If a sex offender wants to attend your church — or is already worshipping with you — how would you respond? Roll out the welcome mat? Exclude them entirely? Try to find middle ground? These are questions church leaders regularly face.
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By Eric Spacek, JD, ARM If you believe a sex offender has started attending your church, take action. Not doing so could result in significant legal liability if a situation occurs on your property. Step 1: Learn the local laws. First, be certain that the individual is a convicted sex offender. Double-check that the person […]
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Several states expand child protection laws By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Preventing child sexual abuse in churches and child-serving programs continues to present a significant challenge. Sexual abusers have no visual profile, so the risk cannot be recognized visually — it can only be recognized behaviorally. These behaviors are known as the abuser’s […]
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By Georgia McKnight The risk of child sexual abuse in the Church is real … and not new. Media in its various forms has bristled with horrifying headlines for three decades; few have provided any positive coverage. Since 2000, steady messaging from insurance professionals, lawmakers and subject matter experts has revealed a lack in the […]
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By Eric Spacek April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, making this a perfect time to review your organization’s policies and practices to protect children from sexual assault. With this in mind, we spoke with Eric Spacek, assistant vice president – Risk Control at Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.1, who outlines how organizations can help […]
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How federal and state law is failing to protect children By Georgia McKnight Notwithstanding significant cultural and media focus, child sexual abuse crises continue to plague the Church and Christian ministries, with the attendant damage to children. Conservative studies indicate that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually victimized […]
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By Georgia McKnight, featuring Kimberlee Norris ‘Church Rocked by Sexual Abuse Allegations’ The headline stunned the members of a large evangelical church in western Pennsylvania. Church leaders took hundreds of telephone calls from members, media representatives and advocacy groups. Social media coverage was immediate and savage, with posts assuming the worst possible motives attributable to […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Every year, it seems a particular organization or entity is embroiled in a sexual abuse crisis: the Catholic Church, USA Swimming, Penn State University, USA Gymnastics/Michigan State University, Hillsong Church, Ravi Zacharias Ministries, Boy Scouts of America… and the list goes on. This year, headlines are swirling around […]
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By Gregory S. Love & Kimberlee D. Norris Youth Leader Arrested for Sexual Abuse of 14-Year-Old Girl screams the frontpage headline of a major metropolitan newspaper — yet again. As detectives investigate, several other teen girls come forward with additional allegations. Parents of students in the program express hurt, anger and bewilderment: how could this […]
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By Gregory S. Love & Kimberlee D. Norris Headlines related to child sexual abuse continue to rock the Church, and faith-based organizations continue to reevaluate sexual abuse response and resources. The New Year provides a good opportunity to ‘check in’ on current church practices related to child sexual abuse. We asked Kimberlee D. Norris and […]
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