Examples in a church.The church must be a safe place to work and worship. Here are examples of sexual harassment that create a hostile environment:
* Initiating unwelcome sexual activity.
* Using subtle questioning to determine someone’s sexual behavior or availability.
* Creating offensive rumors concerning the appearance or sexual behavior of someone.
* Describing a parishioner or church employee using sexually explicit terminology.
* Repeatedly asking a parishioner or church employee for a date.
* Telling sexual jokes.
* Demanding sexual favors from a church employee in exchange for job security.
* Offering a church employee compensation or work benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
* Displaying sexually explicit photographs and pictures at church.
* Sending sexually explicit letters, cards, or other materials to a parishioner or church employee.
* Stalking a parishioner or church employee to pressure a personal relationship.
* Touching a parishioner or church employee in a sexually offensive manner.
* Placing obscene phone calls to a parishioner or church employee.
* Touching yourself sexually in the presence of a parishioner or church employee.
* Blocking a parishioner or church employee’s pathway to force physical contact.
* Using gestures or staring considered sexually offensive by a parishioner or church employee.
–Kibbie Ruth
Pastoral Center for Abuse Prevention
San Mateo, California
Copyright (c) 1995 Christianity Today, Inc./LEADERSHIP Journal
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Copyright © 1995 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
