http://umc.disqus.com/The official website of The United Methodist Church.enSat, 11 Feb 2012 19:38:04 -0000http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=11622019#comment-436469387<p>Clergy sexual misconduct has long had a de-evangelizing impact on God's church as church leaders chose to disregard the claims and requests for assistance of alleged victims. I pray for the day when church leaders will value all people as highly as they value clergy offenders by sidelining the offenders as soon as an allegation is made.  The victims of even one instance are in the dozens to the hundreds and in this case thousands including the family of the alleged victim, the family of the pastor, and the entire congregation as they all are blanketed in the shame of deception and public scrutiny. Many individuals and congregations never heal. Please contact <a href="http://www.umsexualethics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" title="www.umsexualethics.org">www.umsexualethics.org</a> for more informatioin and call your conference office to find out if there is prevention training &amp; a clergy sexual ethics reponse team. Finally, make sure your congregation has an annually updated sexual ethics policy and an active Safe Sanctuaries plan. God's people are too precious!</p>BreachHealerSat, 11 Feb 2012 19:38:04 -0000