Shaping Families

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

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.

VIDEO: Fierce Goodbye: Living in the Shadow of Suicide DVD. A 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.

BOOKS: Fierce Goodbye book by G. Lloyd and Gwendolyn C. Carr. (Herald Press, 2004) An exploration of what the Bible says on the topic of suicide. 

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.”

Sanctuary of Abuse

Burton Buller

One hopes that among those who call themselves the people of God, a space safe from abuse, whether physical, psychological or sexual would exist. But it doesn’t. Statistics indicate that the church and its institutions fare no better than secular organizations on most counts.

Enjoying Leisure. Evan Oswald, author of a new book, Christians and Post-Modern Leisure, professor emeritus of Hesston College (Hesston, Kansas), and former director of activities at Glencroft Retirement Community (Glendale, Arizona), talks about the need for leisure time on the Shaping Families radio program next week.

Chili Con Carne

This recipe comes from Esther Shenk, author of Mennonite Country Style Recipes. It is a large recipe, but may be frozen for later use. Esther says her mother always made a large pot of this soup to treat the Christmas carolers at their little country church after an evening of caroling in the cold Indiana weather.

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• Shaping Families Update - January 28

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