Who is Tamar’s Voice?
The story of Tamar can be found in the Old Testament book of II Samuel 13.
Tamar's Voice is a religious non-profit organization. We are here to listen and encourage those who have been sexually abused by members of the clergy. The organization is comprised of an Executive Director and the Board of Directors. Jan Tuin, Executive Director, is a survivor; therefore she understands and empathizes with those who have suffered the devastation of clergy sexual abuse and understand the hope of healing. The Board of Directors is comprised of compassionate survivors and those who understand and support the ministry.
Mission: To minister to those who have experienced sexual abuse by clergy.
Objectives: Promote healing for those affected by pastoral misconduct
Reach out in grace, truth, and love
Listen to people who need to tell their story
Empower the voiceless to speak out
Encourage integrity in ministerial relationships
What do we do?
Hardly a day goes by but what we hear from a victim of clergy sexual abuse (CSA) somewhere in the world. We check our email daily. We get letters from Europe, Canada, Africa, America, Indiana, and even Marion where we live. It is our intent to respond within 72 hours at the longest. We do not want to miss a single contact and we want to ensure we have time to respond to everyone.
The people who contact us are in different stages of their experiences. Some are still in the unhealthy relationships and are seeking a way to get out. Others are in the midst of an investigation by church or state. A number thought they had buried the experience far into the deep recesses of their mind only to find that years later something triggered an expected response and all of the “stuff” comes boiling back into their lives.
Once we establish the fact that this person is a CSA victim or a family member or friend of a victim, we send them a complimentary copy of What About Her? and other materials we deem appropriate. We try to help, encourage, empower, and most importantly give a voice to these hurting individuals. We listen, answer questions, and encourage individuals to seek professional help.
