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An evaluation of infidelity among male protestant clergy

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Abstract

There is an increasing awareness, in the Church, of the impact of a pastor's sex life on his ministry. The purpose of this article is to examine risk factors that may presage infidelity for pastors. Three factors are examined in detail: 1) personal adjustment factors, including feelings of mistrust for others, feelings of rejection, feelings of shame, consumption of pomography, and family of origin issues; 2) marital adjustment, including level of spousal intimacy, and satisfaction with marital sex; and 3) factors embedded in the ministerial role, including attraction and arousal with regard to church members, church staff, and counselees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Sonora Center for Individual and Family Development, USA

    John W. Thoburn Ph.D.

  2. Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

    Jack O. Balswick Ph.D.

Authors
  1. John W. Thoburn Ph.D.
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  2. Jack O. Balswick Ph.D.
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Thoburn, J.W., Balswick, J.O. An evaluation of infidelity among male protestant clergy. Pastoral Psychol 42, 285–294 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01789516

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01789516

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