Note: The following letter and attached PDF contain references to sexual abuse. Please read cautiously if this is triggering for you.
Dear Redeemer Family,
I am writing to you today to share with you a very important letter from our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Warner and to inform you of an investigation that has recently been released regarding sexual abuse that took place between 1990-2002 at The Falls Church Anglican (TFCA) in Northern Virginia. This coming Sunday (tomorrow, April 28), I will read the Bishop’s letter publicly at both the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services.
In the following, I will try to provide some context for those of you who are unfamiliar with The Falls Church Anglican or with the sexual abuse prevention policies that are in place here at Redeemer.
REDEEMER’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN (TFCA)
Redeemer is a church plant that came out of TFCA in 2016. You might say that TFCA is our mother church and we are their daughter church. I (Dan) was on staff at TFCA from 2014-2016 in what was then called the “Timothy Program,” a multi-year church planting and clergy development residency.
It is also important to note that the Falls Church Anglican is what might be termed a “flagship church” in our Diocese (Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic) and in our denomination (Anglican Church in North America).
Additionally, a number of Redeemer parishioners are either former members of TFCA or have close relational connections with that parish. This is important to note because there are real men and women who call Redeemer home that are deeply impacted and hurt by what has transpired at TFCA.
WHAT ABOUT OUR PARISH?
Now, for many of us, when we hear stories about the evil of abuse and the pain it causes people, it is natural for us to immediately begin to wonder what kind of systems are in place in our parish and what we can do to prevent such atrocities from happening here.
So in the next few sections, I’d like to walk us through a few different items that will help us understand and care well for our own parish.
REDEEMER’S SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES
Redeemer complies with the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic Protection of Children Policies by requiring all volunteers who work with minors (both in Children’s and Youth ministry) to undergo background checks, reference checks, and to complete Child Safety Training every two years through Ministry Safe. Additionally, all Staff and Vestry members are required to complete this Child Safety Training regardless of whether or not they actively volunteer with Children’s or Youth Ministry.
COULD ABUSE HAPPEN AT REDEEMER?
Though the Vestry and Staff here at Redeemer desire to make every effort to protect our parish from abuse, we recognize that no church, no matter how healthy, is able to guarantee safety.
Dr. Diane Langberg, noted Christian trauma specialist and counselor, in observing repeatedly that “sexual abuse can happen anywhere,” states as follows:
The first lesson for preventing abuse is a recognition that sexual abuse is not a problem out there; it is in here. It sits in our pews, it happens in our homes and schools. It occurs in churches, on mission fields, and within our organizations. We need to know how to speak about it, teach truth about it, and protect the vulnerable and care for those whose lives have been shattered by it.¹
I doubt that Dr. Langberg means we should never trust anyone in the church, but she appears to be saying that church leaders and staff need to be humble enough to recognize that they do not know everything, and wise enough to know that no organization, including the church, can ever view itself as being above the possibility of abuse happening in its midst.²
Every family, church, school, or social organization would like to think that their group is above this sort of thing. We would like to think, “that would never happen here.” But when we begin to think that our group is special or somehow less sinful than other groups, we not only delude ourselves, we open the door wider for abuse.
PROTECT THE INSTITUTION?
When abuse happens, sometimes people take on a “protect the institution” mentality that can lead them to diminish the pain of victims in an effort to preserve the good name of their beloved institution. We must remember, the church is the people. So in a church setting, it would be nonsensical to protect the people at the expense of the people. Therefore, when we protect victims by telling the truth about abuse, we are protecting the church.
Our hope here at Redeemer is that we will always remember that our Lord Jesus loves the poor, the vulnerable, the wounded, the oppressed, the abused, and the hurt. We must never seek to protect Redeemer’s “good name” at the expense of caring for individuals. We must be people of compassionate care and people of the truth.
HELP FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE
I am aware that many of you who call Redeemer home have suffered abuse in the past and are in various stages of the healing process. Others of you have suffered abuse, or know someone who has, and perhaps have never come forward and spoken about it. So at this point, I want to offer an invitation for any of you who have suffered abuse to talk to someone. For this, you have a number of options:
You can always come to me (Dan) or any of the staff or Vestry members of our parish.
There are a number of excellent Christian counseling groups in town that offer safe spaces to tell the truth. In particular we recommend The Barnabas Center and Haven Christian Counseling.
Our Diocese also has a number of helpful resources for reporting abuse and misconduct and receiving care. I would recommend visiting this page on the diocesan website.
A WAY FOR EVERYONE TO HELP REDEEMER BE A SAFE PARISH
There are many ways in which you can help Redeemer be a safe parish going forward. Here are two:
The first is, if you see something, say something. If you have concerns or suspicions about potential abuse, it is better to speak up than to remain silent.
The second is, you might consider taking our Child Safety and Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. There are three offerings coming up on: May 26, June 23, and July 21. You can register for a class here.
PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE
In all of this, we are entirely dependent on the Lord’s mercy, help, and healing. So let’s pray together using these words. If you are able, I would recommend pausing to pray this out loud.
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by his blood on the cross. Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them. Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people's wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Redeemer family, I am grieved that these horrible evils were committed against precious children of God. Tomorrow (Sunday, April 28) I will read the Bishop’s letter and speak about this briefly up front at both services. If you are able, please be in prayer for the victims involved in this investigation and for all who have suffered abuse.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
In the Father’s love,
¹ Langberg, Diane. When The Church Becomes Complicit In Sin: Lessons On Preventing and Combatting Sexual Abuse
² In this paragraph, I quote directly from p. 81 of the Investigation Report.
