Who is behind AfterTheChurch?
This is a survivors innitiative that aims to help other survivors of religious harm.
AfterTheChurch was created by survivors of church harm and advocates who understood that it is not always safe in religious communities. This innitiative is not exclusive to only people who have left the church but also to people who might still be in religious institution but fell like they are not being heard or that they are going through spiritual harm alone.
What the project is for
The website is being developed to provide religiously neutral explanations, privacy-controlled survivor accounts and practical information for people affected by abuse, coercion, manipulation, exclusion, financial exploitation and psychological harm in religious settings.
It does not require visitors to reject or adopt a religion, forgive, reconcile, report publicly or use a particular label for their experience.
Independence and funding
We are not controlled by a church, denomination, political organisation or religious ministry. Before making stronger claims about funding independence, the organisation should publish its actual funding sources, donor safeguards and conflict-of-interest rules.
Donors should not receive access to unpublished stories, survivor identities or editorial control.
Leadership and safeguarding
Public information should identify leadership roles, relevant experience, safeguarding responsibilities and the route for complaints. A team member may use a pseudonym where disclosure creates a genuine safety risk, but their responsibilities should still be clear.
What remains to be published?
- Named leadership and governance information.
- Safeguarding policy and escalation route.
- Editorial and moderation standards.
- Funding sources and conflict-of-interest register.
- Complaints and appeals procedure.