Betrayal of Trust: Confronting and Preventing Clergy Sexual Misconduct - Tapa blanda

Sexual misconduct by clergy is a devastating issue that reaches across all denominations, damaging the credibility of the church in its wake. The media regularly reports on the moral failure of leaders and abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to be trustworthy. Betrayal of Trust focuses on a common scenario of abuse--sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant--and offers practical solutions on how to respond to and prevent this betrayal of trust. This book presents methods that will help churches respond sensitively to victims and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse from taking place. For clergy who may be at risk for this behavior, it offers help in establishing appropriate boundaries. This second edition includes a new chapter that offers help for the wandering pastor and a risk-determination questionnaire for pastors who may become abusers.

Clergy sexual misconduct has become a crisis of nearly epidemic proportions. Without exception, these incidents inflict terrible pain on victims and tarnish the credibility of the Church in society. A comprehensive look at the problem,Betrayal of Trust offers practical, Scripture-based ideas on how to prevent abuse, minister to victims, and respond appropriately to cases of misconduct.

"Having spent the last thirty years researching and writing about clergy sexual misconduct, I was most pleased to see how right on targetBetrayal of Trust was. It is a sensitive, nonjudgmental examination of the risks facing clergy in this arena."
--Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D., FPPR, Dean Emeritus, Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary

"The authors skillfully tackle the demands of compassion, justice, the restoration of integrity, and spiritual healing. This book should be read carefully and its suggested prescriptions applied thoughtfully in churches and Christian agencies everywhere."
--Morris H. Chapman, president and CEO, Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention

"Good news for victims of clergy sexual abuse, for churches harmed, and for professionals working to help heal the deep mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds."
--Christie Smith Stephens, cofounder, Women's Alternatives, Inc., Anderson, Indiana

"When Texas Baptists were charged to do a two-year comprehensive study of clergy sexual abuse, the text we turned to again and again wasBetrayal of Trust."
--Joe E. Trull, editor, Christian Ethics Today