Responding to Ethical Misconduct
Responding to Ethical Misconduct
Helping Fractured Spiritual Communities
Helping Fractured Spiritual Communities
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The Issue - Ethical Misconduct
The Issue - Ethical Misconduct
Spiritual leaders are responsible for protecting the welfare of their students and guiding their spiritual journey with compassion. Spiritual leaders violate ministerial ethics when they misuse their power or transgress a student’s boundaries. These violations include having sexual relationships with students or using physically or psychologically harmful teaching methods.
In the teacher’s role, the spiritual leader is expected to bring resources, talents, knowledge, and expertise to serve the best interests of everyone in the sangha. Sex, physical harm, and abusive language are not part of that professional role. The teacher is entrusted with the well-being of students and has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of those who trust him/her. This legal duty is also an ethical obligation. It is always the teacher’s responsibility to uphold their professional role and maintain a clear boundary with students.
The Results of Ethical Misconduct
The Results of Ethical Misconduct
Whenever a spiritual leader is accused of ethical misconduct, the aftermath is traumatic for everyone involved:
People feel betrayed.
Victims/survivors are marginalized, misunderstood, and often forced to leave the community.
The families of all involved suffer.
The community splinters because usually people take sides – allying themselves with the spiritual leader or with the complainant.
The stability of the organization is threatened and its ability to pursue its mission is compromised.
Often the financial viability of the organization is diminished as donor loyalty erodes.
An Olive Branch's Approach to Accusations of Ethical Misconduct
An Olive Branch's Approach to Accusations of Ethical Misconduct
An Olive Branch serves as a neutral entity, ready to help after a teacher or other leader is accused of an ethical breach. We offer a deliberate, multi-step process of listening and education. Our process includes working with the organization’s board, listening to the statements of both the accused and the accuser, and gathering the perspectives of members and leaders.
As a community goes through a difficult or traumatic shared experience, they may lose confidence in the organization’s direction. Our approach for helping in the aftermath of an allegation of misconduct begins with meeting the organization’s board of directors to assess their support for engaging our services. After becoming familiar with the organization and their current situation, we prepare a customized proposal for further review with the board.
From Harm to Healing
From Harm to Healing
What We Do
What We Do
Participating in a formal healing process is an important step in restoring harmony and confidence about the future. An Olive Branch creates an intentional space for exploring how events unfolded and for everyone to have a voice. This healing opportunity is a deeply powerful experience and is a critical step forward.
Some of the services we might propose include:
Disclosure Meeting
As soon as allegations of misconduct surface, the rumor mill is triggered. An Olive Branch recommends that the board convene a meeting to disclose what has happened and explain the organization’s response to the allegations, reassuring the community that action is being taken. We offer to support or facilitate such a meeting.
Listening Post
Our Listening Post provides a confidential opportunity for complainants to share their experiences with us as a neutral third party. In addition to the complainants, other members of the community can use the Listening Post to share their experience of harm by the accused. These experiences are anonymized and summarized in a report that An Olive Branch provides to the board. We also generally provide recommendations for recovery and prevention. Through this report the board gains a full picture of the breadth and depth of the harm within the community.
Healing Circle
At this community gathering, An Olive Branch shares all or portions of the Listening Post report and facilitates group responses. These responses enable all participants to express their feelings, listen compassionately, and begin the process of healing.
Ethics Program Analysis
An Olive Branch helps the organization’s ethics committee or board of directors assess the effectiveness of their ethics program. We review the code of conduct and procedures for filing and processing complaints to be sure they are thorough, well documented, and agreed to by the entire community, including teachers. If the organization does not have an ethics committee or ethics program, we help them get started.
Board Education
Living through a misconduct crisis is exceedingly difficult for a board – arguments erupt, relationships are strained, and demands on board members’ time multiply. An Olive Branch coaches boards, teaches roles and responsibilities, helps leaders regain their equilibrium, and recommends necessary governance changes.
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