The GRACE Awakening: Reckoning with Abuse in the Church

The GRACE Awakening: Reckoning with Abuse in the Church explores the complex and often hidden dynamics of abuse and power within the church. Join the GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) team as we tackle tough questions and interview leading experts, journalists, and thinkers to dissect and navigate systemic issues and recurring patterns of harm in Christian contexts.

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Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 6: Trauma-Informed Faith—Creating Physical, Emotional, & Spiritual Safety

Join Robert, Hannah and Zane as they discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with David Pittman and past-Robert about the various dimensions of safety and how we can create safer environments and cultures in faith communities. Plus, in honor of Robert listening to himself in an old interview, we talk time-travel, practical safety measures, and wrestling through the fallout of spiritual harm.

Guests: David Pittman & Robert Peters.

Interviewer: Pete Singer.

Join Robert, Hannah and Zane as they discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with David Pittman and past-Robert about the various dimensions of safety and how we can create safer environments and cultures in faith communities. Plus, in honor of Robert listening to himself in an old interview, we talk time-travel, practical safety measures, and wrestling through the fallout of spiritual harm.

Resources Mentioned:

If you find these conversations and resources helpful, please consider supporting GRACE!

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

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Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 5: Toxic Church—Is There Hope for the Institution of the Church?

In this episode, we have a NEW interview with speaker, author, and literature professor Dr. Karen Swallow Prior around post-institutionalism, the loss of virtue in leadership, and whether the failure of the Westernized Church spells out the death of Christianity or an opportunity for reformation. Plus, Robert, Hannah, and Zane discuss classic literature, the difference between a mob and a movement, and how a new Star Wars show demonstrates various dimensions of moral courage when it comes to staying or leaving a toxic system.

Guest: Karen Swallow Prior

In this episode, we have a NEW interview with speaker, author, and literature professor Dr. Karen Swallow Prior around post-institutionalism, the loss of virtue in leadership, and whether the failure of the Westernized Church spells out the death of Christianity or an opportunity for reformation. Plus, Robert, Hannah, and Zane discuss classic literature, the difference between a mob and a movement, and how a new Star Wars show demonstrates various dimensions of moral courage when it comes to staying or leaving a toxic system.

Resources Mentioned:

If you find these conversations and resources helpful, please consider supporting GRACE!

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

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Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 4: Toxic Church—I’m Trapped in an Abusive System… Now What?

Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with our former Executive Director, Boz Tchividijian, and author Scot McKnight, about finding peace despite being caught in a toxic church system. In addition, the team tackles common fears that keep people trapped in toxic church systems, the cost of leaving, and grassroots methods of cultural change.

Guest: Scot McKnight.

Interviewer: Boz Tchividjian.

Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with our former Executive Director, Boz Tchividijian, and author Scot McKnight, about finding peace despite being caught in a toxic church system. In addition, the team tackles common fears that keep people trapped in toxic church systems, the cost of leaving, and grassroots methods of cultural change.

Resources Mentioned:

If you find these conversations and resources helpful, please consider supporting GRACE!

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Read More
Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 3: Toxic Church—Understanding the Cycle of Abuse in Church Systems

In this episode, Robert, Zane, and Hannah discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat about how toxic church systems are formed and maintained. Plus, the small cultural norms we find bothersome, the culpability of leaders in culture formation, and three stages of reckoning with toxic church systems.

Guests: Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat.

Interviewer: Pete Singer

In this episode, Robert, Zane, and Hannah discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat about how toxic church systems are formed and maintained. Plus, the small cultural norms we find bothersome, the culpability of leaders in culture formation, and three stages of reckoning with toxic church systems.

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Read More
Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 2: Toxic Church—What is Power and How is it Abused in Faith Settings?

Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they listen to and break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Dr. Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe about what power is, the forms it takes, and how it can be misused in faith settings. Plus, the wisdom (or lack thereof) of bringing back Dire Wolves, the temptation to take shortcuts to power, and prioritizing legal obligations versus caring for the vulnerable.

Guests: Diane Langberg & Phil Monroe.

Interviewer: Pete Singer.

Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they listen to and break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Dr. Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe about what power is, the forms it takes, and how it can be misused in faith settings. Plus, the wisdom (or lack thereof) of bringing back Dire Wolves, the temptation to take shortcuts to power, and prioritizing legal obligations versus caring for the vulnerable.

Resources Mentioned:

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Read More
Hannah Fordice Hannah Fordice

Ep 1: Welcome to The GRACE Awakening

Welcome to The GRACE Awakening Podcast! Get to know the GRACE team (including Robert Peters, Zane Hart, and Hannah Fordice) and why a podcast may just be the right place to have complex conversations around reckoning with abuse in the Church today.

Welcome to The GRACE Awakening Podcast! Get to know the GRACE team (including Robert Peters, Zane Hart, and Hannah Fordice) and why a podcast may just be the right place to have complex conversations around reckoning with abuse in the Church today.

Read More