Child sexual abuse program Monday at TBC

* Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center to address child sexual  abuse in churches; public invited to TBC

By AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE — In an effort to shed some light on the problem of child sexual abuse in churches, the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center will be making a stop at Tennessee Bible College on Monday, May 18, for the first of several informative sessions to be conducted in and around the Cookeville area.

Sherry Phillips of the Child Advocacy Center will be on hand for the program, which begins at 3:30 p.m. and includes a video presentation with discussion to follow. TBC welcomes church leaders and other interested individuals to attend.

"This is a new program from the Child Advocacy Center, which  specifically addresses the problem of child sexual abuse in churches," said Kerry Duke, dean of TBC. "So we're trying to get the word out and get as many people to come as we possibly can."

Duke emphasized that public awareness on the issue is crucial.

"It's estimated that one out of every four girls is sexually molested by the time she is 18," he said. "And it's especially difficult when it happens in churches. It affects the whole congregation. There are the legal aspects involved, as well as the emotional and the practical aspects of it."

Duke said Monday's session is a good fit for one of TBC's current course offerings, Seminar In Leadership. Students will be altering their regular class period that day to accommodate the Child  Advocacy Center program.

"In this particular course, we're learning about leadership in the church," he said. "And the issue of child sexual abuse is something that church leaders have to deal with because it's a sad but real part of human life. They need to know how to deal with this problem and counsel those involved."

Tennessee Bible College is located at 1616 McCulley Drive in Cookeville. For more information, call (931)526-2616.