ACSA occurs when a spiritual authority figure including an elder, pastor, boss, counselor, professor or even a lay leader uses their role to exploit and abuse someone who is under their care through sexualized behavior. This can be in person or online. It is often in combination with other types of abuse: emotional, psychological or financial. Abuse of this type is characterized by an imbalance of power in which the spiritual authority figure has more positional power than the target and uses that power to exploit or harm, harass or control the victim.

This sexualized behavior from a spiritual authority figure to an adult under their care or authority is always abuse for the following reasons:

There is a misuse of power and asymmetrical authority. The clergy person is misusing their power to serve their own needs rather than honoring their sacred pastoral role.

Clergy members are granted inherent trust and privilege because of their pastoral role. The clergy person is exploiting the victim's trust and vulnerability by taking advantage of her needs for his personal gain.

Mutual consent is not possible because of the imbalance of power between the clergy person and the victim. For consent to be possible, there must be equality, choice, freedom from fear, and truthful transparency (e.g., no deception).

Clergy Sexual Misconduct. (2021). Adult Clergy Sexual Misconduct (CSM) Explained. Clergy Sexual Misconduct Information & Resources. Retrieved from www.clergysexualmisconduct.com

Mennonite Central Committee Canada. (2022, January 25). What is clergy sexual misconduct? Abuse Response & Prevention. Retrieved from www.mcc.org