Navigating cases of sexual misconduct

You hoped this day would never come, but it has. You have received the sad news that one of your missionaries has been involved in a case of sexual misconduct. As a mission leader, what do you do? What are next steps? What key factors should you consider before acting? These are important questions. Adultery, fornication, rape, and pornography are realities we have to deal with. We discuss these with sadness because of the ugliness of sin, but with sobriety and humility because missionaries and leaders are not immune to sin.

Cases of sexual sin are sensitive and need to be handled with care and seriousness. It is important to have a process that can be followed so that allegations are investigated carefully, considered wisely, and dealt with biblically. Careful investigation is the first step. It establishes the actual information or complaint. This means that you need to listen well, and, if possible, ask questions for clarity. Leaders need to also examine the source of information– is it trustworthy? Anonymous tips can be useful, but can also be unreliable and difficult to verify. Explore other sources that can confirm or clarify the reports. Once a complaint is received, consider sharing it with other mission leaders who may need to know (as per your church’s or organization’s guidelines), or a small misconduct response team that will assist you in investigations. Be sure to document everything you can in the process.

Confidentiality and compassion are key.

Once you have gathered information and available evidence, convene your response team and consider wisely the implications and impact of the sexual misconduct. A keen mission leader will need to determine if the evidence points to a clear case of sexual misconduct. A good guide for what constitutes sexual misconduct may be stated in the organization’s policies. Mission organizations may lack such guidelines, especially if they operate in cultures shaped deeply by honour and shame dynamics. The impact of the misconduct also needs to be assessed carefully, as it shapes the course of action in dealing with any offender. The impact may be felt in broken relationships or marriages, team mistrust and possible collapse, or even legal action. The response team must wisely navigate how to care for any victims or informants so that they are not shamed or victimized further. All of these considerations should be documented.

The response team should finally decide what actions to take in order to deal with the misconduct and the ensuing impact in a biblical way. If the misconduct falls in the category of a disciplinary action by the organization, then the leaders of the organization should receive a report with such a recommendation. In other cases, it may be fitting to accompany disciplinary action with sending the offending missionary back to their church for discipline and discipleship. In other cases, the organization may be required to report the misconduct to affected parties such as a church, ministry partners, or even to reporting to the police or other authorities for legal action.

To conclude, in the three steps of investigation, consideration, and action, confidentiality and compassion are key. We must keep the information known to us confidential. Reports and documents of the case must be stored and passed on safely. Confidentiality protects victims of sexual abuse, informants, and even the person accused. Not all accusations of sexual misconduct are true, and it is wise to protect the reputation of anybody involved because “A good name is more desirable than great riches; favour is better than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:1). Confidentiality upholds the dignity of all parties and so details of misconduct should be known by only those who need to know. Secondly, it is important to remember that those involved are likely struggling internally. We must deal with them with compassion, even when the outcomes are harsh and undesirable.