July 18, 2017
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Healthy Boundaries and the Billy Graham Rule
How can church leaders maintain appropriate boundaries that ensure safety, without discriminating or feeding into sexism or legalism?
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June 14, 2017
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How to Deal With Abuse of My Children by Other Family Members?
This piece, by counselor Krispin Mayfield and originally published by Off the Page (here), offers compassionate guidance for families reeling after the disclosure of abuse within their family.
May 1, 2017
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Invite Safe Church Ministry to Your Next Classis Meeting
Safe Church Ministry only works when we ALL work together. Here are some practical ways you can include Safe Church at your next classis meeting.
April 11, 2017
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You Are Safe Here
Participating in Assault Awareness Month is not nearly as difficult or uncomfortable as many assume. How will your church make survivors feel safe this month?
February 21, 2017
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Supporting New Beginnings
A truly safe church environment is one where the congregation is aware of the many ways in which abuse is normalized in both secular and Christian cultures and is prepared to help survivors.
December 6, 2016
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Domestic Violence—Knowing the Facts, Confronting the Myths
How many lives could be changed if the church talked as openly about abuse as any other chronic and life-threatening issues their congregants faced?
November 8, 2016
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Broken Boundaries and Nervous Laughter
A moving firsthand account of the impact of habitual sexual harassment on women.
October 18, 2016
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Trump, Assault, and Standing Up for Women
This is a painful election that is in many ways dividing this country and the church. But please, when it comes to assault against women, let’s not be divided.
September 20, 2016
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Recognizing and Resisting Spiritual Abuse
Spiritual abuse is difficult to talk about because often those who spiritually abuse have sincerely held intentions. But as Jesus clearly saw, the cost of a faith that is driven by fear and legalism is too high for us to ignore.
August 23, 2016
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Fighting for Justice: Lessons From the Struggle Against Abuse in Sports
During the Rio Olympics, a disappointing report was unveiled, detailing years of USA Gymnastics ignoring allegations of sexual abuse of gymnasts by coaches. The report is a stark reminder that fighting for justice is never an easy task.
July 5, 2016
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Combating the Fear of False Allegations
How can the church do justice to the reality of abuse—which means we need to hear more allegations, not fewer—without being controlled by a fear of false allegations?
May 31, 2016
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“But It Wasn’t That Bad”: Confronting Rationalization and Denial
When we tolerate subtle abuses of power on a daily basis, drawing a line in the sand once a situation has gotten out of control becomes incredibly difficult, almost impossible.
April 26, 2016
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Rethinking Forgiveness
“You will never fully heal until you forgive,” is a phrase I’ve heard more times than I care to acknowledge. Is it possible that modern ideas about forgiveness do more harm than good?
April 12, 2016
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Finding Healing Through Communities of Compassion
The most powerful agent for hope, healing and justice for abuse survivors in the church is something both simple and surprisingly elusive: people of compassion.
March 15, 2016
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Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife
In her recent book Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife, Ruth Tucker offers a compelling and harrowing account of the ways in which unchallenged assumptions about gender hierarchy can create a climate of enabling abuse within the church.
February 23, 2016
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When Is It "OK" to Leave?
When is it the right decision to leave an abusive marriage? This anonymous author shares her painful journey of wrestling with the decision to leave an emotionally abusive marriage.
February 10, 2016
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Bringing the “Cosby Effect” into the Church: Encouraging Victims to Report Abuse
The “Cosby effect” is a sober reminder to churches to do whatever possible in their power to make it very clear to their congregations that they desire abuse to be reported.
January 28, 2016
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When CRC Spiritual Authorities Abuse: Revisiting an Old Problem
Fully confronting abuse by spiritual leaders in the CRC is a necessary first step to a safe church: if we cannot hold accountable even those entrusted with the souls of the church, called to be “blameless” how can we effectively address other forms of abuse?
January 12, 2016
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Why Every Church Leader Should Watch Spotlight
The film Spotlight reminds the church it will take the committed effort and support of an entire community to both support abuse survivors and prevent abuse.
December 22, 2015
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Reclaiming Christmas for Abuse Survivors (Second Part): Truth-Telling and Tradition Making
Too often we talk about Christmas with the assumptions of privilege, leaving people who are not in an emotionally or financially stable situation feeling ashamed and isolated.
December 1, 2015
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Reclaiming Christmas for Abuse Survivors (Part 1): Leaning into Suffering
What does Christmas mean to abuse survivors? And how can we celebrate the joy of Christmas as a community in light of the suffering of our world?
November 17, 2015
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Consent: Not That Complicated
In both secular and Christian cultures, the basic right to say no at any time confuses people. A recent video comparing consent to offering someone a cup of tea shows it's not that complicated.
October 27, 2015
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Deceived: How the Reformed View of Sin Impacts Abuse Prevention
One of the most pressing issues today for the churches credibility is its naivete when it comes to abusers. But what strengths does the church have to fight such naivete?
August 29, 2015
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Abuse Awareness Sunday
I can still remember the hurt and anger in her words as she explained why the abuse she endured from her father as a child has made returning to the church impossible for her.
August 8, 2015
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Response to Duggar Scandal
The publicness of the Duggars' lives has created space for a wider conversation about abuse. What will it take to move the church to speak more openly and courageously about abuse?