Sex, Power, Control  PB

Fiona Gardner is a writer and spiritual director. She has worked as a diocesan safeguarding advisor in the Church of England for six years, and prior to that as a social worker and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Her previous publications include Taking Heart (forthcoming), The Only Mind Worth Having (2015), Precious Thoughts (2011), The Four Steps of Love (2007) and Journeying Home (2004), as well as books and articles on psychoanalysis.

"Fiona Gardner's analysis is brilliant and shines a light into the dark recesses of the Church of England. She explains complex phenomena in clear language. It is a masterpiece and will be turned to again and again by those who crave insight into the mismanagement of abuse within the Church of England."Ian Elliott, Independent Safeguarding Consultant"This book brings together many facets of abuse and shows how they are interrelated. Fiona Gardner is fearless in naming issues that the church avoids, arguing convincingly that change will only occur when we acknowledge the breadth of the problem and resolve to tackle it in the round rather than piecemeal. She shows how theology, sexism and homophobia combine to create an environment where sexual and spiritual abuse are perpetuated. Read it, weep and then resolve to be part of the change."Revd Canon Rosie Harper[This] public shaming [book is] much needed. I doubt whether any amount of safeguarding training or protocols will deter some highly manipulative clergy from sex abuse or senior clergy from protecting them and covering up. The prospect of public shaming might. All power to Fiona Gardner [...] for shaming both abusers and their protectors.Robin Gill, Church Times, February 2021, pp 21"Gardner's multifaceted experience ... enables her to do something fresh and useful. Books like this help by making people more alert and understanding."Linda Woodhead, Distinguished Professor of Religion and Society, Lancaster University, Surviving Church, April 2021

• GlossaryAcknowledgementsForeword by Stephen Parsons1. Introduction - Stripping away the Veneer2. Survivor Accounts3. The Mind of the Abuser4. How the Church Has Responded5. Surface Awareness - Policies, Guidelines and Training6. Dynamics of Power and Control in the Institutional Church7. Charismatic Power and Contro8. The Influence of the Public School Ethos within the Institutional Church9. Sex and Gender10. Spiritual Abuse, the Spiritual Sickness within the Church and Signs of HopeAfterwordEndnotesBibliographyIndex