Labeling a victim as "powerless" and a survivor as someone who has more “power from within” is a way to pit victims and survivors against each other so that the church can control the narrative about sexual violence.
Category: Anabaptism/Mennonites
God is not an abuser: Responding to Daughters of Promise
Rosemarie and Stephanie discuss a devotional essay written by the wife of a sexual predator.
Sexual abuse in Plain Anabaptist Churches: An Interview with Rosemarie Miller
Rosemarie Miller talks to Stephanie Krehbiel about the prevalence child sexual abuse in Plain Mennonite, Amish, and other conservative Anabaptist communities.
You are where you need to be
If we truly wish to help someone who has experienced sexual violence, then we need to come into their circle, not expect them to come into ours.
Action Alert: Tell Goshen to Listen to Survivors
The goal is simple: Empower victims to speak, and encourage the kind of transparency that makes abuse harder to hide or ignore.
Why Abuse Survivors Still Think Twice Before Telling their Stories: Retaliation At Goshen College
When college officials decry survivors’ use of social media, it’s time to pay extra attention to the content of what has been posted.
Who defines celibacy?: Why Mennonite Central Committee’s “Lifestyle” policy enables sexual harassment
These inconsistent, ambiguous, and coded rules are made to be broken. And so really, the question is, who gets away with breaking them, and who doesn’t?
The Heart of Accountability: Interview with Stephanie Krehbiel, as illustrated by cats
Let me get to the heart of what we mean by accountability.
Better Reporting for Bethel: Student Leaders Discuss Their Resolution to Promote Callisto
For too many college victims, reporting an assault to campus authorities is a scary, obstacle-laden process. At small colleges, where it can seem like everyone knows everyone, reporting can be particularly fraught. What if, for instance, your rapist is related to the Title IX Coordinator? (Yes, unfortunately, we’ve seen that.) What if someone on the … Continue reading Better Reporting for Bethel: Student Leaders Discuss Their Resolution to Promote Callisto
Jay’s Story (Education is Power, Part III)
When I sketched out the shape of our Education is Power series, I envisioned a three-part release of informative articles that could help people understand what is at stake for sexual violence survivors in an attack on Title IX. That was back in July. I had it planned out so neatly. And then the news … Continue reading Jay’s Story (Education is Power, Part III)
