Church as a Safe Place: Confronting, Resolving and Minimizing Abuse in the Church [Paperback]

Peter R. Holmes (Author), Susan B. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2008

We are all looking for relationships and environments that are safe, that give us life. Ssadly, however, many people suffer as a result of the failure to create a safe place within the church environment. Drawing upon the authors’ experience in counseling those who have suffered spiritual abuse, Church as a Safe Place offers help to those who are victims of abuse or anyone committed to ensuring that church is a “safe” place.

Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Authentic (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860246036
• ISBN-13: 978-1860246036
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,966,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful reading should be required reading, November 13, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Church as a Safe Place: Confronting, Resolving and Minimizing Abuse in the Church (Paperback)

Church as a Safe Place by Peter R. Holmes & Susan B. Williams is a powerful indictment of the abuse that goes on in the church and often gets swept under the carpet. And yet, the authors are extremely careful to be loving and recognize that even they are guilty of abuse themselves. Abuse within a congregation is not something easily faced; we all want to believe that the church is a perfect environment reflecting the love of Christ within its brethren. But we are all fallen, so we all harbor dark, selfish thoughts within and are therefore capable of hurting others, sometimes intentionally, other times completely unconsciously. Holmes and Willams have both faced abuse in the past and founded Christ Church Deal in Kent, England to help others recover from past pain and to worship God in a safe place. Together they classify five types of abuse: physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and spiritual, as well as exactly what qualifies as abuse. While they tell some horrifying stories of abuse, they never use them to titillate. They offer solid ways that the church can deal with abuse and how to make the entire body of Christ learn to stop judging and abusing and start Loving. They also address how to get rid of old attitudes and ideas that encourage abuse. The first chapter was a bit tough to get through, but then the reading was compelling and hard to put down. Having recently left an abusive church myself, I found my story written on several pages, and the ideas for healing were very helpful. Every church should have this in their library, and every church leader required to read it.

1.0 out of 5 stars Missed Opportunity, December 29, 2009

By 

Watchman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Church as a Safe Place: Confronting, Resolving and Minimizing Abuse in the Church (Paperback)

This work is most deeply flawed for what it leaves out. Holmes has nothing to say about narcissism in leaders--why does he consider this unimportant?

Far more seriously he has nothing to say about grace. Instead he offers pages of "guidelines"* (rules) while the word grace appears only 11 times** and then only in passing--grace as a theme is ignored completely.

For those who believe that all the problems of abuse in church can be solved by applying guidelines to modify human performance this book will further them on that course. But those who believe that the gospel of grace is the answer to human failings will search in vain for it in this book.

As for me, if it doesn't depend on grace then it isn't the gospel. And if it isn't the gospel then it isn't the church of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

*132 bulleted guidelines, plus countless "should" statements and "suggestions" saturate the text.

**Pages; 14, 98, 106, 140, 142, 145(x2) 206, 212, 273, 274 (Not even in the Index)

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ For The Church To Minister To The Hurting!, October 27, 2008

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Church as a Safe Place: Confronting, Resolving and Minimizing Abuse in the Church (Paperback)

The latest title from Peter R. Holmes and Susan B. Williams is a mouthful: "Church As A Safe Place - A Handbook: Confronting, Resolving and Minimizing Abuse In The Church". Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions for personal reflection. I would also say "discussion," but I decline based on the controversial subject matter and the difficulty with which a study group could be led with this material. This is a well-written, honest and direct, highly important book on an important subject. If properly received and utilized, this book will lead to much healing for victims and transforming us into becoming a much safer church.