Clergy Sexual Abuse - Overview for Pastors

Overview for Pastors

Adultery a “Christian” Sin—

Although this web site exists primarily to bring hope and healing to the survivors of pastoral sexual abuse, we realize there is a need to bring hope and healing to the pastor, his family, and the church body as well.

We hope that any church member affected by pastoral abuse which occurred in his/her church will be able to more fully comprehend the dynamics of what has taken place and not be so quick to exonerate the pastor and blame the victim. There is always another side to the situation and if you, as a church member, have only heard one side of it, you cannot possibly know the truth.

Both parties (victim and perpetrator) need encouragement and strength. Not encouragement to continue in sin, but rather to turn from it, repent and seek forgiveness. It is our hope that the pastor (or whomever) reading these articles will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and forsake his sins and return to Christ—our only Savior.

How Does this Happen?

“The abusive pastor or spiritual leader has allowed himself to go a long way down the track before he ever commits the crime of abuse. But until the crime is committed, he likely doesn’t realize just how far he has already strayed. When once the deed is done or the pattern begins to unfold, the huge distance from the Lord becomes readily apparent. And it can seem like too enormous a gulf to bridge to ever get back. So the abuser doesn’t try, at least not very hard. Rather he continues to medicate his spiritual pain with fleshly anesthetic which is addictive. And the Evil One laughs obscenely at his success over human weakness.

When the victim is trapped by this crime, she is often on her way, or trying to be on her way, back to wholeness from brokenness. Of course wholeness, including spiritual growth, is the last thing the devil wants. So he sets her up for abuse by the human she is seeking a path to wholeness from, sending her back into the abyss out of which she has started to climb. And again his laughter is loud and ugly.”—Tom Lemon, Oregon Conference Ministerial Director

Words of Caution

As a pastor, or other spiritual leader or teacher, you must recognize that God holds you more accountable and responsible for keeping His standard, not only for your words, but for your whole manner of life.

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”—James 3: 1 (NASB)

We encourage you to stand firm in the Lord, stand on His promises and truth.

“Many who profess to be the ministers of Christ are like the sons of Eli who ministered in the sacred office and took advantage of their office to engage in crime and commit adultery, causing the people to transgress the law of God. A fearful account will such have to render when the cases of all shall pass in review before God, and they be judged according to the deeds done in the body…. Adultery is one of the terrible sins of this age. This sin exists among professed Christians of every class….”

—The Sin of Licentiousness, TSB 99.2 (Ellen G. White)

Satan in the Form of a Man

“As God has shown me how abhorrent in His sight are these defiling sins, and as they are steadily increasing in our world and would intrude into our churches, I warn you to give no place to the devil. Fly from the seducer. Though a minister, he is Satan in the form of a man. He has borrowed the livery of heaven that he may serve his master and deceive souls.”

—The Sin of Licentiousness, TSB 105.2 (Ellen G. White)

Agents of Satan

“The worst feature in this case is that all his satanic work is done under pretense of being a representative of Jesus Christ. One sinner dressed up as an angel of light can do incalculable harm. Dark and fearful plans are deliberately made to separate man and wife. Said the apostle: “Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” (2 Timothy 3:6) These licentious characters even creep into respectable families and by their deceptive wiles and intrigues lead astray the conscientious. Damnable heresies are received as truth, and the most revolting sins committed as acts of righteousness, for conscience becomes confused and stupefied.”

—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5 (Ellen G. White)

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”—Hosea 4:6

“The world has nearly filled up the measure of their iniquity, but that which will bring the heaviest retribution is the practice of iniquity under the cloak of godliness…”

—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, page 256, paragraph 3