Shaping Families

Child Abuse and Neglect

“The church, unfortunately in my experience, is in denial about child abuse. They tell me, ‘We’re good people here, it doesn’t happen here,’ and yet I’m hearing from so many survivors and victims of abuse saying ‘Yes, it does happen here.’” —Jeanette Harder

Listen - Transcript - Study Guide

Potluck

Rebecca Thatcher Murcia

I very much appreciate Jeanette Harder’s call for support for vulnerable families and children. As a personal recipient of the kind of thoughtful organized support she is talking about, I can tell you that it is important. It does make a difference in helping families when they are under stress. But I also feel as though I need to strike a note of caution.

BOOK
Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect (Herald Press, 2010), Jeanette Harder, 2010. In the context of the Bible and faith, Let the Children Come helps individual Christians and faith communities learn about their role in ending child abuse and neglect.

WEBSITE
Dove’s Nest: Faith communities keeping children and youth safe. Its mission is to empower and equip faith communities to keep children and youth safe in their homes, churches, and communities. Links to resources at the website include worship guides, books, websites, policies of other groups and churches, much more.

VIDEO
Two-video set:
Bless Our Children: Preventing Sexual Abuse. DVD. Faith Trust Initiative, 1993.
Hear their Cries: Religious Responses to Child Abuse. DVD Faith Trust Institute.

BOOKLET
Understanding sexual abuse by a church leader or caregiver

LINKS
Child Welfare Information Gateway
National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Public Health Agency of Canada
National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.)

ADDITIONAL BOOKS

• Abuse: Response and Prevention. A Guide for Church Leaders. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), 2008.
• Maltreatment 2008. Child Welfare Information Gateway. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, 2010.
• Dealing with Child Abuse. Close to Home. Harrisonburg, Va.: Faith & Life Resources, n.d.
• Heggen, Carolyn H. Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 1993. 
• Melton, Joy Thornburg. Safe Sanctuaries for Ministers: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2009.
• Miller, Melissa A. Family Violence: The Compassionate Church Responds. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 1994. (Available in church libraries and used Book sellers on websites.)
• Reid, Kathy Goering. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: A Curriculum for Children Ages Five Through Eight. Nashville, Tn.: Pilgrim Press, 1994.
• Reid, Kathy Goering. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: A Curriculum for Children Ages Nine Through Twelve. Cleveland, Oh.: Pilgrim Press, 1990.

Not Much Fun

Burton Buller

Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons cartoon show, has strong Mennonite roots in Main Center, Saskatchewan, where his father, Homer, was born. His grandfather was a professor at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. Before he ever thought of The Simpsons, he created a cartoon strip called, “Life in Hell” in which he observes the dark side of life. Many of his creations exhibit the anguish of childhood.

Lynne Hybels, an author from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago is very concerned about critical needs around the world. Lynn will tell how her life changed by learning to know people in desperate and dangerous situations. She encourages people to try to understand people of other faiths and backgrounds in order to have a more sane and peaceful world in which to raise families. Lynne also appears in an upcoming documentary on ABC-TV stations, Waging Peace: Muslim and Christian Alternatives.

Butternut Squash Soup

A friend gets a recipe out of a book, makes some changes and sends it to you. You make more changes, and it becomes "your" recipe. That's what happened to Rebecca Thatcher Murcia in the butternut squash soup she talks about in this week's My Turn segment. Who to credit with the recipe? Let's just say it comes as many recipes do, from the hands of friends.

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