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Here are the sessions
Conference Sessions
The Unexpected Journey – Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Key Note Address – Wm Paul Young
Wm Paul Young is the author of the best-selling novel The Shack and a new novel, Cross Roads. Paul grew up as an MK in West Papua among the Dani people who gave him a deep sense of identity that remains with him today.
Journey Toward Wholeness – Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Key Note Address – Beverly Shellrude Thompson
Beverly Shellrude Thompson is president of the Board of Directors of MK Safety Net. She attended Mamou Alliance Academy in West Africa, the boarding school featured in the documentary All God’s Children.
Cutting Through the Challenges of Institutional Self-Protection
Saturday, 9:45 a.m.
Boz Tchividjian, JD
This session will focus on the dangers of institutional self-protection as it relates to how many Christian institutions respond to abuse disclosures and demands for independent reviews. Common methods of “Christianized” institutional self-protection will be highlighted along with accompanying strategies on how each can be successfully addressed. This session will close with a description of a Gospel-centered institutional response to abuse.
Impact on Family Systems – Saturday, 10:45 a.m.
Dr. Bob Campbell
The impact of childhood trauma is deep, but it is also wide – the entire family of the survivor is affected. This presentation will explore the many ways that family dynamics are shifted by the events of the past, and will look at extensions beyond the immediate family, communication issues, and current thinking from family systems therapy. The presentation will then focus on how to begin to heal family relationships. After the presentation, breakout groups will be offered to provide a way to discuss individual situations.
Spirit Journey – Abuse of Theology and How to Overcome Destructive Messages – Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
Dr. Andrew Schmutzer
Victims of sexual abuse face many difficult challenges. While the psychological and relational problems are commonly addressed in therapy and abuse literature, the spiritual side of trauma and healing is not adequately addressed. Adding to this imbalance is a horrific history of church neglect and destructive messages directly and indirectly communicated by faith communities. In this session, theologian and survivor Dr. Andrew J. Schmutzer unpacks some common destructive spiritual messages survivors often face. He also offers constructive ways to reclaim one’s spiritual journey with Jesus Christ, who also suffered.
Healing and Modalities of Therapy – Saturday, 1:45 p.m.
Dr. Bob Campbell
The current research on post-traumatic stress is evolving, and new questions are being asked related to the types of therapy that are effective for survivors of different types of stressful events. This presentation will look at different kinds of stressors, and discuss a variety of therapies that are available for each. It will also provide some practical tools that can be used to reduce the severity of several common psychological and physical symptoms.
Breakout Sessions – Saturday 3:15 p.m.
Use of Media
David Clohessy
This workshop will focus on how talking to the media can not only help victims heal, but also protect others. Practical “how-to’s” will be provided as well as role-playing. David will teach skills that will help get journalists’ attention, motivate volunteers, stay on message and reach/help other survivors (even if the victim chooses to remain anonymous.) This session is helpful to survivors, supporters, and attorneys who represent survivors. When the stories of abuse are reported by the media the positive impact is far-reaching. Details will be explained. Participants will receive handouts including samples of "Media Advisories," "Press Releases" and "Statements by Survivors."
Accessing Your Body's Wisdom: New Alternative Therapies
Dr. Lois Kunkel, Bill Berry, and Teresa Lea
Like Geese heading northward in the spring, the body/psyche has an innate impulse for healing and wholeness. This session will explore various methods of accessing your body's innate wisdom and natural impulse to heal on all levels. Participants will gain an understanding and have the opportunity to experience how Body-Centered approaches access this wisdom and bring wholeness and healing back to the Body/Mind after the Trauma of Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Abuse. Lois Kunkel, Ed. D., will give an experiential presentation on Body-Oriented Psychotherapy. Bill Berry will then present an overview of the "Exploring and Embracing Your Grief and Loss" process. This is a Body-Centered approach to releasing and integrating Trauma from your Family of Origin, Religious Group Contexts, and / or Cross- Cultural Experiences. Teresa Lea will share how Somatics and Principles of Energy Healing and Massage/BodyWork help release deep trauma, moving feelings such as grief, anger, and fear that have been stuck in the body and holding you back. Come experience Your Body's Innate Healing Ability.
Student to Student Abuse
Douglas Withrow
During this session we will examine the developmental, emotional, social and relational factors of abuse. We will explore what is involved in healing for adults who were victims and offenders of abuse. We will identify ways to stop the cycle of abuse and share strategies for confronting abuse.
Legal Options in US Jurisdiction/Canada/Other
Jerald Kessler, JD and Marc Pearlman, JD, Boz Tchividjian, JD
This presentation will include both litigation and mediation as options open to survivors. This presentation will focus on the journey of survivors and the legal options survivors have in an effort to: 1) protect children and other vulnerable people from harm in the future; 2) find healing by reclaiming control and power over their lives; and 3) hold those responsible for the abuse accountable. Sex abuse cases are very unique and need to be treated as such, recognizing the specific needs and goals of the client. In order to achieve these goals it is important that the secrecy and cover-up that has existed around sex abuse be exposed. Usually, this can be accomplished while maintaining the privacy of the survivor. How laws (e.g., statutes of limitations) can impact and/or limit the options that a survivor has and what other options may be available in those situations will also be discussed.
Panel Discussion – Sunday, 8:45 a.m.
Spirit Journey
Rev. Dr. Rich Darr, Moderator
Panel Members: Dianne Couts, Beverly Shellrude Thompson, Rachel Steffen, Boz Tchividjian and Wm Paul Young will share about their spiritual journeys. The discussion will include an open mic session.
Advocacy Summit Sessions*
Reporting Abuse to Civil Authorities – Thursday, 2:00 p.m.
Basyle “Boz” Tchividjian, JD and Rev. Dale and Faith Ingraham
This session will address the many challenges and complications with reporting abuse perpetrated on the mission field to the proper legal authorities. We will discuss the various reporting considerations and methods needed to insure the greatest likelihood of achieving justice.
Initiating In-depth Investigations – Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
Boz Tchividjian
Here we outline the most effective steps victims and families can take to ensure that past abuse is addressed in a truthful and transparent manner. We will address the many difficulties associated with this process, along with providing suggestions on how each can be successfully resolved. A key part of this discussion will be outlining the differences between independent and internal investigations and the ramifications of each.
Using Media – Friday, 8:45 a.m.
David Clohessy
This workshop will focus on how talking to the media can not only help victims heal, but also protect others. Practical “how-to’s” will be provided as well as role-playing. David will teach skills that will help get journalists’ attention, motivate volunteers, stay on message and reach/help other survivors (even if the victim chooses to remain anonymous.) This session is helpful to survivors, supporters, and attorneys who represent survivors. When the stories of abuse are reported by the media the positive impact is far-reaching. Details will be explained. Participants will receive handouts including samples of "Media Advisories," "Press Releases" and "Statements by Survivors."
Reporting Abuse to Supporting Churches So They Will Take Action
Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Melodie Bissell, D.M. Candidate
Enlisting Cooperation from Supporting Churches, Prompting Action
How does a survivor of abuse, effectively share their story of abuse with Church leaders, funders and influencers, with a desired outcome of enlisting support to advocate for far-reaching reform within the mission community? On one hand are we beginning to see glimpses of improvement, baby steps towards change? However who will hold organizations accountable for management decisions, standard of protection, oversight of staff and volunteers, and ethical responsibility for the use of mission donations?
This workshop will provide attendees practical strategies towards gaining the support of influencers and Church leaders who in turn can encourage accountability and/or, write letters, blogs, and articles; withdraw donor funding, gather buy-in from partners and charitable overseers, gain a hearing at Board rooms, call for financial restitution, policy review, audits, and third party / external assessments, or as necessary completely disassociate from the mission organization until reform occurs.
Melodie will speak from her experience in motivating and influencing the church and mission organizations to be accountable, to raise the bar on protection, speak on behalf of the oppressed and abused, be transparent and to fulfill their duty to report and appropriately respond to abuse. Opportunity will also be given following the workshop for round table discussion to further develop the strategies and/or share experiences where support was engaged.
* There will be round table discussions after each session to develop strategies and further share experiences.
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