PRESBYTERY OF NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMITTEE ON PRESBYTERY OPERATIONS

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY
AND ITS PROCEDURES
February 1997
I. PREAMBLE
So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (NRSV)
* * * *
So Jesus called [his disciples] and said to them,
"You know that among the Gentiles
those whom they recognize as their rulers
lord it over them,
and their great ones are tyrants over them.
But it is not so among you;
but whoever wishes to become great among you
must be your servant,
and whoever wishes to be first among you
must be slave of all.
For the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve,
and give his life a ransom for many."
Mark 10:42-45 (NRSV)

We, the members of the Presbytery of Northern New York, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
believe and proclaim that all human beings are created by God in God's image. Therefore every
person - child, woman and man - has worth and dignity in the eyes of God. This God given worth
and dignity should be recognized and respected in all human relationships and especially in those
relationships involving persons who have been entrusted with positions of leadership and authority
within God's church and those over whom they exercise this leadership and authority. To make use
of power and authority vested in one by virtue of the church office to which one has been called for
any purpose other than to serve those who have been entrusted to one's care is an abuse of power,
a betrayal of trust and a denial of the other's inherent worth and dignity. Sexual misconduct is just
such an abuse of power, betrayal of trust and denial of worth and dignity and must not be tolerated.

In this belief, we enact the following policy on sexual misconduct in order that allegations
of sexual misconduct may be treated with all the seriousness they deserve and dealt with promptly,
justly and with compassion to all parties effected by such allegations.
Download PBYNNY Sexual Misconduct Policy PDF.
http://www.pbynny.org/sexhar.html