Church And The Abused Person

With the advent of allegations of sexual abuse by members of the clergy, pastors are faced with the question of what to do if a staff member has been accused of abuse. Is our church liable? As a minister, should I report abuse? Is this privileged information? One of my members has just told me that his wife is abusing him. What should I tell him? A man in my church is hitting his wife and children. It is my job as a minister to reconcile marriages. Maybe this family would be safer in a place that houses abused people. In our church we don’t recommend divorce or separation. What do I do? The Church and the Abused Person: Is There a Problem in Our House-The Visible Church: Provides detailed descriptions and definitions of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. Provides comprehensive definitions of the child molester and the pedophile. Provides simple but comprehensive ways that ministers can approach the problem of a member being abused or a staff member being accused of abuse. Provides a look at the history of abuse in Britain and the United States, which until recently has been an accepted practice.