I just came across this article, and much of what you say resonates with me.  I have in fact written, then deleted, blog-posts exposing "spiritual abuse" that I have encountered.  I left a church in the UK because of what I would call "heavy shepherding" and I have dealt with what I term "bullying" from a family member in the name of God.  I have not been able to keep those blog-posts I wrote up because I have either been intimidated out of it, OR more recently, because in the process of dealing with the abuses of (perceived) authority, I have come to understand my own responsibility in the problem, and that those who hurt me are human beings and need a chance to grow without things out on the internet that could condemn them.  I was "lucky" because what I have experienced was mild compared to the sexual abuse and spiritual abuses many others have suffered and been victimized by in circles to which I have also belonged.  

That is not to minimize the very real harm to my spiritual life that I am still dealing with.

My issue currently is not whether or not abusers will ever repent, but more, how do we as the Body protect ourselves from abuse, and how do we advocate for personal responsibility rather than abdicate authority over ourselves to those who "know" the Scriptures better than we do?  I believe strongly that we must educate ourselves and check out what the Word of God actually says regardless of who teaches it to us.

My journey has been different to others.  There are a lot of hurting people out there who will hear what I am saying as blame, because we always blame the victim in our society.  I'm just trying to work things out in my life vis a vis forgiveness and truth.  There are many triggers for all of us.  

What I find hardest to deal with though is those who entirely deny any existence of spiritual abuse, or who demand a show of full forgiveness or forgetfulness/silence when there hasn't even been full repentance.  

Excuse my ramblings, but your article triggered much in me that I have been unable to articulate for a variety of reasons.  I hope we can all learn and grow in grace and truth as the Body of Christ.  Perhaps that is the most encouraging thing that can come out of this for me:  I am learning to speak my mind.