The Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Sexual Misconduct among Southern Baptist Pastors in Six Southern States

Abstract

Reports the results of a questionnaire survey designed to identify factors contributing to sexual misconduct of a sample of senior Southern Baptist pastors. Concludes that stress and sexual misconduct are significantly correlated and that pastors less confident in their training are more likely to engage in sexual misconduct than those confident in their training. Offers a list of guidelines for individual ministers to follow to reduce the likelihood of sexual misconduct taking place. Notes implications for pastoral care and for theological seminaries and judicatories in their efforts to confront the problem of sexual misconduct among clergy.S exu al misconduct between professionals and their clients is a very old phenomenon, but only in the present century have efforts been made to determine the extent of this discomforting problem. Sadly, much of the current interest and research stems from lawsuits against various mental health professionals and clergy.During the 1970s and 1980s, thorough research yielded insights into the extent of sexual misconduct among psychologists and psychiatrists in the United States. Prevalence rates of sexual misconduct were established and reconfirmed for psychologists' and psychiatrists," and research also revealed many of the factors and attitudes which often precede and complicate cases of sexual misconduct." Such other helping professions as nursing" and social

Child Sexual Abuse in Protestant Christian Congregations: A Descriptive Analysis of Offense and Offender Characteristics

“…A third key characteristic found regarding clergy who have reported to have engaged in sexual misconduct have had higher-than-normal levels of narcissism when using Raskin and Hall's (1979) Narcissistic Personality Inventory (see Brock and Lukens 1989;Francis and Baldo 1998;Hands 1992;Muse 1992;Muse and Chase 1993;Seat et al 1993). Narcissism is seen as a key trait that can amplify instances of sexual abuse for individuals in positions of power.…”

“…Several studies have attempted to understand the prevalence of clergy sexual misconduct among Protestant Christian clergy (see Cooper 2002;Francis and Stacks 2003;Meek et al 2004;Seat et al 1993;Thoburn and Whitman 2004). Studies have revealed that as few as 1% to as many as 38.5% of all clergy, across a wide range of Christian denominations, have engaged in sexual misconduct of some form (Francis and Stacks 2003;Meek et al 2004;Seat et al 1993;Thoburn and Whitman 2004).…”

Exploring Power and Gender Issues Emergent in an Institutional Workshop on Preventing Clergy Sexual Misconduct

“…While the issue of pedophilia in the Roman Catholic Church has been a lightning rod for much commentary in the media (Jenkins, 1996), reports from academics and denominational offices indicate that clergy sexual misconduct involving adults is also widespread in Christian churches (e.g., Blackmon, 1984;Castelli, Lyles, Groenewold, & Miller, 1991;Chibnall, Wolf, & Duckro, 1998;Lebacqz & Barton, 1991;Muck, 1988;Seat, Trent, & Kim, 1993;United Methodist Church, 1990). Within this context, a number of institutions have recognized their responsibility to make some form of restitution to those who have been victimized, while others have sought to take proactive measures to ensure that future cases of misconduct do not arise.…”

Sex offenses at Protestant Christian churches : a typology and examination using social disorganization theory.

“…Several academic studies have attempted to understand the prevalence of sexual misconduct among Protestant clergy, not abuse (see Cooper, 2002;Francis & Stacks, 2003;Meek, McMinn, Burnett, Mazarella, & Voytenko, 2004;Seat, Trent, & Kim, 1993;Thorburn & Whitman, 2004 (Francis & Stacks, 2003;Meek et al, 2004;Seat et al, 1993;Thorburn & Whitman, 2004). Therefore, such studies do not address the issue at hand of sexual abuse that involves force or some coercive tactics that is the emphasis of this study.…”

“…However, priests who abused were not significantly more likely to have a personality or mood disorder when compared to priests who did not sexually abuse (John Jay College, 2004 (Francis & Baldo, 1998;Friberg & Laaser, 1998;Garland & Argueta, 2010;Thoburn & Whitman, 2004). This should come to no surprise, as males, One important characteristic that has been found is that clergy who have reported to have engaged in some form of sexual misconduct have been shown to have higherthan-normal levels of narcissism using Raskin and Hall's (1979) Narcissistic Personality Inventory, potentially conducive to a higher proclivity of sexual abuse being in such a position of power (Brock, & Lukens, 1989;Fancis & Baldo, 1998;Hands, 1992;Muse, 1992;Muse & Chase, 1993;Rediger, 1990;Seat et al, 1993;Steinke, 1989). Francis and Baldo (1998) found that most of the offenders of sexual misconduct were between the ages of 51 and 60.…”