A Better Way to Handle Abuse

In this session, Ken Sande of Relational Wisdom 360 applies the principles of relational peacemaking to responding to abuse within the church. Sexual abuse in the church does not have to end in broken lives, agonizing lawsuits and divided congregations. When people resist the temptations to deny responsibility, cover up incidents, and distance themselves from victims and their families, and instead follow God’s ways and words, these terrible incidents can result in healing, justice and healthier churches.

God is a redeemer and a problem-solver. He provides wisdom principles through Scripture for dealing with offenses between people, including sexual abuse. When churches follow the five key principles of compassion, confession, compensation for counseling, change, and conciliation, the cycle of abuse is broken and restoration can begin. 

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Ken Sande

Trained as an engineer, lawyer, and mediator, Ken founded Peacemaker Ministries in 1982, where he conciliated hundreds of family, business, church, and legal conflicts, and guided the development of its global training program.

Ken founded RW360 in 2012 in order to focus on teaching people how to get upstream of conflict by building strong relationships in the family, church, and workplace. He teaches internationally and is the author of numerous books, articles, and training resources, including The Peacemaker, which has sold over 500,00 copies in seventeen languages. 

Ken is certified as a Relational Wisdom Instructor and Conciliator, as well as a Certified Emotional Intelligence Instructor (with TalentSmartEQ). Ken has served as a Certified Professional Engineer, as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Montana Bar Association, as an elder in his church and as an Editorial Adviser for Christianity Today (more details here).