By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS continue to make headlines, and subsequent media coverage indicates that ministry leaders tend to be unprepared for child sexual abuse issues. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness is not unusual. Earlier articles in this series introduced topics that church leaders must understand and apply, if children are […]
Read More >
FALSE ALLEGATIONS: An Uncommon Occurrence By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris As sexual abuse attorneys working in the realm of sexual abuse and assault for more than three decades, we provide guidance to organizations and individuals who are navigating sexual abuse issues. In the majority of scenarios, an underlying allegation has come to light which […]
Read More >
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Where child sexual abuse is concerned, peer-to-peer abuse provides the curveball of sexual abuse risk. To recognize and address it properly, a ministry must be watching for it. Common fact patterns Peer-to-peer sexual abuse — children molesting or abusing other children — unfolds in predictable patterns. Some years ago, […]
Read More >
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Our church just completed a Registered Sex Offender (RSO) Policy. Will you review it and tell us if it’s adequate? We frequently encounter this (seemingly simple) question in our law practice. In reality, the issue is multi-faceted and complex, and tends to kick off a broader discussion. In the […]
Read More >
Can ministries be held financially responsible? By Gregory S. Love, Esq. & Kimberlee D. Norris, Esq. On May 18, 2020, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection, largely in response to mounting sexual abuse allegations and civil lawsuits. This bankruptcy filing further complicates liability concerns for organizations (churches, schools, camps, conference centers) that […]
Read More >
Avoiding Common Pitfalls By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Every church — whether it’s multi-campus or a recent plant — deals with insurance coverage. Ministry leaders tend to gravitate to the least expensive policy options and often lack knowledge about what they should be looking for when securing coverage related to child sexual abuse risk. […]
Read More > How to assess your church’s child sexual abuse risk points — and how to do (much) better In many churches, leaders think child sexual abuse “can’t happen here.” What’s the reality? Guy A. Russ: Any organization that serves children must understand the statistics: one in four girls and one in 13 boys are likely to […]
Read More >
Headlines regarding abuse in the Church cause us to grieve. As experts in church insurance and ministry, we know that churches and ministries never question the importance of protecting the children and other vulnerable populations entrusted to their care. But it’s how you go about protecting those you serve that has become more difficult and […]
Read More >
Answer: Sexual abuse with a minor A single lawsuit can derail a thriving, growing church and cost millions of dollars, as well as the loss of members and their faith in the safety of the church. Such a catastrophe can happen to any church without proper risk management strategies in place. Being prepared for the […]
Read More >
Sexual misconduct can have psychological, emotional and physical effects on victims and their families. However, the damage doesn’t stop there. Just one incident of sexual misconduct can destroy the trust, credibility and reputation of an organization and the organization’s leaders for years. Adding further pain to an incident of sexual misconduct are the legal costs […]
Read More >