Therapeutic implications of conservative clergy views on sexuality: an empirical analysis

This research attempts to close the gap in the literature on clergy views of sexuality by surveying pastors of a large conservative evangelical denomination in a metropolitan southern California county (n = 31) on moral attitudes, understandings of God's view of sexuality, and the role of the church regarding issues of sexuality. These pastors held quite conservative moral principles while also affirming sensuality within the context of a marital relationship. Pastors saw the role of the church as mainly to serve and influence the sexual practices of the people within the church but also affirmed the church's involvement in the influence of the local community. Religion and sexuality were entirely compatible concepts for these pastors. Therapeutic implications and suggestions are offered.