What is your church doing to protect its congregation

[Zoii]

In 2017 the same evils continue seemingly undetected or responded to by the church of all denominations. The church is a place of trust - particularly for the vulnerable.

What is your church doing to prevent or assist victims of sexual abuse or domestic abuse.

Do you know what your church would do if it was aware or suspected sexual or domestic misconduct among it leadership or congregation. Does your church have a formal policy/plan concerning this and are all church leaders familiar and trained in such matters.

Does your church vet who may work with children, and are you aware of its processes.
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Or do you believe that this sort of things just doesnt happen in YOUR church.



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[SnowyMacie]

My parish, in according with Episcopal Church policy, has a very strict and formalized screening process including background and reference checks in order to work with children and youth.

 

[Zoii]

My parish, in according with Episcopal Church policy, has a very strict and formalized screening process including background and reference checks in order to work with children and youth.

Does it have a formal process if a woman states she is being assaulted at home, or if a child states theres been sexual misconduct within the church? How does your church respond to those things.

 

[Dave-W]

Or do you believe that this sort of things just doesnt happen in YOUR church.

Unfortunately Zoii, it can happen anywhere.

There have been several recent cases in this area of aids and workers in public schools having sexual liberties with children. And they have pretty stringent vetting in place. But somehow those creeps got thru anyway.

HIV positive ex-school aide accused of sexually assaulting boys, investigators say

Prince George's Co. teacher, coach charged with child porn

Va. middle school teacher charged with child porn

In these cases, the school children were being used to film the porn.

 

[Zoii]

Unfortunately Zoii, it can happen anywhere.

There have been several recent cases in this area of aids and workers in public schools having sexual liberties with children. And they have pretty stringent vetting in place. But somehow those creeps got thru anyway.

HIV positive ex-school aide accused of sexually assaulting boys, investigators say

Prince George's Co. teacher, coach charged with child porn

Va. middle school teacher charged with child porn

In these cases, the school children were being used to film the porn.

Dave yes I know you're right. But with so much media attention on institutional failures on this, particularly churches of all denominations, have we learnt the lessons and actually put recommended policies and guidelines in place and is the leadership trained accordingly.

 

[Dave-W]

have we learnt the lessons and actually put recommended policies and guidelines in place and is the leadership trained accordingly.

I would say in the vast majority of cases, sadly no.

 

[tryintogrow]

Churches are supposed to run background checks before you can work with children in ministry. I remember in the past having to submit my SSN and DOB so my church could background check me. That was happening 10 and 12 years ago. Most responsible churches have safeguards. As for how to handle complaints, it's a reflection of the pastor's leadership overall. If you'd feel scared to complain to your pastor about anything, you'd feel scared to complain about sexual assault.

One minute, we are told that our churches should be open and tolerant toward "sinners" so that they can be more engaged. Churches are condemned if they dare to use any discipline against wicked people in their ranks. But the next minute, when a sinner in the church does something bad, the church is to blame for tolerating sin.

 

[GeorgeJ]

What is your church doing to protect its congregation

 

[Tolworth John]

If you are concerned ask the minister about the churches policy and how would they deal with a complaint against the minister?
This is the key element as all to often a child has reported abuse but the abuser is believed and no investigation is carried out.

If there is no policy, try asking about financial openness if this also is not there leave.

 

[HereIStand]

Years ago, this happened in a church that I know of, and has was swept under the rug, or handled in-house. This can happen in a church, or in a secular setting, as in the Penn State abuse case. In the age if the Internet and everyone having a cell phone, it's very difficult to hide abuse. It should be reported to law enforcement.

 

[SnowyMacie]

Does it have a formal process if a woman states she is being assaulted at home, or if a child states theres been sexual misconduct within the church? How does your church respond to those things.

For the first one, I'm not aware of any formal process or procedures. For the latter, yes there is.

 

[Zoii]

One of the issues is that those abused were not offered appropriate support including psychological and even financial. The response from churches even in the recent past has been limited underscored by a need to protect itself from litigation. To do this well the leadership of the church need to be appropriately trained.

It also has to be recognized that in the first instance those accused also need a mechanism of support either because they ARE guilty, or they are falsely accused. How does the church reconcile the support of accused and accuser.

 

[Sketcher]

My church has a process for becoming a volunteer where you may be working with children. I would be highly surprised if there wasn't a process for reporting abuse, I'm just not familiar with it.