Confronting Sex Abuse in the Church Session 3

April 13, 2022

Host: Dr. Mark E. Powell – HST dean, Professor of Theology
Presenter: Jimmy Hinton – preacher, consultant on sex abuse in the church

In this session Hinton discusses Jesus’s Model for Loving and Protecting the Wounded.

Important Take-aways:

  • Be aware of language that blames the victim intentionally or unintentionally
  • Help pay for counseling for victims
  • Allow them to go in peace
  • Make worship time a safe place by never allowing abusers in a worship gathering with children
  • Include victims in making abuse-prevention policies for your congregation

Jimmy Hinton graduated with the MDiv from HST in 2007. In 2011, Jimmy’s sister Alex confided in him that she had been sexually abused when she was a young child by their father, a former minister of 27 years. Jimmy reported his father to authorities which resulted in his confession of 23 victims and a conviction of 30-60 years in Pennsylvania state corrections facility.

Jimmy researches deception techniques of child molesters and specializes in abuse in plain sight. Jimmy is a full time minister at the Somerset Church of Christ, author of the #1 New Release The Devil Inside: How My Minister Father Molested Kids In Our Home and Church for Decades and How I Finally Stopped Him, speaker, abuse advocate, and safeguarding specialist with G.R.A.C.E (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment). Jimmy and his mom Clara host a weekly podcast called The Speaking Out on Sex Abuse Podcast.

Dr. Mark E. Powell, Professor of Theology, has been at HST since 2002. He teaches courses in systematic theology, historical theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion. He is a Shepherd at the Sycamore View Church of Christ in Memphis and has over 25 years of ministry experience in preaching, urban ministry, and adult education. He is passionate about applying Christian theology to worship, ministry, and discipleship.

Harding School of Theology (HST), a seminary in Memphis, TN, has been equipping ministers since 1958. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and offering degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, HST equips Christian leaders to higher standards of ministry and scholarship and challenges them to a deeper faith in God. Combining academic rigor and interpersonal connections, HST emphasizes student engagement in ministry as they study. HST is associated with Churches of Christ, is part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and is part of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

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