RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ASSOCIATION OF ADVENTIST WOMEN

Re: Our response to physical and sexual abuse within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Whereas, the Association of Adventist Women realizes that we must acknowledge collectively and individually our neglect of the issue of sexual and physical abuse in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and
Whereas, we recognize that we must put a stop to this abuse that had affected too many generations of Seventh-day Adventists, and
Whereas, victims have all too often been damaged repeatedly because there has been no definitive action to protect our children and members from this abuse, and
Whereas, both victims and perpetrators need treatment, and
Whereas, it is imperative to focus on prevention and treatment at the local conference level, therefore

IT IS RECOMMENDED that the Association of Adventist Women actively participate with church leadership in acknowledging to victims the fact that abuse has not been dealt with properly before, bringing healing into their lives, and developing prevention strategies for the future.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION (NAD)

Re: Physical and sexual abuse within the NAD of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Whereas, the Seventh-day Adventist Church's global mission is to contact people who have not been reached before with the gospel, and an additional goal of the NAD is to regain former members, and
Whereas, the church recognizes a responsibility to provide a safe place for children and members to be free from sexual, physical, and mental abuse, and
Whereas, the NAD has organized a Sexual Ethics Commission, therefore

IT IS RECOMMENDED that the NAD take a strong position against abuse and endeavor to prevent our church in North America from becoming a haven for abusers, thus attracting many former members who have been harmed by physical, mental, or sexual abuse; these goals will be accomplished by:
1. Utilizing a network of trained counselors through the Sexual Ethics Commission so that each union will have a list of resources available for their conferences.
2. Holding accountable perpetrators of abuse by strongly insisting that a known abuser be disfellowshipped. When a church employee is charged with sexual misconduct, it is imperative that proper testing be done by competent therapists which will help to establish guilt or innocence. When a church member is charged with sexual misconduct testing would be recommended to help determine guilt or innocence. An offender could apply for membership again when recommended corrective procedures have been followed, including acknowledging their wrong doing to the victim(s) and long term counselling for the abuser. An offender must continue to be monitored and must never work or be alone with children.
3. A firm statement by the NAD President that a strong stand will be taken against this abuse to be published in the Adventist Review and the union papers.
4. Affirming local conferences (such as Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, and Kentucky/Tennessee) that are leading out in abuse prevention through Family Life Ministries and professionally trained counselors, as well as encouraging other conferences to also provide similar education.
5. counselling pastors and church leaders to report abuse of a minor to state authorities as required by state law.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE

Re: Physical and sexual abuse within the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Whereas, the problem of abuse exists in all divisions of the church, and
Whereas, the global mission of the church is to contact people who have not been reached before with the gospel, and
Whereas, the church also wants to reclaim former members, and
Whereas, the church needs to be strong and filled with the Holy Spirit to finish the task here on earth and recognizes it's weakness and frailty and need of repentance, therefore

IT IS RECOMMENDED that the issue of abuse be addressed by the church's highest authority in order to bring about repentance and healing for perpetrators and victims, so that the church can become a hospitable place, reclaiming former members as well as bringing healing to members that have suffered harm. This can be accomplished by such means as:
1. A firm statement by the President, (joined by other leaders) that a strong stand will be taken against abuse, to be published in the Adventist Review, division, and union papers.
2. Providing guidelines for abuse prevention to all Divisions.
3. Affirming those Divisions that are addressing the problem of abuse within the church.
4. Encouraging church leadership worldwide to take steps to deal with existing cases of church members' abuse in appropriate ways.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE ADVENTIST REVIEW

Re: Physical and sexual abuse within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Whereas, the September 2, 1993 NAD edition of the Adventist Review devoted to articles about sexual misconduct within our church, presented outstanding coverage of this subject contributing significantly to an understanding of the issue, therefore

IT IS RECOMMENDED that articles on the subject of sexual, physical, and mental abuse, including prevention, be addressed in both the NAD and world editions of the Adventist Review on a quarterly basis.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH MEMBERS

Re: Physical and sexual abuse within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Whereas, only a few churches and conferences are actively dealing with the problem of abuse of members in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and
Whereas, members have been harmed by this vice by family, other church members, and church leaders who have told victims and their families to be silent and not to take action to stop the abuse, and
Whereas, we recognize that it is up to us as church members, working with church leadership to bring about a change in this destructive abuse within our midst, for WE ARE THE CHURCH, and
Whereas, we want to protect ourselves, our children and our grandchildren from being placed in an environment that may result in severe spiritual and emotional damage, and
Whereas, we want to experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and hasten our God's return to put an end to all sin so that lives harmed by sin can be fully restored in heaven, and
Whereas, we recognize that victims and their families now need to be able to come into the church and feel safe from further harm and to find healing from the damage they have experienced, therefore

IT IS RECOMMENDED that we, as members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, acknowledge the wrong that has been done to victims and their families by keeping silent and actively work with our church and conference leadership to stop offenders from continuing to damage children or adults. Our actions will include the following:
1. Apologizing and seeking forgiveness from known victims for our past silence, and in general to those victims who may be unknown.
2. Collectively working with church leadership in sponsoring and conducting training seminars for church leaders and members on the subject of abuse prevention.
3. Affirming our commitment as church members and conference leaders to this work of cleansing the church of this evil through the power of the Holy Spirit, which will prepare us for heaven.
4. Bringing healing and comfort to victims of abuse by showing acceptance and care, and sharing sources of help, such as organizations, books, and names of qualified counselors.
5. Bringing to the attention of offenders sources of help, such as organization, books, and names of qualified counselors.

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:26 AM

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