Definitions

Verbal or Virtual Sexual Misconduct

Any verbal or virtual acts of a sexual nature that are 1) unwelcome or 2) performed without consent or 3) committed by one in a position of authority upon a subordinate or 4) committed by an adult upon someone who is under the age of 18 or is otherwise incapable of meaningful consent. Examples include but are not limited to, derogatory or indecent communications about a person’s body; slurs, anecdotes, jokes, games, innuendos, or electronic communications of a sexual or intimate nature; verbal or virtual advances, propositions, or invitations of a sexual or intimate nature; or suggestive or obscene communications.

Physical Sexual Misconduct

Any physical acts of a sexual nature that are 1) unwelcome or 2) performed without consent or 3) committed by one in a position of authority upon a subordinate or 4) committed by an adult upon someone who is under the age of 18 or is otherwise incapable of meaningful consent. Examples include but are not limited to, suggestive or obscene gestures; voyeurism; touching of a sexual or provocative nature, adult sexual assault, and sexual abuse of a minor. 

Emotional Misconduct

A pattern whereby a person in a position of authority and/or trust uses that position to control or manipulate others through behaviors such as shaming, dismissing, bullying, threatening, intimidating, humiliating, degrading, or insulting. Emotional misconduct may include spiritual abuse.

Consent

“cannot be given by individuals who are underage, intoxicated or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol, or asleep or unconscious. If someone agrees to an activity under pressure of intimidation or threat, that is not considered consent because it was not given freely. Unequal power dynamics, such as engaging in sexual activity with an employee or student, also mean that consent cannot be freely given.” (RAINN, https://rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent) 

Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse

The exploitation of a power imbalance by a religious leader to engage in sexual behavior with an adult congregant, thereby violating professional boundaries and trust. This includes any sexual behavior in the context of a clergy-congregant relationship, where there is a lack of meaningful consent due to the inherent power difference.

Professional Boundary Violation

Verbal or physical actions that breach ethical, professional, or interpersonal boundaries within institutional or faith-based settings. These violations may involve acts such as aggression, intimidation, harassment, or excessive physical contact. 

Spiritual Abuse/Abuse of Pastoral or Spiritual Power

A pattern of coercive or controlling behavior in a religious context that relies at least in part on the alleged perpetrator's formal or informal position of pastoral or spiritual leadership.

Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Any sexual activity-- verbal, visual, virtual, or physical-- upon a minor (a person 17 years of age or younger). The minor is unable to consent due to developmental immaturity and an inability to understand sexual behavior. An offender may perform acts involving sexual abuse against the minor, or the minor may be told, forced or, in any other way, the offender may cause the minor to engage in sexual behavior with the adult. This also includes nude or sexually suggestive or explicit photographic images of a child which are produced, possessed, or distributed by any person.

Sexual Grooming

The deceptive process used to facilitate sexual contact while simultaneously avoiding detection. Sexual grooming may include victim selection, access to and isolation of the victim, developing trust with the victim and often their guardians, community, and youth-serving institutions, desensitizing the victim to sexual content and physical contact, and maintenance strategies on the victim to facilitate future sexual misconduct or to prevent disclosure. Georgia M Winter, Leah E. Kaylor, and Elizabeth L Jeglic. “Toward a Universal Definition of Child Sexual Grooming, and Deviant Behavior .” Deviant Behavior, Volume 43, Issue 8, 2022.

Physical Abuse or Neglect

The infliction of non-accidental physical harm; intentional acts that create a substantial risk of physical harm; infliction of cruel or unusual treatment which results in physical or mental suffering; and/or knowing deprivation of essential needs that may result in physical or psychological harm.

Adult Sexual Assault

Any type of sexual contact of an adult (a person 18 years of age or older) where consent is not freely given or obtained, and is accomplished through force, intimidation, violence, coercion, manipulation, threat, deception, or abuse of authority. Any person who is mentally or physically incapacitated is not capable of providing consent.

Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior

Sexual behaviors among children that are developmentally inappropriate, illegal, or traumatic to other children, or who have otherwise acted out sexually or sexually abused against other children. (National Children’s Alliance)

Financial Misconduct

Any act or pattern of behavior involving the intentional misuse, misappropriation, or fraudulent handling of financial resources, particularly by one in a position of trust or authority, for improper personal gain or to the detriment of another person or the institution. Examples include but are not limited to, theft or embezzlement; falsification of financial records, expense reports, or invoices; misuse or diversion of designated funds; unauthorized use of institutional credit or property; accepting or offering bribes or kickbacks; and any fraudulent scheme intended to deceive for financial gain.