Interview guidelines
These guidelines protect you, the people in your story, and the church that God still loves. Please read them before you share your story.
Who these interviews are for
Adults (18 or older) who were hurt in church or spiritually abused, and who want to tell the truth in a way that helps someone else heal. You don't need to be fully healed. You do need to be safe right now. If you are in danger, please reach out for help first on our resources page.
Church hurt and spiritual abuse are two very different things, and both stories matter here. Here's how we tell them apart.
You choose how you appear
- Public or anonymous. You can use your full name, your first name only, or no name at all.
- Your voice. We can use your real voice, disguise it, or leave it out completely and present your words another way.
- On camera or not. Video, audio only, or neither. Servant Zero never shows his face, and you never have to show yours.
We honor the choices you make in your written agreement. Please remember that people who already know your story may still recognize it, even when your name and voice are hidden.
The ground rules
- Be respectful. Tell the truth, including what was wrong. Anger and grief are welcome. Contempt and revenge are not.
- Call out the issues, then point toward healing. Every interview ends somewhere: what helped, what you'd tell someone still in it, where God met you.
- No naming names. No churches, ministries, leaders, denominations or other people. If a name slips out, it will be bleeped, removed or changed, along with other identifying details.
- Speak for yourself. Share what happened to you and what you saw, as honestly as you can remember it.
Editing
Sunday Scars has the right to edit every interview. That includes shortening it, reordering it, removing parts, bleeping or changing names and details, and altering voices, to protect identities, the integrity of your story and the integrity of the church at large. We edit with care, and we will not twist your words into something you didn't say.
No promise to publish
Sharing your story does not guarantee an interview, and recording an interview does not guarantee it will be published. Sometimes a story isn't the right fit, a season isn't right, or publishing could put someone at risk. That decision says nothing about the worth of your story or your pain.
The written agreement
If we both want to go ahead after hearing your story, we'll email you a written interview agreement to read and sign before anything is recorded. It covers:
- how you'll appear: name, voice and camera
- the ground rules above
- our editing rights and the fact that we're under no obligation to publish
- where and how the interview may be shared
- how we keep your recording private
Take your time with it, and ask us anything.
What this is not
- It is not therapy or legal help. If you were abused, please talk with a licensed, trauma-informed counselor.
- It is not a place to report a crime. If a crime is involved, especially abuse of a minor, please report it to the police or child protection services.
- It is not a place to bash the church. The answer to a bad church is never no church. We tell these stories so people can heal and find their way home.