This letter has been written in community—by and for women who experience harm in church. The choice of the word “harm” is intentionally broad. For every example of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and blatant gender discrimination, there are numerous small acts that create a culture where more significant harm can take place, and the people who perpetrate them are protected. One woman has written this with the input, wisdom, and hopes from a wide array of women; we are white, Black, Latina, Asian, LGBTQ, diverse in age, both clergy and lay. As such:

• We understand the intersectional need for a stronger commitment to justice and transparency, and we understand the exponential harm experienced by women of color and LGBTQ women.
• We are primarily Episcopal, but we write in solidarity with women in all denominations. This is an ecumenical movement.

We share this Letter of Support asking church leaders for the solidarity we need and are worthy of receiving:

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, raise our voices now in support of the countless women who have been harmed within the church. We raise our collective voices to create an atmosphere of safety, a pledge of protection, and a growing culture of solidarity before women’s stories emerge. In most cases, church culture has not and does not welcome hearing the experiences of women without slandering them and judging them. Many women have faced and continue to face consequences for truth-telling and reporting harm. The justice work toward women harmed in our patriarchal church context has been superficial, at best.

It is time. It is time to shine a Christ light on the shadow sides of our church. For too long we have spoken about the sins of the world without sufficiently acknowledging our own sin. For too long we have protected the church as an institution rather than protecting and caring for the countless women who have suffered and are still suffering behind closed doors. It is time to name that in a patriarchal church, we have fallen and continue to fall short of honoring and respecting the voices, gifts, leadership, and lives of women in the spirit of Christ.

We, the people, are the church. And we raise our voices now, transparently naming the misogynistic culture that has existed for centuries, even as we consciously choose to rise above it.

1. We pledge our support to the people who will be sharing their experiences of how they were treated behind closed doors in the church. We lift our voices in solidarity, not just in this letter, but in our churches, on social media, and in conversations with others. For too long silence has perpetuated harm. We will speak up and advocate that those sharing their stories will be honored and appreciated for shining a light on a part of the church that needs reform. We will speak up, intercede, and advocate for women speaking out if we see, or are made aware of, any evidence of retaliation.

2. We acknowledge that hearing the experiences of others may result in shock, anger, disappointment, and disillusionment. And yet we cannot reform the church without understanding the depths of harm and abuse experienced by our siblings in Christ.

3. We name now that solidarity with those harmed means that even if colleagues—all genders, bishops, priests, deacons, and laity, are named as causing harm, we stand with those who are vulnerably are speaking up, calling for reform. We understand that we are all a part of a patriarchal church system that aches for transparency. We have seen that the institutional church and its leadership are often protected over women reporting harm.

4. We proclaim that this movement is Good News. Even though the transparent nature of hearing others’ experiences will be painful, we are people of the cross. We acknowledge that this aspect of the church must be revealed and die for new life to emerge. We will remain firmly rooted in Christ amidst the difficulty, knowing that this is a necessary stage.

5. We pledge our commitment to justice, reform, and repair. We are committed to ensuring that advancing and continuing the careers of church leaders who harm others must end. We seek justice, repair, and reconciliation for those harmed who are the church, as well as reform in the church to ensure that this systemic pattern of oppression will not continue.

Finally, we, the undersigned, understand that this movement will grow to its fullness or dissipate early based on our commitment to prayer, action, and inviting others into this. By adding our names, we will be at the forefront of advancing the need for justice and reform throughout the church. We will work to increase awareness, share this letter with others, share and be transformed by the stories coming out, and will participate in tangible steps toward reform with leaders of our denomination and ecumenically.

In Christ,

(Complete the form to add your name)

Please strive to share this letter of support with at least ten people.

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