Q&A: Why do abusers thrive in church?

We’re responding to your questions on our latest episode, ‘Why do abusers thrive in church?’

Content warning: This series covers issues of sexual relationships, abuse, gender and identity, so listener discretion is advised. Please look after yourselves.

What does safeguarding look like in practice? What are the signs that a pastoral relationship has become abusive? And how should communities respond when allegations of abuse come to light?

Coming up

Episode 7 – Do Christians just need a good w**k? – is released on Monday 16 February. Now that the average age of marriage in western societies north of 30, is sexual purity really worth two decades of bottled up urges and internalised shame? Perhaps we all might be better off for enjoying a good shame-free w**k every now and then.

The following Q&A is on Monday 2 March – make sure you get your questions to us by Friday 20 February to feature.

Then on Thursday 12 March, we’re joined in person by Revd Dr Helen Paynter for a live event in Leeds on Christianity and the Far Right. Subscribe to our substack page or keep an eye on our socials for more information.

About A God We Could Believe In:

A frank and honest look at Christianity as we find it today. We're examining the things the church says and does that are embarrassing, confusing or even downright offensive. In other religious contexts, your questions might be forbidden but not here. So whether you're a lifelong churchgoer with the scars to prove it, or you've never entered a church and are just interested in the debate, this is a safe space for you.

New episodes are released every other Monday.

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