CONGREGATIONS ASKED TO KEEP KIDS SAFE

'SAFE HAVEN' IDEA, CURRICULUM HELP

by Betsy Carlson - Editor

These are not the days in which your grandmother grew up.   Violence, sexual exploitation and weakened family life threaten today's dhildren in ways parents can't imagine.  In response, the ELCA has asked its congregations and members to "help the children" as one of its seven initiatives for a new century approved by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly.

Another response to the needs of youth and the dangers of the dark side of society has come from Minneapolis Pastor Al Erickson, founder and director of A-STOP, gthe Alliance for Speaking Truths on Prostitution.  Since 1990, he has been doing workshops, speaking at churches and producing materials about the dangers of sexual exploitation of young persons.

In the past year, Erickson and A-STOP, with the aid of a $50,000 matching grant from Aid Association for Lutherans, published a cautionary curriculum and video calle, "Wise as Serpents," for congregations to use with sixth through eighth grade students in Confirmation or Sunday school programs.

In a recent interview, Erickson said that when he talks to congregations, he now challenges them to become safe havens for children as suggested in the ELCA children's initiative.

Information on the safe haven idea was sent to ELCA congregations in an action packet this fall.  It includes a Bible study for adults, intergenerational activities, tables of " Marks of a Safe Haven," action steps to create a safe haven, a litany of commitment and congregational resolution.  The initial packet was developed by the ELCA's Help the Children initiative leadership team and written by soordinator Terry Bowes of Colorado.

This synod's Bishop Mark Hanson and his sister Joanne Negstad, St. Paul, president and CEO of Lutheran Services of Anerica, are both on the children's initiative team. (Lutheran Services of America is the new name of a social ministry umbrella organization formerly known as Association of Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations.)

"If a congregation commits itself to being a safe haven, they have to start looking to themselves to see what is missing or what is there that isn't safe.  We believe that's where this curriculum fits," says Erickson.

He says people haven't talked about the "treachery" in the world, whether it be commercial sexual exploitation or television advertising or internet pornography.  The six-week curriculum, he says, prepares young people to deal with such challenges.  For instance, in the video a former pimp tells how he targeted vulnerable young women and lured them into prostitution.   A former prostitute talks about getting into it after experiencing the trauma of rape.

"This is 'transformative' information," he says.   "Anybody who comes into contact with it starts to see life from a different point of view.  Once you start looking from the mountaintop, you're going to see issues you didn't see before.

"For example, an 80-year-old woman realizes people are starting to talk about this and she tells of being molested by her dad 70 years ago.   A cloud is lifted.  The church can be more open.  Jesus talked to people who were caught in problems."

Erickson says the people most likely to be taken advantage of are those who have hidden hurts-rape, incest or abuse victims, for instance.   That's why he calls upon congregations to become safe havens.  The truth becomes a friend, he says.

"This is about their identities as persons.  What do they draw upon?" asks Erickson.  "What do they believe? Do they believe God loves them, that he brought them into this community, this kingdom? Do they realize they have prayer as a tool, that they can go to the pastor for advice? Do they know adults are friends?"

The "Wise as Serpents" curriculum gives them the saving answers.  With the video, it is available for $75 plus shipping and handling from A-STOP by calling 612 872-0684.  Training events are held often for teachers, says Erickson.  The next session will be March 18 at Zion Lutheran in Anoka.

Congregations in this synod can learn first-hand about the children's initiative and safe haven concept at this year's synod assembly April 10-May 1 at Concordia University, St. Paul.  Children's initiative coordinator Bowes will address the assembly and give a workshop.

And, she says, more information about helping children will be sent to congregations this summer.  It will give congregations tips and practical advice on advocacy, agencies that work with children and connections to make and partnerships available in communities.  Additional Bible studies and " a real look at how poverty affects children" will be included.

FAITHLINK - St. Paul Area Synod (ELCA) Volume Four, Number Two, March 1999