Safe Church

How to Guard Against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities

By: Dr. Andrew J. Bauman

Narrated by: Tom Parks

If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that by and large the church has failed women. From sexual abuse scandals involving high-profile pastors, to decades-long systemic cover-ups of sexual harassment and mistreatment, to harmful theology that has driven women to leave the church and find community elsewhere, it's clear that something is broken. If we want to fix it, it's time we start listening.

Drawing on new, firsthand research and in-depth interviews, Safe Church allows women to voice the pain they have suffered at the hands of insecure leaders who were often unaware of how their words, actions, and attitudes were harming their sisters in Christ. With practical advice on how to create more equity and less sexism and abuse in the church, this honest look at how misogyny masquerades as biblical truth is a vital resource for pastors, church leaders, and anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in their own Christian community.

©2025 Andrew J. Bauman (P)2025 Christian Audio

Absolutely must read!

This book was so so powerful! Dr. Andrew Bauman did an amazing job at not only explaining the toxic issues within the church but also explaining how the Bible actually views women. He explains how Jesus treated women and his relationships with the women in his life. The misconception that the Bible describes women as a second class citizen is so prevalent within the church and is a very dangerous idea. I highly recommend this book!

Wow!! Concise and well written! So powerful!

Wow!
I am a voracious reader! And I have probably read thousands of books in my lifetime!
And this book might be the most powerful and validating and important book I have EVER read!
Those of you who know me know that I am a critical thinker and I rarely fully agree with anyone! And some people take me as a little bit obnoxious because I ask too many questions..Part of that is that I think we all have our theology a little bit skewed because of our humanity.. as Paul said “we see through a glass dimly.”
One thing that my father did that was really good in my life was that he taught me how to be a critical thinker and not take things at face value and ask questions!
Ironically, I was only allowed to do that with the things of “the world.” Certainly not with him or the theology that he taught me!
I have read a lot of Andrew Bauman’s material and there are some things that I don’t necessarily agree with fully.. maybe God is still teaching both of us things..

But this particular book is one of the most validating and empowering and powerful books I have ever read on abuse - especially in the church!

And when I first saw that it was only about five hours long (I did the audio book) I was a bit skeptical, because I thought there was NO way he could accurately depict all of the nuances of abuse and any solutions for the abuse in the church..

But I was wrong!

I don’t know how you did it, Andrew, but you did it! In a five hour long audiobook!

I cried so many times as I listened to this audiobook.. but they were healing tears!

It gave me words to the grief that has been in my heart that I didn’t know how to quite express!

And not only that, you gave words to the things that God has been impressing on my heart, about how necessary it is that we face this and deal with this in the church!

Because I know that it is often women and children who are the victims of the oppression of abuse - BUT dare I say this?!?

I believe that the abusers have been far more damaged by this! Because they are taught at theology that has ROBBED them of the benefit of listening to women’s voices! They have been robbed of having the IRON of women sharpening their own iron! Because they fully believe that scripture says that women should not speak into their lives! And they have been robbed of the sanctification that could come from that! They have been robbed of the ability to become more like Christ! And instead they often become more selfish and entitled and arrogant!

Looking back now, I can see how this affected my own father! Who I have loved dearly my entire life! And my heart grieves for him, and for the fact that I have had to distance myself from him because God started showing me how unhealthy he was!

And my dad is someone who has told me over and over that he knows God better than most people! And he is so blind! I have been praying that God would do something in his life that will help him to be broken before God so that he might be healed!
And sadly, his pride and arrogance caused me and my siblings, and especially my mother, incredible harm!

But somehow, God has been able to give me a heart of compassion for him! And I don’t think that would be possible if God had not brought me through things to break the pride in my own life!

I have my own story of horrific, spiritual, emotional, psychological, and even sexual abuse, and I have heard the stories of hundreds of other women and it is absolutely heartbreaking!
But I am grateful that God used the painful things in my life, and in the lives of other women to draw us closer to him! When we have cried out to God, he has restored the years of the locust in our lives! And I think that is the key - crying out to God!

But in my family growing up, my dad believed that scripture essentially made him a god in our home! and it was so destructive, especially in his life!

So while I feel incredible compassion and empathy for other women like myself who have walked through abuse, there is something in me that grieves even more deeply for the men who have been taught that they are entitled to rule!

Because it is destroying them! 😭


Now I understand at a deeper level why God clearly opened every single door so that we can come to your conference next weekend!! My husband and I are both really excited!

Great info, validation

There’s so much good information in this book. Andrew Bauman educates and validates experiences. He brings practical solutions and ways the church can make more people feel safe within the building - both those already inside and those outside who are desiring to come in.

The church can do better

Very important book. All church members should read this book. Protection and safety of the flock must remain the priority for all.

Let’s do better in the church

Dr Bauman has done a very excellent job depicting problems than many women endure. Hopefully passive men realize we need help making church a place that women are safe to attend because many are just tired of fighting the battle alone. In fact, many just give up and seek God on their own.