and Preventing Clergy Misconduct Title: ELCA Members Get Resource to Help Deal With Understanding and Preventing Clergy Misconduct ELCA NEWS SERVICE May 1, 1996 UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING CLERGY MISCONDUCT (75 lines) 96-10-030-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- There are two times congregations may confront clergy sexual misconduct: after it happens or before it happens. "Safe Connections: What Parishioners Can Do to Understand and Prevent Clergy Sexual Abuse" is a resource to help members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America deal with both of those times. "We want the resource used first of all to prevent abuse by providing tools to congregational members to use in doing their part to create a climate that does not tolerate the abuse of the pastoral office ... and to help laity recognize signs of danger," said the Rev. Janice Erickson-Pearson, project director for the ELCA strategy for responding to sexual abuse in the church. She also described the 62-page booklet as something to "put in the hands of people who are asking `What happened here?'" The key to prevention is education, says the booklet. "As parishioners learn about the dangers of clergy sexual abuse, they are empowered to act to protect themselves, to set and maintain boundaries, to recognize danger and to be alert and attentive to their own safety and that of others around them," it says. "Safe Connections" includes a list of 15 "practical steps we can take to prevent sexual boundary violations." The list includes several items that care for the personal needs of the pastor, such as ensuring time off, vacations, continuing education opportunities, and fair and adequate compensation. It encourages the pastor to "get a life," to spend time with family and friends and not to become isolated. "If your pastor is single, take time at the beginning of the ministry, or now, apart from a crisis or experience of misunderstanding, to clarify expectations of healthy respect for boundaries, in the event of a dating relationship with a parishioner," the resource offers. "We hope the resource will promote healing, when abuse occurs," said Erickson-Pearson, "by providing a community of understanding and compassionate response to victims and their families and by providing the necessary information about what has happened, so that the congregation can begin its own healing journey." The booklet describes the boundaries between clergy and parishioners as "lane markers that make it possible for us to relate, to be close, to be connected, and to do so in ways that are helpful, meaningful and safe." It gives sample boundaries for common and unique relationships. It also gives both the clergy and parishioners the responsibility to honor those boundaries and to recognize when they've been violated. Erickson-Pearson developed "Safe Connections" as part of the education, training and prevention goals of the "ELCA Strategy for Responding to Sexual Abuse in the Church." The ELCA Church Council approved the strategy in 1992, and she presented the booklet to the council when it met here April 12-15. David J. Hardy, ELCA general counsel, stressed that the resource is only a resource for Lutherans and not an expression of church policy. It contains a disclaimer that it is does "not necessarily reflect the views of the ELCA." The ELCA Division for Ministry strongly encouraged the church's 65 synods to distribute the resource to congregations, through synod assembly packets or through other channels. It was given to all synod bishops. "Some synods are using this piece as a part of their training for clergy and other rostered leaders," said Erickson- Pearson, "and some other synods are interested in using this as the basis of forums." "All seminaries will receive copies," she said. "Some seminaries are interested in using it as part of their training for students." "Safe Connections" is distributed through Augsburg Fortress, publishing house of the ELCA. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956