Promoting Equality and Ending Sexual Harassment: A Call to Action

1. Women and Men (¶161E) “We affirm with Scripture the common humanity of male and female, both having equal worth in the eyes of God. We reject the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to another, that one gender must strive against another, and that members of one gender may receive love, power, and esteem only at the expense of another… We call upon women and men alike to share power and control, to learn to give freely and to receive freely, to be complete and to respect the wholeness of others.”

2. Sexual Harassment (¶161I) “We believe human sexuality is God’s good gift. One abuse of this good gift is sexual harassment. We define sexual harassment as any unwanted sexual comment, advance, or demand, either verbal or physical, that is reasonably perceived by the recipient as demeaning, intimidating, or coercive. Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of a power relationship rather than as an exclusively sexual issue. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the creation of a hostile or abusive working environment resulting from discrimination on the basis of gender.

3. Sexual Harassment (¶161I), cont. Contrary to the nurturing community, sexual harassment creates improper, coercive, and abusive conditions wherever it occurs in society. Sexual harassment undermines the social goal of equal opportunity and the climate of mutual respect between men and women. Unwanted sexual attention is wrong and discriminatory. Sexual harassment interferes with the moral mission of the Church.”

4. Rights of Women (¶162F) “We affirm women and men to be equal in every aspect of their common life. We therefore urge that every effort be made to eliminate sex-role stereotypes in activity and portrayal of family life and in all aspects of voluntary and compensatory participation in the Church and society. We affirm the right of women to equal treatment in employ-ment, responsibility, promotion, and compensation. We affirm the importance of women in decision-making positions at all levels of church and society and urge such bodies to guarantee their presence through policies of employment and recruitment.”

5. Sexual Ethics as GCSRW mandate “The commission shall address the problem of sexual misconduct in the church. The commission shall provide leadership in providing resources for the prevention of and education about misconduct of a sexual nature, training opportunities for clergy and laity, policy and procedural recommendations for transformative and administrative fair processes, victim/survivor support, and congregational healing. The commission shall promote interagency coordination through its leadership of the Interagency Sexual Ethics Task Force and by assisting annual conferences, local churches, councils, boards, commissions, schools of theology, and other related institutions in witnessing to healthy boundaries within ministerial relationships.”

6. Sexual Misconduct Within Ministerial Relationships (Book of Resolutions 2008, p. 134 “Sexual misconduct within ministerial relationships is a betrayal of sacred trust. It is a continuum of unwanted sexual or gender-directed behaviors by either a lay or clergy person within a ministerial relationship (paid or unpaid).”

7. Upcoming GC Legislation • Sexual Ethics as a GCSRW mandate • Clarification of Definition of “Sexual Harassment within Ministerial Relationships” • Local church policies on sexual misconduct and equal opportunity

8. Upcoming GC Legislation • Sexual Ethics as a GCSRW mandate • Clarification of Definition of “Sexual Harassment within Ministerial Relationships” • Local church policies on sexual misconduct and equal opportunity • Seminaries to require a “rigorous program of ministerial readiness regarding professional ethics, sexual ethics, healthy boundaries and self-care.”

9. Upcoming GC Legislation • Sexual Ethics as a GCSRW mandate • Clarification of Definition of “Sexual Harassment within Ministerial Relationships” • Local church policies on sexual misconduct and equal opportunity • Seminaries to require a “rigorous program of ministerial readiness regarding professional ethics, sexual ethics, healthy boundaries and self-care.” • New Social Principle on “Pornography”

10. Upcoming GC Legislation • Sexual Ethics as a GCSRW mandate • Clarification of Definition of “Sexual Harassment within Ministerial Relationships” • Local church policies on sexual misconduct and equal opportunity • Seminaries to require a “rigorous program of ministerial readiness regarding professional ethics, sexual ethics, healthy boundaries and self-care.” • New Social Principle on “Pornography” • Response Team Ministry

11. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do.

12. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep.

13. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep. • Appeal: Because it shows human respect.

14. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep. • Appeal: Because it shows human respect. • Empowerment: Because we are raising up leaders.

15. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep. • Appeal: Because it shows human respect. • Empowerment: Because we are raising up leaders. • Witness: Because we are to shine a light.

16. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep. • Appeal: Because it shows human respect. • Empowerment: Because we are raising up leaders. • Witness: Because we are to shine a light. • Identity: Because we are to be healers.

17. Why we have to take this seriously • Justice: Because it’s the right thing to do. • Protection: Because we care for the sheep. • Appeal: Because it shows human respect. • Empowerment: Because we are raising up leaders. • Witness: Because we are to shine a light. • Identity: Because we are to be healers. • Authenticity: Because it’s who we say we are.

18. www.umsexualethics.org