A New Understanding of Clergy Compassion Fatigue for Facilitators of Trainings for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct

Abstract

Compassion fatigue (CF) has been described by Charles R. Figley as “the cost of caring.” Clergy compassion fatigue (CCF) will be discussed in this article from both personal experience and current research, the latter of which has shown that religious leaders are viewed as attachment figures in times of great need. Clergy who facilitate trainings for the prevention of sexual misconduct need to be aware of the potential for a traumatic stress response when viewing films and hearing case studies in group discussions. Facilitators may avoid painful loneliness, loss of hope, and failure of confidence by sharing their reactions with others through appropriate supervisory sessions and by creating intentional self-care protocols as part of their ministry.