Hagar's Voice

Show Notes:
In this episode Christie shares about the direct link between the narrative she received about her gender & the vulnerability that created for her to be groomed. There is so much to be gleaned from Christie’s story whether you’re a survivor, a religious leader, a parent or a woman who has questions about her safety. We are so grateful for Christie’s courage to share & her entirely unique way of seeing the world - we stand in solidarity with her call for us to make changes & honor her for the brave way she shows up in the world.

Here are some resources you might find helpful as they relate to our conversation in episode 3:

A series of recommended resources if you’re leaning into a growing awareness of the gender dynamics in North America...looking to embrace a narrative about women that prevents abuse, promotes equity & protects victims of abuse as they come forward.

A resource for proofing your teens/children from grooming and abuse

We highly recommend checking out www.RestoredVoicesCollective.com, a survivor-led community for survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse. A beautiful environment of solidarity, safety & encouragement, we are so grateful for the work they do!

In episode 1 of the Hagar's Voice podcast, we hear the story of Heidi, a pastor in the Four Square denomination who suffered sexual harassment from her fellow pastor (the president of Ignite Academy) and then a secondary trauma in the disclosure process. We honor Heidi for her courage to raise her voice in solidarity with her own story, on behalf of others who have experienced deep pain in their religious space, and in an effort to protect others who may be in harm's way for future abuse.

Heidi has offered the full results of the investigation (updated link) done in her case, as well as her timeline of events and a letter to her Four Square family in a desire to walk in full transparency.

Heidi's courage to tell her story is a model of the courage we will need as we hear stories like this. The courage to believe a better way can be developed in the Church. The courage to value survivors even as their stories disrupt and disturb us. The courage to love our enemies. The courage to pray for a continued unearthing of this cancer of abuse that's harming the Church from the inside out.

If you, or someone you know, has been the victim of clergy sexual abuse, Hagar's Voice is working together to stop the abuse & start building a better way. We are here for you, you are not alone. www.HagarsVoice.com

A HUGE thank you to Alexa Barkley for her encouragement and wisdom. She has provided some resources and references that you might find helpful:
Here is the article that tells a few more/different details of Alexa's story
Alexa's correspondence with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec (CBOQ)demonstrates very typical behavior for organizations that are lacking trauma-informed care principles and are oriented around a desire to protect the institution instead of orienting around making the situation right. This correspondence also demonstrates the effort so many survivors go to in order to 1) be heard, 2) be grace-filled, and 3) use their voice to educate decision-makers. It is nothing short of heroic.

Jaymie Friesen of the Mennonite Central Committee is part of Alexa's circle of support and her letter to the CBOQ is a powerful demonstration of truth-telling and holding decision-makers accountable for their responsibilities. It is educational and not abusive, but it pulls no punches. The Mennonites also have an Abuse Prevention site that is incredibly insightful and helpful. It demonstrates incredible transparency in naming abusers who have had credible claims brought against them. Well done, MCC.

Into Account is a powerhouse USA-based advocacy organization that Alexa referenced & that Hagar's Voice highly recommends for survivors seeking advocacy or decision-makers seeking guidance.

#ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing is a resource Alexa mentioned. She also recommends You Are Your Own – A Reckoning with the Religious Trauma of Evangelical Christianity & Pure – Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free & Putting Trials on Trial – Sexual Assault and the Failure of the Legal Profession Each of these books is available in multiple formats.
Those interested in the connection between purity culture and abuse might consider the thus-themed season of the Reclaiming My Theology podcast by Brandi Miller. This season ran from Nov 2022 through May 2023 and is an in-depth autopsy of the theologies behind the purity movement and the ramifications of it still playing out today on more than just gender dynamics. This podcast can be found on all major platforms.
If you'd like to connect with Alexa, you can find her on Instagram @alexa.m.barkley or Facebook as alexa.barkley.7

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to Christie Penner Worden for returning to the podcast for some deeper learnings and a whole boatload of wisdom.
Some items related to today's themes:
Better Together: How Women & Men Can Heal the Divide and Work Together to Transform the Future by Danielle Strickland
Christie's 4 Warning Signs/Flags: confusion, chaos, distraction & destruction
Christie's Steps for Abuse Prevention:
1) Collect warning signs as you go along (know you unique flags)
2) Pre-Decide you have options (determine now that you have agency)
3) Visualize acceptable options (imagine your authentic self using your agency to respond to abuse)

This episode shares the story of a survivor who experienced abuse in two different industries and a traumatic trip through the court system. The story (and therefore episode) is long, but there are obvious breaks along the way to pace your own processing as you listen. The survivor, "Cassandra*" has been incredibly generous to provide the following show notes and access to communicate with her if you'd like.
RELATED ARTICLES:

"Cassandra’s" complaint to the Federal Ombudsperson for Victim’s of Crime (June 25, 2023)

Links to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights - review of Bill S-12 Publication Bans:

Oct 5, 2023

: Morrell Andrews refers to the “Cassandra” PB issue at 17:05:48-59 and she has powerful words about what we still face in the system at 17:06:50-17:07:34.
https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20231005/-1/40002?mediaStartTime=20231005170218&mediaEndTime=20231005170905&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

Oct 17, 2023:

Dr. Ben Roebuck, the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime, presented at 17:04:10 to 17:04:41
– the part specifically about protecting therapeutic records and their plans for a systemic review.

https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/10101/-1/40048?mediaStartTime=20231017170153&mediaEndTime=20231017170643&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

the reference to Cassandra wishing she had known to speak to a lawyer before reporting to the police, which led to the defence subpoena of her records and her decision to stay the case:
https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/10101/-1/40048?mediaStartTime=20231017172607&mediaEndTime=20231017172655&viewMode=3&globalStreamId=14

Victims of SA can get 4 hours of free Independent Legal Advice:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/independent-legal-advice-survivors-sexual-assault