Clergy Sexual Misconduct. John Thoburn Thoburn
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Chapter 2 - Clergy Sexual Misconduct Overview: A Model for Prevention, Education, Treatment, and Oversight
Rob Baker and John Thoburn
Chapter 1 discussed the widespread prevalence of clergy sexual misconduct in the Protestant Church today and the varied reasons that contribute to the problem at all levels of the clergy and Church system. The dynamic interplay of several factors determines the potential risk for clergy sexual misconduct. These include
1.Assessment and evaluation of a seminarian’s call to ministry
2.Practical ministry education and training in recognizing signs of burnout
3.The personality factors of the pastor
4.The pastor’s foundation (or lack thereof) in spiritual formation
5.The quality of his marital relationship
6.The needs and expectations of the congregation
7.The kind of direction and support supplied by the pastor’s conference, synod, or presbytery
Clergy sexual misconduct can be sexualized affairs, casual encounters, emotional affairs, a sexual addiction, or criminal misconduct. Affairs tend to start out as emotional relationships that become sexualized, while casual sexual encounters involve little personal emotional investment on the part of the pastor (Joy, 1997). Sexual addiction is a form of self-care that revolves around a self-soothing pleasure/shame cycle. According to Laaser and Gregoire (2003), there are four aspects of sexual addiction:
1.The behavior has become unmanageable. There have been attempts to stop the behavior and the person is unable to do so.
2.The addiction creates a neurochemical tolerance. The person’s brain has adapted to the pleasure-creating chemical interaction.
3.Tolerance leads to escalation. More of the neurochemical is needed to create the same effect, prompting more of the behavior to create the desired effects.
4.The neurochemical pleasure from the behavior pattern ultimately medicates mood, either high or low, depending on the person’s perceived need or desire.
Davies (2003) goes on to assert that people who become pastors have certain dependency features that are more unique to clergy. Some clergy hope that being ordained as a minister will reduce the shame they feel in their lives. Pastors, as codependents, hope to gain approval by pleasing their parishioners. Clergy often experience significant denial about their own issues because they would suffer severe consequences if their problems were acknowledged or disclosed. Ministers can have entrenched judgmental thinking that is buttressed by their theology. Dependent pastors often have a great deal of unexpressed anger. Furthermore, clergy loathe to disclose their behavior, fearing repercussions—they assume they will be punished. Even if denominational conference leadership espouses grace and mercy, there is pressure to not be seen as treating clergy sexual misconduct lightly. Therefore, pastors are often terrified that they will be turned out of their parishes, defrocked, lose their livelihood, and be shunned by the Christian community.
Not many of the strategies to combat clergy sexual misconduct have been successful in the Church. Clergy sexual misconduct has been resistant to the traditional interventions that focus on the pastor as the problem, so the problem continues to proliferate at an alarming rate. Therefore, one of the goals of this book is to offer solutions that are practical, nontraditional, and effective. The contributing authors of this book support a systems model that targets the education, intervention, spiritual formation, and oversight needs of the minister, his family, the congregation, and the denominational leadership.
Figure 2.1: Systems Model for Clergy Recovery
A Model for Intervention, Restoration, and Oversight Regarding Clergy Sexual Misconduct
A comprehensive approach uses governing policies and protocols for addressing both the personal and systemic factors presented by clergy misconduct. An effective systemic model would include the following key components (Roberts, 2008; Thoburn, 1991; Thoburn & Balswick, 1998; Thoburn & Whitman, 2004):
1.Set policies and protocols for the assessment, intervention, and restoration of clergy guilty of sexual misconduct. Put in place oversight protocols and criteria to evaluate the appropriateness or current fitness of the pastor to continue in ministry while in treatment or return to the ministry after participating in treatment.
2.Attend to the needs of the clergy’s spouse and family as well as other directly involved people or victims.
3.Provide care for the potential impact and healing needs of the parishioners.
4.Address systemic environmental factors. This would encompass preventative measures involving clergy education and formats for facilitating personal, relational, and spiritual development, including healthy sexuality and conduct. Additionally, integrate educational programs on sexual health and integrity as well as sexual addiction recovery resources into the mission of the Church as a whole—an important focus often neglected.
Administrative Oversight and Infrastructure
Effective execution of these policies and protocols can be accomplished by establishing an administrative infrastructure in the form of an Oversight Team that reports to the denomination or governing body. With relative independence from the overall governing body, this team can focus on the directives designed to serve the health of clergy leaders, including intervention and restoration with respect to sexual misconduct. It is important to have the multiple perspectives that a team approach provides. The Oversight Team includes the following individuals:
1.A denominational official who is the team coordinator. This person functions as the liaison to the denominational superintendent and represents the denomination to the Church and broader community when disclosing information involving incidents of clergy sexual misconduct.
2.A therapist who is trained and experienced in clergy sexual misconduct and sexual addiction treatment.
3.A pastor and lay leader who each have experience in addressing problematic sexual behavior and intervention dynamics.
4.Ancillary team members such as legal consultants, Christian organizational and education experts, a medical practitioner, and experts trained in critical incident management.
The Oversight Team is responsible for developing prevention and educational resources for clergy, including spiritual formation and direction as well as assessment protocols, treatment, and restoration recommendations for clergy who commit acts of sexual misconduct.