Christian Community

Half a million children are thought to be sexually abused each year. These children are violated in the most soul-scarring ways, and in the vast majority of cases, by people they know and trust. The recent crisis in the Roman Catholic Church dramatically illustrated that people we love and admire may turn out to be sex offenders. No faith community is immune to this problem, and keeping children safe must be a priority for all congregations.

In response to these realities, The Reverend Debra Haffner has written a new book – A Time to Heal: Protecting Children and Ministering to Sex Offenders. The first priority for congregations in dealing with these issues must be to keep children safe, but churches and synagogues can’t ignore the need to include/welcome people with a history of sex offenses who have successfully completed treatment.

There is some evidence that involvement in a faith community may actually lower the probability of recidivism by a convicted sex offender, and [delete some] probation and parole officers may actually encourage released offenders to become involved with a faith community. While most churches and synagogues are not prepared to deal with the presence of a convicted sex offenders, the reality is that the unknown sex offender represents a greater danger to children.

This book provides the tools that faith communities need to:

• Determine under what circumstances, if any, a convicted sex offender may be involved in the congregation.
• Determine how to respond if someone in the congregation is accused of a sexual offense.
• Be sensitive to and supportive of persons in the congregation who have been victims of abuse.
• Develop and implement strategies that will keep children in the congregation safe and which will prevent sexual abuse from happening.

This is an important book for clergy, lay leadership in churches and synagogues, denominational executives, regional judicatory executives, correctional officials, judges, parole officers, probation officers, and treatment providers. It shows the unique way that faith communities can make a difference both by protecting and transforming lives. It is the first publication of it's kind to address these issues.

The author of the book, The Reverend Debra W. Haffner, is the director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, a division of Christian Community. She is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. She was the President and CEO of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States from 1988 to 2000. She is the author of two award-winning books for parents, Beyond the Big Talk and From Diapers to Dating as well as numerous resources for faith communities and schools. She teaches courses on ”Sexuality Issues for Ministers” at Union Theological Seminary and Yale Divinity School.




MYTH 1: The greatest threats to children are known sex offenders or strangers.

The fact is that in 90% of the cases of child sexual abuse, the abuser is an adult the child knows and trusts: they are parents, stepparents, grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, teachers, coaches, and yes, clergy and religious educators. More than eight in 10 sexual abusers are never reported.

Each faith community must have a commitment to assuring that congregations are safe places for all children, youth, and vulnerable adults. In addition, congregations must be committed to providing compassionate support to those who struggle with a personal history of child sexual abuse or face this problem today in their own families. Ministry to victims of sexual abuse is crucial.

MYTH 2: Almost all sex offenders will reoffend.

The research tells us that the vast majority of treated sex offenders will not reoffend. The fact is that sex offenders can resume healthy lives in the community, including not committing other offenses, if they have completed treatment and if they have a commitment to never abuse another child. In a comprehensive review of more than 61 studies, all treated sex offenders had a reoffense rate for another sexual crime of less than 13%. In other words, 87% of sex offenders in these studies who received treatment did not commit another offense.

MYTH 3: Sexual abuse happens to other people.

The fact is that a significant minority of adults has survived histories of child sexual abuse. And, child sexual abuse occurs in all types of families, even “nice families,” without regard to religion, ethnicity, or economic status.

There are minimum policies that every congregation can consider in order to keep children and youth safe and to build the foundation for dealing with a convicted sex offender.


If a congregation permits the involvement of a convicted offender, the overall message to that person should be that he or she is welcome to participate inadult worship, adult social, and adult education activities AND that he or she must covenant with the congregation to avoid all contact with children. But our responsibility to keeping children safe must go further than monitoring persons who are known offenders. Here’s a quick self-assessment to help your congregation. Do you:

1. Have a Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Response Team with primary responsibilities for these issues?
2. Make sure that the clergy person, the director of religious education, and the board chair know the state laws for reporting concerns about abuse to children? Do all volunteers in the religious education program receive annual training on what to do if they suspect child abuse or child sexual abuse?
3. Have a screening form for all employees, regardless of position, and all volunteers who work with children and youth asking them directly about possible histories of sexual offenses?
4. Have each staff person and each volunteer who works with children and youth sign an agreement to teach form that includes information about sexual abuse and harassment?
5. Have a draft of a Limited Access Agreement or checklist for convicted or accused sex offenders that can be used and adapted if this situation arises?
6. Include education about child sexual abuse prevention in the religious education program at least twice during elementary school and once during middle school and high school?
7. Hold an annual adult education program on sexual abuse prevention for parents and families?
8. Have two adults present in each class or program for children and youth as well as in cars transporting young people to activities?
9. Have a referral list of community organizations and therapists who specialize in sex abuse prevention and treatment in case they are needed?
10. Have support groups or counseling available to those who have survived child sexual abuse?

Quantity discounts are available for A Time to Heal: Protecting Children and Ministering to Sex Offenders. Click here to order.