It’s nearing the end of the Summer season and with the start of September, comes the start of church nursery, Sunday School, catechism, youth groups, Friendship groups and various other church groups.  This time is therefore a good time to remember and reflect upon the privilege and sacred duty we have as church leaders to create and maintain safe spaces for those most vulnerable amongst us. 

Defend the weak and the fatherless; 

Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy; 

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 

Psalm 82:3-4

Abuse prevention is a Christian matter and at the heart of who we are in Christ. Jesus Christ calls us to be a light in the darkness and to overcome evil with love, protection, justice and goodness. All forms of abuse are a part of darkness and can have profound spiritual impacts. We may want to pretend abuse doesn’t exist, but it exists everywhere, even within the Christian Reformed Churches of North America. We especially don’t want to consider that abuse could be occurring within our own communities or churches. As Christians, we are called to protect the vulnerable, seek restorative justice, show grace and compassion, and stand up for what is right and good, even when it makes us uncomfortable, even when it may inconvenience us. Equipping ourselves with the knowledge and tools to become aware of abuse, prevent abuse and respond to abuse if it occurs is integral to our churches and to the body of Christ. 

Several years ago, an abuse of power committee was put together to assess the abuse of power within the CRCNA and a report was produced to share their findings. I want to share some of these findings that highlight abuses of power in the church and what Jesus calls us to do as church leaders. 

Report Highlights on the Abuse of Power 

• Abuses of power are discussed in multiple places in the Bible where there is trauma experienced by the abused and there are consequences for the abuser.
• Church leaders and volunteers have power within the church that can honour God or can be misused.
• Power within the church can be used positively where power is shared and used to serve others, thereby, demonstrating the love of God.
• Power can be misused in the church causing harm, destruction, shame, guilt and can affect a survivor's reality of grace.
• Abuses of power in the church have devastating impacts.
• Abuses of power, whether they are physical, emotional, sexual, or verbal abuse, is also considered spiritual abuse and has a spiritual impact for everyone involved.
• Abuses of power occur with the Christian Reformed Church of North America.
• Jesus’ model of power is used for the restoration of dignity and honour for survivors and to practice grace.
• Jesus’ model of power was remarkably different from those of the religious leaders at that time, and unfortunately different from many of the religious leaders in our time.
• Survivors oftentimes find the church’s approach to abuse allegations to be traumatic, invalidating, and unhelpful.
• How we treat others is interconnected to our love of God. 

Report Highlights on Church Recommendations 

• Church leaders and members of a congregation have a role in providing safety and restoration, particularly for those vulnerable in the church.
• Thrive’s safer church ministry needs to include the input and lived experiences of survivors.
• The centrepoint of discussions on church policies, church programs, and the biblical perspective of abuse should focus on those who have been negatively affected by abuses of power in the church.
• Churches shouldn’t minimize the harmful consequences of abuse.
• The effects of abuse of power should be considered on an individual level, congregational level, classis level, and denominational level.
• When abuse in the church occurs, the church should take responsibility, recognize the abuse that has occurred, hold the accused and those that helped the accused accountable for their actions, include outside authorities when needed, and provide resources both inside and outside of the church to begin the restoration and healing process for all involved. 

Abuses of power are real and have occurred by church leaders within the CRCNA. They happened in biblical times, and they’re occurring in our lifetime, and will unfortunately occur in the future while there is still sin in the world.  It happens to members of our congregation and community. Abuses of power occur everywhere and are more likely to occur in vulnerable populations and in environments where a perpetrator feels the abuse will go unnoticed or denied. Let us be a denomination that’s not only aware of abuse but also able to prevent and respond to abuse in a biblical, knowledgeable, justice-seeking and restorative way.

Do we want to be proactive or reactive denomination? Do we want to promote justice and healing or silence and suffering? Do we want our denomination to be equipped and empowered to not only prevent abuse but to increase awareness and be known as a beacon of light and support within our communities? May our uses of power reflect God’s love, grace, and restoration and be a positive focal point in today’s society. 

So as your church begins their Sunday School preparations, or begins to update their policies, starts a new program, or experiences an allegation of abuse, remember our sacred duty to use power for good and to provide safety and healing to all those who enter your doors. 

If you want more information on how you and your church can prevent, report, and respond to abuse, please reach out to your Safe Church Team, your Safe Church Classis Coordinator or you can review Thrive’s resources at crcna.org/SafeChurch. If you have concerns about a situation of abuse, you can also call 1-877-272-6206. 

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash