Why a Nashville priest is reminding his congregation to report suspected child abuse immediately

By Holly Meyer
Tennessean
August 18, 2017

https://goo.gl/ttgtz3

The Rev. Thomas McKenzie, pastor of Pastor of Church of the Redeemer in Nashville.

A Nashville priest reminded his congregation recently that suspected child abuse within their church community should be immediately reported to civil authorities. 

Prompted by news of a lawsuit filed against Brentwood Academy, the Rev. Thomas McKenzie, who leads Church of the Redeemer, sent a letter to members reiterating the church's reporting policy.

"This is just one of those moments where it's now in the public consciousness and so I felt like we need to remind people of how this is supposed to be done," said McKenzie, whose church is not connected to the school.

The lawsuit accuses the prestigious Christian school of not protecting a 12-year-old boy from repeated sexual assaults by teen boys in a locker room at the school. 

McKenzie emphasized that he did not know what happened at Brentwood Academy, but the allegations prompted the need to revisit the congregation's responsibility to children in its care.

If a church member suspects a child is being abused, McKenzie said the first step is to call the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. Not only is it church policy, but it's a Christian ethic and state law, too, he said.  

McKenzie helped a Sunday school teacher at his church call DCS after a child reported his father bruised him. 

"We dealt with it in the way that our church deals with things, but the first people we talked to was the authorities because it's a crime to hit a child and I'm not a police officer," McKenzie said.  

Plus, personal prejudices and an inclination to protect the institution clouds an internal investigation. 

"The survival of the institution is very important to people who are invested in that institution and that's why we cannot be trusted to do the investigation," McKenzie said. "I would need to contact someone on the outside and that's the way we all have to be."  

Religious institutions have a greater responsibility to report suspected abuse given the high-profile religious abuse cases, including the widespread Roman Catholic priest sex abuse scandal, McKenzie said. 

Church of the Redeemer recently strengthened its policies, which include employee background checks and abuse prevention training. 

The letter also included notes for parents on how to talk to their children about the the Brentwood Academy allegations. 

"If you're thinking about not talking with your children about what happened, may I plead with you to reconsider. They're going to hear about it from someone, and it's best if it comes from you," wrote Mary Cady Bolin, the church's children's pastor.

McKenzie told his congregation to reserve judgment, reach out if they need support and to pray for all involved. 

"I have been personally saddened and angered by what I have read. However, none of us know the full truth," McKenzie wrote. "A great deal of hurt has been done, and I'm certain there will be more hurt done before it is all over with. So, as part of this wider community, I encourage everyone to pray earnestly."