Interfaith women clergy study child sexual abuse

Regional clergy women and women in faith-based communities have an opportunity to learn about child abuse and neglect prevention at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in East Liberty/Highland Park, 616 North Highland Ave., at the second in a series of prevention programs for female clergy Monday, Nov 5.  

Registration begins at 8:45 a.m.; the workshop runs from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.   

Scheduled on the heels of National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, organizer advocates Rochelle Sufrin, a Jewish Women International’s National Leadership Council member, and Rev. Linda Miller-Pretz, a UCC ordained minister,  want to remind clergy that child sexual abuse and neglect are  forms of domestic abuse and violence, and are preventable.

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As with domestic violence, child abuse and neglect does not discriminate between ethnic, social or economical groups.

“Legal Requirements of a Mandated Reporter” and  “How to keep schools, summer programs and others safe from predators,” are just a few topics, in addition to “A Mother’s Story,” a local mother who recalls her account of living with the knowledge that her children were sexually abused by a family member and their spiritual journey to healing.

Contact Rochelle Sufrin at 412-363-1013 or rrsuf@aol.com to register, or contact Pastor Linda Miller-Pretz, 724-612-2332, lmp811@zoominternet.net or Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Lori Arnold at larnold@pts.edu or 412-924-1345 for more information.

This program is sponsored by the Pittsburgh branch of Jewish Women International; Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; National Association of Women Ministers; Joel Pretz, a mediation professional of mediate.com; and the generosity of its professional presenters.