In his 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.

Bio 

Pete Singer joined GRACE as the Executive Director on January 1, 2021. He has 30 years’ experience working with trauma, abuse, and mental health in a variety of settings. He has been a foster parent, school social worker, therapist, youth group leader, consultant, Executive Director, and more. He has worked extensively with families, teens, and children who have experienced trauma, including maltreatment, medical trauma, assault, violent loss, and captivity. His work has focused on helping children recover, facilitating parent growth and learning, and community engagement to end child maltreatment. He started a nonprofit in 2005 to equip the faith community to better recognize, prevent, and respond to child maltreatment. This work served to introduce him to a number of people at GRACE and the work they do.

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. He is a Registered Circle of Security – Parent Educator, Board-Approved Supervisor, and has completed extensive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has served on several workgroups, including the Cultural Provider’s Network, Ramsey County Ending Racial Disparities Workgroup, Youth in Transition Workgroup, and more. He designed an innovative support and education program for staff in trauma-saturated fields across disciplines. He has published and contributed to a number of articles and book chapters, including Coordinating Pastoral Care of Survivors with Mental Health Providers; Mental Health and Healthcare System Responses to Adolescent Maltreatment; and Wounded Souls: The Need for Child Protection Professionals and Faith Leaders to Recognize and Respond to the Spiritual Impact of Child Abuse, with Victor Vieth.

Pete is married, the father of three children, two of whom are grown, and has one grandchild.

Resources 

Website | Instagram

Books:

Something’s Not Right by Wade Mullen

On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

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

Podcast: Kingdom Roots with Scot McKnight

Resources for Reporting:

• Wartburg Watch
• Roys Report
• Ministry Watch

One of the most difficult aspects of spiritual abuse is that it causes a rupture of trust in your relationships and sense of belonging in community. However, in his Summit session, Curt Thompson, MD, explores that healing from religious trauma must involve opening yourself up to connection and community again. He shares advice on how to move out of isolation and embrace the beauty and goodness in yourself and others.

You will learn about rupture and repair, why community care matters, the significance of pacing yourself in your recovery, how to confront your desire and longing, the challenges of isolation, the impact of shame, and how to be present with yourself and others as you walk towards hope and healing.

Bio

Curt Thompson, MD, is a board certified psychiatrist, author, speaker, and co-host of The Being Known Podcast. He has been in private practice for over 30 years in Falls Church, Virginia, graduated from Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, and completed his psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital. He strives to help patients develop flourishing lives by telling their stories more truly, in order to become more deeply known, for the purpose of creating beauty and goodness in the world. With conviction and humor, he trains clinicians and speaks at workshops, retreats and conferences, integrating neuroscience, human relationships and Christian faith. He and his wife Phyllis are the parents of two adult children and live in Northern Virginia.

Resources 

Website | Instagram

Curt Thompson's books

The Light Has Come: An Exposition of the Fourth Gospel by Lesslie Newbigin