The Grace Awakening: Reckoning with Abuse in the Church

Guests: Scot McKnight & Boz Tchividjian.

Interviewer: Maureen Garcia.

Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with author and professor Scot McKnight and attorney Boz Tchividjian about the insidious use of nondisclosure agreements within churches to silence abuse survivors. Plus, how a Dr. Who villain relates to NDAs, the role of the wider-church community in stopping the normalization of confidentiality clauses, and the importance of wielding Scripture with caution.       

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation
• The Weaponization of Perceptions: Part I by Wade Mullen.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guest: Dr. Jeanne Allert.

In this episode, we have a NEW interview with psychologist, speaker, author, and founder of the Institute of Survivor Care, Dr. Jeanne Allert. Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as we talk with Dr. Allert about sexual exploitation recovery, the difference between raising awareness and "trauma drama / trauma voyeurism," and what it means to walk alongside survivors in their healing process. Plus, in our intro/outro discussion, Robert and Hannah talk about the most underrated frameworks and what trauma-informed principles look like when practically applied in a ministry setting.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Institute of Survivor Care
• The Polaris Project
• Institute of Survivor Care Study: Survivor Perspectives on Faith-Based Practices
• Institute of Survivor Care: The Triune Care Model
• The National Landscape Shelter Map
• National Christian Conference on Sexual Exploitation
• Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church by Pete Singer
• Suffering and Heart of God: How Trauma Destroys and Christ Heals by Diane Langberg

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guests: Cheryl Lerfald & Janet Magee.

Interviewer: Pete Singer.

In this episode, Robert and Hannah continue their review of trauma-informed care principles through a GRACE Live Conversation with Cheryl Lerfald and Janet Magee on what collaboration looks like in direct advocacy, within systems, and across systems. Plus, find out which team members from famous fandoms Robert and Hannah think have the best and worst collaboration.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with Cheryl Lerfald and Janet Magee
• Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church by Pete Singer
• GRACE Consultations

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guests: Amy Stier & Leanne Mellado.

Interviewer: Pete Singer.

Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah digest a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Amy Stier and GRACE Board Member Leanne Mellado on the trauma-informed care principle of Empowerment, Voice, and Choice. Additionally, the team discusses bravery, vulnerability, and the cost of coming forward.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with Amy Stier & Leanne Mellado
• Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church by Pete Singer
• GRACE Consultations
• GRACE Survivor Resources Page

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guests: David Pittman & Robert Peters.

Interviewer: Pete Singer.

Join Robert, Hannah and Zane as they discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with David Pittman and past-Robert about the various dimensions of safety and how we can create safer environments and cultures in faith communities. Plus, in honor of Robert listening to himself in an old interview, we talk time-travel, practical safety measures, and wrestling through the fallout of spiritual harm.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with David Pittman and Robert Peters

• GRACE Consultations
• GRACE Free Safeguarding Toolkit
• Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church by Pete Singer

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guest: Karen Swallow Prior

In this episode, we have a NEW interview with speaker, author, and literature professor Dr. Karen Swallow Prior around post-institutionalism, the loss of virtue in leadership, and whether the failure of the Westernized Church spells out the death of Christianity or an opportunity for reformation. Plus, Robert, Hannah, and Zane discuss classic literature, the difference between a mob and a movement, and how a new Star Wars show demonstrates various dimensions of moral courage when it comes to staying or leaving a toxic system.

Resources Mentioned:

• On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books by Karen Swallow Prior
• You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior
• Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse--and Freeing Yourself from Its Power by Wade Mullen
• Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church by Pete Singer

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guest: Scot McKnight.

Interviewer: Boz Tchividjian.

Tune in as Robert, Zane, and Hannah break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with our former Executive Director, Boz Tchividijian, and author Scot McKnight, about finding peace despite being caught in a toxic church system. In addition, the team tackles common fears that keep people trapped in toxic church systems, the cost of leaving, and grassroots methods of cultural change.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with Scot McKnight & Boz Tchividjian
• A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight
• Shattered Sanctuary: The Many Losses of Church Betrayal by Katherine B. Wiens

• GRACE Resources for Survivors

If you find these conversations and resources helpful, please consider supporting GRACE!

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guests: Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat.

Interviewer: Pete Singer

In this episode, Robert, Zane, and Hannah discuss a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat about how toxic church systems are formed and maintained. Plus, the small cultural norms we find bothersome, the culpability of leaders in culture formation, and three stages of reckoning with toxic church systems.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with Wade Mullen & Chuck DeGroat.
• Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse - and Freeing Yourself from Its Power  by Wade Mullen
• Walls of Silence: Protecting the Institution Over the Individual by Boz Tchividjian
• Consultations with GRACE

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Guests: Diane Langberg & Phil Monroe.

Interviewer: Pete Singer

Join Robert, Hannah, and Zane as they listen to and break down a previous GRACE Live Conversation with Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe about what power is, the forms it takes, and how it can be misused in faith settings. Plus, the wisdom (or lack thereof) of bringing back Dire Wolves, the temptation to take shortcuts to power, and prioritizing legal obligations versus caring for the vulnerable.

Resources Mentioned:

• GRACE Live Conversation with Diane Langberg and Phil Monroe

• Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and may not represent the views of GRACE as an organization. Similarly, the presence of a guest on the podcast does not constitute an endorsement of them, their work, or any organization they represent. This podcast is also not a forum for GRACE to discuss past, present, or future investigations or engagements but rather to draw out broader themes, principles, and research around abuse in faith contexts.

Welcome to The GRACE Awakening Podcast! Get to know the GRACE team (including Robert Peters, Zane Hart, and Hannah Fordice) and why a podcast may just be the right place to have complex conversations around reckoning with abuse in the Church today.

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