New Gospel Outreach Church knowingly hired a convicted sex offender as their senior pastor, but they are not alone. pastor!  Many churches and faith communities are increasingly faced with decisions related to sex offenders and disclosures of sexual abuse. 

The Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) has adopted Overture 6. Boz Tchividjian explains what this means for abuse prevention in PCA churches.

If child molesters depend upon our ignorance in order to hurt little ones, what steps can the faith community take to eliminate the edge and make sure that they don’t succeed?  

Recently, a survivor shared an incredibly moving letter she wrote to Jesus.  She gave us permission to share this letter with our readers.

The on-the-job training of pastors and other faith leaders in preventing and responding to child sexual abuse isn’t working—it is dangerous and all too often has devastating consequences. GRACE is addressing these shortcomings with exciting new services.

Nothing is safe when Aslan is on the move. But rest assured, that is good news. As stated best by Mr. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when describing Aslan: “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course He isn’t safe, but He’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” 

Churches should be some of the safest and most welcoming communities for those who have suffered from sexual abuse. Here are seven ways that can help transform our churches into some of the safest and most welcoming communities for survivors of abuse.

The protection of the vulnerable is not solely the responsibility of leadership. Here are five practical steps anyone can take that will make a significant difference in the lives of little ones in our faith communities.

Many offenders within faith communities use similar methods to perpetrate and silence abuse. These methods focus on the exploitation of common characteristics of faith communities.

Boz Tchividjian reflects on the similarities survivors of abuse have with Jesus and His sufferings.

As we take time to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month, Christians must acknowledge that there are still many dark places inside the Church. Reflecting Jesus means shining a light on those dark places.

Boz Tchividjian interviews Jamie Prater, an abuse survivor from Jesus People U.S.A. who shares his work on a documentary No Place To Call Home, which examines JPUSA’s culture of abuse and cover-up.

Lessons from acclaimed film King of Devil’s Island on how communities marginalize the abused.

Boz Tchividjian profiles a personal friend, survivor, and advocate for the abused, Michael Reagan.

A silent church will always protect perpetrators over God’s little ones.  A silent church will always abandon the very ones God holds precious.  In fact, a silent church is no church at all. God was certainly not silent in the face of evil, neither should we.

We should all understand one important truth: child sexual abuse is both a sin and a serious crime—a crie that should always be reported.

An unintended result of an ill-advised church video reveals five common self-serving responses by sex offenders in the Church.

In the past years, most of us have become increasingly aware of how common it is for pastors and others within faith communities to allow known or suspected sex offenders to have access to children.  Sometimes this is fueled by ignorance, and other times it is fueled by a desire to place institutional “needs” over the value of a child’s soul.