|
“Tend
the
flock of
God that
is in
your
charge,
not
under
compulsion
but
willingly,
not for
sordid
gain but
eagerly,
not
lording
it over
those in
your
charge
but be
examples
to the
flock.”
1 Peter
5:2-3
“You
know
that we
who
teach
shall be
judged
with
greater
strictness.”
James
3:1b…
Child
abuse is
one
thing.
Abuse of
adults
is
another.
This is
often
described
as the
abuse of
authority
or
power,
and has
sometimes
been
called
sexual
misconduct
or moral
failure
within
the
church.
Abuse of
authority
is where
an
individual,
an
institution
or a
process
is such
that the
victim
feels
that
they
have no
choice
or are
so
persuaded
by the
power
over
them
that
they
take
actions
or
participate
in
activities
that are
harmful
to
themselves.
It also
includes
instances
where
the
person
in a
position
of
authority
within
the
church
acts in
a sexual
way
towards
someone
under
their
authority
or takes
advantage
of their
authority
for
personal
gain.
What is
abuse of
authority?
It is
the
issue of
power in
relationships
which
gives
ministry
much in
common
with
other
helping
professions.
Those in
positions
of
authority
within
the
church
or
working
with
children
often
have
people
seeking
their
assistance
on the
most
intimate
of
matters.
By
virtue
of their
position,
they
have
access
to the
deepest
fears,
longings
and
pains of
the
people
under
their
care.
These
people
have the
right to
expect
that
they
will be
treated
in a way
that is
in their
best
interest
and that
they
will be
safe
from
exploitation.
Abuse of
authority
is where
someone
in a
position
of
authority
takes
advantage
of that
authority
for
personal
gain,
including
financial
gain,
participating
in
bullying,
belittling
or
harassing
behaviour
to
achieve
his/her
own
ends,
manipulative
behaviour
designed
to get
his/her
own way
by
flattery
or by
suggestions
of
favouritism,
special
relationship,
or
special
status,
or
spiritual
abuse
designed
to get
his/her
own way
by
telling
people
that God
will
like
them
more if
they do
what you
want or
like
them
less if
they do
not do
you
want.
These
are
forms of
abuse of
authority
and will
not be
tolerated.
Abuse of
authority
undermines
the
church’s
moral
authority
and
calls
into
question
its
pastoral
practices,
not just
in the
original
abuse
but in
the way
it is
then
dealt
with.
Abuse of
authority
undermines
the
church’s
ability
to speak
on
issues
of
morality.
Abuse of
authority
undermines
the
trust
placed
in the
church
by our
members
and by
the
broader
community.
Clergy
Misconduct:
Sexual
Abuse in
the
Ministerial
Relationship,
Crossing
the
Boundaries,
Centre
for the
Prevention
of
Sexual
and
Domestic
Violence,
1992
Why does
it
happen?
“It is
God’s
will
that you
should
be
sanctified:
that you
should
avoid
sexual
immorality;
that
each of
you
should
learn to
control
his own
body in
a way
that is
holy and
honorable,
not in
passionate
lust
like the
heathen,
who do
not know
God; and
that in
this
matter
no one
should
wrong
his
brother
or take
advantage
of him.”
1
Thessalonians
4:3,4
Abuse of
authority
can
happen
where an
individual
has
deliberately
sought a
position
within
the
church
that
gives
them
access
to
people
when
they are
vulnerable.
It is
more
likely
to
happen
when a
person
in a
position
of
authority
within
the
church
sees an
opportunity
and
takes
advantage
of it,
giving
in to
temptation.
People
in our
care may
be
vulnerable
because
of their
age,
their
emotional
or
mental
development
or
because
of a
particular
event in
their
lives.
Vulnerable
people
have a
diminished
ability
to
refuse
the
advances
of a
more
powerful
person.
Clergy
Misconduct:
Sexual
Abuse in
the
Ministerial
Relationship,
Crossing
the
Boundaries,
Centre
for the
Prevention
of
Sexual
and
Domestic
Violence,
1992
What are
the
signs?
Everyone
in a
position
of
authority
within
the
church
or
working
with
children
or young
people
are
potentially
at risk
of
abusing
the
authority
that
comes
with
their
position.
There
are no
other
indicators,
as
offenders
can come
from all
kinds of
backgrounds,
cultures,
denominations
and
economic
groups.
How do
we
prevent
it?
Preventing
the
abuse of
authority
will
only be
possible
when we:
-
make our
churches
and
services
as safe
as
possible
by
creating
an
environment
where it
is
difficult
for
offenders
to hide,
and
-
when we
educate
those in
a
position
of
authority
within
the
church
about
appropriate
boundaries,
the
dangers
of
crossing
those
boundaries
and the
principles
affirmed
by such
actions
as the
adoption
by the
1997 NSW
General
Assembly
of the
Voluntary
Code of
Conduct,
which
has been
replaced
by
Breaking
the
Silence
Edition
3.
These
are two
of the
aims of
Breaking
the
Silence.
 |
| |
Abuse of
authority
does not
just
apply to
children
and
young
people.
People
of all
ages may
be
abused
by
someone
in a
position
authority
or
power.
If you
are
unsure
of your
responsibilities
in this
area,
contact
the
Child
Protection
Unit on
(02)
9690
9324. |
|
