Lutheran Student Movement-USA

1988

1988-11 Resolution of Support Against Child Sexual Abuse

WHEREAS, child sexual abuse is present in our everyday lives and affects our families,

            congregations and communities on ever increasing basis; and

WHEREAS, research shows that one out of every three or four girls and one out of every

four or five boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18, most commonly by relatives and/or friends of the family; one-quarter of this abuse will occur before the age of  7; and

WHEREAS, a major portion of child sexual abuse is either unreported for rear by victims

of harsher and more severe abuse, for fear of breaking up the family, or though denial by victims of its existence and affects on their social, physical, and mental well-being; and

WHEREAS, child abuse often leads to low self-esteem, withdrawal, depression,

substance abuse, running away, prostitution, pornography, and self-mutilation and self-blame for the abuse by the victim, causing serious family and social problems later in life for the victim; and

WHEREAS, we as the church are involved with this issue because members of our

congregations include abusers, children of sexual abuse, and adults who are victims of child sexual abuse; and

WHEREAS, we as Christians believe in God’s grace and are taught forgiveness and

compassion;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LSM-USA, as a movement of concerned

Christians, recognize child sexual abuse as a violent problem and which disturbs and affects the family unit and permanently damages the victim; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as the church, we study the social and theological

issues that promote sexual violence and encourage positive role models and non-violent parenting in educational programs, worship and everyday lives;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LSM-USA urge the church and government to treat

child sexual abuse as a serious issue that needs immediate positive attention; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we realize every individual is important and deserves

a normal, healthy existence even if it means separating the victim and the abuse and commit to listening to and praying for those involved.

Reference

A statement of the American Lutheran Church, “Families and Violence: The Church’s

Role,” Augsburg Publishing, 1986.

Pellauer, Mary, Div. of Parish Service, Lutheran Church in America.  “Ministry to

Abusive Families,” no date.

Sponsored by Julie Lejman, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.