Safe Church, Dr. Andrew J. Bauman. Baker Books (ISBN: 9781540903976) 2025.
Summary: Identifies the forms of abuse and sexism toward women in the church and practices of churches where women are safe.
Imagine with me a congregation where half or more of the members were treated as second class citizens. And imagine that for many, the poor treatment even exposed them to forms of physical and emotional abuse. It doesn’t sound like an inviting place. Yet sadly, this is no imaginary place. This is the reality for women in many congregations. Andrew J. Bauman knows. He grew up in such a congregation and even led in congregations where this was the case.
And then he began listening. He listened to scripture, observing the transformative ways both Jesus and Paul related to women. He listened to research that documented the trauma women were experiencing. And he listened to numerous women, both in his counseling practice and in a series of in-depth interviews. It transformed him from a man complicit in sexism and abuse of women to an advocate for their equality and safety in the church.
He begins by defining sexism and abuse. Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on sex. He identifies several different forms of sexism: hostile, benevolent, ambivalent, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. The latter is especially grievous because it involves women embracing toxic messages about themselves. Then there is abuse, the improper treatment of women. This includes emotional, sexual, financial, physical, and spiritual abuse. The latter form is especially grievous in churches because God, scripture, and spiritual authority is used to control, exploit, and physically or emotionally harm women.
But why make such a big deal of this? Because it IS a big deal. In the survey of over 2800 women Bauman conducted, 82 percent stated sexism played a role in their church. Twenty percent reported being victims of sexual misconduct with another 14.6 percent responding “it’s complicated.” Over 60 percent agreed that their opportunities for ministry had been limited solely on the basis of their gender.
In subsequent chapters, Bauman considers the historic experience of women, the model of Jesus, and the biblical passages used to limit or even exploit women. Then he considers problematic theology. Firstly, there is complementarian theology and its teaching on headship, authority, and submission. He also addresses modesty and purity teaching. While Bauman’s book is not the reference work on these questions, he provides brief, well-stated answers from a biblical egalitarian perspective.
Then he moves on to the experience of trauma and abuse. He draws on his in-depth interviews with women and shows the failures of churches, who often retraumatize victims rather than create a safe space for healing. He advocates for the importance of women and people of color in leadership to ensure that women’s voices and people of color are heard.
One of the most powerful chapters in the book addresses men. He argues that men, not women, need to do the work. They need to honor, not devour women. Men need to stop denying their failures. Also, they need to quit being bystanders and speak up against sexism. most of all, they must listen to women and take their stories seriously. He also takes on the harmful and pervasive impact of pornography. Men need to say these things to men and I appreciated Bauman’s forthrightness.
Finally, Bauman concludes with a vision of church as a place for the healing of all and spells out the practices of safe churches: abuse prevention training, criminal background check, training in policies and reporting procedures, open dialogue sessions, and leadership diversity.
Some may ask if this is one more instance of “mansplaining.” Instead, Bauman spent a lot of time shutting up and listening to women. He then uses his voice, especially with other men, to join in what women have been ably saying.
Sexism and abuse are one of the reasons women are leaving the church. They also are reasons why God is withholding his blessing. You cannot harm part of the body without harming the whole. Thwarting the gifts of half the church hamstrings the whole. It is time and past time for church leaders to listen to men like Bauman.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers Program.
