DECLARATION OF PURPOSE REGARDING SPIRITUAL ABUSE

AIM & PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document is an attempt by this church to identify, highlight and unreservedly stand against any form of spiritual abuse being practiced, permitted or tolerated within our community and/or influence, and to make a public declaration of purpose to this end before this community.

Definition of Spiritual Abuse

The term Spiritual Abuse as used in this document is referring to the manipulation and exploitation of others by the misuse of spiritual privilege and power. In a more expanded form, it is one person or group of people, getting another or others to do something against their will, using their love and devotion to God and Jesus in some manipulative kind of way. Invariably there is involved a ripping away from an individual/s something incredibly precious in their walk with Jesus, leaving them hurt and wounded as a result.

Declaration of Intent

1. This Church acknowledges that within the Body of Christ spiritual abuse has and does take place, and that as far as this Church is concerned , it will either initiate or support its exposure, and will also do all within its power to deal with and/or eradicate it whenever its presence is detected

Further, this Church pledges that where needed ( and as decided by the leadership also), those parts ( or even the whole) of the Church will be alerted to its existence as well, to the end that it be eradicated.

2. The leaders of this church voluntarily allow themselves to be held accountable to each person in the church for all activities they engage in as spiritual leaders, regardless of whether the person is a member, partner, visitor or member of the community which this church seeks to minister to.

3. This Church intends with God’s help to seek out and prevent spiritual abuse

Within this church from taking place:

A. Both now and into the future of this community.

B. We also undertake to accept the fact that past abuses, deliberately covered up, avoided or just neglected, if brought to our attention, and it is clear that something positive and helpful can be done, that we will indeed follow up on this. We acknowledge that failure here would hold back the blessings of God both for our local church, and the world-wide body of Christ as well.

C. We commit ourselves to deal wisely and justly, without partiality, in whatever way God directs us to, in any of these areas that He may from this point bring to our minds or our attention.

Submitted by Gary Parsons.

September 2008