Beyond Compliance: Christian Stewardship in the #MeToo Era
When things change in America, they can change quickly.
In 2016, the #MeToo movement reached a tipping point as Americans declared “enough is enough” to leaders abusing their positions of power to solicit or harass women. Of course, Christians have long championed abstinence, family values, and protecting women. But in 2016, these attitudes finally resonated in the mainstream.
Up to that point, sexual misconduct by leaders was often tolerated as “a necessary evil” or “just the way things are.” Cultural reflections reinforced this, with sex comedies like American Pie making light of secretly filming a sexual encounter or Game of Thrones using rape and incest not just to shock, but also to titillate.
After #MeToo, laws and media coverage showed a marked difference in how Americans viewed sexual misconduct allegations. For Christian business leaders, what does this cultural shift mean for? Surely, we can simply be thankful that we are not like the others: unjust, extortionist, adulterers.
Unfortunately, decades of normalized misconduct in the business world and places of power have seeped into Christian communities like water through a sponge. In November 2017, #ChurchToo began trending. By 2018, #SilenceIsNotSpiritual called to change the ways the church addressed sexual misconduct. That same year, Pastor Andy Savage admitted to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 1998 while serving as a youth pastor.
Sadly, such stories are not isolated. A 2020 Church Law and Tax survey revealed that one in six ministry employees or volunteers have experienced sexual harassment. Month after month, new scandals highlight a troubling truth: Our faith is not a foolproof deterrent against misconduct. In fact, when leaders are unwise, naïve faith beliefs can become a liability.
As lions stalk prey at watering holes, would-be offenders are drawn to the vulnerable. And, by its nature, Christianity serves the vulnerable.
For Christian business leaders, this might not seem as apparent as for church leaders. But any workplace can reflect your faith. Where there is hurt, there can be healing, and the whole of the #MeToo movement has been hurt—directly or indirectly—by misconduct and misconduct allegations.
The post-#MeToo shift toward mandated training shouldn’t be seen as a “secular regime enforcing its will.” Instead, training is an opportunity to stand against sin and embody Christ’s example by treating others as equals, made in the image of God.
Serving and protecting “the least of these” doesn’t stop at the sanctuary doors. It extends into every corner of life, including workplaces, where Christian leaders have an opportunity to not only meet, but exceed state mandates.
Next steps for Christian business leaders include auditing your organization’s policies and training practices. These should align with both legal requirements and your faith-driven values. Embedding principles like “treating others as made in the image of God” into your company culture will gradually expose narcissists, abusers, and toxic personalities.
Simply identifying toxic personalities isn’t enough. Organizations must prepare with policies for prevention, discipline, and follow-up. They must conduct fair investigations that prioritize both justice for the accused and protection for the harmed.
Sexual harassment training, abuse prevention, and truth-based investigations are not just compliance measures—they are essential to protecting God’s people and fulfilling his call for justice.
