68% of Church Sexual Violence Perpetrators Were Church Leaders

Christian Anti-Sexual Violence Center announced the 2023 Counseling Statistics

A study found that 68% of the perpetrators in sexual violence cases that occurred in churches last year were church leaders, such as pastors and evangelists.

 

According to the “2023 Counseling Statistics” released by the Christian Anti Sexual Violence Center on the 20th, the center received a total of 44 reports of sexual violence from January to December last year, with 69 victims.

The church positions of the perpetrators were pastors and evangelists serving as head ministers with 18 people (41%), and pastors, licensed pastors, and evangelists as assistant ministers with 12 people (27%).

As a result, out of the 44 perpetrators, church leaders accounted for 30 people (68%).

There were 7 cases (16%) where church members were involved as perpetrators, 4 cases (9%) where secretaries, leaders, and teachers were identified as perpetrators, and 3 cases (7%) were unknown.

In terms of the victims’ ages, the majority were unknown, with 28 people (41%), followed by 19 people in their 20s (28%), 9 people in their 30s (13%), and 7 people in their 40s and older (10%).

In terms of gender, the vast majority (66 people, 96%) of the victims were women. There were 3 male victims (4%).

In terms of type, the cases were ranked as sexual assault (38%), rape (28%), and sexual harassment (13%).

The center stated 11 cases where the victim reported the incident to the church or denomination and requested disciplinary action against the perpetrator. In 6 cases (55%), the perpetrator was disciplined.