Once upon a time, germs were mothers’ biggest worry when they dropped off children in the church nursery. Today, it is pedophiles.
And don’t think pedophiles are all male. Mary Kay Letourneau and others are part of a growing trend toward violent female behaviors, such as pedophilia, spousal murder — women now perpetrate 41 percent, and child murders — women now commit 55 percent. (The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice)
On the matter of female pedophilia, solid statistics are hard to find. However, as girls are exposed to explicit material at younger and younger ages, psychologists and counselors are expressing alarm over an upswing in female-initiated molestations.
Whoever initiates the abuse, women’s ministry leaders often have to scramble to cover the nursery and other areas of childcare. Therefore, they must be especially vigilant. While we may fool ourselves into imagining that such crimes only happen somewhere else, Gary Webb, Children’s Ministry Director for Northwoods Community Church, Peoria, Illinois, expressed caution that children attending smaller churches are more at risk for sex*ual exploitation than those in bigger ones.
“In smaller churches, there can be a sense of false security. People say, ‘Abuse would never happen here. We know our people.’ They only think they know people. Statistics show that abuse is more often perpetrated by people familiar and trusted by the child. In a larger church, we must have systems that work because we don’t know everybody,” said Webb.
“We would rather turn children away than put them at any risk by sloppy screening,” Webb added. “We practice responsible follow-up for childcare volunteers.”
Webb suggests a 3-step process before a volunteer is approved. They must:
- Complete an application in which references are checked and the applicant’s name is screened through the state and local sex offender listings.
- Attend a 70-90 minute orientation, clearly spelling out the mission, vision, values, safety, and expectations policies.
- Have a personal interview with a staff member.
Webb further counsels that all churches, regardless of the size, should be proactive in defense of children. He suggests that churches:
- Create and follow systems protecting children and volunteers.
- Recognize that systems are never perfect and be vigilant about watching people.
- Rather than skepticism, create an atmosphere of accountability and mutual understanding that security is in everyone’s best interest.
- When and if you have a violation, report it immediately. Do not attempt to handle suspected abuse in a vacuum. Everyone has limitations of resources and wisdom.
- Suspected incidents should be handled privately and discreetly, but not buried.
If homes and schools are no longer safe, the Church must be a protected haven for children. Of all people, Christ’s followers must safeguard children and ministry to them as Jesus did when He delivered strong words for those who would abuse children and those who are party to allowing it to continue: “Let the little children come to Me,” Jesus said, as He volunteered for a hands-on role. “But anyone who causes a little one to sin should have a millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the sea. But woe to the person who causes others to sin.” Matthew 18 paraphrase)
Gary Webb is available to consult with churches as time allows. His passion is to network and resource the local church, with the goal of achieving higher effectiveness in children’s ministry. Contact him at [email protected].
© Rebekah Montgomery 2005
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