“Pastors convicted of sex crimes returning to the pulpit… Churches must face sexual violence squarely”

The Korean church faces a critical reckoning with sexual violence, as a report from the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Women's Committee reveals the disturbing reality of pastors convicted of sex crimes resuming their duties. "Is it even right for a pastor who has served a prison sentence for sex crimes to stand in the pulpit again?" questioned Rev. Kim Eun-jung, chair of the committee, in an interview.

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Is it even right for a pastor who has served a prison sentence for sex crimes to stand in the pulpit again?

The committee's findings stem from a multi-year initiative aimed at addressing sexual discrimination and violence within churches. Rev. Kim noted that while society has seen increased awareness and education on these issues since the 2018 #MeToo movement, many churches remain indifferent or treat the matter superficially. "It's difficult for victims to speak out because their faith is so intertwined with their church life," she explained. "It makes no sense that the victim has to leave the congregation just because of the perpetrator."

Compounding the problem, churches often fail to implement adequate disciplinary measures. One case cited involved a vice-pastor who sexually assaulted a female parishioner. The victim endured the situation for eight months, hoping to remain in her church, only to be told by superiors that she had "ruined the future of a promising pastor" and was unfit to be around children. The senior pastor even suggested silence was necessary to protect the perpetrator.

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It's difficult for victims to speak out because their faith is so intertwined with their church life. It makes no sense that the victim has to leave the congregation just because of the perpetrator.

Rev. Kim attributes the church's reluctance to address these issues to a lack of dedicated resources and a patriarchal interpretation of scripture. "Many denominations have established related organizations, but they are often underfunded and ineffective," she stated. "Furthermore, current and former pastors have rarely received adequate education on sexual violence. They often read the Bible through a patriarchal lens, failing to recognize that sexual violence and harassment stem from gender discrimination."

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You are tainted, so you are not qualified to stand before the children. You have blocked the path of a promising pastor.

Despite the complexity of finding solutions, Rev. Kim remains hopeful. "If everyone shares the awareness of the problem and strives to find good solutions, much better results will emerge," she said. "Securing related budgets and personnel is the most crucial step." She urged church leadership to confront internal sexual violence issues directly rather than dismissing them or treating them as mere formalities.

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We must remain silent to protect the victim.