When men, mostly clergy, start opining on sex abuse in churches, almost always the discussion goes in a straight line to false accusations, presumably because we have all had friends or colleagues who were supposedly falsely accused and they suffered because of it. This flips the matter on it’s head and presumes the low single digit percentages of those falsely accused should be our concern rather than the 90+ percent of those who were abused. This may not be the intended result but it looks like the actual result.
Happens every time there is a discussion of the subject dominated by men, especially ministers.
The estimable Adam Blosser takes one aspect of the issue and offers it for discussion and reaction here. The ensuing discussion may have some value but I’d guess that it is not encouraging to victims of abuse coming forward with disclosure about their abuse.
Maybe it’s time to shut up and learn some things.
The ERLC has made the online training free. You can access it here. I gave a brief review of that training back in June when it was released. The online course has twelve lessons and totals about five hours of viewing. It can be done it small segments. You don’t have to set aside most of a day to go through it.
At times, discussion here sounds like a typical pastor’s conference where the brethren all have a story, an opinion, and there are some who never tire of displaying their ignorance. We can do better. Only a couple of women participate in this. So far as I am aware, there are no abuse victims who have commented although I’d guess that some have read.
It would be helpful to read some of the SBC critics and through them the stories of victims, how they were ignored, disbelieved, and abused again by clergy when they came forward. It’s not pleasant reading. Try Wartburg Watch for this.
But, let’s have a few people who do more than pool their ignorance. The CaringWell resource is free. There’s no excuse for not taking the time to get better educated on this. Victims have voices there. View CaringWell, then discuss.
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Is it lost on anyone who reads this that our system of autonomy is on ugly display? That is, no one can be required to take this or any other training. The “SBC” cannot require this or anything else of those whom SBC churches ordain to the ministry. Thankfully, our seminaries and mission boards do have these materials as training requirements prior to graduation or appointment.
For a shorter course, just an awareness training, try MinistrySafe. This requires that the church sign on for a fee to the MinistrySafe system. That initial training is under two hours and covers believing the victim and other aspects of what is necessary to keep your church or ministry safe. My church uses this and all volunteers and staff have to complete the awareness training.
According to MS, there are 60 million sex abuse survivors.
“At times, discussion here sounds like a typical pastor’s conference where the brethren all have a story, an opinion, and there are some who never tire of displaying their ignorance.”
…Or their arrogance, sense of superiority and smug derision of others.
Yep.
I am a old fashioned, traditional, SBC member. I am conservative in political and social issues. I cannot understand how anyone could object to this type of resource and the fact this issue is being addressed. It is simple to this simple person, as stated somewhere yesterday the context should be the victim reporting abuse to someone in the church should be take seriously and a search for the truth started. In the meantime the proper civil authorities should be alert to pursue a criminal investigation if they deem it worthy of investigation. Why would anyone object to this and the training offered for guidance? I would also like to add , thought one is too many and it deserves serious and intense public awareness the number of abuse reported is in the context and number of the SBC relatively small. I also know there are many times the abuse was not reported or buried by a culture in a local church. I think this is an issue that all can rally around if we stick to the issue of helping those suffering abuse. The church should be the natural safe haven for those in a terrible situation, not in the legal sense, that is the government sector but in the compassionate, caring and loving sector. I just honestly do not get the grounds to object to the training and awareness offered. I am an advocate for transparency and honesty at all levels. Could I be turning into a liberal, social justice warrior, I think not. The only term I can think of is that support of the training and the issue being taken seriously is a no brainer.
I think folks just like to argue. How about you? Have you taken time to view the online course? I learned some things I didn’t know.
If you’re asking me… Yes.
In Fact several people in our church are already going through it and eventually all of our teachers and leadership will go through it.
Super.
I get a little frustrated at times but I can count on you to actually read stuff and make cogent comments. Much appreciated. BTW, did you do the online CW training? Just curious.
I appreciate MS in that they teach how to stop sexual child abuse. They teach what to look for and actions to be done to stop children being abused. They do this well.
I have not gone through the entire training. But I have viewed the first couple of sessions and found them to be full of very good information. My only observation/criticism would be concerning the comprehensive nature of the training. It addresses all kinds of abuse vs. Child sexual abuse which is the contemporary issue that motivated this response. To me this kind of dilutes the effectiveness of the training to deal with its primary issue. The fact that a workbook is available for next to nothing ($2.50) is a wonderful plus! State Conventions or Associations should consider encouraging churches take the training by mailing a workbook one to EVERY church.
I am only on Lesson Five of the Care Well, and believe this to be so good. I am really impressed with it.