Does Institutional Response Matter?
A Qualitative Study of Child Sexual Abuse Within Southern Baptist Convention-Affiliated Churches
The purpose of this qualitative, instrumental case study is to explore how adult female survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) perceive their experiences and institutional responses to reports of child sexual abuse within a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)-affiliated church in the United States.
Eligibility Criteria:
If you answered yes to all the questions listed below, you may be eligible to participate in this research study.
Age
Are you 18 years old or older?
Gender
Are you a female who has experienced CSA*?
Affiliation
Abuse happened within a SBC-Affiliated church?
Perpetrator
Perpetrated by an adult representing the church as paid staff or volunteer?
Report
Did you report the abuse to the church?
*Child sexual abuse for this study is defined as any interaction between a child (early childhood up to 18 years old) and an adult in which the child is used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or an observer. Sexual abuse can include both touching and non-touching behaviors. Non-touching behaviors can include voyeurism (trying to look at a child’s naked body), exhibitionism, or exposing the child to pornography. The child does not fully comprehend, does not consent to or is unable to give consent to, or is not developmentally prepared (CDC, 2022).
Next Steps
If you are interested in participating and meet the eligibility requirements above, please follow these steps:
Contact the Researcher
Reach out to Bonnie Wetzel by phone at (919) 671-8482, email at bcwetzel1@liberty.edu, or fill out form below to express your interest in participating in the study.
Initial Screening
The researcher will conduct an initial screening to confirm your eligibility.
Initial Documents
Participants will be asked to complete a demographic questionnaire (5 minutes) and two additional surveys to determine which focus group they will fit best into (an IBQ and ICQ – 10 minutes each)
Participate in the Study
Participate in an audio and video-recorded, virtual interview (60-90 minutes), and complete 3 prompted journals online (10 -30 minutes each) over the course of approximately 3 weeks. Finally, a virtual, audio and video-recorded focus group with up to 7 participants will be conducted to expand further the experiential knowledge in a group format with other survivors
Receive Compensation
Participants will receive a $20 Visa gift card for each of the five primary procedures they complete (interview, three journals, and focus group - $100 total). In addition to financial compensation, participants will be connected with a survivor-focused non-profit for support and resources.
More Information
Your responses will be confidential, with pseudonyms replacing your name. Data will be stored securely.
Direct benefits include the satisfaction of contributing to a greater understanding of institutional responses to abuse and the potential to help future survivors and churches.
The expected risks are minimal and primarily involve the potential for psychological stress from recalling and discussing prior trauma. The researcher will offer resources to mitigate these risks.
Meet the Researcher
Bonnie Wetzel
Researcher
Bonnie is currently a doctoral candidate in the School of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty University. Her degree will be in community care and counseling with a cognate in traumatology. With over 30 years of experience in ministry and more than a decade as the founder and director of 70×7 Ministries, a Christian trauma-informed private practice in Raleigh, NC. Bonnie's extensive background in ministry has equipped her with a unique perspective on the intersection of faith and mental health. Through her work, Bonnie has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of trauma, particularly in survivors of child sexual abuse.