By Phil Cooke, Ph.D. Recently, we’ve seen numerous high-profile crisis situations in both churches and ministries with a pastor or other senior leader accused of sexual immorality or abuse. And in most cases, the initial response was to defend the leader at all costs. In at least one case, a woman who had accused a […]
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By Denise Craig, CAE, CCA The Church has always been a place of transformation, where people are changed and challenged spiritually and relationally. Today, we find ourselves in a season of transformation once again, not only in how we minister but in how we manage the ministries entrusted to us. Barna recently published research showing […]
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I’ve had the privilege to serve and support church and ministry IT needs for more than 25 years. In that time, I’ve read tens of thousands of help desk tickets, text messages and email pleas for help, and I’ve listened to countless voicemails expressing concern that “something is wrong.” As resources wane, it becomes harder […]
Read More >How churches can better support parents and guardians in their own child sexual abuse prevention efforts As Greg Love writes in his article, the cycle of child sexual abuse is only truly broken by effective preventative protocols in the home and within child-serving programs — including church and ministry programs. You’re encouraging church and ministry […]
Read More >As insurance agents specializing in insuring houses of worship — and being passionate, personally, about risk management — preventing child sexual abuse has been top of mind for us for more than 25 years. Unlike many other types of exposures facing religious organizations, it seems we are continually in the midst of a sexual abuse […]
Read More >The insurance industry has a direct role in helping churches acknowledge the spiritual, organizational responsibility to prevent abuse. UNDERSTANDING THE CYCLE OF SEXUAL ABUSE The “cycle of sexual abuse” can be understood through psychological and social dynamics that manifest in three ways: victimization, perpetuation, and long-term psychological impact. Breaking this cycle requires awareness, strong safeguards, […]
Read More >Sexual abuse and misconduct claims continue to pose significant challenges for organizations, particularly those serving vulnerable populations. Few risks carry the potential for reputational and operational damage as swiftly and severely as allegations of abuse — especially when mishandled. Education is the foundation of any effective abuse prevention strategy. Many churches and faith-based organizations are […]
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Why churches must stand in the gap to break the cycle of child sexual abuse — and how insurance agents and carriers can help them stand strong Church Executive: You assert that the church insurance agent must reach the level of “indispensable trusted advisor.” How far away do you think the marketplace is right now? […]
Read More >When I began serving churches through insurance nearly 30 years ago, I expected to deal with hail-damaged roofs and liability claims. What I did not expect was the number of abuse cases. Each case represented a child harmed, a family devastated, and a congregation left shaken. As pastors and church leaders, you know this pain. […]
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The Role of the Insurance Industry By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Headlines and media accounts of sexual abuse cases in litigation are one of many indicators that we remain in the midst of a sexual abuse crisis. The ongoing cycle begins with a victimized child, leading to civil litigation, followed by a settlement or […]
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