Raising awareness about sexual misconduct in a church context: Reflections based on workshops

Abstract

This article explores how to raise awareness about sexual misconduct in churches and faith-based NGOs. The research question for this article was: How can the term and phenomenon of sexual misconduct be introduced to Christian communities using awareness-raising means to increase competence and relevant policymaking related to this issue? The empirical material is based on written descriptions of the schedule, dialogues, and discussions among the participants of two workshops in the Global South initiated by Digni.1 The participants conveyed and verified the descriptions daily. Awareness-raising depends on a climate of trust, facilitated by emphasizing the participants’ contributions, questions, and views. The results uncovered the need to understand how power dynamics affected the interactions on different levels, including asymmetrical power relationships between the Steering Group as representatives of collaborative and supportive organizations and the workshop participants. Clarifying the terminology provided the basis for a shared under-standing of the terms, and using cases proved to be a door opener to make the issue contextually relevant. Inputs of knowledge-based competency on different topics were valuable primarily as a dialogical tool to respond to questions and comments.