Abstract
This article discusses how European, North American, and Australian churches understand and define the terms sexual misconduct and sexual abuse. The methodical approach is an analysis of denomination-level church policies or guidelines from approximately 20 different denominations. The analysis explores the influence of different definitions of these key terms on church leaders’ perceptions of stories of inappropriate behavior by one of their own leaders or trusted congregation members. My aim is to demonstrate that the power analytical approach is superior to other forms of analysis for interpreting the interactions between those involved. For this study, I systematized the descriptions of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct in the selected church guidelines into five categories: (1) acts, (2) subjective experiences, (3) breaking ethical or cultural standards, (4) sexuality, and (4) misuse of power. A majority of the policies use descriptions of acts. A theoretical framework that includes choices of interpretive perspectives is required. Therefore, the discussion primarily focuses on sexuality versus power for interpreting the term sexual misconduct. A concluding remark is that understanding sexual misconduct as sexuality means acknowledging reciprocal activity, which is desirable for the abuser and often for the leadership of the church. The power analytical approach helps to make visible the objective criteria of being in a position of “power over” another person and is key to connecting responsibility to relational and structural factors. This approach also makes it possible to question who in a context ought to have the power of defining what abusive behavior is.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The term sexual misconduct is used because it is a common term in many denominational policies. The use of the term is not intended to devalue the seriousness of sexual abuse, and it shall be understood as including all kinds of misuse of sexuality as a power tool to objectify and devalue another person.
The Lutheran Church of Norway (and in the Reformed and Lutheran churches in many parts of northwestern Europe) uses ordained deacons. The Greek word “diakonia” is meaning, “to serve”. Diakonia in this context is a term understood as “the caring ministry of the Church. It is the Gospel in action” (Nordstokke 2009, p. 27, quoting the definition of diakonia in the Lutheran Church of Norway). The science of Diakonia (correlating to the used terms “Diaconal approach” and “diaconal research”). The science of Diakonia (correlating to the used terms “diaconal approach” and “diaconal research”) is based on a multidisciplinary approach with theological and empirical knowledge is core elements. Research focus is on the diaconal ministry in church, but also on the content and essence of diakonia especially in the face of suffering and injustice.
“Vulnerable adults” means in this context adults who are dependent on people in trusted and powerful positions. This may refer to a specific group (such as disabled or mentally retarded adults), but it mainly refers to all adults who ask for personal, relational, and spiritual care and counseling.
Guidelines from African and Asian countries written in English are not available. Still, my general experience is that guidelines from these parts of the worlds have mainly used policies from North America and Europe as models and probably have partly adopted their understandings of the main terms.
The denominational policies are from the United States (nine), North America (two), Europe (six), and Australia (two). They are all listed in the Policies (Research Material) list of references.
“Phronesis” can be more exact described as “developed wisdom, which includes competence to act” (Kleiven 2015:44)
Roger Smith differentiates between power understood as possibility, position, process, and product.
In Swedish, this is moralisk klandervärdig.
In Swedish, this is sexuella aktiviteter.
In Norwegian, this is seksualiserer relasjonen.
References
Dokecki, P. R. (2004). The clergy sexual abuse crisis. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.
Farrell, D. (2004). A historical viewpoint of sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy and religious. Journal of Religion and Abuse, 6(2), 41–80.
Flyvbjerg, B. (2001). Making social science matter: Why social inquiry fails and how it can succeed again. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fortune, M. (1999). Is nothing sacred? The story of a pastor, the women he sexually abused, and the congregation he nearly destroyed. Cleveland: United Church Press.
Fortune, M. (2005). Sexual violence: The sin revisited. Cleveland. Pilgrim Press.
Foucault, M. (1979). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison. New York: Vintage Books.
Foucault, M. (1990). The care of self: The history of sexuality: Volume 3. London: Penguin Books.
Foucault, M. (1998). The will to knowledge: The history of sexuality: Volume 1. London: Penguin Books.
Gross-Schaefer, A., Feldman, L., & Perkowitz, N. (2011). A time to learn: A comparison of policies dealing with clergy sexual misconduct. Pastoral Psychology, 60(2), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-010-0310-y.
Hopkins, N. M. (2006). Best practice after betrayal is discovered. In B. A. Gaede (Ed.), When a congregation is betrayed (pp. 2–14). Herndon: Alban Institute.
Jenkins, P. (1996). Pedophiles and priests: Anatomy of a contemporary crisis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jensen, L. B. (2011). Indføring I tekstanalyse [introduction to text analysis]. Frederiksberg: Samfundslitteratur.
Kearsley, R. (2008). Church, community and power. Farnham: Ashgate.
Kleiven, T.(2010). Intimitetsgrenser og Tillitsmakt. Kirkesamfunns forståelse av og handlingsstrategier i møte med anklager om seksuelle krenkelser sett i lys av et diakonifaglig perspektiv [intimacy boundaries and the power of trust: The understanding and policies of denominations encountering accusations of sexual misconduct elucidated from a diaconal perspective]. Oslo: Diakonova.
Kleiven, T. (2015). Empirical diaconal research and normativity. Diaconia: Journal for the Study of Christian Social. Practice, 6(1), 43–60.
Kleiven, T. (2016). Sexual misconduct in church: A gender perspective. In S. Dietrich, K. Jørgensen, K. K. Korslien, & K. Nordstokke (Eds.), Diakonia in a gender perspective (pp. 253–266). Oxford: Regnum Books International.
Lebacqz, K. (1985). Professional ethics: Power and paradox. Nashville. Abingdon Press.
Nordstokke, K. (2008). Diakonia in context: Transformation, reconciliation, empowerment. Geneva: Lutheran World Federation.
Parkinson, P. (2013). Child sexual abuse and the churches: A story of moral failure. In Legal studies research paper, 13/78. Sydney: University of Sydney.
Schoener, G. R. (1995). Historical overview. In J. C. Gonsiorek (Ed.), Breach of trust: Sexual exploitation by health care professionals and clergy. London: Sage.
Smith, R. (2008). Social work and power. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Sullivan, J., & Beeche, A. (2002). Professional perpetrators: Sex offenders who use their employment to target and sexually abuse the children with whom they work. Child Abuse Review, 11(3), 153–167.
Van der Ven, J. (1998). Formation of the moral self. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans.
Weber, M. (1964). The theory of social and economic organization. New York: Free Press.
Policies (research material)
Anglican Church of Australia, The. (2003). Sexual working group: Work in progress. Report to Standing Committee of General Synod. http://www.anglican.org.au/community/working-groups/defunct/documents/sawg%20report.pdf.
Baptist General Conference (1995). Recommended policy statement on sexual misconduct for local churches [USA]. https://www.converge.org/files/ww/resource/document/1995-11-sexual-misconduct.pdf.
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (1992). From pain to hope: Report from the CCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Child Sexual Abuse. http://www.cccb.ca/site/Files/From_Pain_To_Hope.pdf.
Christian Reformed Church (2013). Guidelines for handling abuse allegations against a church leader [North America]. https://www.crcna.org/SafeChurch/where-can-i-find-help-create-safe-church.
Church of England (2015). Guidelines for the professional conduct for the clergy. https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2287115/guidelines2ewebversion.pdf.
Church of England (2016). Clergy Discipline Commission: Guidance on penalties. https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2485553/penalty_guidance_revd_apr_16.pdf
Den Norske Kirke (2008a). Når overgrep skjer… holdning ansvar handling. (When abuse happen … attitude responsibility action). ( https://kirken.no/globalassets/kirken.no/om-kirken/samfunnsansvar/nar-overgrep-skjer/overgrep_dokument08.pdf
Den Norske Kirke (2008b). Kirkens frivillige arbeid. Forebygging og håndtering av seksuelle overgrep. (Voluntary work in church. Prevention and handling sexual abuse). https://kirken.no/globalassets/kirken.no/om-kirken/samfunnsansvar/nar-overgrep-skjer/overgrep_haandtering_frivillighefte_2013.pdf.
Diocese of Rapid City (2013). Policies and procedures relating to allegations of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults for behavior for priests, deacons, lay employees or volunteers in the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota [Catholic Church, United States]. http://rccss.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sexual-Abuse-Policy-2013.10.02.pdf.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2005). An ELCA strategy for responding to sexual abuse in church. https://wac.elca.org/op/view.aspx?src=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload%2Eelca%2Eorg%2FELCA%20Resource%20Repository%2FResponding%5Fto%5FSexual%5FAbuse%5Fin%5Fthe%5FChurch%2Epdf.
Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (2012). Hinschauen—Helfen—Handeln. http://www.ekd.de/download/20120828_hinschauen_helfen_handeln.pdf.
Mennonite Church (2015). Ministerial sexual misconduct policy and procedure [United States]. http://mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SexualMisconduct.pdf.
Methodist Church, The. (2010). Safeguarding children and young people [United Kingdom]. http://www.methodist.org.uk/downloads/safe-update-3-1110-childrenandyoungpeople.pdf.
Orthodox Church in America (2014). Policies, standards and procedures on sexual misconduct. https://oca.org/PDF/sexual-misconduct/2014-04-PSP-Sexual-Misconduct.pdf.
Presbyterian Church (USA) (2013). Sexual misconduct policy and its procedures. https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/publications/sexual_misconduct_policy_and_its_procedures_approved_by_coga_october_2013_after_nfog_changes_(00020308).pdf.
Svenska Kyrkan (2011). Stöd efter sexuella övergrepp. (Support after sexual abuse). https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/motsexuellaovergrepp.
Sveriges Kristna Råd (2012). Ekumeniska riktlinjer vid sexuella övergrepp i kyrkliga miljöer. (Ecumenical guidelines when sexual abuse happens in the context of church). http://www.skr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/riktlinjer-vid-sexuella-overgrepp-i-kyrkliga-miljoer.pdf.
Trinity Baptist Church. Child, youth, and worker protection policy [United States]. http://www.trinity-baptist.org/churchdocs/Sexual%20Abuse%20Policy.pdf.
United Church of Christ (2001). Guidelines for resourcing committees on the ministry.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2011). Charter for protection of children and youth people. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youthprotection/upload/Charter-for-the-Protection-of-Children-and-Young-People-revised-2011.pdf.
Uniting Church of Australia (2014). Updated sexual abuse and sexual misconduct policy. https://assembly.uca.org.au/policies/item/1579-updated-sexual-abuse-and-sexual-misconduct-policy.
World Council of Churches (2006). A pastoral and educational response to sexual harassment. https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/assembly/2006-porto-alegre/3-preparatory-and-background-documents/a-pastoral-and-educational-response-to-sexual-harassment.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kleiven, T. Sexual Misconduct in the Church: What Is it about?. Pastoral Psychol 67, 277–289 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-018-0807-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-018-0807-3