Statement from the Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International Board of Directors

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International (SDA Kinship) is an affirming and inclusive community for LGBTQIA+ current and former Seventh-day Adventists and their families, friends, and allies.

In March 2024, three members of SDA Kinship’s Board of Directors received a report of alleged sexual misconduct involving a pastor and a Kinship member at the European Kinship Meeting in September 2023.

The Board member who was initially notified made a report to the Hanseatic Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, where the pastor was employed at the time.

When conference leadership received the report, they delegated the matter to a special committee (Fachbeirat) established to handle allegations of sexual misconduct involving pastoral staff. Their process included investigation, interviews, and confidentiality. SDA Kinship acknowledges that the conference followed its established procedures.

At the counsel of Kinship Germany and the Hanseatic Conference, the president of SDA Kinship did not make public statements during the Fachbeirat’s investigation.

SDA Kinship is deeply concerned that this incident occurred and that Kinship’s values of safety, community, and respect were not upheld.

The Fachbeirat determined that the pastor acted unethically and, in accordance with Kinship’s policies, he has been removed from membership with SDA Kinship and is no longer involved in Kinship activities or communication.

In a safe community, leaders and those in positions of power carry a heightened responsibility to protect the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of others.

The conduct described in this matter does not represent the care, ethics, or accountability Kinship expects from its members, particularly those serving in leadership roles, and does not align with the type of community Kinship seeks to foster.

Because SDA Kinship prioritizes the safety and trust of all members, including vulnerable individuals, Kinship’s Board of Directors is committed to the following actions within the next six months:

1. Complete a comprehensive internal review of all policies and protocols regarding allegations of sexual misconduct at Kinship-sponsored and associated events. These policies and protocols will be updated in accordance with established safeguarding standards in order to prioritize community members’ safety and dignity.

2. Provide training on safeguarding and mandated reporting to Kinship’s Board of Directors, leadership team, and regional coordinators.

3. Update and expand the Code of Conduct that applies to all Kinship leaders, members, and participants across all Kinship spaces and events, whether virtual or in-person.

4. Offer workshops and ongoing education to members on topics related to personal health and community safety, including consent, sexual misconduct awareness, abuse prevention, and mental health.

Kinship’s Board of Directors cares about the individual who made the report and their family and will support the local leadership of Kinship Europe and the Fachbeirat committee, which have had the most direct engagement with those involved.

Support may include emotional support, guidance regarding reporting processes, and strengthened safeguarding measures where appropriate.

SDA Kinship respects the findings and recommendations of the Fachbeirat and considers the matter closed based on the information currently available.

SDA Kinship has a responsibility to provide education and support to LGBTQIA+ current and former Seventh-day Adventists and their families, friends, and allies. Members worldwide will be able to register for the resources mentioned above when they become available.

When we are in community, what happens to one affects all of us. Kinship encourages anyone who feels impacted by this incident to seek support from a licensed or credentialed mental health professional.

Kinship’s Code of Conduct applies to all Kinship leaders, members, and attendees at Kinship events. Reports of unethical conduct or misconduct may be submitted to safety@sdakinship.org and, depending on the situation, individuals are also encouraged to report concerns to local authorities or relevant institutions where appropriate.

All reports will be taken seriously and handled according to Kinship’s stated policies.

Retaliation against individuals who make reports in good faith will not be tolerated.

SDA Kinship Board of Directors

October 10, 2024