Silenced Voices: Clergy Power and Authority
摘要
In Korean Protestant churches, clergy power and authority often intersect with sexual misconduct, creating conditions for abuse and silencing victim-survivors, as illustrated by Ji-yeon’s case study. This chapter examines how clericalism, hierarchical structures, theological beliefs, and cultural norms reinforce these power imbalances. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s theories of power and Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality, it shows how overlapping systems of oppression—such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, and immigration status—heighten vulnerabilities in religious contexts. By recognizing these intersecting forces, pastoral caregivers can offer culturally sensitive support to victim-survivors and confront the systems that enable abuse. The chapter argues that an intersectional pastoral care framework is vital for dismantling harmful structures and cultivating safer, more accountable faith communities.