Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Ann-Marie Buchanan

Second Advisor

Lisa Clouzet

Third Advisor

Enoch Aguilar

Abstract

Problem

Clergy are frequently the initial point of contact for parishioners seeking guidance and counseling on various life issues and challenges. In certain instances, these matters may be linked to physical and/or sexual abuse, either directly or indirectly. Many clergy have not had the opportunity to receive training on recognizing the signs, symptoms, prevalence, causes, and effects of abuse, or on how and when to refer individuals to specialists or law enforcement when abuse is suspected. This can lead to inadequate emotional and spiritual healing at best, and further psychological damage at worst, for parishioners, with effects that may last a lifetime or span generations. One contributing factor is the clergy’s lack of access to education, identification methods, and tools.

Methodology

In May 2023, a six-hour training session was developed and conducted at the Wisconsin Conference with the aim of enhancing knowledge and understanding of the potential for physical and sexual abuse among church members within the conference. Thirty-one pastors and conference officials participated in the training, undertaking both pre- and post-tests to assess their understanding of issues related to physical and sexual abuse, as well as mandatory reporting laws pertaining to such abuse. The data was analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, which comprised multiple surveys incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, to evaluate the pastors’ understanding of the complexities surrounding abuse.

Results

The training revealed that the majority of pastors had little to no experience in identifying potential victims of both physical and sexual abuse prior to the training. Few participants could recall receiving any previous training on these topics during their theological education. None of the attendees had received training regarding their roles as mandatory reporters during their theological studies. As a result of this lack of training, many were also unfamiliar with the laws governing proper reporting procedures in the state of Wisconsin. Comparing the pre- and post-training surveys, the data showed a significant improvement in knowledge acquisition regarding physical and sexual abuse, as well as the correct procedures for reporting.

Conclusion

Based on the pastors’ test results, reflections on their learning, the training experience and its structured format, and engagement with the curriculum focused on abuse, their perceptions of the training ranged from being very informative to transformative in terms of their self-reported learning outcomes. As a result, it is recommended that all pastors undergo further exploration and training on physical and sexual abuse, as well as the relevant mandatory reporting laws.

Subject Area

Pastoral counseling; Seventh-day Adventists--Clergy--Training of; Sexual abuse victims--Pastoral counseling of; Wisconsin Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. North American Conference. Lake Union Conference. Wisconsin Conference.

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