Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: Legal FAQs for Church Leaders [Paperback]

Voyle A. Glover Esq. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2005

Many unsuspecting and unprepared churches have been financially and spiritually destroyed by child molestation within the church ministries and the resulting litigation. Written by an experienced lawyer, this handbook provides help to any church dealing with these issues. (20070414)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Glover, an attorney says churches must prepare themselves for the possibility of abuse as they work to prevent it. He offers invaluable advice handling the media, insurance and integrating sexual offenders into a congregation. (Ann Byle The Grand Rapids Press 20060601)

"This practical and pertinent book by attorney Voyle Glover cuts to the chase, providing concise, succinct guidelines for protection against sexual predators. Glover's expertise on a wide variety of issues will minimize a church's risk by reducing the opportunities for predators, decreasing liability, and managing the excessive legal exposure." (Next Step Resources 20060301)

"Not only should this book be in the church library, but librarians should point out this important book to all church leadership. No church can afford to ignore these issues. Highly recommended." (Church Libraries 20060103)

"Any pastor or church leader who follows the advice in this book will dramatically lower his personal and corporate liability in the event of a sexual predator's attack. Voyle Glover, Attorney At Law, delivers an excellent work in this light." (Kirk Wesley Hunt Pneuma Review )

"The most helpful part of the book may be the appendices. There are 11 of them, some very short, but some that might be considered worth the price of the book. We think especially of the forms, such as 'Children's Worker Application,' 'Consent by Volunteer Worker,' and the two 'Questions to Ask,' one dealing with references and one with former churches. We thought the 'Tip Sheet for Trips and Outings' and the information as to where to get information checks ('Resources') were very helpful too. Let's put it like this: the cost of this book is extremely minimal compared with what your church might lose in a law suitóto say nothing of your reputation in the community. We highly recommend it." (The Biblical Evangelist )

"This is an easily read, informative book, handling the subject with sensitivity and a solid dose of truth on all three levels: spiritual, realistic and legal. It is also a must have for every single church, pastor and church leader. Run, do not walk, to the nearest outlet to get this book." (Carolyn R. Scheidies Author's Choice Reviews )

From the Author

At the time I wrote this book, I was employed with the Lake County, Indiana Prosecutor's Office. The impetus for this book came as a result of two molestations by 2 men who were regulars in their churches.  I knew them both. One was man from my own church.

Another church in the area also came under scrutiny when a deacon was discovered molesting a child while in her Sunday School class.  I spoke with the parents (who had wanted to hire me) and referred them to another attorney because I was with the Prosecutor's Office and it would have been a conflict of interest.

I had written a book about this same church and its pastor several years before (Fundamental Seduction). I was completely surprised when a campaign was begun by the pastor of defending this man. The pastor actually said that the courts should not try him (it did and he was found guilty), but if he was tried, he should be tried by the church. (Gasp!)

These experiences worked together to compel me to write a book that would be (1) a quick read; and (2) instructive; and (3) motivational for church leaders and laity alike.  I've been gratified to have received many "thank you's" from readers and church leaders across the nation. Interestingly, there are some critical reviews that are  puzzling unless you understand Fundamental Baptists who were aligned with Jack Hyles, and their hatred of all things Voyle Glover. After Fundamental Seduction came out, I became the Great Satan to them, hence the critical reviews.

One great benefit of the book: It has removed the "Golly-gee-whiz, you love Jesus? Well, come on in and make yourself at home" mindset some churches have. They understand that if you're going to take someone into your church and work with children, you'd better do a background check. I've been able to speak at churches, have counseled some leaders by phone and mail, and it's been a joy to know that God has used the book to save some children...and some churches. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082542691X
• ISBN-13: 978-0825426919
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Life began for me in the woods of Louisiana many years ago. While those years were formative, it was my time spent in the West, in Arizona, that really brought out the "cowboy" in me. I learned to love all things western. My favorite author has always been Louis L'Amour, The Dean of Western Fiction. Every book the man ever wrote has been past my eyes. There is little question that my style was influenced by the man. This is not to say I'm a peer, or even close to being another L'Amour. Every writer has his or her own style. I've got my own style, but I have to confess it's been influenced by this man.

My first story, a novella, was for the premier issue of a California publication, Far West. I'd written L'Amour soon after getting notice of the acceptance of my story. He responded to a question I had, and congratulated me on my first story (yeah, I had to brag a little to him). He revealed to me that we'd be sharing that issue. So, I made it on the cover (my name) right under the featured story by Louis L'Amour.

A few years later I quit writing. Instead, I began college and 8 years later stumbled out of law school(almost literally - since I worked full time the whole way through, I was something of a "zombie" when I left). My legal career put a huge crimp in my time, so my writing languished until 1996 when my book "Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: A Legal FAQ for Church Leaders."

Currently, I'm engaged in pursing my writing with a renewed vigor, having decided that if at all possible, a man ought to do what he truly loves in life. I love writing. Absolute love it. So, the books you find here are the fruits of a love affair with the written word that I've had for years, and finally am able to pursue that love. I've recently completed a Christian Sci-fi novel. I loved doing that story. It stretched the imagination and taxed my writing skills. But, it was a fun story.

Now, I write about those things that interest me. Currently, I have two Christian novels underway, two Westerns, and one non-fiction book dealing with health issues.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, December 14, 2009

By 

T. Floyd "bookgirl" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: Legal FAQs for Church Leaders (Paperback)

I'm a bit mystified by previous low reviews and their take on the message of the book. As someone who is tackling the safety and security issues in my own church, I found this book to be extremely helpful in writing policy and establishing safeguards. Sadly, the author is quite correct when illustrating the often head in the sand attitudes of church staffs/boards today. If you are someone attempting to protect the children in your church, I would highly recommend this book. To clarify legal questions, I would advise as I will do, either talking to the district attorney's office or your church's legal counsel.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Would you allow a predator to teach your child?, January 26, 2009

By 

Voyle A. Glover "Attorney, Author, Speaker" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: Legal FAQs for Church Leaders (Paperback)

I'm truly amazed at the lack of safeguards in so many churches today. Many have absolutely no background checks on workers. Few have a real church policy. Plaintiff lawyers will ask some hard questions the day a child is molested while that child was under church care. Did you follow your policy consistently? Was this foreseeable? What training did your workers have? What steps did you take to prevent this? Ignorance will be no excuse in the court room. This book shows the importance of being prepared to have the right answers. Any church member reading this book will never take a child's safety for granted, again. Would God every church member would read this book and press the leadership for a strong child protection policy. It is written in an easy-to-understand style, with forms and resources. How To Protect Your Child from Sexual Predators ought to be a priority. If you think the monsters aren't real, consider the ones interviewed and discussed in Anna Salter's book: Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, And Other Sex Offenders. This is a very disturbing book that ought to alert every pastor and church member that they absolutely must offer every reasonable safe-guard to the children under their care.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor legal advice, poor documentation, poor presentation, August 31, 2009

By 

m00001 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators: Legal FAQs for Church Leaders (Paperback)

This book is very poor in it's reasoning, documentation and writing style. One comes away from this with the impression that Mr. Glover is using this his status as an attorney to pound against certain fundamentalist-style churches. Sad that this guy is not spending later years doing something useful and productive.

And, on top of that, Mr. Glover feels the need to highly rate & review his own book here on Amazon. Isn't the rating system supposed to be for the readers, not the authors?