by Vicki Fogel Mykles

Her parents, John and Helen Pritchard, met as PCUS teaching missionaries, and were married in the central Congo of Africa, in 1950. Four years later, their first daughter, Pamela, was born. Her family home-schooled her until she was 9 years old, then sent her, together with the children of other missionaries, to a regional English-speaking boarding facility to study under the tutelage of other Presbyterian mission workers.

Central School in the village of Lubondai was several hours away by bush plane. "I only returned home for Christmas, Easter and summer vacations," Pritchard recalls. "It was heart-wrenching to be away from home at such a young age."

The young students consoled each other as best as they could.

The Rev. William Pruitt, an itinerant PCUS missionary, appeared at Central School on a regular basis during the six years Pritchard was a student. "He brought candy, games, children's movies, and performed magic and hypnotic tricks for the children," she says. "He was very charismatic and appeared outwardly loving."

However, Pruitt had a sinister side.

Not long after she arrived at Central School, Pritchard became a victim of his pedophile predations. She suffered from asthma, and often stayed in bed in her dorm room. Many times, Pruitt entered her room and offered to massage her back to loosen the congestion in her lungs. Then he would move his hands under her pajamas, touching her chest and private parts.

"He said not to tell anyone, that this was a dream and our little secret," she says.

"The impact of clergy sexual abuse is doubly difficult," Pritchard says. "A child often thinks a clergy member is God, not a representative of God. Therefore, it is hard to discern why God is doing this terrible thing."

Pritchard felt that she was responsible, since Pruitt was a clergyman much-loved for the joy he brought to the school's children. So she remained silent.

Over 35 years later, she was stunned to discover that she was just one of many girls molested by Pruitt at Central School. The revelation spurred a painful journey to uncover the extent of this abuse and achieve justice, healing and restoration.

Four years later, the executive committee of the General Assembly Council appointed an Independent Committee of Inquiry (ICI) to look into the survivors' allegations. After 18 months of investigation, a definitive "Final Report" documented sexual and physical abuse at Central School. This opened the door for other victims to come forward.

This year's General Assembly is being given the opportunity to consider 11 recommended changes of the Book of Order to strengthen the church's policies and procedures for dealing with sexual-abuse cases.

"We can't erase what happened to us, but this is our gift to other children," Pritchard says, speaking for the survivors' group.

As these women and other abuse victims move from being victims to being survivors to being victors, their question is this: "How will the church respond to others who have experienced this abuse?"

They're hoping the PC(USA) will serve as a beacon to others and as a model of the right way to discover the truth, promote healing, encourage justice and preserve integrity.