Q & A: A Shameful Story
Q: Where/when did you hear this story?
A: A book I read several years ago.
Q: The title of the book?
A: “The Subtle Power Of Spiritual Abuse” by
Johnson and VanVonderen.
Q: A shameful story?
A: A church staff member sexually abused a
13-year old girl.
Q: Horrible! How did church leadership respond?
A: They fired him…. secretly.
Q: Why secretly?
A: Secrecy is the m.o. of most churches.
Transparency can be embarrassing.
Q: Did their silence work?
A: He struck again, another teen at another church.
Q: Is this kind of abuse within evangelicalism rare?
A: Probably. But spiritual abuse is quite common.
Q: How common?
A: I don’t know, but most pulpit-people do.
Q: And they aren’t telling?
A: Again, secrecy is the m.o. of most churches.
Q: Is silence sometimes necessary?
A: Silence protects controllers and status quo.
Q: What happened to the young lady?
A: Ostracized. Blamed. Childhood destroyed.
Q: Do you recommend this book?
A: Fully.