Sexual molestation of children by Protestant clergy of every denomination 'CSMPCED' n.d., 1) The pastor at the Church of the Nazarene was accused of sexual. It is estimated that almost a quarter of the American population has been a victim of child sexual abuse. To what extent does the size of the church play a role in the prevention of sexual abuse of children.
Helping people to wholeness and health should be the mission of the church (van der Poel 1999, 115). The secrecy and silence of the church continued as an insult to the victim even when compensation was offered. Trust is broken, which causes shame to take its ugly place in the child's being.
The response of the church in the past has been extremely bad (Plante and Daniels 2004,388). Surveillance has been one of the crucial steps in the prevention of CSA (Hammar, Klipowicz, and Cobble 1993, 45). Church leaders were determined from a checklist of positions within the church in the demographic section of the tool.
The leader's insights provided insight into the overall understanding of CSA and prevention within the church. Some church leaders were unaware of the low number of churches they screened for CSA prevention. Some of the church leaders strongly disagreed that they received adequate educational training on CSA prevention in seminary.
Church leaders were concerned about conflicts within the church that might arise due to the implementation of CSA preventive measures. There were 12 church leaders concerned about church size as a barrier to CSA prevention steps.
The Likert Response Scale collected data from survey participants to understand the knowledge and training of Church leaders in CSA prevention. The second statement on CSA facts, “Female and male children and/or youth are both at risk,” revealed that the majority of Church leaders acknowledge that both men and women are at risk (m=1.52) and (mode=1, strongly agree). The third statement on CSA facts, “Molesters are single men who have not had adequate relationships with women,” revealed that the majority of church leaders acknowledged single men and that their relationships or lack of relationships were not an issue in CSA (m= 4.11) and (mode=5, strongly disagree).
The majority of church leaders appeared to be educated on the issue of abuse who may be married and/or single, but most were found to be male and married with children of their own (Cozzens Ferguson 1998, www.designm.com; LebergI997. 11; Melton 2002, 19). In fact, child sexual abuse was reported to be more than a Catholic Church concern (Advocates For Youth 2004,. The implication of the statement was that education should be required for all church leaders, so leaders are right.
The fourth CSA fact statement, "Child sexual abuse causes lifelong trauma for the victim," revealed that most church leaders recognize that CSA victims will experience lifelong trauma (m=I.47) and (mode=l, strongly agree) . The fifth and final CSA fact statement, "Most child molesters are caught and punished for their crimes," revealed that most church leaders acknowledged that most molesters were not caught or punished for their crimes (m=4.08) and ( mode=5 , I strongly oppose). Although there was a high level of measurement on the Likert scale response, church leaders need more education as some leaders were not sure about the real facts about CSA.
It appeared that some church leaders were making assumptions about the facts of the CSA rather than qualified statements.
Knowledge of CSA Prevention Steps
The second statement about knowledge about CSA prevention, "Most churches are screening their workers to prevent child sexual abuse," revealed that a portion of church leaders did not know if churches were screening (Hammar, Klipowicz, & Cobble Mead and Balch 1987, 29 ) to prevent abuse (m=3.03) and (mode=3, Neither Agree nor Disagree). Some church leaders assumed that most churches were involved in CSA screening and prevention, but the reality was that most were not screening or using CSA prevention steps. Above all, church leaders must apply the knowledge they already have about CSA prevention.
The third statement regarding knowledge of CSA prevention, "Two adults present in each class is not necessary as long as volunteers are members and in good standing with the church," revealed that a portion of church leaders accept and understand the value of two adults present. in the classroom for CSA prevention (m=3.63) and (mode=5, Strongly disagree). The fourth statement about knowledge about CSA prevention, “Personal references are important for everyone who works with children and/or young people in the church,” revealed that most church leaders know that personal references are important for volunteers and the staff within the church (m=1.58) and (mode=l, Strongly agree). The implication of the statement was that although most church leaders knew that personal references were important, some leaders still did not understand the importance of references.
For church leaders and their churches, education and implementation of CSA prevention steps should be considered. The fifth and final CSA prevention knowledge statement, "Every volunteer and staff member should complete a criminal background check before working with children and/or youth," reveals that most church leaders were aware of the importance of completing a criminal background check . for those who work with minors (m=1.74) and (mode=l, strongly agree). The implication of this statement was that most understood the value of background checks; he was still part of the church leaders who did not understand the importance of criminal background checks.
Church leaders must understand that criminal background checks, especially fingerprinting, will ensure that criminal sex offenders will not have access to their children and youth within their churches.
Another statement about higher education, "I experienced adequate seminary training on the prevention of child sexual abuse in the church," revealed that a portion of church leaders did not agree that they received adequate training (m=3.92) and (mode=5 , I strongly oppose). CSA prevention training was needed at a higher educational level to prepare current and future church leaders to address CSA prevention in the church. The third higher education statement, "It would be helpful to have a two-day workshop on preventing child sexual abuse in the church," showed that most church leaders agreed that a two-day workshop would be helpful ( m=1.89 ) and (mode= 1, I completely agree).
The response suggested that church leaders see value in the two-day workshop being presented in a higher education setting. Church leaders must see this training as a priority for their leaders, staff and volunteers. The fourth statement on higher education: "Education at the seminary level would assist church leaders in establishing steps to prevent child sexual abuse within their own ranks.
Church leaders have expressed a need in their training process for their churches to benefit from CSA prevention training. The fifth and final statement on higher education, “I did not have adequate training in the church child sexual abuse prevention seminary,” revealed that some of the church leaders were unclear about the child abuse prevention seminary training they had received. within the church (m=2.36) and (condition=3, Neither agree nor disagree). Some church leaders have not considered CSA prevention, leaving their churches vulnerable to accusations of abuse.
Exposing church leaders to educational information about CSA prevention would assist churches in protecting their younger members.
RQ 4-Denial
40.37% of churches used a screening form and/or application form to screen volunteers and workers with minors. 18.77% of churches used written reference checks, while 81.23% of churches did not use written reference checks. Fingerprinting would be the safest and most secure way to obtain an accurate criminal background check on volunteers and staff; however, only 16.43% of churches fingerprinted all their employees with minors.
This result meant that 83.57% of churches did not conduct a criminal background check on their workers. There were 27.69% of churches that left classroom doors open, while 72.31% of churches did not use an open door policy as a preventative measure. There were 21.12% of churches that used a hall monitor or duty officer to check on children in their church.
A hall monitor would be a great way to keep an eye out for potential problems, yet 78.88% of churches did not use a hall monitor. Although having two adults present in classrooms would be beneficial, only 39.90% of churches used this prevention step. Local prevention training in the church was carried out by 14.08% of the churches, which meant that 85.92% of the churches did not carry out any kind of training in the local church.
Overall, an average of 28.20% of churches used CSA preventive steps, while 71.80% did not use preventive steps.
Correlation
Leading Christian Denomination
The study concludes with a strong plea to the reader that more research is needed on this critical concern for the church. The crisis is at the door of the church and has also entered the holy places. There was chaos and confusion for the victim, but there was also chaos and confusion in the church.
The call of the Church begins with a single person accepting the call to begin a prevention strategy in the church. The challenge for the Church would be to establish policies and procedures to protect children, youth and other vulnerable members. Monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures was a real challenge for the church.
The Church must begin with one area of prevention and make progress in this critical area of the Church. Change would revive the deadly denial that has existed throughout the history of the Church. Change happens by educating others within the church about the facts of child sexual abuse.
Change would be required for the Church so that the victim could experience healing through a safe environment within the church.
CHURCH LEADER SURVEY
