Developing safeguarding policy and practice for Spiritual Abuse

Published date08 April 2014
Date08 April 2014
Pages87-95
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2013-0033
AuthorLisa Ruth Oakley,Kathryn Susan Kinmond
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection
Developing safeguarding policy and
practice for Spiritual Abuse
Lisa Ruth Oakley and Kathryn Susan Kinmond
Dr Lisa Ruth Oakley is a
Programme Leader Abuse
Studies and Dr Kathryn Susan
Kinmond is a Senior Lecturer,
Psychology and Abuse
Studies, both are based at
Interdisciplinary Studies,
Manchester Metropolitan
University, Crewe, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a ground-breaking survey into people’s
experiences of church and Spiritual Abuse (SA), in a context of issues of safeguarding and policy.
Design/methodology/approach – The survey was delivered online between April 2011 and December 2012.
Findings – The findings showed many people had encountered negative church experiences. Most respondents
had very limited knowledge and understanding of SA and related support and intervention.
Research limitations/implications – This survey represents the views of a small percentage of those
who attend, or have attended, church and further more extensive research is required to provide a more
comprehensive understanding. Additionally research is required within other faiths and cultural contexts.
Practical implications – It is evident that there is clearly a need to strengthen current safeguarding policy
and practice with regards to SA.
Originality/value – This paper offers an initial insight into the challenges for safeguarding together with
some suggested intervention strategies.
Keywords Intervention, Church, Safeguarding policy, Safeguarding practice, Spiritual Abuse
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
This paperreports the findings of a recentsurvey into people’s experiencesin church, in a context
of issues of safeguarding and policy. The survey developed out of the authors’ earlier qualitative
work,which explored SpiritualAbuse (SA) in the Christianfaith in the UK. It isimportant to note that
SA does not occur solely within the context of the Christian faith. There is evidence of practises
which could be deemed spiritually abusive in other faiths. However, this paper focuses on the
Christian faith and it is anticipated that further work will expand this into other religious faiths.
This qualitative research into SA (Oakley, 2009; Oakley and Kinmond, 2013a) includes the
narratives of survivors of SA and practitioners who work with them and it has been carried out in
conjunction with the authors’ continuing practice in counselling and training in the area (Oakley
and Kinmond, 2013b, c).
At the outset it is relevant to note that a major challenge to this work has been the limited
understanding and awareness of SA which has been compounded by the lackof an agreed and
accepted definition (Parish-West, 2009; Ward, 2011). Consequently it was felt vital to develop
a working definition of SA that might begin to provide a reference point for both practitioners
and those experiencing this form of abuse. Whilst we recognise that the terms “spirituality” and
“spiritual” are contentious and contestable, nonetheless, this is the chosen language of
previously published grey literature on this form of abuse. Thus, it seemed appropriate to utilise
and develop this term. This definition of SA is given here:
Spiritual abuse is coercion and control of one individual by another in a spiritual context. The target
experiences spiritual abuse as a deeply emotional personal attack. This abuse may include: -
manipulation and exploitation, enforced accountability,censorship of decisionmaking, requirements
Thanks are extended to all the
research participants.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2013-0033 VOL. 16 NO. 2 2014, pp. 87-95, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAGE 87

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