

054: Navigating Abuse in Faith Spaces with Pete Singer (Summit Sessions)
In this session, Pete shares how the investigative process works for all forms of abuse in spiritual contexts. He breaks down the process of how they investigate abuse reports and misconduct and the overall culture and health of the organization.
You will learn:
- What happens when an abuse report is submitted.
- GRACE’s definition of different forms of abuse.
- How GRACE determines patterns of abuse.
- Next steps that you can do if you think you’ve experienced spiritual abuse.
- Steps you can do if you have spiritually abused someone.
- Policies to look for that constitutes a safe church.
Get the full show notes and books mentioned here. 📄
Guest Spotlight ✨
Pete Singer joined GRACE as the Executive Director on January 1, 2021 and passed away on May 1, 2025. He had 30 years’ experience working with trauma, abuse, and mental health in a variety of settings.
Pete completed his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, where he also received a Certificate in Trauma-Effective Leadership. He speaks nationally on trauma, trauma-informed practice, resilience, strengthening the parent-child relationship, and the role of the faith community in responding to child maltreatment.
Links & Resources 🔗
Get 30% OFF an All Access Pass from any of our Annual Summits now through the end of June. Use code PODCAST30 to take advantage of this offer today!
Articles:
- Toward a More Trauma-Informed Church: Equipping Faith Communities to Prevent and Respond to Abuse by Pete Singer
- Coordinating Pastoral Care of Survivors with Mental Health Providers by Pete Singer
- The Use of Images During Forensic Interviews of Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused by Pete Singer
Resources for Reporting:
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Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides practical resources for recovery from and safeguarding against spiritual abuse.
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