There has been much discussion about what a church should do when confronted with an abuser in its midst. Such a question cannot begin to be adequately or wisely answered unless we first grasp the truth of what it means to be an abuser of the vulnerable.

While it is unfortunate there are not flashing lights or hazard signs in our church, there are warnings that communities can heed when navigating issues around known offenders.  

GRACE Board Member, Laura Thien, and Reverend Carrie Walker Nettles explain how the words we use can unintentionally be sources of great injury for the survivors of abuse within our faith communities.

It's fair to say that if society as a whole is pretty clueless about rape and sexual assault, men and boys are trebly so. Hardly any deal with how to avoid becoming a victim of it—and none at all on what to do, or how to feel, if one actually does.

A GRACE Board Member shares a few suggestions for consideration for those who struggle with holiday-related traumas.

It is not a question of if, but when, tragedy will strike your congregation. Are you prepared for it?

In this guest post, we are taught the best protection for our children is through recognition of the danger.

Many reasons exist why people fail to intervene in abuse situations. Here are a few of them.

Like King David, many within the church respond with a righteous anger when hearing about sexual abuse but fail to respond correctly.

A rarely addressed form of trauma from sexual abuse is discussed: the bitter upending of one’s faith.

Boz Tchividjian reflects on one of Satan’s most successful tactics: how abuse pushes children away from God.

Dr. Diane Langberg examines the culture of systems and why Christians protect churches instead of victims.

A culture of ministry that is centered upon the institution will go to great lengths to protect its reputation, compromising the value and protection of the vulnerable.

GRACE Board Member Victor Vieth shares strategies for developing effective policies for preventing child maltreatment.

Four reasons faith organizations should resist investigating allegations before reporting to authorities.

Dr. Diane Langberg explains how trauma affects a victim’s relationship with God.

Examining the communal pressures that discourage seeing and responding to abuse correctly.

Victor Vieth examines what happens while investigating child maltreatment sanctioned or condoned by a religious leader.