Spoils of the Kingdom: Clergy Misconduct and Religious Community

A multi-faith examination of abuse by church leadership

In Spoils of the Kingdom, Anson Shupe investigates clergy misconduct as it has recently unfolded across five faith_based groups. Looking at episodes of abuse in the Roman Catholic, Mormon, African American Protestant, white Evangelical Protestant, and First Nations communities, Spoils of the Kingdom tackles hard questions about the sexual abuse of women and children, but also about economic frauds perpetrated by church leaders (including embezzlement, misrepresented missions, and outright theft) as well as cases of excessively authoritarian control of members' health, lifestyles, employment, and politics.

Drawing on case evidence, Shupe employs classical and modern social exchange theories to explain the institutional dynamics of clergy misconduct. He argues that there is an implicit contract of reciprocity and compliance between congregants and religious leaders, which, when amplified by the charismatic awe often associated with religious authorities, can lead to misconduct.