitation\u2026.<\/p>\n ** \u201cWhile good theology will serve to restrain wickedness better than bad doctrine, such a perspective fails to understand that oppressive individuals often leverage the very doctrines or practices we take pride in to enable their abuse,\u201d Brooks said.<\/p>\n ** \u201c\u2026a person whose heart reaches out to exert coercive control will use whatever ideological resources are available to perpetuate that abuse<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n ** *****The professor explained to his friend that her church\u2019s form of government may seem better at preventing sexual predators from going from church to church within the denomination. But with predators targeting and preying on churches, the Presbyterian model enables \u201cabusive behavior by virtue of affirming abusive ministers.\u201d<\/p>\n The Baptists<\/u><\/h4>\n******* ** Baptist churches, unlike Presbyterian churches, lack \u201cdenominational connectivity,\u201d which comes with its own set of problems, Brooks said. \u00a0This type of organization creates greater opportunities for serial predators who target churches to go from one church to another without being caught.\u00a0Thus, stopping predators in the church becomes even more difficult.<\/p>\n ** \u201cNeither system in itself offers protection from perpetual abuse, and each may be exploited \u2013 especially when the assumption is that the system itself offers insulation from abuse occurring within your Christian community,\u201d Brooks explained.<\/p>\n ** I would like to add that Baptist theology makes it easy for men to dominate women spiritually, psychologically and physically. It isn\u2019t a healthy \u2013 or in some cases safe \u2013 situation for the women.<\/p>\n ** *******Brooks believes that giving male pastors total control \u201cis a setup for disaster.\u201d It puts pastors in the position of dominating their churches, serving as spiritual protectors and having \u201cthe spiritual gift of words of knowledge from God.\u201d It\u2019s an intimidating combination.<\/p>\n Twisting Church Doctrine<\/strong><\/h3>\n********* ** Matthew 7:3 43 reminds us to stop focusing on the speck in someone else\u2019s eye and look at the beam in our own eye. And Brooks notes that people tend to overlook their own church\u2019s faults and expect \u201cmore nefarious play\u201d from churches whose theology is dissimilar to theirs.<\/p>\n ** \u201cIn truth, practically any doctrine or doctrinal emphasis can be twisted to give warrant to abuse<\/strong>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n ** *********Brooks explained:<\/p>\n \nFocusing on original sin undermines people\u2019s self-confidence, which may make them think they\u2019re imagining things when they\u2019re actually being victimized by an abuser.<\/li>\nFocusing on redemption, grace and forgiveness may suggest that people should leave their pasts behind if God has truly forgiven them. (My belief is that being raped isn\u2019t the victim\u2019s sin. Hence, they don\u2019t need forgiveness. And suppressing their feelings about abuses isn\u2019t healthy.)<\/li>\nFocusing on church membership may lead to manipulation and control by a powerful church leader.<\/li>\nFocusing on God\u2019s sovereignty may lead people to think their abuse is God\u2019s will.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n********* ** A church\u2019s doctrine doesn\u2019t reduce or eliminate abuse, Brooks said. When abusers prey on churches, they can use doctrine to their advantage, which makes stopping predators in the church more difficult.<\/p>\n ** *********Church leaders \u201cdo well to equally help our people recognize the way our good doctrine may be turned on its head and used for destructive ends.\u201d<\/p>\n Stopping Predators in the Church<\/strong><\/h3>\n*********** ** Churches need to prepare for the possibility that a convicted sex offender may return to or join their church, according to the United Methodist Church. Preparations should include meetings of the church council and others to develop a plan of action in case it happens.<\/p>\n ** ***********Should a convicted sex offender start attending the church, the church community and the offender should negotiate a covenant that includes agreements on several important points such as\u2026.<\/p>\n \nThe offender\u2019s participation in professional counseling for as long as he attends the church<\/li>\nThe use of adult \u201cpartners\u201d to escort the offender when he is on church property or takes part in church activities<\/li>\nThe designation of all areas that are off limits to the offender<\/li>\nRestrictions on leadership roles<\/li>\nA ban that prevents the offender from having any church role that includes contact with youth or children<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n*********** ** ***********Ruth Everhart, a Presbyterian pastor, author, Christian feminist and sexual assault survivor, said it\u2019s time \u201cto rectify the power imbalances in church and society. It\u2019s time to do justice.\u201d<\/p>\n She offered\u00a0seven ways<\/a> you and your church can address sexual abuse:<\/p>\n \nBe more honest in telling your own story<\/u>: Tiptoeing around sexual misconduct and abuse isn\u2019t helpful or healthy, Everhart said. It tends to foster harmful patterns of avoidance, distrust, blame and bullying.<\/li>\nBe careful about what you say<\/u>. Vague phrases such as \u201cinappropriate touching\u201d often hide the ugly realities of abuse. Instead of saying an abuse victim \u201chad sex\u201d with her abuser, say the victim \u201cwas raped.\u201d<\/li>\nPromote resources for victims<\/u>. Post abuse hotline numbers in bathrooms, and prominently display resources for victims in the church library. Observe Sexual Assault Awareness month in April or Domestic Violence Awareness month in October and advertise small groups that help victims and survivors, she said.<\/li>\nMove past talk therapy<\/u> and provide victims with access to trauma-informed care. Educate yourself and find qualified health providers that you can recommend.<\/li>\nInvolve the entire congregation<\/u> in your efforts. Create core values around your church\u2019s response to sex abuse such as caring for vulnerable people and talking about \u201cunspeakable\u201d things. Draw on resources within your denomination. Hold community meetings. Create small groups where people can speak freely about abuse, Everhart added.<\/li>\nConsider stopping predators in the church by creating a protection policy<\/u> that involves training your church staff. Make sure the staff knows steps they should take when they suspect abuse is occurring, such as calling the police.<\/li>\nUse your church\u2019s resources<\/u>, including scripture, to help abuse survivors. Pastors may want to address sexual abuse in sermons and sponsor Bible studies, for example.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n*********** ** ***********\u201cGrappling with abuse need not destroy faith, but it can enrich and deepen it. As the angels remind us mortals, \u2018do not fear,\u2019\u201d Everhart said.<\/p>\n Another resource is the nonprofit Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)<\/a>, which offers a helpline, hotline and programs on preventing sexual assault, helping survivors and bringing perpetrators to justice through public education, public policy and other services.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Predators are quite good at targeting and preying on churches because churchgoers are generally easy, trusting targets. Unfortunately, religious organizations are less effective in stopping predators in the church. That we know. So, what can Christian churches do? Catholics have been dealing \u2013 or not dealing \u2013 with sexual abuse of children for decades. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4662,"featured_media":5475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1833],"tags":[1845,1848,1839,1836,1842],"class_list":["post-5472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-abuse-in-churches","tag-advice-on-stopping-sexual-abusers","tag-sexual-abuse-at-church","tag-sexual-abuse-victims","tag-sexual-predators-in-churches","tag-stopping-sexual-predators"],"yoast_head":"\nLet Us Prey: Stopping Predators in the Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Churches are easy targets for sexual abusers. 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