Understanding Clergy Misconduct in Religious Systems

Benyei, Candace R.

Contents
Foreword



Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. The Congregation as a Family System
The Role of Rules
Power and Projection
The Impact of History
The Religious Institution as a Family System
The Congregation as a Marriage
Summary
Chapter 2. The Illusion of Eden and the Fortified City
A Lack of Emotional Nourishment and the Hunger to Be Filled
Faith, Belief, Trust, Commitment, and the Hope of Security
The Fear of Conflict
The Fortified City: The Public Face of Prosperity That Hides the Private Face of Poverty
God in the Garden: The Idolization of the Spiritual Leader
Summary
Chapter 3. God-Transference, The Good Object, and the Make-Up of Ministers
God Transference and the Good Object
The Makeup of Ministers
Summary
Chapter 4. Mirroring God: Clergy in Relationship
Relationship as Marriage
Relationship as Vocation
Summary
Chapter 5. The Issue of Clergy Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse
The Issue of Power: Abandonment, Authority, and Animal Force
How It Happens: Misconduct from the Part of the Perpetrator
Summary
Chapter 6. Vulnerability and the Psychology of the Victim
How the Primary Victim Becomes Involved
Why the Victim Doesn’t Disclose
Secondary Victims
False Accusations
A Matter of Ethics
Summary
Chapter 7. The Scapegoat as the Bearer of Evil
Scapegoating in Families
Scapegoating in Communities
Scapegoating in Congregations
The Price They Pay: The Destructive Effects of Scapegoating
Summary
Chapter 8. Untold Tales and Skeletons in the Closet
Pandora’s Box
Institutional Patterns and the Painful Footprints of a Secret
Incestuous Systems and Collegial Collaboration in the Service of the Secret
Summary
Chapter 9. The Case of Hope Church
The History of Hope Church
An Analysis of Behavioral Patterns
Chapter 10. Reowning Responsibility
Personal Responsibility
Ethical Behavior and Ethical Systems
An Ethic of Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility
The Role of Consultants in Reowning Responsibility
Reowning Responsibility Through Preventative Maintenance
Reowning Responsibility by Creating Boundaries
Reowning Responsibility Through Proactive Clergy Training
Summary
Chapter 11. Postscript: Becoming a Functional Spiritual Family
The Creation of Holy Space
The Preservation of Tradition
The Creation and Maintenance of Ethical Community
Developing and Nurturing a Sense of Mission
Enabling an Experience of God
The Changing Face of Religious Institutions
Appendix: Clinical Presentation of Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Notes
Glossary
Index