Keeping Our Churches Safe From and For Sexual Offenders

Worldview Church » November 2008

Chester, VT

One of the pressing problems facing church leadership today is the challenge of dealing with a known sexual offender in the congregation. Whereas we often would like to chase the miscreant out and eliminate our share of the problem, we know in our hearts that the Lord calls all of us to minister to the least, the lost and the last; including those whose problems frighten us and our communities. We also know in our hearts that these individuals need the comfort and solace that can only come from a community that truly loves them and seeks their well being, but that this cannot come at the cost of hurt and danger to others.

A recent seminar was held at a church in Springfield, Vermont, and drew attendees from a wide radius to listen to the presentations and discuss the impact of sexual offenders’ presence in their churches.

Pastor Pete Fiske of the Church At Prison (CAP) in Jericho, Vermont, and the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC), have developed this seminar to lead pastors and church leaders through an analysis of this problem, helping them develop policies and covenants to insure the safety of all participants. It includes a discussion of the myths and facts about sexual offenders; a presentation on the Vermont Treatment Program for Sexual Abusers (VTSPA), a program that has received international recognition for its results in reducing recidivism among sexual offenders; a detailed presentation of church impact with examples of possible policies and covenants between the offender and community; and presentations by individuals who have suffered from and faced these issues. This latter group includes victims and/or their representatives, as well as offenders who have been restored by their community through this program.

The experiences shared by church communities at the seminar ranged from those dealing successfully with sexual offenders attending their churches to a church in crisis having just discovered a sexual predator in their midst.

Perhaps your church or a church in your community has had to or will have to walk through a similar scenario. Please feel free to lean on the wisdom and work of others who have already walked this path.

Additional information is available from:

Pastor Pete Fiske
Church At Prison, Inc.
PO Box 1128
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 899-1437

John Nunnikhoven is a retired inn-keeper and full-time volunteer in prison and other ministries in Chester, Vt.