WASH LINE - Summer 2006

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

Happy New Year to all our readers.  We sincerely hope that in this New Year you will find peace and healing for yourself or your loved one.  So much has happened this past year with nature’s disasters and then there continues the personal disasters perpetrated by the evil one against God’s children.  Picking up the pieces and rebuilding a life is harder to do than rebuilding a destroyed building. 

Editorial - by Peggy Harris 
You are encouraged to make copies to share.

Does your church have a child protection policy in place?  One person commented that in her church when trying to get such a policy, she was just shouted down. 

In another church a committee designated by the church board, submitted a sample policy which after several revisions was approved by the Board of Elders but when it came before the Church Board it was voted not to accept the policy.  Some stated it would be impossible to get people to help in the divisions if such a policy was implemented.  In some children divisions there may be only one adult on duty which would make it impossible to shepherd small children to the restrooms if needed.  Even though the board was supplied with cassette tape furnished at no cost to the church about the reasons why a policy is mandatory this day and age, a policy is still not in effect.  This church has had several disasters with harm being done to children over the years by children leaders or attendees.   

What does it say when a church does not have in place a child protection policy?  It opens the door for predators to be active in that church.  Parents who attend will not have the peace of mind that those in a church with such a policy in effect will have.

If Pathfinders and Elementary Schools can have such policies in place in their organizations (these are mandatory now) why can’t a church take the necessary steps to protect the lambs in its care?

There are several sample policies in our W.A.S.H. web site that can be used by any church.  One conference sent a sample policy to all its churches with instructions to immediately implement a child protective policy in the local churches.  This should be the norm for all conferences.

When someone called a conference asking if their conference had such a policy they were told that it was unknown if they did or not but maybe the union conference did have one.  It seems it is common for each unit to pass the responsibility on to some higher organization.  However when a lawsuit is brought forward by parents of a harmed child it takes on the local church and up the whole church hierarchy. 

Why wait until a child is harmed before implementing a policy to protect our children?

Check out Resources available on the W.A.S.H. web.  We are continually adding resources and adding other materials on our web site.  If you have not checked it our recently be sure to do so.  Any materials on our web site may be printed off for use.  Also if you know of helpful books that might be added to our book list do let us know the book title, author and publisher.   

My Apologies to Victims of Abuse
By Peggy Harris

I want to express my sincere apologies for my church, its leaders and members, who have harmed children or adults.  Please accept my regret that you were ever treated unfairly, or submitted to emotional or spiritual abuse. 

Those who have been harmed as a child by sexual abuse, please know that your pain is not unnoticed by angels.  There is no way I can atone for your terrible hurt but I do know that it was not your fault.  You should not be made a victim twice: 1. by the perpetrator, 2. by the church in dealing or not dealing with it.

If you were harmed by sexual misconduct, again I apologize for the terrible wrong in the name of Christianity that you have suffered.  While God notices the harm you have experienced, we as church members need to support you emotionally in the rebuilding of your soul.  That takes time.  One who has experienced abuse feels the effects for a lifetime.  We cannot change that.  But we can let you know that you are not alone and that there is life worth living beyond the abuse.

While all denominations are dealing with the problem of abuse, this is no excuse for our denomination to let the problem slide and hope it goes away.  Those days are gone.  People are being held accountable for the wrong they have done.  As professing Christians in the world community we must look rather strange to the communities surrounding our church when abuse occurs and it becomes known that we did not take the proper precautions to stop it and prevent further abuse.  I ask your forgiveness on behalf of my church for this embarrassment.

There are those who are working (both lay members and church leaders) to hold accountable the ones who have committed these crimes to children or adults in a congregation.  That must become the norm and not continue as the rarity.

Have courage dear wounded spirit.  May you be given hope during the time of hopelessness.  You are needed in this church and your work is deeply appreciated by many of us.  Be comforted that mere people in the church cannot stop the blessing of the Holy Spirit in your life.  I affirm you in God’s call to the ministry that He has for you in this church.

May the Comforter be with you and lift you up and give you courage to continue in His service!  May you be fully restored in His grace!  Hopefully, there will be others who will take up this burden of seeking your forgiveness and thus encourage others to seek forgiveness including church leaders.  Why, it might even change the face of our whole church!

This page last updated on Monday September 04, 2006 01:07 PM

Disclaimer: We are not a counselling service.  We prepare materials to help church
members and church leaders better understand the problems abuse brings and prevention methods.

Designed and maintained by Megan Field      Space provided by