What do you think?
Rate this book
Enough Silence: Creating Sacred Space for Survivors of Sexual Assault through Restorative Justice
Learn how restorative justice can offer healing to survivors of sexual abuse in your faith community
Clara was five years old the first time she was raped by her father. The trauma stifled Clara’s self-esteem, ability to trust others, and emotional regulation well into adulthood. But after an encounter with a repentant man who had committed the same crime against his own daughter—through a guided victim-offender dialogue—Clara was finally able to breathe.
In Enough Silence, Cheryl Miller draws on more than two decades working with survivors of abuse to create the composite character of Clara. Her story represents countless real people in our faith communities living with a personal history of sexual trauma. Clara’s story illustrates how restorative justice practices—implemented with care—can transform the lives of survivors. These practices include
• holding offenders accountable,
• lending direct voice to survivors, offenders, and members of the community,
• taking into account all those with stakes in incidents of sexual abuse,
• clarifying the organization’s values, and
• establishing a safe and structured environment for survivors.
She also offers a road map for implementing victim-offender dialogue, surrogate dialogue, circles, and more.
Enough Silence issues a call to pastors, clergy, nonprofit professionals, and other leaders to dismantle patriarchal systems that perpetuate rape culture. By embracing restorative justice practices, faith communities can imitate Christ in ministering to survivors and those who love them.
Clara was five years old the first time she was raped by her father. The trauma stifled Clara’s self-esteem, ability to trust others, and emotional regulation well into adulthood. But after an encounter with a repentant man who had committed the same crime against his own daughter—through a guided victim-offender dialogue—Clara was finally able to breathe.
In Enough Silence, Cheryl Miller draws on more than two decades working with survivors of abuse to create the composite character of Clara. Her story represents countless real people in our faith communities living with a personal history of sexual trauma. Clara’s story illustrates how restorative justice practices—implemented with care—can transform the lives of survivors. These practices include
• holding offenders accountable,
• lending direct voice to survivors, offenders, and members of the community,
• taking into account all those with stakes in incidents of sexual abuse,
• clarifying the organization’s values, and
• establishing a safe and structured environment for survivors.
She also offers a road map for implementing victim-offender dialogue, surrogate dialogue, circles, and more.
Enough Silence issues a call to pastors, clergy, nonprofit professionals, and other leaders to dismantle patriarchal systems that perpetuate rape culture. By embracing restorative justice practices, faith communities can imitate Christ in ministering to survivors and those who love them.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2024
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 23, 2024
Reading this book marked my first time diving into the realm of restorative justice, and it proved to be an enlightening experience. Miller skillfully integrates compelling personal narratives from survivors of sexual assault with a thorough exploration of restorative justice principles. The book serves as an invaluable guide for applying restorative justice principles beyond the confines of the legal system. While the inclusion of additional personal stories would have further enriched the narrative, Clara's account provides a crucial cohesive element throughout the text. This book is an essential resource for professionals within faith communities and broader community contexts alike.
Thank you Eerdmans for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
Thank you Eerdmans for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
Displaying 1 of 1 review