Resources on Sexual Abuse

Over the past year, Southern Baptists have been addressing sexual abuse in the church. It is good and crucial for us to engage this issue and provide training for those who volunteer in our church programs. At the same time,... Continue...

Churches should be a refuge for those who have experienced abuse. But, too often, survivors haven't found the protection they deserve and the care they need from the church.  Although a strong and responsive church community can and should be... Continue...

Conversations about sexual abuse are delicate dances around landmines of shame and traumatic memories. Generally, we tease apart abuse only in the raw and protected atmosphere of a therapist’s office. Bound up by shame and humiliation, fear of retaliation, and... Continue...

The SBC Sexual Abuse Advisory Group (SAAG) has continued to work diligently throughout the summer. As SBC President J.D. Greear said at the 2019 annual meeting, “Our efforts on abuse don’t end here in Birmingham. This is just the beginning of... Continue...

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 13, 2019—More than 40 abuse survivors, experts, pastors and abuse prevention advocates will address participants at the ERLC’s fifth annual National Conference: “Caring Well: Equipping the Church to Confront the Abuse Crisis,” Oct. 3-5 at the Gaylord Texan in... Continue...

I will never forget having to explain the Sandy Hook shooting to my oldest son. I had stayed home from the office that day because I was sick. From the time I woke up that morning, I watched in horror... Continue...

One of the most disturbing revelations from the #MeToo movement was the realization that these horrific events weren’t only happening in Hollywood but also under steeples and in churches. The Houston Chronicle conducted an investigation within Southern Baptist congregations, in... Continue...

As church leadership learns about abuse and begins to formulate policies, there is more work to be done—the church must be prepared to respond appropriately to disclosures of abuse in a loving, Christ-honoring way. Abuse of children is a sin... Continue...

Child predators are looking for opportunities to gain trust in order to embed themselves into relationships and communities. Within these relationships, they are looking for opportunities to abuse children and youth. This type of offender uses relationships, positions of authority,... Continue...

Abuse has, tragically, been a part of the story of more people than we dared imagine. And the devastating truth is that much of this abuse has happened within the church, by those who proclaim God’s name.  Jenn Greenberg is... Continue...