Abuse guide launch

A new resource on spiritual abuse and pastoral malpractice has just been launched at an event in Westminster Palace.

The book Challenging Leaders: Preventing and Investigating Allegations of Pastoral Malpractice is being produced by Affinity and is due to be published by Christian Focus Publications in March 2023.

Affinity’s director Graham Nicholls said: ‘Abuse of power by leaders and of leaders is happening. It’s wrong, and we need to deal with it compassionately and Biblically.’

He added that, while it was important to recognise the reality of abuse, it is sometimes wrongly dismissed as part of a ‘secular victim culture’. However, churches should approach the issue through a Biblical lens.

He said: ‘I know that some of the contributors have been closely involved with a number of cases and I have personally spoken with people who would identify as survivors of abuse; and those who as leaders have experienced what they would see as unfair accusations. We have attempted to include those insights in the book.’

Nicholls said recent cases of malpractice and abuse within evangelical churches were an impetus for the production of the guide.

The book was originally designed as an online-only resource, but Nicholls explained: ‘As we developed the guide together it became clear that it would work better and have a greater impact as a physical book with wrap-around resources such as blogs, seminars, and a podcast where we will be interviewing church leaders and survivors.’

‘Conservative evangelicals are perhaps the worst for pushing the wounded out of the way,’ he added. The launch event was sponsored by Janet Daby MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities. She commented: ‘Safeguarding in all religious settings is important, and I am grateful for the contribution this new suite of resources will make to helping evangelical churches discuss this issue in their communities.’

Ahead of publication, Affinity plans to release resources on its website and establish moderated forums for discussing issues surrounding spiritual abuse.