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Faith-based
organizations need sexual abuse prevention policies
By Melissa Martin
The tragic story of the rape of Tamar, a young royal princess, sexually
violated by her half-brother, and then betrayed by her powerful father,
King David, can be found in the Old Testament. The Bible neither covers
up nor ignores sexual assault.
Around 25 years ago, when I practiced as a licensed and ordained
minister, I listened as a speaker and former pastor related a
gut-wrenching story that happened in his Baptist Church in Florida. Two
teenage boys (brothers) volunteered to help in Sunday school and
children’s church. Allegedly, they sexually molested several children
when they took them to the church bathroom. Members of the church were
so devastated; they closed the church doors and put it up for sale.
Around this same time, a youth leader, in the same denomination where I
was a former member, went to prison for having sexual relations with a
minor (a girl in his youth group).
According to the Ohio Revised Code, “2907.04 Unlawful sexual conduct
with minor. (A) No person who is eighteen years of age or older shall
engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the
offender, when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of
age or older but less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is
reckless in that regard. (B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of
unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.”www.codes.ohio.gov/orc/2907.04.
These crimes could have happened in any faith-based organization that
did not have a sexual abuse prevention policy in prior years. But at
that time, I heard the same statement of denial over and over again
from church leaders. “Our church doesn’t have any of those kinds of
people.” Pedophiles count on taboo talk in scared places.
Fast-forward to 2018. Every church, temple, synagogue, and faith-based
organization no matter how big or small, needs a policy on the
prevention of sexual abuse and training for all paid employees and all
volunteers. This includes pastors, youth leaders, deacons, Sunday
school teachers, board members, musicians, secretaries, janitors, and
maintenance staff. Sexual predators come in all shapes and sizes.
Adults who set in the pews need to inquire about sexual abuse
prevention and intervention policies in their places of worship. And
parents need to talk to children and teens about body boundaries in
reference to authority figures.
I suggest the following resources:
The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by
Basyle Tchividjian and Shira Berkovits. “The book helps church leaders
identify different types of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional,
spiritual), learn about state laws and institute safeguards, such as
background checks for employees. It guides churches on how to draft a
protocol for responding to allegations of abuse and how to support
victims.” This book can be purchased from Amazon.com.
Church Board Guide to a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy can be
purchased for $19.95. “Church leaders and boards can take relatively
simple, yet effective steps to reduce the likelihood of child sexual
abuse. Implementing a preventive program can provide a safe and secure
environment for the children to whom your church has been entrusted,
and help reduce the legal risk and liability.”
www.store.churchlawtodaystore.com/.
I would like to encourage every church, temple, synagogue, and
faith-based organization in America to implement a sexual abuse
prevention program with ongoing training for paid employees,
volunteers, and members of the congregation. The purpose is not to
provoke panic, but to provide educational information for prevention
and intervention.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D, is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist.
She resides in Southern Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
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