Ministry News

Survey Says Pastors' Sexual Misconduct 'Prevalent'

Details: Friday, 11 September 2009 10:18

Approximately one in 10 people have attended a church in which a congregational leader was involved in sexual misconduct. That's the latest (albeit bleak) finding from a Baylor University study that includes more than 3,500 survey respondents from multiple denominations and faiths across the nation.

Equally as disconcerting is what researchers discovered regarding victims of such misconduct: One in 33 women has been the target of sexual advances from a pastor, priest or rabbi. That 3 percent mark may not warrant the "pervasive" label one Washington Post story attributed to the issue, but it is enough to concern those who wrote the Baylor report.

"It certainly is prevalent, and clearly the problem is more than simply a few charismatic leaders preying on vulnerable followers," said the study's co-author Diana Garland, who serves as dean of Baylor's School of Social Work.

On the heels of the countless Catholic clergy sex scandals in the past decade, at least 36 denominations have adopted policies regarding leaders involved in sexual misconduct, most of which include discipline.

Although the study doesn't indicate whether sexual misconduct is more or less frequent now than in the past—or even if it's more prevalent than in other professions—Garland said this does not diminish the sobering issue of leaders abusing power. "When you put it with a spiritual leader or moral leader, you've really added a power that we typically don't think about in secular society—which is that this person speaks for God and interprets God for people. And that really adds a power." [washingtonpost.com, 9/10/09]

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Comments

0 #11 Minister Turner 2009-09-16 10:27

Oops, I didn't write that correctly. I meant the first preachers I'd gotten to know when I was 19 or 20. Only a couple of them were without a doubt faithful to their wives.

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0 #10 Minister Turner 2009-09-16 10:25

Unfortunately I think the figure is much too low. I remember the first preacher who didn't care that anyone knew about his chasing young women. Now that I'm older I realize that a lot of them were doing it with men and women and it didn't come out for years

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+1 #9 Arising Glory 2009-09-13 05:04

Yes, I question the stats too. Did they just ask the pastors? (duh? who would tell all?) And let's look at both genders on this. I remember when I was a young Spirit filled believer and a young girl tried to tell me about her incest problem. I was too immature at the time to know what to do, but it let me know it was going on. Her dad glared at me and she was crying in the prayer line where I was and all I could do was pray for her. I hope bringing up these issues will help clean up the church to be like God wants it to be. Like I heard someone say, God can forgive but He can't replace the innocence that was lost in the victim. The church just needs to mature in this area with God's help.

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+2 #8 snowbird 2009-09-11 20:45

What a strange comment that we expect people to be more then God expects by requiring them to live above adultery and misconduct as leaders and ministers. This is the main problem in our world today, just make an allowance and an excuse and the people will go along with it and accept it. What a horrid example for those who are hungry and desperate for truth in a community of deception. Sin will cause you to lose your soul for an eternity, there is no reprieve and no returning. God must surely grieve at such lack of insight.

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+1 #7 Angelia 2009-09-11 13:08

As a Minister's wife for 16 years , I can understand the battle all too well. When I was a child, my Pastor fell into adultery for 4 years while still Pastoring, and devastated the church.

These stats are too low- but are not surprising given the last surveys done by Christianity Today and Focus on the Family several years ago. The number were around 45% have had extramarital affairs, ( including the wife) I suggest we do more than send our minister's through seminary with facts in their head. We must equip them to battle this weakness and bring hope through stopping this problem before it starts.

HOPE IS HERE- www.touroflife.org

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+2 #6 Barbmidwest 2009-09-11 10:36

I agree with the above posts except Rev Jackson---(weren't chastity belts mainly worn by women? I stand to be corrected though). The last two churches my husband and I attended "blew up" due to the pastors having moral failures. I think that 33% is a HUGE amount--that's 1/3rd, AND, I think the number is more than that--it's unreported. I understand exactly what "snowbird" is talking about. These are deep beliefs that have to do with the objectification of women and they don't necessarily just "go away" when men get saved and go to seminary. Jesus came to liberate people -- not use them for his own unmet needs. And all of this is so confusing to new believers.

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+1 #5 pasior r. johnson 2009-09-11 10:18

sin is running rapid through out the world! these are the ending days, so we must expect wolves in sheep clothing,how ever thats more the reason for the true christian to let his or her light even more so that the false prophets can not gain any ground in god's territory! stay encouraged! god is still on the throne! :lol:

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+3 #4 Scott Lycan 2009-09-11 09:25

Disappointing report. but not surprising in these days. Saddened by the cynicism with which the report is recieved within the Christian community. The last line of the report troubled me a bit, "this person speaks for God and interprets God for people"; perhaps we've come to expect our pastors to be more than God means them to be. Seems many want a new king, some want a new temple priest, some want an oracle, some want the man of power for the hour. I think our Father just wanted shepherds. False expectations many of us pastor-types try overly hard to fill.
Perhaps in God's amazing timing we'll start getting servant leaders of integrity about the time when we all start getting a grip on being disciples - Jesus' lovers and followers - instead of simply believers. As the old saying goes, "We get the leaders we deserve".
Spoken not in condemnation, but in conviction. Some thoughts from southern Africa.

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-1 #3 Rev Earl Jackson 2009-09-11 08:16

There is certainly something to be said for the chastity belts of the Puritans! Minister's back then were held to a higher standard...GOD'S STANDARD!

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+2 #2 Gracie 2009-09-11 07:05

Said to say but I agree with the other post, the survey seems too low.
The last three churches we have left from, all of the Pastors had an affair with someone. One was out of the church and the other two were married women in the church. One ended in divorce and he retired?? The two others are still in the pulpit but their churches don't seem to grow like they should!

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