Joannie Yorba-Gray

For many of us, church represents God. Whether it is right or wrong to have this expectation, church is supposed to be a safe place where we can worship God and study His word--and the important word here is 'safe'. Spiritual abuse is a type of abuse that damages the central core of of the victim. Boundaries are often broken within Adventist between professors and students, doctors and staff members, and also between pastors and parishioners. There is further guardedness among members in general, especially between those who have less financial and social 'clout' than others. Personal secrets can effect social and political limitations with the system… (mer)