Examples of Reporting Misconduct
Reporting Sexual Misconduct Committed By a Teaching Elder of the PC(USA) or other worshiping communities
In the PC(USA), ministers are known as teaching elders, but they are not members of a church they are members of a presbytery and are subject to the jurisdiction of their presbytery.
Each presbytery has its own sexual misconduct policies and procedures, however all allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct against Presbyterian ministers will follow the procedures set out in theBook of Order, Rules of Discipline of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
When the stated clerk of the presbytery receives a written allegation of offense, the presbytery will appoint a team to conduct an investigation into the allegation. This team has one year to make a decision on behalf of the presbytery whether or not to file charges within the PC(USA) judicial system against the alleged offender. See list of presbyteries.
If you have questions about reporting sexual misconduct by a minister or spiritual leader of anther denomination, please contact the Sexual Misconduct Ombudsperson.
Reporting sexual misconduct committed by employees or volunteers
If you are a victim or witness to sexual misconduct by an employee or volunteer who is affiliated with the PC(USA), if the person who engaged in sexual misconduct is not an ordained minister/teaching elder, you should report the misconduct the the employer.
REPORTING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT COMMITTED BY Members, Deacons or Ruling Elders
If you are a victim or witness to sexual misconduct by a member, deacon or ruling elder of a church affiliated with the PC(USA), you should report the misconduct to the Session of that chruch.
How to report misconduct of you are a Mission Co-Worker or a family member in the mission field and a witness to sexual misconduct
Call the Sexual Misconduct Ombudsperson at (800) 728-7228, x5207 to make a report.
HOW TO REPORT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT iF YOU ARE A victim of SEXUAL MISCONDUCT by a MISSION CO-WORKER Or A FAMILY MEMBER or anyone else IN THE MISSION FIELD
Call the Sexual Misconduct Ombudsperson at (800) 728-7228, x5207 to make a report.
