Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
Founder and senior analyst at FaithTrust Institute, the Rev. Dr. Fortune is a pastor, author, educator and practicing ethicist and theologian.
Rev. Marie M. Fortune grew up in North Carolina where she received her undergraduate degree from Duke University. She received her seminary training at Yale Divinity School and was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ in 1976. After serving in a local parish, she founded the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, now known as FaithTrust Institute, in 1977 where she served as Executive Director until 1999 and now serves as Founder and Senior Analyst. FaithTrust Institute is a multi-faith, international organization providing religious communities and advocates with training, consultation, and educational materials to address the faith aspects of abuse.
She was Editor of The Journal of Religion and Abuse from 2000-2008, served on the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women for the U.S. Department of Justice (1995-2000), and the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence for the U.S. Department of Defense (2000-2003).
Publications
Responding to Clergy Misconduct: A Handbook (Faithtrustinstitute, 2009)
Sexual Violence: The Sin Revisited (Pilgrim Press, 2005)
Sexual Abuse Prevention: A Course of Study for Teenagers with Rebecca Voelkel (Pilgrim Press, 1996)
Violence Against Women and Children: A Christian Theological Sourcebook Edited with Carol Adams (Continuum Publishing, 1995)
Love Does No Harm: Sexual Ethics for the Rest of us (Continuum Publishing, 1995)
Clergy Misconduct: Sexual Abuse in the Ministerial Relationship (with Deborah Woolley, et l, CPSDV, 1992)
Violence in the Family: A Workshop Curriculum for Clergy and other Helpers (Pilgrim Press, 1991)
Is Nothing Sacred? When Sex Invades the Pastoral Relationship (Harper and Row, 1989) *1990 Book of the Year Award from the Academy of of Parish Clergy
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (with Kathy Goering Reid, United Church Press, 1989)
Keeping the Faith: Guidance for Christian Women Facing Abuse (Harpersan Francisco, 1987)
Sexual Violence: The Unmentionable Sin (Pilgrim Press, 1983)
Recognition
1987, The Antoinette Brown Award for Outstanding Woman Minister in the United Church of Christ
1991, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA
1992, Alumnal Award of Distinction, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT
1995, Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation Ministry to Women Award
1998, Community of Christ Temple Peace Award
2009, Social Prophet Award from the United Church of Christ