Poll Says 25% Of Women Have Been Sexually Harassed In Church
Published: August 22, 2008
A recent study shows that more than a quarter of Christian women have experienced some form of sexual harassment; one fourth of those polled also said it happened in a church or ministry setting.
NationalChristianPoll.com surveyed a number of women on inappropriate behavior they have experienced in the past, such as sexual advances, touching or sexual contact, suggestive jokes, or glances with sexual overtones.
According the survey, it noted that under the legal definition of sexual harassment, these inappropriate behaviors need to occur in an employment setting and create either a hostile work environment for the individual enduring the behavior. However, outside the work environment, inappropriate behavior is often referred to as sexual misconduct.
Such behaviors as suggestive jokes within ministry settings. says one minister. "There is a lot of inappropriate 'conversation' being tolerated by women so as not to antagonize men in their workplaces," said Joy Thornburg Melton, an ordained minister and attorney within the United Methodist Church. Melton currently serves as chief resource officer for PACT (United Methodist Property and Casualty Trust).
"We train our bishops and district superintendents and local pastors in what to do when somebody brings a complaint of this nature - how it is to be processed and handled. We want to be able to deal with it openly, honestly, and expeditiously," Melton said.
Melton recommends that churches and ministries alike adopt a written policy regarding sexual harassment or misconduct.
Only half of the survey respondents said their employers have established policies and 34 percent said they aren't sure what their employers, both in the church or secular world, are doing to reduce the harassment or sexual misconduct.
Frank Sommerville, a civil attorney, said, "The church needs to realize that it is composed of imperfect individuals." He adds, "As a result, it needs to be proactive in preventing harassment by training its leaders on the subject. It also needs to train its employees and volunteers to treat each person with dignity and respect."
The survey involved 669 women, 172 of whom either worked outside the home or worked outside the home in the last three years.
Copyright © 2008 316Networks.com. All rights reserved.
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Poll Says 25% Of Women Have Been Sexually Harassed In Church
Published: August 22, 2008
Churches and ministries are recommended to adopt written policies regarding sexual harassment or misconduct.
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