Sexualized violence by pastor: EKKW publishes university study

The starting point of the research project were assaults by an EKKW pastor who was convicted by a church court in 2022 of sexualized violence against children and young people in the 1980s, which meant the loss of existing pension entitlements and a ban on working in the Protestant church. The case has been closed under disciplinary law, but the regional church was keen to conduct a systemic investigation from an independent academic perspective.

Researchers conducted 27 interviews with contemporary witnesses

The study examines the conditions that made sexualized violence possible and, in particular, the structures and mechanisms that protect perpetrators, explained project leaders Prof. Dr. Mechthild Bereswill and Prof. Dr. Theresia Höynck from the University of Kassel. They presented key findings together with research assistants Fanny Petermann and Stella Schwarz.

The researchers had conducted 27 interviews with contemporary witnesses and analyzed contemporary documents. They described the interplay of various factors in the context of which sexualized violence became possible: the social developments of the late 1970s and 1980s, the mood of reform and change, the changes within the church community, concrete changes in confirmation and youth work, the role of pastors, the significance of rumours and even power and dependency relationships.

Bishop: There was a lack of rules and standards for naming sexualized violence

"The study shows how social change and changes in a congregation were understood as liberating from authoritarian structures and relationship networks, and thus rules and standards were lacking to name and prosecute border-crossing behavior and violence as such," said the bishop. It also became clear how relationship-oriented work with young people, "combined with a personality described as charismatic but also manipulative", can create opportunities for sexualized violence.

Note: Public event on the study on November 18

Interested parties will have the opportunity to find out more about the study on November 18 at 6 pm. At a public event in the Neue Denkerei in Kassel (Friedrichsstraße 28), the researchers will present and classify the results of the study. Bishop Dr. Hofmann, Prelate Burkhard zur Nieden and Sabine Kresse, the head of the specialist unit for dealing with sexualized violence in the EKKW, will take part in this event. A scientific conference on the topic will follow.

Information: The study by the University of Kassel, the detailed statement by the Bishop, reports on the old case and further information on how the EKKW deals with the topic of sexualized violence can be found here:

https://www.ekkw.de/kirche/aktuell/studie-zur-sexualisierten-gewalt-in-einer-kirchengemeinde

EKKW website: Abuse case in Fuldatal in the 1980s
www.ekkw.de/sexualisierte-gewalt/