WASH LINE - Fall 1999

By Peggy Harris, W.A.S.H. Board Chair
Women and Men Against Sexual Harassment and Other Abuses
www.tagnet.org/wash

Women and Men against Sexual Harassment and Other Abuses (W.A.S.H.) is a taskforce which was formed at the 1992 Conference of the Association of Adventist Women (AAW) to address the issue of abuse in the Adventist Church. We have developed an extensive list of books, films, and videos on the subject of abuse and treatment and information has been made available to women's ministry groups, church groups and interested persons upon request.

We have also obtained policy statements on abuse and sexual harassment and we continue to seek others. If your conference has a policy statement, please send it to us. Several of our board members have given seminars for various church groups. At the 1993 AAW Conference we held three seminars on abuse and submitted recommendations from our W.A.S.H. Board to AAW, the North American Division, The General Conference, Adventist Review and SDA Church members. These recommendations include definitions of abuse.

The Hummingbird was chosen as the symbol for W.A.S.H. because it is a small, delicate, and fragile creature. Its powerful wings enable it to fly up, down, forward, sideways and backward. Those who have suffered sexual, physical, or mental abuse or harassment are often emotionally delicate and fragile beings, however they have had to become flexible and strong in order to function adequately in life. Although those of us who have never suffered any type of abuse may have difficulty understanding the devastation it causes; we can be protectors of these precious creations of God and assist in their healing and restoration.

The first Hummingbird Award was given to Glenn and Carol Munson, Oregon Conference Family Life Abuse Taskforce leaders for their outstanding efforts in addressing abuse through seminars and training sessions for pastors and other church leaders. This is the first local conference with staff addressing this critical issue, however, church members in several other local conferences are involved in similar efforts.

Our goal is to institute a Hummingbird Award for elementary and academy principals. When funded, this award would be presented to principals who are willing to safeguard their students with abuse prevention programs and education. There are now no such awards for principals. An award plaque would be presented to the principal as well as a monetary award for the principal and provide additional funds for education in abuse prevention for the school.

W.A.S.H. is dedicated to helping church members and leaders address the subject of abuse in the Adventist Church in a way that promotes healing and restoration for victims. If you have an interest in helping to fund our activities, have expertise in this area, or would like to obtain materials about W.A.S.H., send information or request to W.A.S.H. 4309 Sandy Spring Road, Burtonsville, MD 20866-1139. Donations may be sent to the same address, payable to W.A.S.H.

Peggy Harris, W.A.S.H. Board Chair

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:20 AM

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members and church leaders better understand the problems abuse brings and prevention methods.

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