Your Church and Child Sexual Abuse (Weekend Reading)
There is very little more heartbreaking than reading a story about child sexual abuse. When that abuse happens in the church (and is does far more often than you might think), those stories are even more heartbreaking. God has a heart for kids, and to read stories of sexual abuse that happens in a place where kids should be safe is even more heartbreaking. Being in church can give you a false sense of security. As a parent, as someone who has volunteered in children’s ministry and someone who works with children who are particularly vulnerable because of family transition, the issue of keeping our kids safe is paramount in mind, and it should be in the church as well.
In his article, 11 Vital Steps to Minimize Risk of Child Sex Abuse in Your Church Thom Rainer explores 11 different things your church SHOULD BE DOING to help to minimize the risk of abuse in your church.
Questions for Further Reflection and Discussion
- How does your church measure up against the 11 measures laid out in the article?
- What is your churches policy is you suspect neglect or abuse?
- What is your churches policy on back ground checks? Is it followed?
- Does your church feel like a safe place?
- Do you let your own kids wander the halls of your church unsupervised?
