What do you think?
Rate this book
Betrayal of Trust, 2d ed.
Sexual misconduct by clergy is a devastating issue that reaches across all denominations, damaging the credibility of the church in its wake. The media regularly reports on the moral failure of leaders and abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to be trustworthy.
Betrayal of Trust focuses on a common scenario of abuse--sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant--and offers practical solutions on how to respond to and prevent this betrayal of trust.
This book presents methods that will help churches respond sensitively to victims and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse from taking place. For clergy who may be at risk for this behavior, it offers help in establishing appropriate boundaries.
This second edition includes a new chapter that offers help for the wandering pastor and a risk-determination questionnaire for pastors who may become abusers.
Betrayal of Trust focuses on a common scenario of abuse--sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant--and offers practical solutions on how to respond to and prevent this betrayal of trust.
This book presents methods that will help churches respond sensitively to victims and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse from taking place. For clergy who may be at risk for this behavior, it offers help in establishing appropriate boundaries.
This second edition includes a new chapter that offers help for the wandering pastor and a risk-determination questionnaire for pastors who may become abusers.
216 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
14 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Stanley J. Grenz
53 books31 followersStanley James Grenz was born in Alpena, Michigan on January 7, 1950. He was the youngest of three children born to Richard and Clara Grenz, a brother to Lyle and Jan. His dad was a Baptist pastor for 30 years before he passed away in 1971. Growing up as a “pastor’s kid” meant that he moved several times in his life, from Michigan, to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado.
After high school Stan began his undergraduate studies in 1968 with the idea that he would become a nuclear physicist. But God had other plans for him, and in 1971, while driving home to Colorado after a visit with his parents in Oklahoma, he received a definite call into full time Christian ministry.
In 1970-1971 Stan traveled in an evangelistic youth team where he met Edna Sturhahn (from Vancouver, BC), who then became his wife in December, 1971. Both Stan and Edna completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado and Stan went on to receive his M. Div from Denver Seminary in 1976, the same year in which he was ordained into the gospel ministry. During the years of study in Colorado he served as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. From Denver, Stan and Edna moved to Munich, Germany where Stan completed his Doctor of Theology under the mentorship of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Their son, Joel was born in Munich in 1978.
During a two-year pastorate (1979-1981) in Winnipeg, MB, where daughter Corina was born, Stan also taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and at Winnipeg Theological Seminary (now Providence Seminary). His full time teaching career began at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD (1981-1990). Those years were followed by a twelve-year (1990-2002) position as Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics at Carey Theological College and at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. From 1996 to 1999 he carried an additional appointment as Professor of Theology and Ethics (Affiliate) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard IL. After a one-year sojourn as Distinguished Professor of Theology at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, TX (2002-2003), he returned to Carey in August 2003. In fall 2004, he assumed an additional appointment as Professor of Theological Studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle WA.
Stan has authored or co-authored twenty-five books, served as editor or co-editor for two Festschriften, contributed articles to more than two dozen other volumes, and has seen to print more than a hundred essays and an additional eighty book reviews. He had plans to write many more books. Two more of his books will appear in print within the next year.
In addition to writing and lecturing all around the world, Stan loved preaching. He admitted to “breaking into preaching” in some of his lectures. He served as interim pastor of several congregations and as guest preacher in many churches. He loved the Church, both locally and worldwide.
Stan wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife Edna in her pastoral ministry, her studies and in the enlargement of her ministry gifts. At First Baptist Church, he played the guitar and trumpet in the worship team and sang in the choir. He was proud of his children and their spouses, Joel and Jennifer and Corina and Chris, and delighted in his new granddaughter, Anika. Stan was a friend and mentor to many, always encouraging people to strive to new heights.
As a theologian for the Church Stan wrote from the deep, interior vision of the sure hope that we would enter into the community of God in the renewed creation. He articulated the reality of this new community as the compass for Christian theology: 'Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3
After high school Stan began his undergraduate studies in 1968 with the idea that he would become a nuclear physicist. But God had other plans for him, and in 1971, while driving home to Colorado after a visit with his parents in Oklahoma, he received a definite call into full time Christian ministry.
In 1970-1971 Stan traveled in an evangelistic youth team where he met Edna Sturhahn (from Vancouver, BC), who then became his wife in December, 1971. Both Stan and Edna completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado and Stan went on to receive his M. Div from Denver Seminary in 1976, the same year in which he was ordained into the gospel ministry. During the years of study in Colorado he served as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. From Denver, Stan and Edna moved to Munich, Germany where Stan completed his Doctor of Theology under the mentorship of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Their son, Joel was born in Munich in 1978.
During a two-year pastorate (1979-1981) in Winnipeg, MB, where daughter Corina was born, Stan also taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and at Winnipeg Theological Seminary (now Providence Seminary). His full time teaching career began at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD (1981-1990). Those years were followed by a twelve-year (1990-2002) position as Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics at Carey Theological College and at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. From 1996 to 1999 he carried an additional appointment as Professor of Theology and Ethics (Affiliate) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard IL. After a one-year sojourn as Distinguished Professor of Theology at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, TX (2002-2003), he returned to Carey in August 2003. In fall 2004, he assumed an additional appointment as Professor of Theological Studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle WA.
Stan has authored or co-authored twenty-five books, served as editor or co-editor for two Festschriften, contributed articles to more than two dozen other volumes, and has seen to print more than a hundred essays and an additional eighty book reviews. He had plans to write many more books. Two more of his books will appear in print within the next year.
In addition to writing and lecturing all around the world, Stan loved preaching. He admitted to “breaking into preaching” in some of his lectures. He served as interim pastor of several congregations and as guest preacher in many churches. He loved the Church, both locally and worldwide.
Stan wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife Edna in her pastoral ministry, her studies and in the enlargement of her ministry gifts. At First Baptist Church, he played the guitar and trumpet in the worship team and sang in the choir. He was proud of his children and their spouses, Joel and Jennifer and Corina and Chris, and delighted in his new granddaughter, Anika. Stan was a friend and mentor to many, always encouraging people to strive to new heights.
As a theologian for the Church Stan wrote from the deep, interior vision of the sure hope that we would enter into the community of God in the renewed creation. He articulated the reality of this new community as the compass for Christian theology: 'Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 27, 2024
TWO CHRISTIAN PROFESORS STUDY AND ANALYZE THIS PROBLEM
Stanley James Grenz (1950–2005) was an American Christian theologian and ethicist in the Baptist tradition; Roy Bell is Professor Emeritus of Family Ministries at Carey/Regent College.
They wrote in the Preface of this 1995 book, “Every pastor is the recipient of a sacred trust… As a consequence, people generally expect pastors to be models of integrity… Effective ministry can occur only within a climate of trust… And the connection between trust and ministry means that a betrayal of this trust destroys the very conditions that make genuine ministry possible. Perhaps no betrayal of trust has worked more devastation than clergy sexual misconduct… We believe that sexual misconduct in the pastorate is such a debilitating problem because it marks a twofold betrayal of trust… Our goal … is not to point a self-righteous finger, affix undue blame or add insult to injury. We are all susceptible to failure… we have carefully chosen to limit the scope of our discussion to … sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant… [This book] was born out of our discovery in spring 1994 that we share a concern for the evangelical church, which is increasingly losing its credibility in society. We are convinced that … sexual misconduct among pastors is a major factor in this erosion of credibility.”
They explain, “Clergy sexual misconduct touches churches of all denominations---Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical and charismatic. Today the situation has grown especially among Catholics… But Protestants are not immune. According to officials of the United Church of Canada, the incidence of sexual misconduct by clergy has reached ‘horrific proportions… women are more likely to get sexually harassed in the church than in the workplace’ and that ‘clergy were sexually exploiting their parishioners at twice the rate of secular therapists.’” (Pg. 22)
They suggest, “In addition to instilling a gnawing need for affection, attention and approval, a dysfunctional family of origin may affect the pastor in another way. He may have gained from his upbringing a codependency that colors his manner of relating to others; he becomes a rescuer.” (Pg. 50)
They explain, “The search for new meaning, the desire for excitement and the unmet need for intimacy may raise in the mind of the successful pastor thoughts of a sexual encounter. His privileged position in the church allows access to such an encounter. Through the routine activities as a functioning pastor he will come in contact with vulnerable women who find him and his success attractive. The effective pastor seeking to cope with midlife dissatisfaction and the vulnerable woman seeking to find healing through a relationship constitute an explosive situation. The pastor may come to believe that an adulterous relationship promises a cure for his midlife crisis.” (Pg. 101)
They note, “Justice in the wake of sexual misconduct may include removing the offending pastor from office so that he is no longer in a position to victimize others. Fortune offers the chilling reason this is critical: ‘When a minister … behaves unethically and the authorities merely express concern and issues a warning, he is likely to be more discreet in the future but not likely to change his behavior.’” (Pg. 116)
They point out, “To minister to the wife, we must also realize the difficulties she faces as a pastor’s wife. Pastors’ marriages have not escaped the trauma of modern marital breakdown. Most people do not sufficiently recognize the extent to which pastors’ wives are under stress.” (Pg. 119)
They state, “Perhaps no aspect provides a more powerful context for sexual temptation than the pastor’s role as a caregiver, especially in counseling situations. The pastors who would consistently minster with moral integrity, therefore, must pay attention to the dynamics of pastoral care.” (Pg. 140)
They conclude, “Fear of legal reprisal and blatant self-interest may force churches to act generously towards victims of clergy sexual misconduct even in cases where they may not carry legal responsibility. But how much more compelling as a motive for action should Christlike compassion be!... When the church gives up its own agenda, which focuses on its own survival as an institution, and begins to be genuinely caring toward those affected by clergy sexual misconduct, healing can begin.” (Pg. 174-175)
This book will be of great interest to those studying such issues.
Stanley James Grenz (1950–2005) was an American Christian theologian and ethicist in the Baptist tradition; Roy Bell is Professor Emeritus of Family Ministries at Carey/Regent College.
They wrote in the Preface of this 1995 book, “Every pastor is the recipient of a sacred trust… As a consequence, people generally expect pastors to be models of integrity… Effective ministry can occur only within a climate of trust… And the connection between trust and ministry means that a betrayal of this trust destroys the very conditions that make genuine ministry possible. Perhaps no betrayal of trust has worked more devastation than clergy sexual misconduct… We believe that sexual misconduct in the pastorate is such a debilitating problem because it marks a twofold betrayal of trust… Our goal … is not to point a self-righteous finger, affix undue blame or add insult to injury. We are all susceptible to failure… we have carefully chosen to limit the scope of our discussion to … sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant… [This book] was born out of our discovery in spring 1994 that we share a concern for the evangelical church, which is increasingly losing its credibility in society. We are convinced that … sexual misconduct among pastors is a major factor in this erosion of credibility.”
They explain, “Clergy sexual misconduct touches churches of all denominations---Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical and charismatic. Today the situation has grown especially among Catholics… But Protestants are not immune. According to officials of the United Church of Canada, the incidence of sexual misconduct by clergy has reached ‘horrific proportions… women are more likely to get sexually harassed in the church than in the workplace’ and that ‘clergy were sexually exploiting their parishioners at twice the rate of secular therapists.’” (Pg. 22)
They suggest, “In addition to instilling a gnawing need for affection, attention and approval, a dysfunctional family of origin may affect the pastor in another way. He may have gained from his upbringing a codependency that colors his manner of relating to others; he becomes a rescuer.” (Pg. 50)
They explain, “The search for new meaning, the desire for excitement and the unmet need for intimacy may raise in the mind of the successful pastor thoughts of a sexual encounter. His privileged position in the church allows access to such an encounter. Through the routine activities as a functioning pastor he will come in contact with vulnerable women who find him and his success attractive. The effective pastor seeking to cope with midlife dissatisfaction and the vulnerable woman seeking to find healing through a relationship constitute an explosive situation. The pastor may come to believe that an adulterous relationship promises a cure for his midlife crisis.” (Pg. 101)
They note, “Justice in the wake of sexual misconduct may include removing the offending pastor from office so that he is no longer in a position to victimize others. Fortune offers the chilling reason this is critical: ‘When a minister … behaves unethically and the authorities merely express concern and issues a warning, he is likely to be more discreet in the future but not likely to change his behavior.’” (Pg. 116)
They point out, “To minister to the wife, we must also realize the difficulties she faces as a pastor’s wife. Pastors’ marriages have not escaped the trauma of modern marital breakdown. Most people do not sufficiently recognize the extent to which pastors’ wives are under stress.” (Pg. 119)
They state, “Perhaps no aspect provides a more powerful context for sexual temptation than the pastor’s role as a caregiver, especially in counseling situations. The pastors who would consistently minster with moral integrity, therefore, must pay attention to the dynamics of pastoral care.” (Pg. 140)
They conclude, “Fear of legal reprisal and blatant self-interest may force churches to act generously towards victims of clergy sexual misconduct even in cases where they may not carry legal responsibility. But how much more compelling as a motive for action should Christlike compassion be!... When the church gives up its own agenda, which focuses on its own survival as an institution, and begins to be genuinely caring toward those affected by clergy sexual misconduct, healing can begin.” (Pg. 174-175)
This book will be of great interest to those studying such issues.
February 27, 2018
Great resource that needs robust supplemental material. A good and sadly necessary survey of the broad effects of clergy misconduct, with a very helpful but insufficient suggestion of prevention and confrontation methods. Great address of the theological dynamics of sex, power, marriage and singleness in Chapters 4 & 5 (with a few exceptions). Inhibited a bit by its adherence to more strictly Cognitive Behavioral theories, which blinds it to the embodied and habitual rather than merely cognitive and belief-focused dynamics of prevention and recovery. Lacks a consistent or at least consistently clear ethical framework outside of briefly engaged Scripture prooftexts or examples, coupled with social scientific methods.
Read
January 29, 2014Grenz & Bell take the position that all sexual misconduct happens where the woman congregant is the victim, based on the position of influence and power of the pastor. They also explanatorily limit themselves to the use of the term "sexual misconduct" as male perpetuator and female abuse victim.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews