Category Domestic Violence
An Abusive Marriage, Well-Meaning Christians, and God’s Word
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I ran across a post on Facebook that a friend wrote. Flo Fromer-Wedding posted about the spiritual tug-of-war process she went through while she was in an abusive marriage. Unfortunately, the church is often a volatile place for abused women to get help, especially when there is greater emphasis on the “covenant of marriage,” than the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of individuals in the marriage. Continue reading
Biblical Counseling and Domestic Abuse
Biblical Counseling, Domestic Abuse, Victim Safety, Heath Lambert
-by Kathi
The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) will be holding their annual meeting this fall addressing Biblical counseling and abuse. Leading up to this event I thought it might be a good idea to look at how Biblical counseling addresses domestic abuse. Continue reading
Are Complementarians Tough on Abuse?
K.B. Davies Says Domestic Violence is No Excuse for Divorce Even in Case of Death
-by Kathi
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K.B. Davies frequently comments on Lori Alexander’s Facebook page, The Transformed Wife. Lori allows his comments to stay and doesn’t challenge them. Why Lori leaves comments from men like K.B. and Trey unchallenged is mind boggling. Personally, I would distance myself as far away as possible from someone who uses the Bible to support domestic abuse. The fact that he comments on a women’s-only teaching page is for another day.
Digging a little deeper, he blogs and markets himself with the following: “Transformational Change Agent. Thought Leader. Spiritual Coach. Author & Speaker. Self Development. Personal Growth.”
K.B. Davies recently posted this on his Facebook page: Continue reading
Lori Alexander, Advocate of Women Staying Married to Their Abusers
-by Kathi
Lori Alexander at The Transformed Wife continues to advocate that there is no room for divorce for a spouse experiencing physical abuse.
A commentor at her post, For Those Considering Divorce – Stop!, speaks about her mother’s best friend who would show up with bruises and black eyes. With valid reasoning she questions Lori about not divorcing due to physical abuse. Continue reading
Paige Patterson called an abuse advocacy group “as reprehensible as sex criminals”
Paige Patterson, Sex Abuse, Southern Baptist Convention
Admin note: This blog was written and submitted to Spiritual Sounding Board. The author wishes to remain anonymous. ~ja
Paige Patterson called an abuse advocacy group “as reprehensible as sex criminals”
Did you hear about the movie Spotlight? It won Best Picture in 2015.
It’s a true story about an investigative reporting team from the Boston Globe who uncovered systematic hiding of sexual abuse and abusers in the Catholic Church. The Spotlight team accomplished their exposé, published in 2002, with the help of the organization Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
When the movie aired in 2015, many who had never before heard of SNAP now found out the heartbreaking and heroic work they’d been doing for decades.
But there’s a SNAP outreach for Baptists too, and Christa Brown, the author of the outstanding book This Little Light, was in 2008 the leader of that outreach, having recorded in that book and at www.stopbaptistpredators.com her work of many years in calling for the Southern Baptist Convention to deal with abuse seriously and establish a database of predators so that churches would better be able to avoid filling their pulpits with them.
These efforts failed.
But this does bring us around to Paige Patterson. Continue reading
Analysis: Paige Patterson’s Teachings on Domestic Violence Keep Victims in Harm’s Way
Paige Patterson, Domestic Violence, SBC, Divorce
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Over the weekend, an old recording of an interview from 2000 with Paige Patterson resurfaced, causing an uproar because of his response regarding domestic violence. Paige Patterson is a prominent Southern Baptist leader and president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS).
I have been familiar with this recording for several years, but numerous attempts to address this issue have been ignored. Until now – when the world is paying attention to sexual abuse, harassment, and violence against women especially. It’s about time! Patterson caught wind of the responses and felt he was misrepresented, so he issued a statement yesterday (April 29th). As of this writing, both The Washington Post and Christianity Today have picked up the story.
I have taken a close look at the transcription from the interview and the new statement. The old statement is shown in orange font, the new statement is in purple font and indented. My editorial comments are in black. While Paige Patterson has attempted to clarify his position on domestic violence and respond to the recent firestorm, his new statement in his press release leaves me even more confused. He contradicts his original statement. The new statement sounds more like a fairy tale, rather than a factual incident. Continue reading
Paige Patterson on Domestic Violence: Audiofile Transcript and Resource Links
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On This Page:
- Series Resource Links
- Updates
- Introductory Notes and Key Links
- Chronological Documents, Analysis, and Commentary
- Select Resources and Historical Sources
- Transcript for Audiofile of “Paige Patterson (SBC) Advice to Victims of Domestic Violence”
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Series Resource Links
Resource Links, Part 1 – April 28 through May 22. Historical background resources, audiofile transcript, news articles and social media responses from April 28-May 22.
Resource Links, Part 2 – May 23-28. News articles and social media responses.
Resource Links, Part 3 – May 29 through June 3. News articles and social media responses.
Resource Links, Part 4 – June. Focus on statements and news articles related to topical and institutional issues in advance of the SBC annual meeting of June 11-12.
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Updates
May 12, 2018. This bibliography grew far larger than expected, with delays in finding and posting links to earlier articles. Starting today, new items will appear at the bottom of the section for items from that date of publication, and will be marked with the date the link is added to this bibliography. For readers who just want the latest listings, search for [Link added DATE, 2018.] and fill in the date. Continue reading
Domestic Violence, Ministry, and Controversy in Conservative Christianity: A Guest Post on Historical Context and Perspective
This is a guest post by brad/futuristguy, and is cross-posted on his blog.
Although Brad Sargent is known for his more recent research writings on spiritual abuse from a systemic perspective, he has written and edited on other forms of abuse and violence since the 1980s.
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Statue of Lady Justice © Sebastian Duda, Fotolia #35822634.
Contemporary Conservative Christianity and Questions About Abuse
Contention over abuse and violence in Christian communities has heightened in the era of #metoo and #churchtoo. However, controversies over theology, advocacy, and actions have been with us for a very long time. Recently, comments on abuse made by Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, resurfaced and ignited a social media firestorm. Continue reading
God Loves Victims More Than Saving an Abusive Marriage
Personal Story: What Did the Church Teach You about Yourself?
The Dynamics of Spiritual Abuse Within Domestic Abuse
A Personal Story and a Sad Conclusion When Pastors Failed to Respond Appropriately to Domestic Violence
Will Those in the Real Gospel-Centered Churches Please Stand?
Gospel-Centered Movement, TGC, YRR, Calvinists, Jared Wilson
BREAKING: Leaders at Doug Wilson’s Christ Church Put Woman in Abusive Marriage Under Church Discipline
Mike Lawyer, Counseling, Abuse in Marriage, Abuse of Authority
I have been in contact with a woman named Gen, who has agreed to let me post this letter she received from Mike Lawyer, “on behalf of Christ Church Session.” Christ Church is Doug Wilson’s church in Moscow, Idaho. If you would like to learn more about Doug Wilson and his extra-biblical and spiritually abusive ways, see his name in “Categories” in the side bar.
Gen told me she was in an abusive marriage. She was not physically abused, but was emotionally, verbally, spiritually, and financially abused. She and her husband sought counseling, and were in counseling both together and separately.
Gen also told me that she didn’t respond appropriately to the abuse – that she reacted by yelling and crying. I don’t think that’s an inappropriate response to abuse, do you? That seems very normal. I’m not sure where she learned that she was responsible for her response, but that concerns me because it takes the focus off the perpetrator and places it on the survivor – as if they are both equal sinners.
This following letter was sent to Gen on January 18, 2018. Mike Lawyer has decided he knows her spiritual condition and has determined that she is not living up to being a proper wife, etc. Because of her “unwillingness” to deal with her sins, she is being put in church discipline.
It’s important to understand that Doug Wilson believes that husbands are the heads of the home. He believes in Patriarchy. If husbands are the priests of the home, who do you think they would believe first, the husband or the wife? Continue reading
The David and Louise Turpin Family Homeschool Cult
David and Louise Turpin, Homeschool, Cult, Abuse, Torture
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Most likely you have heard the news about the large homeschooling family, the Turpins, from California. The parents, David, 57, and Louise, 49, Turpin who were arrested for torture and child endangerment, with bail set at $9 million each. Here are some of the key facts:
- David and Louise Turpin are the biological parents of 13 children ranging in age of 2 years to 29 years old.
- They live in Perris, California, not too far from Los Angeles.
- Their 17-yr old daughter escaped from her home early Sunday morning by climbing out of a window, and used a deactivated cell phone to contact authorities. She showed the police photos of the living conditions of the home which convinced authorities to do a welfare check at the house.
- When authorities arrived, they found several children shackled to beds or furniture by chain and padlocks.
- The children were found pale and extremely emaciated.
- It was reported that the 17-yr old looked to be approximately 10 years old. The other adults, too, looked very young for their age.
- David and Louise Anna Turpin were arrested on charges of torture and child endangerment.
- The minor children were taken to one hospital, and the adult children were taken to another. All were given food and drink, and admitted for treatment.
- “US reports say Louise’s parents had tried to visit their daughter and son-in-law in the past, and had to turn back at the airport when the Turpins refused to provide their street address.” Source
- They were known to be hoarders, and the home was dark and had a foul odor.
- The children were rarely seen outside. Neighbors had no clue there were 13 children (and adult children) living in the home.
- They were deeply religious, and were forced to memorize chapters of the Bible
- David Turpin registered his homeschool under the name, Sandcastle Day School in 2011.
Trite, Unhelpful, and Demoralizing Responses to Wives in Harmful Marriages
Book Review Series – “The Power of a Transformed Wife” – Stuffing Feelings and Pretending to Be Joyful
The Power of a Transformed Wife: Lori Alexander, Trusting God, Emotions
-by Kathi
This is a book review series of The Power of a Transformed Wife by Lori Alexander. If you are just joining us, you may click on previous chapter reviews if you’d like to catch up.
Introduction & Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 – Part 1 Chapter 8 – Part 2 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14
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Chapter 15 – The Disciplined Mind: Trusting God & Doing Good
I must admit, it is getting more difficult to read through The Power of a Transformed Wife and garner up the motivation required to continue writing these reviews. I guess I need to trust God to get me through.
This entire chapter can be summed up with the following: 1) Life sucks, 2) Trust God, 3) Think good thoughts, and 4) Do good. Well, this is all fine and dandy if you’re not in an abusive relationship, dealing with anxiety or depression, dealing with a looming financial crisis, or experiencing a chronic medical condition – all of which Lori’s readers have commented on her blog or Facebook page. But, wait! Lori does deal with chronic pain, so what is her answer? Continue reading
