Tools of Justice in the Church

In the aftermath of severe spiritual abuse, when it seems the only option is to submit to the oppression that has undoubtedly won every battle, what is a soul to do? What are the pipelines in place to pursue justice in the church? 

 

And if they exist, is it right for a Christian to pursue them? Last week, I spoke on the sensitive issue of seeking justice as a follower of Christ. I recommend you consider reading my previous post, The Justice Predicament, if you haven’t already. Today’s post is for individuals looking for tools to uphold justice in their faith community.

 

Before we act, we must consider the following questions:

 

1. What has happened? What is the harm done? Who has been hurt? Was it abuse? If so, was it sexual, physical, emotional, or spiritual? 
2. Where did it take place? The answer to this question will provide context on where to find help.
3. How severe is the mistreatment? What are the consequences of what happened? Have victims struggled to survive the mistreatment, whether that be emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, or financially?
4. Is there repentance? Has any ownership been taken by the perpetrator?  Are they willing to confess to wrong choices? Is humility and ownership detectable?
5. Is there a pattern? Is the harmful behavior repetitive? What other dealings documented, or undocumented, have not gone well and resulted in relational ruptures or other undesirable outcomes?
6. Do more people have the potential to be harmed? Is there an ongoing danger to others?
7. Is God telling me to act? Do I have a personal conviction to pursue justice? Or am I doing what someone else wants me to do? Am I acting in obedience or out of personal gain?

Answering these questions honestly, reading scripture, and praying for direction can help lead you to your next steps. 

 

When abuse arises in homes, schools, workplaces, etc, there are usually protocols in place to report harmful behavior to higher authorities. But what are you to do when continuous destructive behavior comes from the hands of your church leaders? 

 

This is a sticky territory in the religious world. For many churches, they are affiliated with a particular diocese or denomination. Concerns and abuse allegations are sent up the chain to be handled by the religious higher-ups (it’s important to note sexual abuse of a minor is mandated to be reported to local authorities). However, it’s becoming more and more common for churches to identify as ‘nondenominational’. Authors Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer give a chilling warning in their book, A Church Called Tov, 

 

“That’s why narcissistic pastors, of churches large and small, tend to gravitate toward nondenominational churches or nonaccountable church structures where they answer to no one. They prefer it that way. A former pastor in a denomination pointed out to me recently that narcissistic pastors and leaders are found in denominational churches, as well. But independent churches are especially conducive to leaders who want to be unsupervised and unchecked.”

 

Various occupations and institutions exist to decrease these instances of abuse from power figures, denomination or not. G.R.A.C.E.(Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments), is an organization that specifically works “to help faith communities better recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse in all forms of abuse across the lifespan”, says its Executive Director, Pete Stinger.

 

Last year, I watched this very informative video from G.R.A.C.E. titled, ‘Action in the Absence of Justice’. Professor, Advocate, and Author Wade Mullens, and Attorney Amy Stier take the time to talk about the various tools for justice an abuse victim can consider in the wake of injustice. Both Wade and Amy have current and former experience as Response Specialists for G.R.A.C.E., and their combined experience investigating and helping faith communities amidst abuse allegations totals over 15 years. 

 

I will highlight some of their helpful suggestions for those who have experienced or witnessed abuse in their religious institution, but I encourage you to watch the video in its entirety when you have time. 

 

“I always recommend that people keep appealing to the next highest authority until action is taken,” Wade writes in his book, Something’s Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse and Freeing Yourself From its Power. 

 

Unfortunately, even with proper procedures and safety measures in place, it is much more likely for abuse to be dismissed than to be dealt with. Let’s discuss the tools of justice that can be used in these cases.

 

Actions to Consider

1. Record your experience. Submit a letter to the leaders or positions in authority at the faith institution where you encountered the abuse. This can help recognize harmful patterns of behavior. Consider this option if you are the victim or if you have witnessed abusive behavior towards someone else. If your concerns have already been dismissed, it is unlikely for the current leadership to respond constructively. However, Wade mentions that there could be value in future leadership seeing the records. New leaders having access to a historical account of complaints is important if the abuse continues or worsens. This eliminates the argument of, “We never knew.”
2. Ask for a third-party investigation. Request that an external investigation be done. Many times churches or faith-based organizations try to keep allegations of abuse “in-house”. In doing so, they appoint employees who are usually under the influence of the pastor or leader who retains the power to terminate their employment. Internal investigations are a biased, cost-limiting solution that almost always favors those in power. Ask for a third-party investigation from G.R.A.C.E. or another reputable organization that specializes in investigating faith-based communities. Understand that you cannot force an institution to have a TPI done, but making your request known can also be noted “on record”, for the future.
3. Consult a legal team. Licensed attorney Amy Stier says it’s important for victims of abuse to consult with a legal team. Even if you are unsure if you are prepared or desire to take civil action. Seeking information, knowing your options, and exercising your autonomy can be very healing. For many survivors of abuse, they stay silent for many years. But when they realize the harm has continued and they want to take part in confronting the abusive behavior, they are usually outside of the statute of limitations, which means legal action is no longer an option for them. Amy also recognizes a common bible passage(1 Cor. 6) that is used to persuade victims not to sue a faith-based organization, but she believes that this argument can be very one-sided. She reminds us that many other scriptures support Christ followers being advocates of justice. She encourages anyone who is giving an abuse victim advice to look at scripture holistically so that you are not giving counsel that will cause further harm to the survivor.
4. Do nothing. Well, not nothing nothing, but it’s important to know that confronting an abusive system is often very costly. There are periods of life when you cannot personally afford to face the bully. Amy understands that there are hard seasons when you can’t do anything more than choose to distance yourself from the abuse. Many times severe mistreatment can threaten one’s ability to sustain a job, care for oneself, or keep up with everyday responsibilities. Removing yourself and your family from the harmful behavior is a crucial step for your healing. “Speaking with your feet” and withdrawing support from the ministry does have an impact.

While navigating whether you will utilize any of these possible tools, Amy and Wade emphasize how important it is to have a support system. They note that this should be a small group of people who know how to support you. They need to understand a survivor’s need for agency. Do not select people with controlling behaviors, but rather individuals who are willing to help you think through your options and allow you to make the final decision.

 

Lastly, I’m going to caution believers who are convinced that God does not use any of the above actions to uphold justice in his church. The suggestions stated here focus on accountability and maintaining safety in faith communities. I thank God that organizations like G.R.A.C.E. exist to encourage health in our churches. 

 

If you struggle with believing that standing up to injustice is only birthed from a sinful and revengeful heart, I encourage you to read through 2 Samuel 16:5-14. Examine David’s reaction to someone confronting him on his sin.

 

What other tools of justice do you believe are available to Christians? For those who do utilize them in an attempt to materialize justice in faith communities, should we be able to judge with certainty that they have acted sinfully?  Will you consider that the decision to seek justice is a personal decision made between them and the Lord?

 

Join me next time when I talk about setting our expectations when it comes to pursuing justice in faith communities.