A Special Announcement for
Persons in Position of Trust:
- Pastors/clergymen
- Other Spiritual Leaders
- Politicians
- Medical Doctors
- Psychiatrists
- Lawyers
- CEO’s
- Police Officers
- Military Personnel
- Teachers
- Athletic Coaches
- Nurses
- Counselors
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Massage Therapists
- Parents
- Bus and Taxi Drivers
- and many more
You are invited to attend a seminar on
August 28, 2006 entitled "Not In My Church
. . . Sexual Abuse Prevention & Healing Seminar for People in Power"
Place: Grant's Town Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Wellington Street, Nassau The Bahamas.
(Wellington Street is off Blue Hill Road, east of Butler's Bargain Mart.)
Facilitators: Barrington
Brennen, Dr. Homer Blomfield, Sandra Neville
Not In My Church
"Could this be happening in my church?" asked a concerned Christian
mother who suspected her pastor was molesting a few choir members. The
unfortunate truth is that the commission of sexual improprieties by people
in position of trust is all too common today, and it is creating a giant
wound in our communities. What can we do about it? How can we prevent this
from happening? Persons in position of trust and power are pastors/clergymen
and other spiritual leaders, politicians, medical doctors, psychiatrists,
lawyers, CEO’s, police officers, military personnel, teachers, athletic
coaches, nurses, counselors, psychologists, social workers, massage
therapists, parents, bus and taxi drivers to name a few. For what ever
reason, a few individuals from all of these professions and more, violate
the trust of individuals by attempting to, or actually having sexual
relationships with them. As a result, emotional wounds are oozing from
shameful experiences, thus creating a world of confused, troubled, angry,
and sick people.
PREVENTION & HEALING SEMINAR
To address the serious issue of sexual improprieties, you are invited to
attend a "Sexual Abuse
Prevention & Healing
Seminar for People in Power" on Monday, August 28, 2006 (place and time to
be announced). During the seminar a special movie will be shown entitled
"Not In My Church." It is an award-winning, dramatic video of what one
church faced because of the betrayal of trust by its minister. There will be
a short presentation on sexual abuse and an opportunity for questions and
answers. You will learn about the state of sexual abuse in The Bahamas and
the relevant laws that protect us.
SAD STORIES
There are myriad stories of doctors who have ruined the lives of their
patients by engaging in sexual intercourse with them. We have heard of
pastors who have betrayed the trust of their congregations by living a
secret, sex-craved life with select members, or who have raped or seduced
others. We have heard of pastors who are married but prefer to enjoy sexual
experiences with little boys instead. We also know of athletic coaches who
enjoy preying on the innocence of those entrusted to them by seducing them.
We also know of politicians or CEOs who fire women, threaten, or refuse to
promote qualified workers, simply because they would not play the sexual
game with them. There are stories of police officers who come home feeling
self-fulfilled after a great day at work, expecting to be rewarded with sex
by their wives; but when they do not receive sex freely, they take (or
attempt to) it by force causing much pain and misery. We hear stories of
young trusting daughters who enjoy sleeping on their fathers’ chest, but as
they grow older, are awakened to the shocking reality that they have become
"daddy’s little sex toy." We also hear stories of single mothers who allow
their little sons to sleep in the bed with them, thus exposing them to
sexual innuendos or explicit sex acts at a very early age. We hear of
uncles, boyfriends, and others who are asked to babysit young children, but
instead violate their trust by molesting them.
It is painful. Can we stop this? Join us at "Not in My Church . . .
.Sexual Abuse Prevention & Healing Seminar for People in Power" and let us
begin on August 28, 2008. The first step to putting an end to this is by
admitting that it is happening in our churches, schools, businesses, homes,
and community.
Barrington H. Brennen is a marriage an family therapist. Send your
questions or comments to
questions@soencouragement.org, or P.O. Box N-896, Nassau, The
Bahamas, or call 242-323 8772, or visit the website at
www.soencouragement.org
