Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors

by Elaine A. Heath

Publisher:

Brazos Press

, 2019

Overview

This accessibly written book illuminates the good news of healing and liberation the Bible offers survivors of sexual abuse. As an expert in pastoral ministry and a survivor of abuse herself, Elaine Heath handles this sensitive topic with compassion and grace. The book is illustrated with stories and insights from survivors, and each chapter ends with reflection questions and recommended activities. Previously published as We Were the Least of These, this repackaged edition includes a new contextualized introduction that explores how the book speaks into a vital cultural conversation (#MeToo).

From the Back Cover

Elaine Heath illuminates the good news of healing and liberation the Bible offers survivors of sexual abuse. A new contextualized introduction explores how this book speaks into a vital cultural conversation.

”Elaine Heath draws deeply from Scripture and her own experience as a Christ follower, friend, pastor, and teacher, gifting us with this remarkable resource for healing the wounds of sexual abuse. She is a courageous companion into texts familiar and loved as well as texts avoided and ignored."
--Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, North Carolina Conference, United Methodist Church

“The journey of recovery from sexual abuse is both scarred and sacred. As a survivor of sexual assault, Heath goes with the reader into this difficult reality. Joining with the vast numbers of women, men, girls, and boys who are survivors of sexual abuse, Heath offers her unique contribution to the #MeToo movement."
--Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

"What an important and helpful book this is! We couldn’t ask for a better pastoral guide than Heath to probe deeply into the issue of sexual abuse and the healing so desperately needed by the abused and all of us."
--James Howell, Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina

"Written from the powerful perspective of ‘we, the survivors’ by a person who is deeply contemplative and able to ‘be angry but sin not’ regarding the evil of patriarchy and sexual abuse, this book educates, encourages, and empowers individuals and communities. It is for survivors themselves and those who journey with survivors. It should be required reading for every seminary."
--Jaime Clark-Soles, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

"This book should not need to be written, much less deserve another edition. That it is still needed is painfully evident when public leaders condone and even revel in abuse. Through biblical narratives from both the Old and New Testaments, our eyes are opened to the prevalence of abuse among us--survivors sit in every church, school, or business of any size. Everyone needs to read and discuss this book."
--David W. Baker, Ashland Theological Seminary

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Contents

Contents
Introduction
1. We Were the Least of These
2. Fig Leaves
3. Through the Wilderness
4. The Terrible Secret
5. Beauty Pageants
6. Prayers of Lament and Mercy
7. Are You My Mother?
8. Eunuchs
9. We Are Clean
10. About Judas and Mary
11. Emmanuel
12. In Remembrance of Me
13. Letting Go
14. Final Thoughts
Appendix A: The Healing
Cloud
Appendix B: A Definition of Sexual
Abuse
Recommended Resources
Index

Product Details

• Title : Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors
• Author: Heath, Elaine A.
• Publisher: Brazos Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• ISBN: 9781493418343

About Elaine A. Heath

Elaine A. Heath (PhD, Duquesne University) is professor of missional and pastoral theology at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, she is a frequent retreat speaker and has experience as a pastor and spiritual director. She has written a number of books, including The Mystic Way of Evangelism.