Dealing with abuse and unwanted behaviour

Abuse – a misuse of power in human relations

The Uniting Church in Australia seeks to provide a community of love for all people in which no one need fear any threat to their wellbeing by the conduct of another person, a church organisation or church process. For the Church, this is a sacred trust. The Church is committed to improving its care for all people.

When Trust is Broken

This information page is offered to those for whom this trust has been broken – those who have a complaint against the Church, or seek healing for hurt that has occurred within the Church, or those who are supporting someone who has been hurt. The Church wants to provide resources and procedures for addressing different types of abuse, including:

• Sexual misconduct: This comprises those acts, such as rape and unwelcome sexual advances that are illegal. In the Church it also includes sexualised behaviour within a pastoral relationship. Such a relationship, even when both parties consent, is not condoned by the Church. The relationship between ministers and their people is such that any sexualisation of that relationship constitutes professional misconduct. The Uniting Church has processes for hearing complaints of sexual misconduct. Ministers are reminded that what they say and how they may use touch in a pastoral relationship could be construed as a means of satisfying the minister’s physical or emotional needs in inappropriate ways. The Church requires that its ministers and all leaders who work with young people and children will have a current ‘Working with Children Check’ card.

  
  

• Harassment and Vilification: These are perpetrated in many different ways. It includes bullying and stalking. It is not only lay members of the church that are victims of these behaviours. There is a growing awareness that ministers are subjected to abuse by officers and councils of the Church and its congregations.

The Next Steps

For enquiries or concerns regarding abuse or unethical behaviour, or actual or potential breaches of the Code of Ethics, please contact:

Lauren Mosso
Ethical Standards Officer
Telephone:  (03) 9340 8825
e-mail:  lauren.mosso@victas.uca.org.au

For support and counselling if you have experienced abuse within the church, please contact:

Bethel Pastoral Centre
59 Doncaster Road
Balwyn North  VIC 3104
Telephone: (03) 9859 8700
Email: bethel@victas.uca.org.au
Website: http://bethel.victas.uca.org.au