Crosswalk
Rebekah Montgomery
Contributing Writer
In the church nursery, the three-year-old's words came without preamble. "She lifted her shirt and asked me to touch her."
Such a statement would have been appalling anywhere, but it was especially shocking since the child was referring to a trusted 15-year-old girl whose family was deeply involved in children's ministry. This just couldn't be! Something would have to be done, but what? *
From Michael Jackson to Mary Kay Letourneau, from parents to priests, national news is saturated with nauseating stories of child sexual exploitation at the hands of individuals in positions of trust. If the Church won't be a safe harbor, is there any refuge for childhood innocence and purity? And if the Church doesn't forcefully address the issue, who will?
Gary Webb, Children's Ministry Director for Northwoods Community Church, Peoria, Illinois, says parents have a lot reasons for apprehension today. Security and personnel screening, once regarded as an annoyance both to parents and church workers, are considered deciding factors when choosing a church since 9-11.
Posted by kshaw at June 7, 2005 05:58 AM