By Andy Hale
At the height of the #MeToo Movement, many were astonished to hear stories of #ChurchToo. However, for those who were victims of sexual abuse through the church, the uncovering of these horrific matters was long overdue.
The theology of the church plays a significant role in creating the culture for this abuse to happen. It might be an uncomfortable question to ask, but what happens when our views of God breed misogynistic and abusive mentalities?
“We both survived childhood sexual abuse. We also survived God, at least the God of our childhood churches. That God willed abuse, or at least allowed it, and then judged us for letting ourselves be abused,” said Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Susan M. Shaw on the CBF Podcast Conversation.
Grace and Susan are co-authors of a new book, Surviving God: A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse Survivors.
Grace is the professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion in Indiana, author of numerous books, and has written for Sojourners
Susan is the professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University.
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- The Gardner-Webb School of Divinity: The Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity aims to equip, nurture, encourage, and support men and women for their very best service in the Kingdom of God.
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- Community Transformation Center: Through educational opportunities, community conversations, and research initiatives in collaboration with universities and local leaders, PBACTC is at the forefront of integrating spiritual care into holistic community development.
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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.