A former board president of the church safeguarding group GRACE, short for Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, will soon become its executive director.

The Virginia-based nonprofit, which assists religious organizations in handling allegations and investigations of sexual abuse, announced Dec. 9 that Laura Thien will become its leader, effective Jan. 1.

Thien is a therapist and director of ministry partnership development at Canterbury Counseling Center in Greenville, South Carolina. She has 18 years of experience working with survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault and has worked to increase accessibility to mental health care.

“Laura’s heart for the Church and her conviction that God calls us to create safe, accountable and compassionate communities aligns profoundly with GRACE’s mission,” said the GRACE board of directors in a joint statement.

The search process for a new executive director lasted several months and included internal and external candidates.

Thien served on the GRACE board from 2015-2025, serving as president for three of those years.

“Every day, survivors of abuse walk into our churches and communities looking for safety, compassion and belonging,” Thien said. “I am humbled and honored to continue this hope alongside the entire GRACE team.”

Previously, Thien worked for the Julie Valentine Center, a community-based sexual trauma recovery center and child advocacy center in Greenville. She has also served on the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Advisory Board and the board of the South Carolina Network of Child Advocacy Centers.

“In the child protection constellation, Laura Thien is one of the brightest stars,” said Victor Vieth, GRACE board member and director of the Center for Faith & Child Protection at Zero Abuse Project. “Her deep understanding of the spiritual impact of abuse will allow GRACE to expand our work in assisting the Christian community through a trauma-informed lens.”

GRACE has been without an executive director since May 1, when Pete Singer died after a long battle with cancer. He led the organization for five years.

The nonprofit was founded by attorney Boz Tchividjian, grandson of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, in 2004. Tchividjian stepped down as the first executive director of GRACE in 2020 to return to practicing law, where he specializes in assisting victims of sexual abuse.

“As we look to the next chapter of GRACE, I want to note profound gratitude for the legacy of courage and care experienced through our two previous executive directors, Pete Singer and Boz Tchividjian,” Thien said.

Thien has a master’s degree in social work from the University of South Carolina and is a licensed independent social worker of clinical practice.

GRACE has led several high-profile abuse investigations, including alleged mishandling of sex abuse allegations at Bob Jones University and reported abuse at a boarding school run by New Tribes Mission. 

More recently, GRACE investigated behavioral misconduct claims against the founder of The New Evangelicals. 

More information about GRACE is at netgrace.org.

Ann Marie Shambaugh has reported as a print journalist in multiple states, including currently in Carmel, Indiana.