Institutional Factors Contributing to Child Sexual Abuse In Independent Baptist Churches: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe childhood sexual abuse survivor’s within Independent Baptist Churches experiences reporting and engaging with church leaders about their abuse in the United States. While there is great variety within these churches, they typically share a similar style of church leadership and accountability structures for that leadership. Tragically, child sexual abuse within these churches is far too common, as is demonstrated both by scientific research and by stories reported by journalists. This study will seek to look into both the ecclesiology of the church structures of these Independent Baptist churches and into teachings and practices of these churches as related to understanding and reporting abuse to determine causative factors for the abuse. I will specifically be interviewing those who are survivors of child sexual abuse within Independent Baptist Churches to see their experience reporting the abuse as well as their experience with counseling following the abuse. The end goal will be to present recommendations to churches to safeguard the children present from any predators in the pulpit or the pew. The qualitative interviews with the participating survivors of child sexual abuse did in fact portray a pattern of a leadership structure, lack of accountability, practices regarding reporting, and lack of sufficient help after the abuse that were common in each situation, all of which portray areas where churches can look to improve safety within the church and their testimony outside the church in a positive way.