Consulting Committee Informs about Abuse

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Germany has a Consulting Committee whose purpose is to deal with cases of abuse within the church as well as helping victims find counseling. Around 120 pastors, church elders, teachers, pathfinder and youth leaders gathered in Tübingen for a day of information and prevention. The Consulting Committee is made up of a team of professionals, including two WM directors. Oliver Gall, a lawyer, said he would rather speak at 10 such preventive information meetings than to have to deal with a single case of abuse. Unfortunately the church is not immune to cases of abuse. Some of the topics covered were: Symptoms of abuse, the devastation and life-long trauma caused by abuse, how the church should deal with predators, false expectations of forgiveness by the church, and how victims can learn to cope with trauma and recover. The lectures were followed attentively and the presenters hope that what was said will make an impact and help churches and pastors deal with sensitivity when faced with cases of abuse.