Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
How Safe Is this Subgroup?
Janet Heimlich wrote “Raising awareness of the issue of religious child maltreatment (RCM) and its risk factors is the first step toward protecting children. And that is something we all should strive to do, regardless of whether or not we are members of a faith community. Providing safe spaces for young people is the goal of this session.
Awareness that the Lack of Safety is Problematic
Are You There for Me?
This person bows her head in her hands at a COVID-19 testing site in Boston on July 15, 2020. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)/ Many in U.S. face mental health issues as COVID-19 enters year two | Pew Research Center
Schools, colleges, universities, parks, centers, churches, synagogues, mosques, and homes are spaces where young people gather. But are they feeling safe? Post the 2019 pandemic, statistics about safe spaces suggest young people feel unsafe. During the 2019 pandemic, children trauma escalated. Clinical therapists report findings of an increase in violence among youths. Post-pandemic, according to the research, sex trafficking and violence against children has risen. In addition, there is an increase in the number of people experiencing homeless and suicide rates. Refer to the article, “America’s Homeless Population on the Rise.” All of these factors are the result of mental illness in young people.
RCM – A Challenge to Safety for Faith-based Organizations
A major concern among therapists is the rise of RCM due to the increase of youth availability. Our question to start is, how will groups and organizations adapt to create safe spaces for this subpopulation? For faith-based organizations, it is especially concerning. Why? Historically, the condoning of strict discipline has been an accepted practice. Thus, RCM gets a “pass” as part of strict discipline. A popular response is there exists the mindset of “separation of church and state.”
What Are the Prevailing Questions?
Do we watch as well as pray? Are we our brothers’ keepers? Is it our mission to help those who are suffering in silence? How can we help those who are suffering in silence? Should we call awareness to this issue? Are our places of worship safe spaces?
The voices of participants in this training session are that there must be a call for supporting this subpopulation. Furthermore, RCM training is a necessity to meet the moment. This will help the spiritual, emotional, and physical safety of children and youth.
Let’s Unmask the Issue in Faith-Based Organization
Key points from the participants in this session: (1) The family was the first institution established by God, our Creator. The Church was the second institution. We know the enemy is on a direct path to infiltrate and cause harm to these two institutions. (2) When we talk about breaking the will and building trust to help our vulnerable population, we should not ignore cultural biases. These biases must be addressed to provide safe spaces for mentoring others who need training. (3) We must also consider religious background. In examining religious child maltreatment, I literally had to assess the matter of RCM in the context of my cultural biases and religious upbringing:
1. Whippings – First Introduction to Trauma
Whippings were part of my childhood and community. My parents were not abusive; they were, however, intended to do “justice” as good parents. The Church taught that it was God-inspired. So, my parents instilled that in us. Whipping was taught as to not spare the rod, or you might spoil the child. So, we adopted the philosophy as a show of good parenting skills. Yet, this type of punishment, for parents, inflicted a type of “pain” and trauma. The tears of the child(ren) and lingering negative thoughts about the entire process contributed to this trauma. In lieu of this, spankings and taking away privileges seemed to be the most sensible approach because…
Research of Whupping and Emotional Safety
Janet Heimlich wrote, “But while hitting children is prevalent in black communities, to argue that “whupping” children was a tradition brought over from Africa, or that it is a culturally consistent practice today, is simply false. While many argue that “whupping” children is distinctly the tradition of black families, studies of Africans show this is false. Rather, “whupping” was the teaching from slave masters for conformity to rules and to instill fear. Africans taught that children are gifts, and their spirits are representative of a spiritual birth. Physical discipline is still taught as a social necessity. It aims to keep black children out of the streets, out of prison, or out of police officers’ sight. Again, if “whupping” was the key for children safety, then the prison system should reflect that truth. A Pew Research 2015 survey found that black parents are more than twice as likely as white and Latino parents to use corporal punishment regularly. Click here to review 2019 research article.
2. Whippings – Teaching Corporal Punishment and Causing Psychological Harm
“If we teach not “to spare the rod” as indicative of a parent who does not discipline their child, this is the parent who “hates their child,” what will be the continued outcome??
Early in life, corporal punishment brings psychological harm to children. Children in adulthood react to their emotional experiences. In our workshop, participants felt that this does not mean spankings are never appropriate. However, it is time to view the intent and purpose in our biblical teaching to congregations. Have not the educational institutions done so? Many religious institutions still teach, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children. But the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them (Proverbs 13:24). Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die (Proverbs 23:13).” Historically, this meant the harsher the punishment, the greater the love and teaching.
If “whupping” was the key for children safety, then the prison system should reflect that truth. Instead…black and brown Americans far outnumber other populations. To this I say, it is time to re-assess “whupping” in the context of scripture, history, and culture.
What is the rod? What is the purpose of the staff?
The Hebrew word for rod used in the above Psalm and Proverbs scripture passages, is ʺshabat.ʺ A shabat is specifically the shepherd’s rod in caring for sheep. The Hebrew word mishena has the idea of “something to lean on,” “trust,” “support,” or “staff.” Together, the two words paint a picture of a strong, protective shepherd whom we can trust (neverthirsty.org).
In biblical times, a shepherd consistently used both a rod and a staff to tend the flock. Both tools are to protect the sheep. The rod’s purpose is to direct the sheep and fight off wild animals. The idea is to prod the sheep into the fields and return into the sheepfold by night. The staff is longer, thinner and has a crook at the end. Sheep can be wandering animals at times. The staff was used by the shepherd to take hold of the sheep with the crook. He used the staff to direct the sheep into the direction he should go. Are we using the rod and staff as protective instruments of love?
3. A Simple Startup Plan
Workshop participants drew this conclusion. We are to extend the rod and staff. This serves as a protective force in caring for sheep. On the other hand, I prefer to use the power of prayer. My desire is to rely on the Word of God instead of physical harm when caring for the sheep. When I think of my maternal grandmother, this was her method. I remember her summoning us to sit at her feet. It was time for a serious talk and reflection when we made a mistake. Without lifting her hand to physically correct us, she could bring us to tears. Her probing questions and words of how she was disappointed in our actions were enough for us. With my parents, we feared their physical wrath more than anything. With my grandmother, we did not want to disappoint her. It was just as meaningful in direction.
Jesus uses both the “rod and staff” to guide his sheep toward him. He directs them in the right direction on the right path. Thus, what is the guiding behavior we are seeking?
4. More to RCM than This
When it comes to RCM, there are various methods of abusive behaviors that have not been discussed in this article. I only introduce whippings because of the cultural and familiar religious teaching exposure. The sessions by our clinical therapists are to provide additional insight. The goal is to understand more about the philosophy and psychological threats to make changes. We aim to understand more about how organizers operate under the disguise as religious institutions. Their goal is to subvert God’s Truth. Rather, there is an organized network of abusive behaviors that are perpetrated on our young. They are no longer hiding as much as you might believe.
Finally, as servant leaders, we can’t ignore the increase of institutions forming as religious organizations. Their aim is to infiltrate the minds of young people for personal gain. While this type of religious child maltreatment is not new, the techniques are changing. Infiltrators network by gaining the trust of church leadership. Their common goal is to divert the family and Church. No institution of learning is exempt. No house of worship is exempt. Yes, watchmen, “Watch as well as pray.” We invite you to read other blog posts in support of safe spaces and faith: