I teach at a missional seminary. You might wonder what “missional” is all about. Well, I’ve tried to articulate why missional is all about redemptive and redeeming relationships. Such relationships change the ways we relate to those we seek to serve, whether here in the U.S. or in any other part of the world. To read a bit about how missional relates to serving others in Africa, read this post over at the Biblical Seminary faculty blog. It came out on Halloween but Hurricane Sandy made her appearance a few days earlier so I doubt many saw this.
Tag Archives: Biblical Seminary
7 questions about your church’s abuse policy
Over at Biblical Seminary’s faculty blog, I have a new guest post up pointing readers to 7 important questions to ask as they review their church’s existing abuse policy. One of the questions ISN’T whether or not your church HAS an abuse policy. I assume that every church has one already.
Read the post here.
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Biblical Seminary and global trauma recovery?
I have a short blog post over at Biblical Seminary’s faculty post explaining why the seminary is interested in global trauma recovery. You can check it out here.
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Filed under Biblical Seminary
Playing fair in politics? Is it possible?
Getting tired yet of the lies and distortions of the current presidential election race? Tired of the Republican/Democrat fights? Tired of biased media? Would you just like a bit of humility and truth? Well, you might want to read Dr. Sam Logan’s new post over at our Biblical Seminary blog.
His point? Start with yourself. Start by telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth about those with whom you disagree. Imagine pointing out the successes of those in an opposing political or theological party. Imagine pointing out an error without hyperbole or exaggeration.
The section that caught me up short was reviewing what the Westminster Divines saw as violations of the 9th commandment. Sobering. Let Christians be known for telling the whole truth, in love, no matter the personal consequences. Let us not give in to fear-mongering just because others do. And even when it might cost us friends, let us acknowledge the good points our enemies make. Let us play fair even if others do not.
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5 Top Abuse Prevention Actions for Churches
Over at Biblical’s faculty blog I have a new post discussing top abuse prevention and response strategies. These are the most common strategies found in my students’ papers. There are certainly many more strategies and more detail to be had for each item, but for any church looking to review its preparation for an allegation, these five make a great place to start.
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Abuse in the Church Conference Slides and a Quote
A great start to our conference last night. Boz Tchividjian gave us some good things to think about in how predators in the church operate. He named 5 particular exploitations that are common
Exploitations of “religious cover” (aka religious activity); of faith issues (using distorted faith matters to abuse); of power (using authority, “God told me that…”); of trust (christian communities tend to be trusting); of need (churches work only through volunteers, thus the need).
Here’s the quote:
Everyone believes in child protection. But when the status of the alleged offender is high and the status of the victim is low, that is when people start looking for exceptions to their protection policies.
I have placed the slides of my 4 talks (last night’s and 3 from today) in my articles and slides page (scroll to the bottom, in right column). Boz Tchividjian will make his available here as well after the conference.
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Filed under Abuse
Disagreeing in public? Are there some best practices?
I’ve written a post over at our Biblical Seminary faculty blog about the art of disagreeing with others in public. By public I mean the kinds of conversations that take place in face-to-face with an opponent, discussions of a thinker’s position in a classroom, or the kind that take place on Internet sites (e.g., blogs like this, news sites, etc.).
Check out my 5 tips to more loving disagreements. Try it out with your next conflict with a friend or family member.
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Filed under Christianity, conflicts, counseling skills, Doctrine/Theology
Invite your pastor (or key leader) to attend our “abuse in the church” conference, July 20-21 2012
church should be the safest place in the world! Unfortunately, it isn’t always. Even worse, when abuse does happen, the church may not always protect the victims. While this shouldn’t surprise us since the church is full of sinners, we ought always to be working to make it a place free from abuse. Is your church working to protect the congregants from abuse? Is it ready to respond to an abuse allegation?
This summer I will be co-teaching with Boz Tchividjian (Liberty Law School prof and former prosecutor) a weekend course/conference on preventing and responding to abuse in the church. We are inviting church leaders to join our MDiv and counseling students at Branch Creek Church, Harleysville, PA. The class will run Friday night, July 20 and all day Saturday, July 21, 2012. All the details you need can be found on this Abuse Course Flyer.
Would you consider personally inviting your pastor or church leader by passing on this brochure?
For non-student registrations, click here. If you want to see a syllabus, click here.
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Do you know where you are going?
Sometimes we really want to know what lies ahead on the road of life. Other times we do not wish to know–especially griefs that would be too hard to bear before their time. Even Jesus struggled to bear the burden of the cross when he asked that the “cup” pass yet knowing that it would not.
Do we not sometimes present the Christian life as if we are certain what lies ahead (in this life)? Certainly institutions like denominations and seminaries act as if they have great certainty in their mission and vision for the future. Yet, God has ways in changing our outlook and plans. Check out my brief thoughts on the changes at Biblical over at the faculty blog at www.biblical.edu.
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Filed under Biblical Seminary, Uncategorized
Sexual abuse in the church–post on the Biblical Seminary blog
I have a new post on the faculty blog over at www.biblical.edu. You can read it here. When any church faces the sad and grievous reality of abuse within their own community, leaders must respond. If not prepared, leaders may make decisions based on knee-jerk reactions rather than a set of previously discussed core values.
Check out the tale of two church committees (my original but discarded title of the blog).
Related articles
- Is your church prepared to handle an abuse allegation? (wisecounsel.wordpress.com)
- Ministry to Sex Offenders? post on www.biblical.edu blog site (wisecounsel.wordpress.com)
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Filed under Abuse, Christianity, counseling skills
Musings on Faith and Psychology 