Messengers to the recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting passed a resolution that “any person who has committed sexual abuse is permanently disqualified from holding the office of pastor,” and a Lifeway Research study found a significant majority of U.S. Protestant pastors share that opinion.
“Most current pastors believe the office of pastor is incompatible with having sexually abused or assaulted another,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “This does not convey that they believe these behaviors are beyond God’s forgiveness, but a large majority believe sexual abuse is a permanent disqualification.”
Child sexual abuse
More than 4 in 5 Protestant pastors (83%) say if a pastor commits child sexual abuse, that person should permanently withdraw from public ministry. A sizable majority of Protestant pastors (74%) also supports a permanent withdrawal from public ministry for any pastors who commit sexual assault and abuse of any adult member of the congregation or staff.
“When someone sexually assaults an adult, it is both a violent sin and a crime. It is the opposite of the love, care and respect toward another the Bible teaches,” said McConnell. “The role of pastor has incredibly high standards in the Bible, including that the overseer of those in the church be above reproach or beyond criticism. [Yet] 17% of pastors think someone could move beyond reproach in this matter given enough time.”
Adultery and pastors
Though clear majorities say pastors who commit child sexual abuse or sexual assault should withdraw permanently from ministry, only 27% believe that should be the result of a pastor committing adultery.
Compared to their perspective on abuse, pastors are much more divided over the proper response to adultery, according to an additional 2019 Lifeway Research study.
While clear majorities say pastors who commit child sexual abuse or sexual assault should withdraw permanently from ministry, only 27% believe that should be the result of a pastor committing adultery. A plurality (31%) is not sure.
“While adultery implies a consensual affair, it is not such a simple distinction for those serving in the role of pastor,” said McConnell. “For a pastor who holds a position of trust and spiritual authority …, an adulterous relationship with one of them, where an imbalance of power exists, would still constitute sexual assault.”
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