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EAST OHIO SEXUAL ETHICS POLICY

Statement of Purpose & Theological Foundation

All human beings are created in the image of God, and are beloved of God, deserving of love and respect. In the East Ohio Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, we honor God and one another by pursuing healthy and lifegiving relationships with each another. Jesus said, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)

Our relationship with and knowledge of God guides and illuminates our reflections on human sexual behavior. Together we affirm that:

• God calls us to honor our bodies and gives us responsibility over our own bodies (I Corinthians 6:12-20).
• God calls us to honor the integrity of our neighbors, and their authority over their own personhood (Deuteronomy 22:25-30).
• God calls us into covenant with each other within the family of God (Deuteronomy 14:12; Ephesians 4:14-16).
• God calls us to support each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NRSV).
• God, through the church, calls leaders (whether ordained, consecrated, elected or appointed) to witness to the preciousness of bodies, our own and others; and to declare that each person is unique and of divine worth (I Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:1).

In light of these understandings, the East Ohio Conference is committed to honor the complete integrity of one another, and in doing so, we honor and remember the Body of Christ.

This policy exists to safeguard relationships, to build up the Body of Christ, and to provide guidelines for the prevention and reporting of sexual and professional misconduct to the East Ohio Annual Conference. This policy applies to all ministry professionals working in East Ohio Annual Conference churches and shall become a part of local church policies. The East Ohio Annual Conference is committed to responding to all violations of this policy in a way that promotes true justice and accountability, and in such a way that promotes healing.

Definitions

Ministry Professionals - ministry professionals (paid and unpaid) are those persons (clergy and lay) serving in positions of power and authority. Ministry professionals are charged with the sacred trust of creating and maintaining environments where all can encounter the living Christ and grow in their knowledge and love of God.

Sexual Misconduct - sexual misconduct within ministerial relationships is a betrayal of sacred trust. It is a continuum of sexual or gender-directed behaviors by either a lay or clergy person within a ministerial relationship (paid or unpaid). It can include child abuse, adult sexual abuse, harassment, rape or sexual assault, sexualized verbal comments or visuals, unwelcome touching and advances, use of sexualized materials including pornography, stalking, sexual abuse of youth or those without capacity to consent, or misuse of the pastoral or ministerial position using sexualized conduct to take advantage of the vulnerability of another. It includes criminal behaviors in some nations, states, and communities and is a chargeable offense in The United Methodist Church. (Resolution 2044, The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2016)

Sexual Harassment - sexual harassment is a form of sexual misconduct, defined as unwanted sexual or gender-directed behavior within a pastoral, employment, ministerial (including volunteers), mentor, or colleague relationship that is so severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of employment or volunteer work or unreasonably interferes with the employee or volunteer’s performance. It can create a hostile, offensive environment that can include unwanted sexual jokes, repeated advances, touching, displays, or comments that insult, degrade, or sexually exploit women, men, elders, children, or youth. (Resolution 2045, The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2016)

Reporting & Responding to Complaints of Misconduct

1. Violations of this policy may be reported to your SPRC, pastor, any United Methodist clergyperson, the district superintendent, or the bishop.
2. All persons who have knowledge of alleged misconduct are encouraged to come forward.
3. Keep a journal to document specifics surrounding all incidents in question. Include conversation and contacts with the person, dates, times, witnesses and descriptions of the incidents.
4. When the alleged conduct constitutes a criminal act, report it to the police. A complaint which involves a child under the age of 18 must also be reported to the nearest agency charged with child protection.
5. In order for a violation of this policy to become an official complaint (subject to ¶362 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016) it must be presented in writing and signed by the person making the complaint.
6. All complaints will be dealt with promptly and in confidence according to ¶362. All investigations of clergy will be conducted according to ¶2701-2706 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016. All appropriate legal reporting practices shall also be followed.
7. Confidentiality is an important part of this process. Confidentiality means that information will only be shared on a need-to-know basis, at the discretion of the bishop. In the event of a signed complaint, information will be shared as outlined in ¶362, for the purposes of accountability and repairing the harm that has been done.
8. Remember that you are not alone in this process. All persons who bring forward complaints will be heard, affirmed for coming forward, given access to support persons, and prayed for throughout the process.
9. The East Ohio Annual Conference takes seriously any violations of the sacred trust by ministry professionals.

Policy Against Retaliation

The East Ohio Annual Conference has a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against those who report misconduct or submit a complaint.

Updates to the Sexual Ethics Policy

Commission on Status and Role of Women (COSROW) shall update this policy at least once every four years. If any provision of this policy is in conflict with the current The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, the Discipline shall prevail. Such conflict shall not be grounds for invalidating this policy.

Additional Resources

1. UM Sexual Ethics
   
2. The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
   
3. Do No More Harm