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	Christian Reformed Church in North America Synod Takes Action on Issue of Sex Abuse: Many Delegates Acknowledge Problems in Their Churches By Margaret DeRitter Kalamazoo Gazette June 18, 2010 http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/06/christian_reformed_church_in_n.html The sex-abuse scandal has heated up again in the Catholic Church, but it’s not the only Christian church dealing with the issue. The Christian Reformed Church in North America is acknowledging its ownfailures in dealing with victims of sexual abuse and has passedrecommendations aimed at improving awareness, prevention and justice. This week at the annual meeting of the denomination’s ruling body,delegates asked God to forgive the failure of the CRC to respond justlyand compassionately over the years to abuse victims, according to anews release posted on the CRC website. Delegates to the CRC Synod, meeting in Palos Heights, Ill., alsoexpressed repentance that perpetrators of abuse have not always beendisciplined adequately by church councils. According to the news release, the Wednesday prayer followed a lengthydiscussion on a report from the denomination’s Abuse Victims TaskForce, which was asked by synod several years ago to establishguidelines on how churches handle abuse allegations against churchleaders. Many delegates, said the release, acknowledged that abuse hasbeen a problem in their churches and that their church councils havenot always responded in the best manner, often from a lack of knowledgeor proper training. The synod approved recommendations: * Urging church councils to provide for the pastoral-care needs ofall concerned, including the accused, when an allegation of sexualabuse by a church leader is made. * Reaffirming the decision of Synod 2005 to support the applicationof restorative justice in abuse cases, recognizing that it will not beappropriate in all cases. This is a process in which the parties to anincident come together to seek resolution. * Beginning implementation of pilot projects using restorativejustice and other alternative approaches to see if they can work inresolving sexual abuse cases. * Asking denominational staff to develop training, prevention andawareness-raising materials that can help church councils and othersbetter address the complex factors that come into play when a complaintof sexual abuse is made against a church leader. * Asking the Board of Trustees to instruct the executive directorof the CRC “to develop a handbook, as soon as possible, that clearlydescribes the roles and responsibilities of church council members whenan allegation of sexual abuse by a church leader arises.” Although the recommendations passed by Synod do not state explicitlythat churches should report cases of sexual abuse to civil authorities,“we understand that, first of all, you meet all the legalrequirements,” said Henry Hess, the CRC’s director of communications,when contacted by phone Thursday. “Not reporting it is not an option,” he said. The CRC has an office of Safe Church Ministry, formerly named theOffice of Abuse Prevention, that deals with the issue of sexual abuse.
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