Clergy Sexual Ethics Committee

The Conference Clergy Sexual Ethics Committee (CCSE) oversees the development and implementation of policy statements regarding clergy misconduct of a sexual nature. The CCSE committee will see that all Conference statements are in compliance with the current General Conference legislation. The CCSE committee is directed to train and educate all clergy members of the Conference, and to be available to local churches in the Conference for consultation, regarding policy statements. In addition to a Conference policy, the CCSE committee is charged with assisting local churches and United Methodist agencies and institutions within the Conference to develop and implement similar policies for their locations.

Goals and Objectives

• Clergy Training (co-sponsorship and scholarships)
  
• Laity Training and local church consultation
  
• Professional Consultant fee
  
• Messenger advertising
  
• Advanced training for committee members
  

Basic Boundaries training

Basic Boundaries training is designed to help clergy and spiritual leaders to become aware of relational boundaries and the sacred trust that we have in honoring those boundaries. We use curriculum that was developed by the FaithTrust Institute, which has been active in working to help leaders understand why boundaries are important and ways of developing healthy boundaries. We look at not only relational conduct but also ways of dealing with financial issues such as gifts, dating, dual relationships, issues of transference, hugging and touch, and personal and professional health.

Training must be "renewed" every three years. A training session takes place every January at the Special Clergy Session. This year's speaker/leader was Dr. Marie Fortune of FaithTrust Institute. For those who were unable to attend that meeting, there will be other opportunities to renew one's training, by either attending the basic boundary training or by attending special training events throughout the state.

Upcoming Basic Boundaries trainings

There will be a Basic Boundaries training session in the Great West District on Saturday, April 10, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Ogallala First United Methodist Church, 421 N. Spruce, Ogallala, Neb. Those interested in attending should contact the Great West District office at 308-284-8922.

There will also be a training session in the Missouri River District, on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Springfield First UMC, 480 Main St., Springfield, Neb. Those interested in attending should call the Missouri River District office at 402-898-9862.