The Dinah Project: A Handbook for Congregational Response to Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is rarely discussed in church despite the rising incidents of rape sexual assault molestation and incest. The Dinah Project which gets its name from Genesis 34 - the rape of Dinah Jacobs daughter - was borne out of the authors decision to start healing through the church after being raped. The result is this book and an entire ministry program to assist churches in responding to sexual violence. The Dinah Project describes programmatic ways in which a local church can respond to the crisis of sexual violence in the community. By sharing the lessons of one church this book proposes detailed methods for instituting a church program. The Dinah Project provides church activities ranging from providing resources for members to ways to organize a full-time church ministry and many stages in between. Topics include planning worship services conducting community education workshops working with local agencies establishing a board of directors and holding therapy groups at the church. With checklists forms and detailed explanations this user-friendly book guides any interested individual from basic information about sexual violence to tips on budgeting for programs. Combining personal testimony with theological sensitivity Coleman offers psychological pastoral and--most importantly--practical responses to sexual violence. . . . --Amy-Jill Levine Vanderbilt University Divinity School Monica Coleman has gifted the church with an invaluable spiritual resource that provides the church with a theology language blueprint and practical ministry plan. --Frank Anthony Thomas Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Memphis Tennessee . . . There are few resources available for those interested in organizing a positive and effective response to the epidemic of violence in our culture. Coleman has addressed that need in a most helpful way. --D. Gene Kraus Parish Life and Leadership Ministry Team Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ I believe that this book . . . will certainly address the lack of helpful theological insight in the literature around sexual violence. . . . --Char Creson Rape and Sexual Abuse Center Nashville Tennessee Monica A. Coleman is Associate Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religions at Claremont School of Theology and Associate Professor of Religion at Claremont Graduate University. The African American Pulpit has named Coleman one of the Top 20 to Watch--the New Generation of Leading Clergy: Preachers under 40.