Article II Education, Orthodox Reform [United States], May 4, 2007

Article II: Education

Orthodox Reform [United States]
May 4, 2007

http://orthodoxreform.org/topic/manifesto/article2/

(Editor’s note: This is the expanded draft of Article II of the Orthodox Reform Manifesto to overcome sexual misconduct, establish healing, and restore trust in the Church. Please let us know your comments!)

Article II: Education

We resolve to educate ourselves about how we, as the Church, can prevent abuse and help victims to heal from their wounds.

We call for mandatory sexual misconduct and safe environment training for all priests, deacons, bishops, staff members, and any who have frequent access to children.

Education should be offered on an ongoing basis and include periodic refresher training for previous participants.

This education should be administered and certified by a third party educational provider who will register and track the educational progress of participants. Records of educational participation should be open to lay review.

Individuals who fail to complete this educational process must not be allowed to continue in positions of leadership or allowed to work with youth.

Education for Deacons, Priests, and Bishops

Many existing clergy have little or no education on matters regarding sexual misconduct, imbalance of power, and dealing with those who have been abused. It is of utmost importance that clergy already in ministry retroactively receive a comprehensive education on these topics.

Education for Seminarians

All seminarians should be educated with respect to the proper boundaries that a priest must maintain, and how to set those boundaries. Priests should expect to encounter vulnerable people in their calling, who in their need and confusion may believe that the clergyman wants something other than a priest/parishioner relationship. We need to insure that our seminarians are taught to refrain from sexualizing relationships, that they are prepared for inappropriate advances and risk situations, and know how to respond in appropriate way to avoid misconduct.

Education for Church Leaders

All people in a leadership position within the church, particularly those in positions that regularly work with youth, must take mandatory educational classes to be educated and informed on these topics.

Education for Congregations Dealing with Abuse

There are also many resources available to show us how to help heal parishes wounded by a priest’s misconduct. Many others, besides the priest and the victims, are injured when a clergyman acts inappropriately, most notably the priest’s family and other members of the community. Again, we resolve to educate ourselves in this area in order to restore wounded communities and to keep as many souls as possible from losing their faith in Christ.