Conservative statistics indicate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Most abuse is not perpetrated by strangers, but within the circle of "family and friends". Abuse crosses all lines of class, race, gender and religion, and often occurs in middle class homes in which the parents are well respected in the church community. This workshop covers signs and symptoms of sexual abuse in children; why children usually do not tell; responding to disclosure; working with legal systems; mandated and other reporting of suspected child abuse; intervention strategies; holding the perpetrator accountable while providing pastoral care; and ethical and theological discussion of the church's responsibility toward the most vulnerable among us.

One in three women is a victim of domestic abuse. In fact, it's the leading cause of injury for women age 15 to 44. Yet most victims of intimate partner violence hide their secret, and do not come to their pastor or church friends for help. This workshop describes the dynamics of power and control present in such relationships; physical, sexual and psychological battering; cycles of violence; making a safety plan; as well as answers the perennial question "why doesn't she just leave?" It also discusses intervention strategies, supporting the victim, the impact of witnessing domestic violence on children, holding the perpetrator accountable while providing pastoral care and religious perspectives on domestic violence.

Many survivors feel they do not have "permission" to talk about their experiences and get the help and support they need to heal. This workshop offers practical ways in which congregations can create an environment in which survivors feel safe enough to tell their stories and allow their suffering to be shared by supportive clergy and church members as they struggle for healing. Topics covered include opening the space, preaching about sexual and domestic violence, creating a resource library, building a clergy/lay team for responding to victims of violence, developing a congregational policy or protocol for response and creating peer support groups in the parish.

This practical workshop provides an overview of how local organizations can be of service to victims of violence and those who care for them. Information includes working with key resources such as: Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County; the YWCA's Sexual Assault Prevention & Counseling Center; Family Service Batterer's Intervention program; Victim-Witness Services; Children and Youth Agency; and the Samaritan Counseling Center. 45 minutes

The following are suitable for use as conference keynotes. They may also be adapted for workshops, use in Sunday School classes, etc.

#205 Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Role of the Church: A First Person Account
Linda Crockett

Linda Crockett, award winning author of "The Deepest Wound: How a Journey to El Salvador Led to Healing from Mother-Daughter Incest" (Writer's Showcase, 2001) describes how her journey to the war zones of Central America as a church volunteer to accompany refugees led to her own quest for healing from childhood sexual abuse. Binding the wounds of those who have suffered war and torture in distant lands with the wounds of those within our communities who have suffered the largely invisible holocaust of childhood abuse in their own homes, this presentation challenges the church to become a healing community.
One hour.

Is the rape and torture of a child the result of mental illness or evil? Listen to a survivor's perspective as she dares to speak about evil - a subject many people of faith would prefer to avoid. Raises questions regarding complicity with evil through silence and the problem of recognizing and naming evil when it is disguised under a cloak of "goodness".
One hour.

Videos

Several videos on religious responses to family violence are available to add to a workshop or view as a "stand alone" presentation with discussion.

We can arrange for speakers from several agencies in Lancaster County to address your group either in conjunction with a Walking Together workshop or as a "stand alone" presentation. Recommended organizations include Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County, the YWCA Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center, the Batterers' Intervention program at Family Service, Children & Youth Agency of Lancaster County, and Victim-Witness Services.