Aug 12, 2018

Conference: Recovering From Spiritual Abuse


RECOVERING FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE, A CONFERENCE FOR CHURCHES, SURVIVORS, AND HELPERS
RECOVERING FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE, A CONFERENCE FOR CHURCHES, SURVIVORS, AND HELPERS

Spiritual Abuse Resources and Meadow Haven have organized a conference on spiritual abuse.

Learn How Casualties of Authoritarian Churches and Christian Groups Can Begin to Find Healing and Wholeness







This conference provides information and guidance for:

  • those who have experienced spiritual abuse in cults, authoritarian churches, relationships, or mainstream religious organizations
  • professionals, family members, and other persons who want to help spiritual abuse survivors
  • church personnel and volunteers who want to make their churches more welcoming and healing to survivors of spiritual abuse
Some Topics

  • The Varieties of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse (Michael Langone)
  • Aberrational and Healthy Churches: What Distinguishes Them (Robert Pardon)
  • Personal Accounts: Returning From Unhealthy Christian Groups to Healthy Christianity (Maureen Griffo, Ray Connolly, David Clark)
  • Personal Accounts: Returning From Unhealthy Christianity to a Nonreligious Personal Alternative (Carrie Buddington; Samie Brosseau)
  • Personal Accounts: Returning From Non-Christian Groups to a Personal Spirituality (Esther Friedman; Joseph Kelly)
  • The Bible and Spiritual Formation Following Spiritual Abuse (Ken Garrett; Pat Knapp)
  • Postcult Recovery: Overview (Ron Burks; William Goldberg)
  • What Can You Do When a Loved One is Involved in an Abusive Situation? (David Clark; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan;)
  • Does the Bible Really Say That? (Neil Damgaard; Ken Garrett)
  • Getting Help for Depression, Anxiety, and Other Problems (Lorna Goldberg; Lois Svoboda)
  • Marriage Issues for the Spiritually Abused (Pat & Heidi Knapp)
  • How Distorted Views of Heaven, Hell, and Salvation Contribute to Spiritual Abuse (Robert Pardon)
  • The Impact of Cults on Creativity, and of Creativity on Recovery (Diana Pletts)
  • Spiritual Abuse: A Family’s Journey (Sally and Dennis Meyer)
  • Shame and Guilt (Wendy Duncan)
  • Forgiveness (Doug Duncan)
  • Reconnecting with God (Robert Pardon; Eric Sweitzer)
  • Parenting Issues for the Spiritually Abused (Ray Connolly)
  • Dealing with Loss (William Goldberg; Eric Sweitzer)
  • Making Your Church a Safe Haven (Neil Damgaard; Pat Knapp)
  • How to Trust Again (Ron Burks; Lorna Goldberg)
  • Reconnecting with Loved Ones (Doug Duncan; William Goldberg)
  • Finding and Making the Most of a Healthy Church (David Clark; Robert Pardon)
  • Women’s Issues (Judy Pardon)
  • Open Discussion (Co-Facilitators: Michael Langone; Lois Svoboda)

When: October 26-27, 2018
Where: DoubleTree, Bradley International Airport Hotel, Hartford, CT
Fee: $100/person ($150 after September 22, 2018). Student rate: $50 ($75 after September 22, 2018).
Register: Online

Speakers include
  • Ron Burks, PhD, holds an MDiv and an MA in counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary and a PhD in Counselor Education from Ohio University.
  • David Clark, a thought reform consultant from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has been active in this field for more than 30 years.
  • Doug and Wendy Duncan: former members of a pseudo-Christian, Bible-based cult. Several years after leaving, they became active in cult awareness activities.
  • Rev. Kenneth Garrett, DMin, is senior pastor of Grace Church, located in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. For 12-years Ken and his wife Sharon belonged to a high-demand, abusive church whose members lived communally, practicing an overbearing, extreme form of the Christian faith.
  • William and Lorna Goldberg, both licensed clinical social workers and psychoanalysts with over forty years experience working with former cult members.
  • Joseph F. Kelly, a thought reform consultant since 1988.
  • Michael Kropveld is Founder and Executive Director of Info-Cult / Info-Secte, based in Montreal, Canada.
  • Michael D. Langone, PhD. Since 1981 he has been Executive Director of International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), a tax-exempt research and educational organization concerned about psychological manipulation and cultic groups.
  • Bob and Judy Pardon operate MeadowHaven, a long-term rehabilitation facility that can accommodate individuals or families who require long-term (up to a year) care to recover from trauma and cultic abuse.
  • Patrick Ryan, a cult intervention specialist (exit counseling, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consulting) since 1984
  • … and many others
View the complete list of speakers with full profiles.

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