Book Review: Safe Church: How to Guard against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities

Powerful new evidence of sexist behavior by men toward women in ministry is presented in Safe Church: How to Guard Against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities. The author, Dr. Andrew J. Bauman, surveyed almost 3,000 women leaders and volunteers in Protestant churches across the United States (6). Unsurprisingly, the findings confirm what many women have said for years. Bauman gives evidence that most women believe sexism plays a role in the church (6, 20) and that most of the women surveyed experienced sexual harassment or misconduct while serving in their churches (25). These statistics alone are reasons to read this book and take its analysis of abuse, misconduct, and misuse of Scripture seriously.

In addition to the survey conducted, Bauman interviewed eight women at random from the survey pool. The research presented revealed the depth and brutality of sexism toward women the church takes (48). While eight women is a very small sample, the random selection is significant: all of them had been through sexist and misogynistic circumstances at the hands of the church and its leaders (Chapter 4). These interviewees revealed that the stories of women who face sexism in the church include “abuse” and “leadership failure” on their behalf.  They noted “redemption” for themselves in regard to healing and for other church leaders who learned to change (47–48). The author does admit, with regret, that he was not able to engage the voices of any women of color in the interviews (47). This would have added to the richness of diversity that Bauman himself wrote is needed in the church (68–69, 150–151).

Safe Church is written from the perspective of a man who has chosen to repent of his covert misogyny and change in ways that help women and the church to grow in its care for and support of females (4–6). This viewpoint is refreshing and could help women understand that change can take place in the church because there are men who are willing to change themselves and their areas of influence. Bauman’s comments about himself, such as, “by blaming a woman’s outfit, I did not have to look deeply at my own shame,” (95) or, “I had heard of women in ministry positions, but it was like spotting an endangered snow leopard” (76) could be helpful to women and men trying to move out of sexist understandings.

The author moves from voicing the issues, to evidence that sexism is rampant in the church (25), to ways to address these issues from a therapist’s standpoint. Much practical advice is given (138–151), though some of it lacks support; for example, how background checks or open dialogue sessions prevent abuse (149–50). While most would agree that these are healthy steps, the reason for their effectiveness is not explained in Safe Church.

Safe Church ends with excellent ways for congregants and leaders to heal and create a restorative church. While some of these suggestions lack support, many of the tools presented, such as developing healthy policies and procedures, increasing diversity in leadership, and preventative abuse training, were very practical and helpful (148–151).  Some of these take the form of elements that were revealed in his research, such as telling one’s story, finding allies, or keeping the authority that has been given (145–147).  Other helps take the form of common sense, such as taking time for healing (138–141).

While Safe Church includes excellent statistics and good advice, the theology and biblical knowledge lacked depth. Bauman’s understandings are solidly biblical and egalitarian, but other resources address the issues noted with greater depth and clarity (30–45, 76–108). For instance, the author discussed the gender of God without clarifying the personhood of God in tandem with God’s spiritual nature (104–108). Additionally, the segment on changing the understanding of the depravity of humans is quite short (99–100). While the elements in each of these are sound theologically, they are not as deep as reading Luther or Wesley. Gupta’s Tell her Story or books by Kevin Giles or Beth Allison Barr, among others, provide greater depth to biblical and theological elements. However, the author does not claim to be a theologian or Bible scholar; rather, he presents these issues in light of how some interpretations and theologies create sexism rather than upholding biblical equality among women and men (86). Overall, the biblical and theological elements included are a good start for a beginner or someone who is seeking evidence of biblical equality between women and men.

In the end, the author contends that wrong interpretation of Scripture leads to wrong theology, which leads to wrong living. In other words, when Scripture is interpreted incorrectly, in this case from a patriarchal understanding, the result is often sexism and abuse (86).  Safe Church, on the other hand, assumes that egalitarianism is the correct biblical understanding and works from there to help church attenders and leaders to develop local churches which are safe and healing for women. With this in mind, Safe Church would be an excellent place to start for those who already understand biblical equality and are starting a journey toward eliminating sexism.

Safe Church would also be an excellent read for men who want to support and care for the survivors of abuse or change their own sexist mindsets (whether subconscious or overt). Throughout the book, Bauman challenged men to change themselves and to make change in the church, since men are already influential and must hold themselves accountable for hurting women (6, 16–17, 22–3, 63–66, 88, 96, 98, 131, 135, 140). The author did this, refreshingly, without lowering or compromising the voices of women, whose stories are included through the females interviewed, various scholars, anecdotal stories, and social media posts.

Bauman uplifted the voices of marginalized women within the Protestant church using clear statistics, the stories of women, and research of others.  Safe Church helps women and men understand and address sexism in the church with clear statistics and healthy tools (136–151).