Sexual Abuse Care: A Resource for Local Churches

A recent study estimates that 50% of the U.S. population suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  A significant portion of sufferers are survivors of sexual abuse. Statistics show that 81% of women and 43% of men in America experience some form of sexual harassment and/or assault and 1 in 5 women experience completed or attempted rape during their lifetime. Commenting on the impact of trauma, Bessel van der Kolk writes, “Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions, and even on biology. Sadly, trauma sufferers frequently pass on their stress to their partners and children.”  Traumatic experiences are revisited in conscious and subconscious memories that disturb sleep, deplete motivation, disorder emotions and negatively reshape how people relate to those around them.

Those who have not suffered sexual trauma cannot fully comprehend what it means to be physically and emotionally violated. This is one of the reasons why the abused tend to be guarded. Many do not talk to others about their pain and distress because they do not expect to be understood. Others are silent for fear of being disbelieved or blamed. Abusers tend to hold a lot of power at individual and/or institutional levels, which has long been used for protection against sexual allegations.

Silence, however, deepens the effect of the trauma and exacerbates the symptoms. Those who have successfully helped trauma survivors universally agree that there is a common path to recovery. Sufferers must experience a recurring sense of safety, reconstruct the traumatic event/s and reconnect with their community.

Christians who need help, however, often do not know where to turn. Local church communities have too often been the place where their abuse has occurred and even healthy churches are rarely equipped to care for those holding layered, hidden and evasive abuse wounds.

In an effort to help equip local churches, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has created Caring Well, an initiative designed to educate local churches on abuse prevention and care. The free Introductory Guide and 12 week curriculum will help church leaders implement best practices as well as protective policies (access the ebook and videos here). As an additional resource, the main stage sessions from 2019’s Caring Well conference are available for viewing here.

Article Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash