I wrote a memoir about my experience of sexual assault, and the faith crisis which followed.
The Christian Century compiled this resource guide on the subject of Sexual Abuse & the Church. My cover story and sidebar from the January issue are reprinted, with discussion questions added. A whole host of other articles are reprinted as well. This is a free resource, so spread the word!
I wrote an article for The Arc (Tyndale’s blog): When #MeToo Becomes #ChurchToo.
A publisher in Germany requested permission to translate and publish the article online at Die Eule (The Owl). I’m happy to hear that faith communities across Europe are following #MeToo so closely! Wenn aus #MeToo #ChurchToo Wird.
After A Pastor’s MeToo Story ran at Christian Century, I was contacted by an author named Diane Herbst, who was writing a feature for Everyday Health, about the health impact of sexual harassment. You can read the article here.
The January issue of Christian Century includes two articles I wrote. The cover story is my #MeToo #ChurchToo story about abuse at the hands of my senior pastor. Of course I want you to read that one!
But don’t miss the other article, which is a list:
18 ways that churches can fight sexual assault in 2018.
What would you add?
I’m happy — and rather nervous — to say that my article is on the cover of the Christian Century (January 2018). It’s a deeply personal story that I have not told before: A Pastor’s #MeToo Story
I also wrote an accompanying list: 18 Ways Churches Can Fight Sexual Assault in 2018.
As always, I look forward to your feedback. #ChurchToo
I saw this letter in the December issue of Sojourners — written in reaction to my “omitted chapter” which I titled: Skin in the Game. I share the letter here because it is evidence that sharing our stories can be helpful to others. Perhaps this letter will support someone else making a difficult decision.
Ruth Everhart’s article “Even In Cases of Rape” in the August 2017 issue helped me with a difficult decision. For years, I hung in with the church of my roots where three generations of my family were christened, married, and died. As a child, I witnessed behaviors by some clergy that I now know were grievous sins. As an adult, I listened to a pastor who told us 9/11 was God’s punishment for homosexuals and women who had abortions. When I questioned at a meeting why our church would not permit women to attend seminaries or become deacons, I was snubbed by the congregation. Feeling that I was in a spiritual crisis, I sent a heartfelt letter to our bishop, our spiritual leader, but received no reply. Still, I remained tied to my church, albeit by a thin thread. Thank you, Pastor Everhart, for helping me to finally cut that thread and pursue a church that is more godly.
Lois Halley
Westminster, Maryland
What a treat to spend an hour in conversation with Michelle McKormick! We hardly stopped for a breath — there’s not even a station break. Michelle is dynamic, curious, and a people-lover — exactly what a radio host needs to be.
“Sound Off West Michigan” is on WJRW 1340 AM in Grand Rapids — the city where the “Heritage Hill Rape Robbery” took place in 1978. Michelle and I talk about the crime that “ruined” me and the events that followed, including the faith journey that spanned a decade.
Enjoy!
To receive new resources as they become available, subscribe to my monthly email list.
As a pastor I know how difficult, but important, it is to address the topic of sexual abuse — from the pulpit, in leadership meetings, and in adult education classes. Because I have unsought expertise in this topic, I am committed to sharing resources with my readers. Please feel free to use these and share them with others (please keep my byline in the footer). Let me know what happens when you use them, and feel free to make suggestions for revisions, or suggest additional resources that would be helpful to you.
Devotions:
~ Devotional on Tamar, found in 2 Samuel 13.
For Team Training on responding to abuse:
~ Training Scenarios of various inappropriate behavior in churches — how would you respond?
~ Readers Theater version of the story of Tamar, found in 2 Samuel 13.
~ Discussion Guide (Ministry Leaders) to facilitate a church’s response to #MeToo.
For Small Groups responding to personal stories of abuse:
~ Discussion Guide (General) for groups responding to the experience of sexual abuse.
I took some time to respond to the #MeToo movement. I decided to focus on contempt and gender inequality in the church. You can read it over at Sojourners: I Am a Pastor and Rape Survivor. #MeToo Is an Opportunity for the Church.
Last weekend I led a workshop called Shame: Hope & Healing in Vancouver, BC. What timing! The topic of sexual assault has been all over the news lately — stories of powerful men held to account for past behaviors. Women have been emboldened by the #MeToo campaign and are coming forward with their stories of abuse.
Allegations may have begun with Harvey Weinstein, but they have extended beyond Hollywood. In politics, in business — and in churches — there are powerful men who have abused and assaulted women — and others who have colluded and enabled that abuse. The media saturation of #MeToo made for extra tenderness around the subject of our workshop, but it also brought immediacy to our work. One thing we did was wrestle with a scripture story about sexual assault by powerful men. Five intrepid volunteers performed a reader’s theater version of the story of Tamar (2 Samuel 13).
(To download the Readers Theater manuscript, click on the “Free Resources” button.)
A big thank you to these volunteers reading the parts (left to right): Jonadab, Tamar, Narrator, Absalom, Amnon.
Perhaps you remember the characters in Tamar’s story: Jonadab (the crafty colluder), Amnon (the rapist, a half-brother), and Absalom (the revengeful brother). All three of the men abuse Tamar: by setting up the abuse, by actively raping, or by silencing her afterward. Absalom uses Tamar’s trauma as an excuse for revenge in order to enlarge his own holdings. Certainly the legacy of David’s abuse of Bathsheba lives on through his sons.
Meanwhile, Tamar’s plea echoes: Where can I carry my shame? (more…)
