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When A Congregation Is Betrayed: Responding to Clergy Misconduct (Book)
Beth Ann Gaede, Editor.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2006.

Sexual malfeasance among clergy has become a headline-grabbing issue in recent years not only because of the shocking frequency with which it occurs and is publicly reported, but also because of the ways in which both local congregations and their denominations fail to confront it adequately. When a Congregation Is Betrayed is a comprehensive resource that addresses nearly all imaginable dimensions of the issue, many of which go unreported or remain hidden beneath the more lurid aspects of such behavior.

Editor Beth Ann Gaede and her five primary writers, all experts in clergy sexual misconduct, offer here a precise and systematic approach to addressing such crises. Although they acknowledge the broad ways in which such transgressions can occur, the book’s particular focus is on male pastoral misconduct with female parishioners, which they believe is the most common expression of malfeasance. After first describing the initial steps to take following reports of misconduct, they explicate the spiritual, psychological, and emotional dimensions of the behavior and its aftermath. They then outline the roles and responsibilities of congregational and judicatory parties, describe appropriate responses to misconduct, and suggest how all involved may move toward recovery.

Though the described processes may seem prescriptive and redundant, the writers demonstrate the necessity of working through such focused steps and the hazards of a less disciplined approach. Based in practice rather than story, this book is an essential resource for congregational consultants, denominational judicatory offices, and congregational care teams.

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See also these resources:

Clergy Sexual MisconductClergy Sexual Misconduct: Awareness and Prevention (Web Resource)
Baylor University School of Social Work
A study by the Baylor University School of Social Work found that more than three percent of women in religious communities (across denominations) have been victims of clergy sexual misconduct (CSM). Preventive strategies were also proposed.

See also these categories:

When A Congregation Is Betrayed