Heal, Educate, Prevent
"The high spiritual calling of the clergy must be matched with an equally high moral response. Everywhere from the seminary down to the church pew we must educate ourselves and future clergy men and women about the respect owed to one another in the clergy-client relationship. This important awareness and prevention day will go far to remind us all of our moral duties to one another."—Lourdes Morales-Gudmundsson, Ph.D., speaker and author I Forgive You, But....
Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness & Prevention Day is here!
Please join us at The Hope of Survivors as we raise
awareness during this month long event. Our calendar of events can be seen here. All are invited and welcome to attend. Please contact us for more information.
Posted by AnnetteA at 7/31/2011 11:14 PM 
Categories: Enough is Enough
Tags: pastoral sexual abuse clergy misconduct minister counselor affair
Categories: Enough is Enough
Tags: pastoral sexual abuse clergy misconduct minister counselor affair
It's a bittersweet feeling that August is being recognized as Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention month. The sweetness is in God revealing his truth in this area to a wider community, and hopefully clergy sexual abuse will be prevented more and more as a result. The bitterness is in the reality of its existence on such a large scale. Even on a small scale, the damage is extensive. Unfortunately, those being pursued, used, and abused by clergy is great. I pray this month raises awareness throughout the world; that the church stands up and removes these men from their positions of power; and that the church realizes the imbalance of power and the sacred trust and responsibility pastors hold. I pray God will work mightily this month!
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My husband and I just watched Soul Surfer last night , it was truelly an insprational movie. Samantha had ask us to share or testimony at the Benefit concert in Simpsonville on Saturday. For the last couple of months I have been seeking God as to what He wants me to share,this movie really gave me some much needed courage . There was a part in the movie where the reporter ask her if she could go back and change that day so the attack wouldn't have happened would she change it , her answer amazed me , she said "no that this has given her an opportunity to give others hope" (paraphasing) and my husband and I both just wept. God has truelly blessed us and given us hope through His restoring our marriage and our trust in God and His people. Gods love is amazing !! We are more in love with God and with each other than ever before! We are very thankful for Hope of Suvivors for Samantha and Steve who were there for us when we were going through a very rough time and for the testimonies of the others whom God has given strength to come out victorious as well.
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Pam, While my life has never been better and my husband and I are more in love today than ever, I can't say I wouldn't change the day I was 'attacked' by my pastor. If I could go back, I would not want to have been pursued, used, and abused by my pastor. Even though we can comfort those who have been through this, even though good came from this, it is only because of who God is. If I could go back, with the knowledge, wisdom, and strength I have today, the outcome wouldv'e been much different. But since it did happen, God desires for us to comfort others who have experienced this abuse and God's healing hand!
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