All pastors of our Presbytery are required to attend a Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training.
The basic principles of conduct guiding the policy of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos are as follows:
1. Sexual misconduct is a violation of the role of pastors, employees, volunteers, counselors, supervisors, teachers, and advisors of any kind who are called upon to exercise integrity, sensitivity, and caring in a trust relationship. It breaks the covenant to act in the best interests of parishioners, clients, co-workers, and students.
2. Sexual misconduct is a misuse of authority and power that breaches Christian ethical principles by misusing a trust relation to gain advantage over another for personal pleasure in an abusive, exploitative, and unjust manner. If the parishioner, student, client, or employee initiates or invites sexual content in the relationship, it is the pastor’s, counselor’s, officer’s, or supervisor’s responsibility to maintain the appropriate role and prohibit a sexual relationship.
3. Sexual misconduct takes advantage of the vulnerability of persons who are less powerful to act for their own welfare, including children. It is antithetical to the gospel call to work as God’s servant in the struggle to bring wholeness to a broken world. It violates the mandate to protect the vulnerable from harm.
September 20, 2014, 8:30 AM-3 PM
First Presbyterian Church, Downey
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is serious about preventing and responding to sexual misconduct within the context of the church. A new Web site is currently being developed that provides resources for prevention, education, and response to allegations of sexual misconduct.