This Week's Program
Sexual Misconduct in Churches
“Whether true or not, the allegations themselves will polarize.” –David Brubaker
When an accusation of sexual misconduct surfaces, major conflict for a church, school, organization or family is inherently part of the picture. David Brubaker, a professor of organizational studies and a consultant who specializes in organizational conflict, along with his father, Merle, speak about their personal experiences with this issue on this week’s Shaping Families program.
Listen - Transcript - Study Guide
Continue ReadingMy Turn
Media Matters
Steve Carpenter
I’m grateful Shaping Families has tackled this difficult but important topic — sexual abuse. I’m here to talk about the highly acclaimed 2008 film adaptation of John Parker Stanley’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Doubt, which also deals with this subject.
Continue ReadingThis Week's Resources
Fierce Goodbye: Living in the Shadow of Suicide.
Documentary telling the stories of five families dealing with the aftermath of suicide, along with clergy and counselors giving input on the topic of theological perspectives on suicide. Includes the story of Merle and David Brubaker’s son and brother, Darrel.
Related Resources
BOOKS
Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches by Carolyn Holderread Heggen (Herald Press, now Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2006). What sets this book apart from the many others on the topic is the emphasis on how a church congregation can begin to work to heal the wounds of sexual abuse and prevent further abuses from happening. Church members often must, at the same time, offer love, understanding, and healing to survivors while confronting (and still loving) the perpetrator.
The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Dan B. Allender, (NavPress, 2008). You may think you don't know anyone who has been sexually abused, especially if most of your friends and acquaintances are Christians. But the statistics indicate otherwise. The Wounded Heart is an intensely personal and specific look at this most "soul deadening" form of abuse.
WEBSITES
Fierce Goodbye More of Merle and Ila Brubaker’s memories and moving stories about their son’s struggle with depression (partially as a result of abuse by a counselor) and eventual suicide.
Christians in Recovery Offers resources on recovery from sexual misconduct and abuse.
ONLINE ARTICLE
“Why Christians Must Talk about Sexual Abuse.”
Burton's Blog
Sanctuary of Abuse
Burton Buller
Next Week
Sometimes it feels like our culture pretends that we don’t grow old and death doesn’t exist. Next week on Shaping Families we look at the topic of death and dying, how to face end-of-life issues with others and for yourself. We’ll talk with one of the world’s foremost doctors and thinkers about end-of-life issues, Dr. Ira Byock, director of palliative care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New Hampshire.
Favorite Family Recipes
Blondies
Updates
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The Shaping Families free offer from this week’s program is no longer available. Visit our online store at www.MennoMedia.org/store if you would like to purchase the item offered. Some items are not offered on the store.
