Kampala — Pamela, a 29-year-old graduate student who lives in Bukoto, says she was coerced into a sexual relationship with a married minister in a born-again church. He had been her pastor for more than five years and told her the relationship had been ordained by God.

Pamela is only one of the multitudes of young men and women, who have been sexually propositioned by religious leaders. Recently, the Police arrested former Holy Fire Ministry's Pastor William Muwanguzi, after one of the girls, who had gone to him for help complained that he had raped her.

Before that, a mob in Kisumu, Kenya had thrashed and undressed a clergyman whom they found having sex with his cousin's wife.

Then a Catholic priest was recently transferred after numerous boys alleged that he had made advances on them. Rev. Fr. Bosco Mawa is also currently in Police custody for allegedly having defiled a 16-year-old girl, impregnated her and later helped her abort. And in Ireland last month, Catholic Bishop Donald Murray resigned from his post following complaints that he had sexually molested children from his congregation.

We are talking about offending clergymen, not truly godly men who serve the Lord with all their hearts and to whom we should be much appreciative for their devoted service.

HOW CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT HAPPENS

Many people will call on a clergyman when they have hit a deadlock in life, even when someone is dying. It is pathetic that a religious leader will decide to abuse such a helpless person.

Victims of clergy sexual misconduct say that offending clergymen confuse their flock by twisting the scriptures and suggesting that God has ordered a sexual relationship with a particular person.

People who have been victims of sexual advances from their religious leaders say that the relationships start with the clergymen demanding too much time or attention from the particular congregant. This soon gives way to uncalled for intimacies with the priest's/pastor's physical contact going from just the ordinary handshake to friendly pats and hugs.

Others say that clergymen start off these improper relationships by arranging to meet with the congregant outside normal counselling time; and sometimes they give them minor favours like lunch or transport.

SHIFTING THE BLAME

Some blame the minister who profanes his calling by taking advantage of a vulnerable church member, while others blame the seductive twenty-something year old or the inadequate wife. Devout members of the church will deny it ever happened. Ultimately, it is a problem of misuse of divine power.

Cyrus Rod, a senior pastor at Dominion Ministries International, says, "If a pastor's human needs overpower his desire to serve God, he loses touch with the boundaries, misdirects peoples' lives and develops a sense of "I can do no wrong".

He also begins to feel that, with all the divine power at his disposal, he is entitled to things that other people are not entitled to. Pastors who misuse their role as rescuers create codependent relationships with particular people and they end up fulfilling their sexual needs.

WORSHIP GOD NOT PASTORS

"I would like to encourage our church leaders and those who go to church to follow the command given in 1 Samuel 12:24, "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart ." says Cyrus Rod, adding that in this way, people will stop worshipping pastors and take them for what they really are, stewards of God's flock.

He advises all pastors to keep responsible watch over God's flock, for they will all be accountable.

Of course other measures like stepping back when you see that your relationship with your pastor is going beyond the acceptable boundaries.