WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE GENERAL COMMISSION ON THE STATUS AND ROLE OF WOMEN ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIMS OF CLERGY MISCONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE?
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women:
- is able to receive your call, listen to your concerns and offer you guidance;
- can inform you of the policies and procedures and your options within The United Methodist Church;
- can train people within annual conferences on how to walk with people through the complaint process as their support person;
- may serve as a support person for a complainant;
- when invited, can inquire regarding a complaint process, to see if processes have been followed appropriately and, if not, can sometimes take necessary steps to seek justice and healing in the processes and for all parties.
WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES IF I AM AN ADULT AND HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A LAYPERSON IN THE CONGREGATION?
Sexual misconduct is inappropriate, no matter who initiates it. The Book of Discipline addresses chargeable offenses, including sexual misconduct by one lay person against another, even if the other person is clergy, in ¶2702.3. The trial process for lay members of a local church is discussed in ¶2714.
IS IT EVER APPROPRIATE TO DATE MY PASTOR?
In Decision 1228, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church asserts that dating, romantic, or sexual relationships between clergy and their parishioners “are never appropriate because of imbalance of power.” We support and encourage single clergy to seek romantic relationships outside their own congregation. There is a difference in power between a person in a ministerial role and a member of his or her congregation or a counselee. As a result of this difference in power, one cannot give meaningful consent to the sexual relationship.
Questions that need to be asked to evaluate if it is possible to pursue this type of romantic relationship include:
While policies vary from conference to conference in the UMC, the denomination states clearly, “Sexual abuse is a form of sexual misconduct and occurs when a person within a ministerial role of leadership … engages in sexual contact or sexualized behavior with a congregant” (The Book of Resolutions 2016, p. 776). To attempt this form of dual relationship (pastoral and romantic/sexual) is a betrayal of the sacred trust of ministry and affects the entire congregation, not just the couple in question
As stated in The United Methodist Book of Discipline ¶161(J), and in The Book of Resolutions, 2044, “The continuum of behaviors called sexual misconduct within the ministerial relationship represents an exploitation of power and not merely ‘inappropriate sexual or gender-directed conduct.’ Sexual misconduct in any form is unacceptable in church and ministry settings whether it is clergy-to-lay, lay-to-clergy, clergy-to-clergy, lay-to-lay, staff-to-staff, staff-to-volunteer, volunteer-to-volunteer, or volunteer-to-staff. Anyone who works or volunteers under the authority or auspices of the Church must be held to the highest standards of behavior, free of sexual misconduct in any form.”
DO I NEED A LAWYER?
The church process does not involve lawyers. If you are pursuing a civil or criminal case, you will probably want to consult a lawyer. However, a lawyer trained in state or federal law may not have any knowledge of the law of The United Methodist Church.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN WRITING AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE VERBAL?
If you are filing a complaint, it needs to be in writing. During the supervisory process, the conversations are not recorded in verbatim format. You should document the incidents of misconduct and document the time/place of the supervisory response process. Keep all correspondence received from The United Methodist Church regarding the case. You may want to consider following up, in writing, to any meeting with The United Methodist Church for the purposes of clarifying what you heard and understood regarding the process and decisions made concerning your formal complaint.
WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO COMMIT CHILD ABUSE?
There is no way to accurately predict who is most likely to commit child abuse, and it could be anyone, including the most respected, trusted members of a church community, young or old.
WHERE WOULD I FIND THE SEXUAL ETHICS POLICY OF MY ANNUAL CONFERENCE?
The sexual ethics policy should be a part of the official annual Journal of each Annual Conference. This policy may also be on your Annual Conference’s website. You may contact your district superintendent or the office of the Annual Conference for a copy of the policy.
I HAVE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD THE RESULT. WHAT CAN I DO?
Under ¶362e of the Book of Discipline, a bishop has 90 days to either resolve the issue from which the complaint arose or refer the matter to the judicial process.
If you have simply shared concerns with the district superintendent about the behaviors of clergy, you might consider following up with the district superintendent by telephone or other means.
IS THERE A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS? WHAT IF THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT HAPPENED PRIOR TO JAN. 1, 1993?
There may be a statute of limitations on some behaviors controlled by the Book of Discipline. However, in the matter of sexual or child abuse, there is no statute of limitations. In 1992, the United Methodist Church voted that there would be no statute of limitations beginning January 1, 1993, for charges of sexual or child abuse, along with immorality and crime. However, prior to this time, there was a two year statute of limitations. Therefore, if an incident of sexual or child abuse occurred before January 1, 1993, there is a statute of limitations of two years (the Church cannot bring charges against a person for whom the incidences occurred prior to January 1, 1991).
You may call and talk with your district superintendent in regards to an alleged incident, and should expect to receive a person who would listen to your concern. Yet, a signed, written complaint – that would begin a judicial process – cannot be received if the allegations of sexual misconduct predate the change in Discipline mentioned above.
IS THERE AN EXAMPLE OF A GOOD CHURCH CHILD PROTECTION POLICY?
See the book Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by Joy Thornburg MeltonLink to this page): http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/leadership-resources/safe-sanctuaries
WHAT RIGHTS DO I HAVE?
You have the right to ask questions, get answers, be heard, and share your story. The United Methodist Church states it will respond to concerns/reports in a way that is both pastoral and holds parties accountable. For more information go to: http://umsexualethics.org/my-rights/
JUDICIAL COMPLAINT. HOW MUCH TIME DOES THE RESPONDENT HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE JUDICIAL COMPLAINT?
The Book of Discipline outlines the procedure for filing a complaint through resolution. Paragraph 2704.2(b) indicates that the respondent has thirty days to respond, following the time they receive the bill of charges.
HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER I HAVE A CASE? HOW WOULD I SUBSTANTIATE THIS?
If you are in doubt as to whether what occurred falls within the scope of a chargeable offense under the Book of Discipline, contact our confidential toll-free number 1-800-523-8390.
MAY THE PERSON filing a complaint and the person AGAINST WHOM A COMPLAINT IS FILED HAVE SOMEONE ACCOMPANY HIM/HER DURING THE SUPERVISORY SESSION?
Yes. The person against whom the complaint is filed may choose another person to accompany him or her (but no legal counsel shall be present at this time). (The Book of Discipline, par. 362.1b).
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT? WHAT DO I NEED TO PUT IN WRITING AND HOW DO I WRITE IT?
A complaint is a “written and signed statement claiming misconduct or unsatisfactory performance of ministerial duties.” (The Book of Discipline, par. 362.1) If you are mailing your complaint to the district superintendent, bishop, or appropriate person assigned by the bishop, you may send it by certified mail.
Paragraph 362 of the Book of Discipline states: “A complaint is a written and signed statement claiming misconduct as defined in ¶ 2702.1.” If a person mails a complaint, they should also keep a copy of all documents submitted for their file. This could be rewritten and incorporate the following question.
If you are filing a complaint, you will need to have it in writing. The definition of a complaint is a “written and signed statement claiming misconduct or unsatisfactory performance of ministerial duties.” (The Book of Discipline, par. 362) It is also good to have a chronology of the incidences of the sexual misconduct, along with the names of persons involved. You have the right to receive in writing the processes and stages of the investigation
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM, OR HAVE BEEN, A VICTIM OF CLERGY MISCONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE?
Remember that any sexual abuse you have experienced is not your fault. Contact your district superintendent immediately. If you have time to take notes about what happened, do so as soon as reasonably possible following the event, including the date of the incident, the names of any persons present, details of the misconduct, and any other information that you think might be helpful to a person reviewing the facts at a later time. This information does not necessarily need to be provided to the person to whom you report the incident, but will help you remember the details of the initial time period after it occurred.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN MEDIATION/NEGOTIATION DURING THE SUPERVISORY PROCESS? OR DURING ANY POINT IN TIME WHEN 'JUST RESOLUTION' IS SOUGHT?
Your concerns and experience should be treated seriously, and you should be treated with respect and dignity. Any negotiation or mediation should have as “its primary purpose a just resolution of any violations of this sacred trust, in the hope that God’s work of justice, reconciliation and healing may be realized in the body of Christ. A just resolution is one that focuses on “repairing any harm to people and communities, achieving real accountability by making things right in so far as possible and bringing healing to all the parties.” (The Book of Discipline 2016, par. 362.1). You will have an opportunity to meet with persons in regards to your complaint.
HOW DO I FIND A SUPPORT PERSON? DO YOU FIND ONE FOR ME? IF NEEDED, CAN I GO OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE FOR A SUPPORT PERSON?
Some of the annual conferences have trained support persons; ask your district superintendent. If there are no trained support person, you may ask a person of your own choosing to walk with you through the process. Lawyers are not permitted to be a part of the supervisory process. You may reach out through our toll free number at 800-523-8390 for help.
CAN A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH?
SEE SAMPLE COVENANT UNDER 'POLICY'.Check “When the abuser is among us”: