Affair or exploitation? A pastor has an intimate relationship with a woman congregant he is also counseling?
It is against the law in most (or all states) for a consultant to engage in an intimate relationship with his client. Why? Is it because there is an imbalance of power, and the client depends on who has more power? Who makes you ask, is consent “genuine consent” as a matter between two neighbors? If the separation of church and state applies to a counselor who is also a pastor / priest? The next time you hear about a pastor who was fired for having an “affair” with a woman he promised congregants to God to protect, must be asked whether it was really an exploitation of trust in position of strength?
answered your own question…not to mention god will probably have something to say to this “pastor” when he gets to the pearly gates….
it’s wrong either way
All of the above plus really criminally stupid. Thinking with crotch and not heart. Yes it’s consent. BUT – the law is there to protect people who are not thinking straight in their distress.
I don’t where you are relying upon for your belief’s but any form of adultry, fornication outside the marriage bed is an abomination to the Lord and will held accountable to Him. The only law we should concern ourselves with is His Law, natural law. Mans law cannot make SIN ok!!! It’s blasphemy and an abomination for anyone to act immorally especially a man who claims to represent to be a man of God. Pray for him and remind him of his duty to God and he must repent immediately. He has done a deplorable act, that will lead him to the burning fire. It is not acceptable under any circumstance.
It is more accurately, exploitation, and even religious abuse. The imbalance of power is the key here. Is it an affair, yes, because it is not between marriage partners. However, affair is not the best name for a relationship between someone who has power or influence over another. Even if the counselee/congregant said “yes” to the affair, it is not “true consent” because she does not realize the degree of influence the person with more power has over her. Emotional dependence, ‘transference’ and psychological manipulation are at play here, where they are not in a typical affair between two equal players. It is abuse, because the one with less power is always harmed more than the one with more power. The one with more power often has the ‘last word,’ the respect of the community, etc… which often leaves these victims powerless and voiceless. It is a violation that goes much deeper than most people would suspect. Spiritual, mental, emotional, physical. So, a pastor having an affair with his congregant, is actually a misnomer. A better word would be exploitation. Most often, pastors who prey upon vulnerable women like this are repeat offenders. http://www.advocateweb.org is the best resource I have seen for this offense.