Set Us Free: What the Church Needs to Know from Survivors of Abuse

This work aims to dispel the myth that abuse does not happen in ‘my’ church . It uses stories of abuse and survival to help the reader examine the connections among abuse, religious beliefs, and the church. These personal accounts are intended to remind the reader that abuse is not confined to any singular group of people, nor is religion or the church immune. Through the voices of survivors, the book examines how religion has been used as a means to justify abuse, how the church has responded both positively and negatively to the issue, the long- and short-term effects of abuse, and how survivors struggle with their understanding of God, His nature, and their faith. The volume concludes with a set of guidelines for churches who wish to sensitively, thoughtfully, responsibly, and effectively respond the issue of abuse.