Sexual Abuse of Children

A brief Seventh-day Adventist perspective

Sexual abusers can be of any age, nationality or socio-economic background. It is common for abusers to deny their behaviour or to see their actions as a problem. Often they rationalise their behaviour or blame something or someone else.

Seventh-day Adventists are not immune from child sexual abuse, but the Adventist Church is committed to addressing it.

What is the church doing to prevent abuse?

The Adventist Church takes reports of abuse seriously. It is committed to holding church leaders and members accountable for maintaining behaviour appropriate for persons in positions of spiritual leadership and trust. It also:

1. Believes in families that foster the self-respect, dignity and purity of children

2. Creates opportunities for children to report sexual abuse

3. Trains ministers and members to recognise the warning signs of child sexual abuse and to respond appropriately

4. Establishes referral relationships with professionals

5. Holds abusers accountable for their actions and disciplines them appropriately

6. Treats fairly people accused of sexually abusing children

7. Dispels commonly held religious and cultural beliefs that may be used to justify or cover up child sexual abuse

8. Provides a ministry of reconciliation to abusers as changed attitudes and behaviour open possibilities for forgiveness

The worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church released in 1997 a statement on the sexual abuse of children. Read the full statement.