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.
About the Author :
Cheryl Miller has worked in mediation, restorative justice, and community development for over two decades. An experienced nonprofit leader, she is also the founder of Quantum Circles Consulting and Training, an organization that equips community groups to address homelessness, economic development, restoration, and reconciliation.
Review :
"Cheryl Miller has written an in-your-face reminder that sexual violence is much too important a topic to be considered taboo. I have known Cheryl for nearly two decades and can attest to her work on the front lines of victim-offender mediation. In her telling, the stories are vivid, the values are clear, and the solutions are tangible. If there is one book to have on your shelf to help guide your organization towards justice that restores, Enough Silence is it."
--Jonathan Brooks, lead pastor, Lawndale Christian Community Church "Cheryl Miller crafted a powerful narrative interwoven with instruction on providing survivors of sexual assault with avenues of healing through restorative justice. The role of faith for survivors is threaded throughout, along with a clarion call to the church to nurture healing. This book is brave, timely, practical, implementable, and anointed.
"Enough Silence accurately relates the theories, concepts, and principles of restorative justice that have been a part of my academic teaching journey for more than twenty years. Cheryl conveys the technical knowledge in easy-to-understand terms, then brings the information to life through her artful demonstration of applied skills. Her extensive practice of restorative justice principles has been made accessible and applicable to real life.
"Cheryl rightly calls the church to be an educated and accessible sacred space. She gives excellent instruction on practical skills and important cautionary parameters on becoming a place of hope and restoration."
--Tomi Grover, Human Advocacy Director, GoSendMe Global, and adjunct faculty, LeTourneau University
