@TGC23 CONFERENCE

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

They didn't teach me about this in seminary

Stories like Mars Hill, Willow Creek, Harvest Bible Chapel and more demonstrate that we can’t assume church is a safe place, even despite our best intentions. Pastors and leaders must seek to protect the flock entrusted to them and promote healing for those affected by physical, sexual, emotional, or religious trauma.

A 2019 Lifeway Study revealed that 10% of Protestant churchgoers under 35 have left a church because they felt sexual misconduct was not taken seriously. Almost half (44%) of Protestant churchgoers said they have been victims of sexual misconduct, with 12% of those saying the misconduct happened at church. In order to reach the next generation, pastors must be equipped to deal with the problem of abuse and lead their congregations to love and care for survivors.

We will host a discussion aimed to provide a biblical response to this critical issue. The panel will be composed of experts from various fields, including pastoral ministry, theology, and counseling. We will seek to provide a Christian perspective on the nature of trauma and abuse, the process of restoration and healing, and our responsibility in abuse prevention. This discussion is sure to provide valuable insights for both individuals and churches alike.

At TGC23 in Indianapolis, Gospel Care Collective and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention are co-hosting an event to equip pastors to care for the abused in their church.

Abuse often goes unrecognized and unreported within churches and other ministries.

10%

In the United States, 10% of all children will report experiencing some form of sexual abuse before age 18.

90%

90% of those abused know their abuser.

30%

The US Department of Justice estimates that only 30% of sexual abuse cases are reported to authorities.

44%

According to Lifeway Research, 44% of Protestant churchgoers say they have been sexually victimized. 12% of these instances happened within the church.

10%

10% of Protestants under age 35 reported leaving a church because of sexual misconduct.

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PANEL MEMBERS

MICHAEL KRUGER - MODERATOR

Dr. Michael J. Kruger serves as the President and Samuel C. Patterson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. He graduated summa cum laude with a M.Div. from Westminster Seminary California, received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh. He has served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society (2019), is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Institute for Biblical Research, the American Academy of Religion, and the Society for New Testament Studies (Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas).

He is the author of thirteen books, most recently Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church (Zondervan, 2022), which tackled the issue of spiritual abuse, why it is important to ministry leaders, how to spot it, and how to handle it. He has also had work published in a variety of academic and journalistic publications.

JENNIFER GREENBERG - PANEL MEMBER

Jennifer Greenberg is an author, recording artist, and survivor of child abuse and domestic violence. Her debut book, Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse (The Good Book Company) is used in seminaries, counseling programs, and churches to equip leaders and comfort survivors. Her next book, about the defiant joy exemplified by Jesus in his sufferings, releases in 2023 (Multnomah). Her writings combine experience with the gospel of hope to help victims, survivors, and those who walk alongside them.

Jennifer is married to her best friend, Jason, and they have three daughters: Elowyn, Leianor, and Gwynevere. They belong to The Haven OPC in Long Island, New York.

ELIZA HUIE - PANEL MEMBER

Eliza is passionate about providing gospel-centered, holistic care and resources to individuals and families. As an expert counselor she provides compassionate care to individuals seeking healing and restoration that is connected to their faith. As an author and speaker, she uses her platform to share her knowledge and experience with others, empowering them to embrace wholeness and wellness in all of life.

Eliza holds a Master of Arts in Counseling and has advanced certificates in biblical counseling from The Christian Counseling Educational Foundation (CCEF) and The Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC). She is also a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC/LCP) and has specialized training as a Certified Clinical Professional Trauma Therapist (CCPTT) Eliza is the director of counseling at McLean Bible Church located in the Washington D.C. metro area. She is the Dean of Biblical Counseling for Metro Baltimore Seminary in Maryland. She is the author of several books including Raising Teens in a Hyper-Sexualized World, Raising Kids in a Screen-Saturated World, Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids and more.

JASON KOVACS - PANEL MEMBER

Jason is the executive director of Gospel Care Collective and also serves as a counselor there. He has been serving individuals, leaders, families, churches and non-profit organizations in the areas of pastoral care, counseling, and orphan advocacy for over 20 years. He helped plant a church, started a non-profit, and most recently served as the Pastor of Counseling at the Austin Stone Community Church where he founded and directed The Austin Stone Counseling Center.

Jason received his Masters of Arts with a focus on Biblical Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. He utilizes a gospel-centered, clinically-informed approach. He has received specialized training in working with foster/adopt families and trauma through TBRI® and is a member and Certified Biblical Counselor through the Association of Biblical Counselors. He serves on the Council of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and the Board of the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition. He provides consulting to churches in the US and Canada helping them establish sustainable care ministries and counseling centers.

JEREMY PIERRE - PANEL MEMBER

Pierre has served as the dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary since 2022. He received his B.A. from Cedarville University, his M.A. from Cleveland State University, and his M.Div. and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He speaks at various engagements in the U.S. and overseas and serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Pierre is an elder at Clifton Baptist Church, where he has served on staff in various roles.

He has authored several books, including among several others When Home Hurts: Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse in Your Church (Christian Focus, 2021), and has contributed to other journals and books, including Scripture and Counseling and Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling. His writing has been featured in Tabletalk Magazine, 9Marks Journal, Baptist Press, and The Gospel Coalition.

REGISTER TODAY AND SAVE

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NON-MEMBER

Register today and save $10 off registration fees.

Event will take place during the lunch break at TCG 23. Registration includes lunch during the event.

$20*

*Discounted price

ADVANCE
MEMBER

Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention Members receive a discount when they register early.

Event will take place during the lunch break at TGC 23. Registration includes lunch during the event.

$15*

*Discounted price

This event is Sponsored By:

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Get your brand's message in front of our event attendees! See below to decide which of our four sponsorship tiers is right for you.

Gold Sponsor - $1500

Logo and link on event page. Rotating logo slide before and after event. Stage mention. Literature distributed to all attendees (provided by sponsor). Plus 60 sec promo video embedded on event page and played at live event. 2 email sponsorships to ECAP members and subscribers.

Silver Sponsor - $1000

Logo and link on event page. Rotating logo slide before and after event. Stage mention. Literature distributed to all attendees (provided by sponsor).

Bronze Sponsor - $500

Logo and link on event page. Rotating logo slide before and after event. Stage mention.

Table Sponsor - $300

Tickets, logo, and literature for one table (8 seats). Sponsor is responsible for inviting guests to fill their table. Logo and link listed on event page.

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Event Hosts

The Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP) was created in 2019 to provide awareness, accreditation, and resources in order to help Christian organizations that serve kids protect the vulnerable in ministry. They have developed a set of Child Safety Standards, which serve as the basis for an accreditation program, which helps ministries develop and maintain an effective Child Protection Program.

The Gospel Care Collective exists in order to provide counseling, consulting, and Biblical counseling training to individuals and churches. With over 20 years of leadership experience in church and non-profits they specialize in serving pastors and ministry leaders around the world.