SBC Survivors' Retreat for Fall, 2022

The greatest loss for any survivor of sexual violations in the community of faith is the SENSE of community. Establishing a new sense of belonging with other survivors + finding new sets of goals helps immensely in the recovery process. I know this from experience.

 

As a former Southern Baptist missionary and the denomination's first activist, my plan is to offer the first retreat specifically for SBC survivors, drawing from my:

 

1) extensive psychiatric nursing skills plus academic studies in community mental health nursing

2) experience in leading clergy sexual abuse survivors' retreats on an ecumenical basis

3) decades of writing on the topic of Collusion with Abuse in the Faith Community + responding to my readers (See TakeCourage.org)

 

The cost of transportation is the greatest barrier that prevents most survivors from being able to attend a weekend retreat like this.

Money raised will provide for transportation assistance, housing, meals and facility rental to host up to 20 participants.

 

The theme will be Rising to Walk. It will consist of a variety of activities plus a chance to share (or simply to listen) as we explore the impact to holistic health that we are all seeking to restore in some fashion -- social, emotional, spiritual, financial, mental, and physical.

 

Any leftover funds will go toward provision of a second retreat to be offered in the spring of 2023, which may or may not include survivors from other faith groups.