Hold Accountable
We have discussed centering and supporting survivors and steps any member of the Body of Christ can take to prevent future abuse. Now comes perhaps the most challenging part for those of us who have given our trust to church leaders: Holding churches, ministries, and individuals accountable when abuse occurs or is covered up.
Learn About Impression Management
In its December 23, 2020 statement, the RZIM Board gave the impression that they only recently became aware of Zacharias’ sexual abuse of women. But as @futuristguy (Brad Sargent) points out, “Multiple survivors, advocates, bloggers, and reporters [have known] since at least November 2017. Much of the earliest documentation of these efforts is compiled in this Spiritual Sounding Board post from December 2017.” Brad has done his own comprehensive, detailed timeline here.
The RZIM Board statement is an example of Impression Management and is thus misleading. Wade Mullen has written an excellent book called Somethings Not Right about how impression management is deployed in faith communities by individual leaders and organizations. Knowing impression management tactics will help us become more discerning in every area of life and empower us to speak up regarding that discernment.
Apply pressure to address abuse.
Anyone can exhort the RZIM Board of Directors to do the right thing. @Smile4Wales says, “We should honour the truth & insist that there is an independent Inquiry. It will help us learn how to safeguard victims in the future rather than discard them.” Carson Weitnauer, an RZIM insider, states, “I encourage anyone who wishes to stand with Ravi’s victims to apply private and public pressure on RZIM’s board and senior leadership to do what is right.” Weitnauer’s post about the RZIM board statement is the type of logical exposition one would expect from an apologist. Additionally, much can be learned from what Ruth Hutchins calls a “post-mortem” that seeks to answer the question, “what went wrong here?” Any time there are allegations of abuse, pressure for an independent, trauma-informed, power-leveling investigation can and should be brought up until such an investigation is completed. Any member of the Body of Christ is empowered to bring this pressure.
Because, in the end, that is what we need to do as a Body. Determine what went wrong, restore the victims, and reform the systems to ensure it never happens again.
As @Kiki40400470 says, since she learned about Zacharias’ sexual abuse two years ago, “I’ve made it a point to do the following: 1. Share this info with friends and family 2. Openly defend those who were victimized 3. Educate myself further on how abuse at the micro and macro levels occur.”
For more information on what to do, SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) has an excellent article on their website entitled “What to Do When Your Minister is Accused of Abuse.” You will find wise guidance there that will be helpful to individual church members as we come to terms with the reality of abuse in churches and ministries.
To recap:
1. Start by believing.
2. Care for survivors and their families.
3. Learn about predatory behavior.
4. Protect the Future.
5. Reconsider Pastors on Pedestals.
6. Learn About Impression Management.
7. Apply pressure to address abuse.
Choose one or more and take action. Any of these action items are good steps on the path forward as we collectively pick up the pieces and restore what has been lost. I feel the first two comprising Survivor Care are foundational because they can be lifesaving for victims. However, each person has a unique role according to their circumstances and resources.
BIO
Elisabeth Arnold Ingram is a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and subsequent church abuse. She is passionate about exhorting the Church to follow just Jesus, encouraging others to practice #TraumaConsciousCompassion, and advocating for equality and dignity for all people. You can find her ChurchToo 101 Reading List here: https://a.co/gyK3wbG.