Why I don't trust church investigations in abuse situations
This is why I don't trust church investigations (internal or external) in abuse situations:
1. I have never seen it work. While this doesn't mean it won't work in some situations, once the abuse is systemic and ongoing, an "investigation" tends to be more of an outward PR move than an indication the church is actually interested in changing.
2. The people who pay for the investigation are usually the people who are responsible for the existence of the problem in the first place. When the power holders are also the enablers and abusers--can we really trust them to choose an investigator who will genuinely be objective and honest? Can we really trust them to choose someone who actually knows what they are doing?
3. Once abuse is ongoing, the church leadership has essentially already lost the trust of their congregation and community. If they haven't, then something is very wrong and may indicate brainwashing and coercive control. It may indicate a very unhealthy congregation. If this is the case, then an investigation is more likely to make things worse, rather than help. Once the leadership has lost the trust of the congregation, an investigation is a bandaid on a gaping wound. It might momentarily staunch the bleeding, but it won't heal the wound.
Disclaimer: An investigation after abuse is ongoing is different from a church taking preventative measures. Churches who are actively putting policy and care in place BEFORE the abuse, might have a shot. They MIGHT recognize the likelihood of abuse occurring is high, indicating they are humble enough to admit they need help before people have been devastated, eviscerated, and erased.
Katherine Spearing MA, CTRC is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit supporting survivors of spiritual abuse and is a Certified Trauma Recovery Practitioner working primarily with clients who have survived cults, high-control environments, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. She also provides specialized trauma informed career coaching, as folks with trauma often need extra support for interviewing and networking.
Katherine is the author of a historical romantic comedy, Hartfords, a novel that challenges gender roles in a patriarchal society that will appeal to fans of Jane Austen. Her next book on Spiritual Abuse addresses the survivor’s recovery journey, coming in 2025.
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