Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Spiritual Abuse Recovery Survey

Some of you may have seen this posted on other blogs. If this applies to you, please take the time to help Barb out with her research so that her results can be an accurate reflection of this situation.

Barb Orlowski is in the Doctor of Ministry program at A.C.T.S. Seminaries in Langley, B.C., Canada. In order to conduct the research necessary to complete her dissertation, she could use your help.

She has prepared two questionnaires concerning abusive ministry leadership.

One survey is for those who have experienced emotional and spiritual distress under authoritarian and controlling church leaders and have recovered from this experience. She does not encourage your participation if doing so will cause you emotional distress.

The other survey is for pastors who have been able to provide spiritual guidance and encouragement for individuals who have faced this type of emotional and spiritual pain at the hands of those that they had trusted as their spiritual leaders.

Respond to either request by emailing Barb at churchexitersq@telus.net.

Please let her know at which site you saw this information.

When you e-mail Barb, she will send you the questionnaire.

The responses given by those participating will be kept confidential.

2 comments:

Marilyn said...

Hello, I am so glad I found your blog! My dh and I left a very abusive, controlling church of 16 years, about 6 months ago now. We are doing pretty well, by the grace of God, but it certainly is a process.

I've been in touch with Barb a couple of times. She's very nice!
I've also posted her requests on The Oasis (a Yahoo group for spiritual abuse support) and The Bill Gothard Discussion Group (made up mostly of former Gothardites)
Anyway, thank you for sharing this with us- spiritual abuse is an epidemic these days, and the more people that can speak out against it and offer support and hope to the suffering, the better!

Linda said...

Marilyn,
I'm sorry that you have experienced this also. I agree with you that support is so important in recovery and because of that it is helpful for victims to speak out and share their stories.

Yes, healing is a process. One of my sayings is, "the only way through it, is through it." I'm glad to hear you are doing well, and I pray for your continuing recovery.