Search Results for "sex offender"

Profiles in grace

For the creators of Summit TV, their stories are beacons — for pastors and church members alike — that signal, I’ve been there, too. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh A visit to the Summit Integrated Systems website uncovers a wealth of church audio, video and lighting products and expertise. As a leader in this space, that’s expected. […]

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Providing emergency shelter

Q&A with Guy Russ, assistant vice president – Risk Control at Church Mutual Insurance Company Why should a church consider opening its facility as a temporary shelter? Russ: Emergency shelters and transitional living arrangements are important ways churches can help those in need. This includes providing living arrangements within worship centers, fellowship halls and educational […]

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Changes in the abuse landscape

While the effects of sexual misconduct can devastate the victim and the victim’s family, the damage does not stop there. Just one incident or allegation of sexual abuse can destroy the trust, credibility and reputation of an organization for years. Further complicating an incident of abuse or molestation are the legal costs of a lawsuit, […]

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A ministry mandate, realized

How Rockbridge Seminary became a leader in  sexual abuse awareness training for pastors and ministry leaders Rockbridge‘s foundation blends an unwavering commitment to the word of God while emphasizing the practical aspects of training for ministry.   A testament to this commitment is our requirement that all students complete sexual abuse awareness training, which we […]

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April is Abuse Prevention Month: avoiding mistakes — especially related to reporting — plays a major role

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 […]

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What’s the No. 1 reason churches end up in litigation?

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 […]

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Reporting abuse — the church’s blind spot

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN MINISTRY CONTEXTS By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris When in doubt, REPORT.  If every allegation of child sexual abuse was simply reported by church leaders to appropriate authorities, the resulting positive impact would be immeasurable. Survivors of abuse would feel validated — by itself a significant positive outcome — pathways to […]

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Criminal background checks — not a silver bullet!

By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Given the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements and the ongoing media headlines, many church leaders have awakened to the risk of child sexual abuse and are seeking guidance about what to do. Others are taking this opportunity to evaluate existing safety efforts to measure preparedness. Typically, the criminal background check […]

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Effective screening: keeping the wolf out of the sheep pen

By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris “Pastor Arrested for Molesting Teens in Youth Group,” screamed a recent media headline in a heavily populated metropolitan area. Unfortunately, it’s not an anomaly; headlines detailing child sexual abuse in ministry contexts occur almost daily. The reality is daunting: one in four girls and one in six boys will be […]

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Caring Well AND Prevention

Sexual abuse: training ministry staff to care well AND prevent At the beginning of each new year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions: evaluating our past year or present circumstances and resolving to improve on a particular matter (i.e., more time with the kids, less coffee, more exercise). For the Southern Baptist Convention, the […]

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