When the scandal surrounding influential Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein broke, the societal response was largely one of shock. How could this have gone on for so long? Why did so many victims stay silent? As more details emerge, it’s become clear that victims of sexual abuse are often trapped in a cycle of shame, confusion, and fear that keeps them silent.
Sadly, this same pattern of abuse and victim-silencing can happen in the church as well, and just like with the Weinstein scandal, it can go unnoticed for years. In 2007, the three largest insurers of churches and Christian non-profits reported 260 cases of sexual abuse. In the past five years, multiple influential evangelical institutions—from Bill Gothard, to Sovereign Grace Ministries, to Bob Jones University—have come under fire for either directly sexually abusing women or shaming the victims of abuse into silence.
These stories are horrifying to pastors and leaders in evangelical churches, precisely because they seem so unthinkable. They lead to a vitally important question: How can we create churches that don’t allow sexual abuse or victim-shaming to happen? The good news is, there are ways to help prevent abuse and respond effectively and it starts with hearing and learning from the stories of abuse victims. Read More
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