(23/4) Church Today: Issues in International Law and International Missions
by Robert L. Rodenbush

Do you see any issues in international law that may affect efforts to evangelize the world with the Gospel?

Yes, we should be concerned about the defamation of religions movement.

Recently, drafts of a proposal espoused by the 56- member countries that form the Organization of the Islamic Conference have emerged. The effort promotes the condemnation of messages that defame religions. Proposal language is being lobbied in committees in hopes that a formal resolution will eventually be brought to a vote in the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution would have the 192 member states of the United Nations agree to protect religions, religious symbols and beliefs from mockery or blasphemy.

On initial review, such bans seem innocuous enough as they seem to be inclusive of all religions and appear to promote tolerance. Certainly, we do not like it when our beliefs are ridiculed or mocked. However, serious concerns regarding First Amendment rights to free speech and religion must be addressed.

In a letter to a committee on an anti-racism treaty, the Islamic Conference stated. "The Islamic Conference 'believes that the attack on sacredly held beliefs and the defamation of religions, religious symbols, personalities and dogmas impinge on the enjoyment of human rights of followers of those religions'" (AR Nov, 09). Further, Pakistan posits that countries which sign the treaty should, "prohibit by law the uttering of matters that are grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion" (AP).

In presenting the Obama administration's first report on global religious freedom former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. I strongly disagree."

Secretary Clinton is correct. A formal resolution passed by the United Nations or language drafted into other semi-related bills should not be used to intimidate, silence or persecute preachers. teachers and evangelists who spread the Gospel and who will inevitably speak out against opposing religious beliefs and doctrines since people of different faiths by definition hold divergent views on religious questions.

If such a resolution is passed by the United Nations the questions still remain: who will decide what speech is "defamatory" and who will decide the punishment for those who violate such standards.

(23/3) Church Today: Safeguarding Our Churches
by Robert L. Rodenbush

Our children are the future of our church. Satan is determined to do everything he can to destroy them and our witness in our community. Imagine the devastating effects to your church and more importantly to a child should a child be physically abused or sexually molested in your church. And if the spiritual, physical and emotional damage to the child and family are not bad enough, incidents of child sexual abuse in the church are not only costly financially (with legal fees and jury verdicts in the millions of dollars), but the church and ministry also face nearly irreparable harm to their reputation.

Prevention is the only real solution. We have a legal and, more importantly, a moral obligation to prevent the possibility of abuse or molestation from ever occurring in our churches. It is my experience as an attorney and a minister that it is almost impossible to cure a problem that involves an allegation of child sexual abuse. Once the incident occurs or the allegation is made - it is too late. The damage has already been done to the child, the church and the ministry. An actual occurrence of abuse or molestation is not required. A false allegation with the ensuing cost of defense, negative media coverage and emotional outrage can be almost as devastating as an actual incident. Prevention of both incidents and false allegations is the only real solution.

Heightened risk for churches. Churches and ministers are at risk because the public and legal community is becoming more aware of the potential for bringing claims and lawsuits against churches due to an unprecedented increase in the magnitude of allegations, lawsuits and awards of damages. Personal injury attorneys often view churches as an untapped source of revenue in this arena. Further, churches and ministers are highly susceptible to actual occurrences as well as false accusations of child sexual abuse due to the trusting and unsuspecting environment surrounding churches, (2) the easy access by adults to children in a church setting, and (3) the church's lack of awareness and lack of preventative measures to reduce the risk of actual occurrences and false allegations.

Preventative measures Churches can implement preventative measures that will (1) significantly, and most importantly, reduce the chance of an actual incident of abuse or molestation from ever occurring, and (2) discourage false accusations and make unmerited claims very difficult to prove. No preventative plan can reduce all risk: however, failure to implement any plan creates a very serious risk that leaves the church and ministry extremely vulnerable to actual occurrences, false or malicious accusations, and legal liability. Preventative plans need to focus on at least three main areas: (1) adequate screening. (2) Adequate supervision and (3) adequate reporting.

In a future article we will look at these three areas in more detail and provide some tips and resources to hopefully help prevent such a tragedy from ever occurring in your church.