2. Sex offenders and the faith community: awareness raising

This course is designed for those with responsibility for providing a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults in churches and other faith communities. It is designed to offer a basic introduction to the issues of sexual abuse within families and the community, to apply this information within a faith community context and to help in the development of appropriate policy and practice.

Course overview

Our faith communities would be naïve if they thought all the ills of society, including sexual abuse, were not present within those communities. Indeed, research has indicated that convicted sex offenders are rather more likely to find themselves in church than non-convicted adult males. Such offenders have often used their beliefs or the institutions of their religion to support, condone or not hold them accountable for their behaviour. Children and other vulnerable individuals, including victims of child sexual abuse, also attend such communities in large numbers.

The course is designed to provide information on all the above; to have participants share and learn and work to construct appropriately safe and supportive environments for all.

Course aims

• To provide information about different types of sex offenders and their patterns of behaviour
  
  
• To apply these models to examples of sex offenders operating within the faith communities
  
  
• To consider how these offenders used their faith or religious institution to support their offending
  
  
• To consider the implications of the above in creating a safe environment for children and other vulnerable adults
  
  
• To consider the implications of the above in creating a hopeful, supportive and accountable environment for known offenders
  

For further information and to discuss your individual needs please contact the Training Co-ordinator on 01527 591922 or email: training@lucyfaithfull.org.uk