|
|
Pornography use severly impacts society, individuals, and denominations, according to Mark Sundby and Susan Nienaber of the Alban Institute. Read what they have to say about "The Pastor and Pornography."
“The United Methodist Church declares that the use of pornography in church programs, on church premises or with church property by persons in ministerial roles (lay and clergy) is a form of sexual misconduct, a chargeable offense for laity and clergy in The United Methodist Church.” (“Prevention of the Use of Pornography in the Church,” The Book of Resolutions 2008, p. 155)
Read more by expanding each topic below or by downloading the following resolutions of General Conference 2008:
|
|
From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2008, Section 2081:
Throughout the Bible, themes exist that highlight the imperfect nature of humanity and the hope for redemption through our relationship as God’s children held in God’s loving arms. The Old Testament laws of purity invite an understanding of the body created in God’s image and accountable to God through right relationship. Christ shared with us a vision of the world that confirms our vulnerability and affirms sacred personhood. Jesus Christ provides a path to a loving and protective relationship with God and with others; treating our neighbors and families with love thereby fostering healthy physical and emotional relationships. John Wesley described the path to right relationship with God toward achieving invitation into God’s kingdom as a journey toward Christian perfection. We struggle mightily throughout life to move toward that vision of Christian perfection in an imperfect world.
In the midst of our imperfect world we grieve at actions of sexual exploitation and pornography. Our Social Principles declare that, “We deplore all forms of commercialization, abuse, and exploitation of sex. We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting sexual exploitation of children and for adequate protection, guidance, and counseling for abused children. All persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured and to be protected against violence. The Church should support the family in providing age-appropriate education regarding sexuality to children, youth, and adults.”
The issue of pornography has undergone a dramatic change over the past two decades, one that shifts the definition, increases the complexity, and requires a new level of discussion. The use of violent, aggressive themes accompanying sexually explicit material has continued to increase. Television, the Internet, and emerging wireless technologies have made sexually aggressive media widely available, particularly to children and youth. Pornography is frequently relied upon as a source of information about sexuality. The church is called to lead society in articulating an ethic that affirms God’s good gift of human sexuality and that protects the vulnerable from sexual violence and coercion.
Common understandings of pornography no longer serve us well. Some of us may believe pornography is a social evil because it is sexual, while others may defend pornography as a universal right to freedom of expression because it is sexual. Yet the truth is that pornography is not about sexuality; it is about violence, degradation, exploitation, and coercion.
While there is not widespread agreement on definitions, the following are suggested as the basis for dialogue:
Pornography is sexually explicit material that portrays violence, abuse, coercion, domination, humiliation, or degradation for the purpose of arousal. In addition, any sexually explicit material that depicts children is pornographic.
The impact of pornography on behavior is difficult to measure. While there is little evidence that consuming pornography causes an individual to commit a specific act of sexual aggression, several studies suggest that such consumption is addictive and may predispose an individual to sexual offenses, and that it supports and encourages sexual offenders to continue and escalate their violent and abusive behavior. Few dispute the fact that a society that supports multibillion dollar industries promoting sexual violence as entertainment and portraying the abuse and torture of women and children in a sexual context is a society in trouble.
|
|
From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2008, Section 2082:
“We recognize that sexuality is God’s good gift to all persons. . . . We reject all sexual expressions that damage or destroy the humanity God has given us as birthright” (Social Principles,
par. 161G).
For nearly two decades, the global people called United Methodist have strengthened our understanding and practice of sexual ethics. We have adopted policies and procedures to guide behavior and address brokenness. We have trained, educated, and surveyed lay and clergy leaders of our denomination, conferences, and our congregations. We have spent significant resources in addressing the brokenness from sexual misconduct, from healing individuals and congregations to holding the Church accountable through legal proceedings.
As a resource to the Church, the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women takes very seriously its role to alert our leaders, conferences, and congregations of developments in our societies that call us to intensified concern and action. One such concern today is the expansion of the use of pornography, and its appearance in church programs, through the use of church computers and technology, or on church property.
|
From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2008, Section 2082 (cont.):
While definitions may vary, The Book of Resolutions 2004 offers the following:
“Pornography is sexually explicit material that portrays violence, abuse, coercion, domination, humiliation, or degradation for the purpose of arousal. Any sexually explicit material that depicts children is pornographic.” (“Pornography and Sexual Violence", The Book of Resolutions 2004, p. 166.)
The global expansion of wireless internet and telecommunications provides limitless availability to pornography. Schools, businesses, and governments are struggling with the use of pornography by employees or students with the organization’s equipment.
The research group Top Ten REVIEWS in 2007 published these troubling indicators:
-
every second, 28,258 users are viewing pornography;
-
every day there are 266 new pornographic sites on the internet;
-
sale of pornography generates more revenue than all sports in the US;
-
revenue from pornography in the US reached a record $2.84 billion in 2006.
The use of pornography continues to increase as it becomes more accessible (via the internet, for example), and allows more immediate, realistic, and anonymous sexual contact and gratification (through chat rooms, real-time videos). Research shows it is not an “innocent activity.” It is harmful and is generally addictive. Persons who are addicted to pornography are physiologically altered, as is their perspective, relationships with parishioners and family, and their perceptions of girls and women. Persons who are addicted to pornography must be held accountable for the impact of their behavior, yet they also need prayer, care, and therapy. Those laity and clergy in ministerial roles within our churches, conferences, and agencies are just as susceptible to pornography addiction as anyone else.
In The Harmfulness of Pornography, Robert Brannon shares the following, now confirmed in social science research:
-
a majority of people in the US believe that some “pornography” (such as eroticized rape scenes) influences some men toward real-life sexual aggression;
-
young male viewers of pornography become more likely to believe “all women want to be raped”; and
-
women are portrayed as stereotypical bodies and sex objects.
|
From The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2008, Section 2082 (cont.):
A disturbing trend in the Church is the use of pornography by clergy and lay employees and volunteers, even using computers and other equipment owned by or housed within churches and church-related organizations. We are aware of reports of adults sharing pornographic materials with children and youth during church activities, camps, or programs. But beyond being saddened, shocked, and dismayed by these reports, how do we raise awareness among congregational, conference, agency, school or cabinet leaders, and what do we do to identify, stop, prevent, and then heal from recurrence in our communities of faith?
The United Methodist Church declares that the use of pornography in church programs, on church premises or with church property by persons in ministerial roles (lay and clergy) is a form of sexual misconduct, a chargeable offense for laity and clergy in The United Methodist Church.
The General Conference recommends and urges the following actions:
-
that cabinets and boards of ordained ministry include these issues and ministry concerns in sexual ethics training for candidates, appointed pastors, local pastors, and retired pastors;
-
that laity in positions of leadership in conferences, congregations, agencies, and schools should receive updated training on issues of sexual ethics, including current trends and ways to help persons addicted to pornography;
-
that bishops, cabinets, and chancellors should lead in updating the sexual ethics policies and procedures of conferences and congregations to include use of pornography as a form of sexual misconduct;
-
that seminaries and boards of ordained ministries should provide training to help clergy and lay professionals-in-training avoid addictive or harmful behaviors and to minister effectively with persons addicted to pornography;
-
that congregational, annual conference, and agency leaders should receive training on the issues of pornography, especially internet pornography, and should enact strict oversight of church-owned computers and technology, including periodic technology audits; and
-
that seminaries should include issues of sexual misconduct, including pornography, in ethics and ministries courses and training for all students.
Resources: The Social Principles, par.
161G and H; United Methodist web site on sexual ethics (www.umsexualethics.org); Resolution on “Pornography and Sexual Violence,”
The Book of Resolutions
2004
, and resolutions on “Pornography” and “Sexual Misconduct Within Ministerial Relationships” proposed for the The Book of Resolutions
2008
.
ADOPTED 2008
See Social Principles, par.
161F.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|