SEXUAL ABUSE
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE & STUDENT MINISTRY
High Risk and Low Barriers
By Gregory S . Love & Kimberlee D . Norris
Youth Leader Arrested for Sexual Abuse of 14-Year- Old Girl screams the frontpage headline of a major metropolitan newspaper — yet again .
As detectives investigate , several other teen girls come forward with additional allegations . Parents of students in the program express hurt , anger and bewilderment : how could this happen in a ministry program ?
While it ’ s incomprehensible why offenders sexually abuse children , it ’ s easy to understand why offenders seek access to children where the barriers of protection are lowest . Sadly , this is often the Church , which commonly lacks any real understanding of sexual abuse risk . Further , the Church provides an environment offering forgiveness and welcome , saying “ Come as you are ” and “ No perfect people here ,” unintentionally creating easy access to children for offenders .
Question : Within the Church , which ministry program carries a higher risk for sexual abuse ? Answer : Student Ministry .
Why is sexual abuse risk higher in Student Ministry ? Why are Student Ministers unprepared to address this risk ? What tools are available to resource Student Ministries to reduce this risk ?
Sexual abuse risk is real for churches of all sizes . Not all churches offer classic Children ’ s Ministry and Student Ministry , and there is no one-sizefits-all Student Ministry program . Sexual abuse risk unfolds in varying contexts based on size , staffing and program offerings .
DEMOGRAPHICS Research reveals that the majority of churches are comprised of less than 100 individuals — small churches . In a small church ( up to 200 worshippers ), ministry is commonly bifurcated into ‘ church for adults ’ and ‘ church for kids ’ with a parent volunteer or part-time employee gathering kids of all ages into a room where age-appropriate lessons or activities are provided . In other small-church settings , a staff member or volunteer provides music and lessons for children under a certain age . Programming for children and youth in a small church tends to vary depending upon the demographic served , ministry priority , facility and budget . A mid-sized church ( 200 to 600 worshippers ) generally provides some form of Children ’ s Ministry and Student Ministry , often overseen by a full or part-time Student Minister or Pastor . Programming often relies heavily on church volunteers .
A large church ( 600 + worshippers ) often has a dedicated Children ’ s Minister and Student Minister who oversee distinct programs . In a large church , both Children ’ s Ministry and Student Ministry depend heavily on volunteer workers and leaders .
WHY SEXUAL ABUSE RISK IS HIGHER IN STUDENT MINISTRY Equipped with an understanding of the offender ’ s grooming process , this becomes clear . Preferential Offenders — those who prefer a child ( or youth ) as a sexual partner — tend to gravitate toward child-serving programs that serve children who are within their age and gender of preference . If a Preferential Offender is serving within a ministry program , he or she is there for the purpose of accessing children or youth . Within the program , the offender looks for opportunities to create trusted time alone with the targeted child . Student Ministry , with less structure and greater opportunity for trusted time alone , presents a higher-risk environment . In Student Ministry , the reality of ‘ contact work ’ and relational ministry , often overtly encouraged by the Church , create opportunities for access .
A Dangerous Combination : Trust and Access The Preferential Offender , as opposed to the Abduction Offender ( giving rise to ‘ snatch and grab ’ offenses ), represents a real and significant risk to the Church . The Preferential Offender , seeking access to a specific age and gender of child , quickly identifies the Church as an obvious target , because the Church has gathered the children or youth for the Offender . Having targeted a child-serving program or Church , the Preferential Offender engages in the grooming process , the process whereby the Offender ( 1 ) gains access to children within his age and gender of preference ; ( 2 ) selects one or more children ; ( 3 ) introduces nudity and sexual touch while isolating the child ; and then ( 4 ) keeps the child silent .
48 CHURCH EXECUTIVE • STOP CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE churchexecutive . com