Glossary
This section defines terms used in this report, in the context of their current usage in our Unitarian Universalist denomination.
Clergy: A person who has been ordained to ministry as a professional religious leader.
Clergy Sexual Abuse: See Clergy Sexual Misconduct
Clergy Sexual Misconduct: The crossing of an appropriate sexual Boundary with a member of a Minister's community, in violation of the Code of Professional Ethics of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association or other professional body to which the minister is subject.
Clerical: Refers to Clergy (see below).
Community: A Congregation or other group served by a Minister. May include agencies and individuals served by a community Minister, and children and family members served by a Congregation, agency or community ministry.
Complaint: A formal written statement by a Victim/Survivor accusing a Minister of Clergy Sexual Misconduct, under procedures established by the UUA, the UUMA, or other professional ministerial association.
Confidentiality: Respect for the privacy of a Victim or Survivor of Clergy Sexual Misconduct. Generally requires nondisclosure of Victim or Survivor's name, the specifics of alleged Clergy Sexual Misconduct, and (after the filing of a Complaint) the specifics of a Complaint, beyond the minimum required for the processing of the Complaint by the MFC. Ordinarily it should be up to the Victim or Survivor what should be disclosed, on the principle that the "story" belongs to the particular Victim or Survivor. See also Secrecy.
Congregation: A church, fellowship, religious community or society, affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Covenant: A theological concept which describes the relationship among the members of Unitarian Universalist Congregations, and with their Ministers and Congregations as entities, based on promises (explicit, implicit and traditional) as to how we want to relate with each other; sometimes expressed in terms of relationship with the divine, as well.
For more information contact safecongregations@uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
