Advanced Sexual Ethics

April 30th 2019

9:30am – 3pm

Asbury UMC in Allentown

Cost is $35 ~ Lunch is provided

Contact Jacqueline Hines for more info at pastorjacquelineumc@gmail.com or 410-963-1721

Presenters: Mrs. Elaine Spangler and Rev. Beverly Andrews

There is no doubt that sexual abuse, especially of children, is horribly destructive to its victims, their families and to our society as a whole. However, perhaps equally devastating, but rarely mentioned, are the damaging effects on the offender and the collateral damage to the offender's family.   Truly there are no winners, only losers in any situation involving sexual abuse. Our current Safe Sanctuaries Policy focuses on logistical procedures for prevention. However, this workshop focuses on primary prevention, that is, how to notice “red flag behaviors” and effectively address potential offenders before any abuse even happens.  We must dare to care about both potential victims, and potential offenders as God’s beloved children. By "speaking the truth in love" and responding to problematic behaviors and situations in a caring and compassionate way, we can complete the full work of preventing these tragedies. The goal of our workshop is to equip pastors for leading their congregations in dealing proactively with potential abuse in its earliest stages.  

Elaine Spangler is a member of Grandview UMC in Lancaster, PA where she sings in the choir and is a member of the safe-sanctuary team.  She is a retired physical educator but finds great enjoyment and purpose in quilting and other sewing-based endeavors including inspirational banners for her church.  She is the widow of Dennis Spangler, a former UMC pastor, who was serving an 8-20 year prison sentence for sexual abuse of an adolescent. As a couple, they were united in their desire to share their story and work to prevent future abuse.  Elaine hopes to continue this by educating and encouraging others to do all they can to prevent abuse and to assist persons who might be at-risk to offend to get the help they need before an offense occurs. In addition, Elaine is an active member of Have a Heart, a local advocacy group that works to improve the criminal justice and prison systems in Lancaster County.  She is willing to openly share her experiences in these areas in order to effect the change that so greatly needs to happen.

Bev Andrews is a retired licensed local pastor in the EPA Conference, as well as a consecrated diaconal lay minister. She’s also a clergy spouse (Rick Andrews, retired), mother and grandmother. For almost 20 years Bev served on the ICARE Team, responding to situations of sexual misconduct within Conference churches involving both clergy and lay persons. She has conducted many advanced sexual ethics trainings over those years, as well as outside our Conference. Bev is honored to be a part of this long overdue training which ICARE had discussed for years before the right “direct experience” person came along in Elaine to make it truly reality based.