Author Description

<b>When sexual abuse of adults by clergy and spiritual leaders comes to light, religious institutions need robust procedures in place to deal with offenders and support victims.</b><br>Based on her long experience in ministry working with sexual offenders and their victims, and the training she has undertaken, Anne Stephenson shares the wisdom she has gained, including: <p><li>Characteristics of sexual offenders to be aware of.<br><li>Suggested procedures to deal with offenders and support victims when a complaint is made.<br><li>The victim should only have to tell their story once, so they are not re-victimised by having to retell their story many times.<br><li>The police should be involved.<br><li>Mediation between the offender and victim does not work.<br><li>Sexual offending in a religious institution is a breach of the duty of care that the clergyperson or leader has towards the victim. As such, it should be treated with the same seriousness as a breach of professional ethics in other fields.<br><li>A victim can have a good future, (it may be hard won), and be a survivor. <p>While earthed within the Christian tradition, this book is for all faith communities, traditions and cultures. <br><b>Anne hopes that everyone in the 'dance of life' will find something within this book to assist them in their understanding and then take responsibility for their own situation. </b>