Crossing Boundaries for Pastors and Administrators
A two-day seminar designed to help pastors:
- Maintain the integrity of their ministerial relationships
- Protect vulnerable people to whom they minister (e.g. children, students, staff, employees, church members)
What the Seminar presents:
- Defines “Abuse” and what constitutes sexual abuse/assault within ministerial relationships (including sexual harassment and spiritual abuse)
- Statistics and statements that describe the nature and extent of the problem of sexual abuse/assault among clergy
- Understanding the dynamics of sexual abuse/assault
- Characteristics of ministerial abusers
- Typical attempts at rationalising this behaviour
- Consequences for victims of abuse – risk factors
- The impact of abuse on congregations
- Why churches are inherently vulnerable
- Organisational responsibilities
- How to respond to abuse
- The idea of “Power” and “Responsibility” in ministerial relationships
- Defining boundaries
- Meaningful consent
- Understanding the difference between “wanderers” and “predators”
- Identifying the warning signs of a “sexualized relationship”
- The nature and hazards of professional and personal relationships
- Developing a theology of self-care
- 4 hazards – work, stress, burnout, loneliness
- Strategies for minimizing the risk of ministers violating their boundaries
- Appropriate institutional responses when abuse occurs
- The journey towards justice
- Establishing “arenas of safety”
- Writing a local church “Child Protection Policy”
- Creating opportunities for restoring victims and congregations
- Ways of responding to individual’s who misuse their power and authority
- Restoring the integrity of the ministry
