By Rev. Bobbi Wells Hargleroad on Mark 9:30-37
Sermon delivered by The Rev. Kirby Lawrence Hill, Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection, Conyers, Georgia, and former moderator, Year of the Child Planning Team.
The report affirms procedures for mandating reporting of child sexual abuse and the importance of handling complaints of child sexual abuse according to standards of fair process. By doing so, it seeks to balance the rights and duties of those accused of alleged child sexual abuse with the inherent needs and rights of the protection of children from abuse.
Concern about an epidemic of spouse, child, and elder abuse led the committee of Women of Color and the Women's Ministry Unit to recommend to the 203rd General Assembly (1991) a paper on domestic violence for study throughout the church.
The assembly urged churches to study the paper on family violence and to establish programs that respond to domestic abuse in their communities. It also instructed me to print the domestic violence paper and to distribute a copy to each church.