South Dakota state capitol. File photo.

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, and the Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) have registered their support for South Dakota House Bill 1230, which would add members of church staff or clergy to the list of professional occupations that are to be mandatory reporters for suspected child abuse or neglect. 

“The legislation will help clergy be consistent with the teaching of Jesus. This legislation will go further in raising awareness, offering support, and keeping members of the clergy accountable to upholding the tenets of their doctrine across denominations and faith traditions,” state Bishop Ough and Rev. Valerie Reinhiller, chair for the Dakotas Conference BOM in a letter to the South Dakota House of Representatives. Read the full letter here.

Dr. Alisha Vincent. DWU file photo.

Dr. Alisha Vincent is a lay member of BOM and an associate professor and chair of the nonprofit administration program at Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU). She was a key instigator of the bill. “During a BOM meeting this summer, it came to my attention that South Dakota did not have a law requiring clergy to report suspected abuse cases but that a lot of other states do, including North Dakota,” she said.

Several years ago Vincent experienced an incident where a case of abuse was reported, by a teenage girl, to church leadership, but the report went no further than the church doors. The teenager shared her situation with several members within the congregation. The pastoral leadership involved worked with the internal leadership of the church, and the final result was an internal process of forgiveness and reconciliation for all parties involved.   

“I am sure that I was not the advocate that the teenage woman needed during that time,” says Vincent. "She was vulnerable and powerless. I have never forgotten that incidence, and it is one of the reasons I have a passion for this legislation in South Dakota.”

Students in the DWU Public Policy course have researched, drafted and promoted HB 1230. Photo by Doreen Gosmire.

Six students at Dakota Wesleyan University, in a public policy course, have played a significant role in getting the bill on the legislative docket. The class researched the topic, developed a case statement, found a bill sponsor—Rep. Erin Healy, and worked with the Legislative Research Council to get the bill to the 2019 legislature. 

Vincent says, “After I learned that South Dakota did not have a law, I thought – what an incredible learning opportunity for my public policy class. The students have engaged in the legislative process. They are experiencing how it works and how everyday citizens can be involved in meaningful ways in our government.”

DWU students look over the website clergyforkids.org. Photo by Doreen Gosmire

Students are now in the advocacy stage for the bill. Thanael Certa-Werner, a senior at DWU and intern for the Dakotas Conference, has created a website www.clergyforkids.org, to help inform people and encourage support.  

Students share that the process is a unique experience. “I am not a political guy. I have never been involved in politics before,” says Fallis, DWU senior who is a business major with a minor in nonprofit administration, from Crow Creek.

“It is an interesting process. I would not have been involved in politics if it was not for this course. I guess it is not as complicated as I thought it would be,” says Jacinda Bieberdorf, a DWU sophomore, psychology major and nonprofit administration minor from Watertown.

The bill is not without challenges. This type of bill has been submitted in the past, but met with resistance, especially from the Catholic community. “The legislation we are proposing does protect confidential communication,” says Vincent.

J.D. Anderson, a member of Plankinton UMC, a senior business major with a concentration in nonprofit administration at DWU, expresses some concerns with the bill. He says, “I am against the bill. There are a lot of grey areas. For instance, what are sacred communications?” 

HB 1230 will be in a legislative hearing on Feb. 20, in front of the South Dakota Judiciary Committee at the capitol building in Pierre. The seven DWU students and Vincent will head to Pierre for the hearing. People scheduled to testify are: Rev. Dr. Joel Allen, associate professor of religion at DWU, Alisha Vincent, member of the Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, professor for the Public Policy Course, Judy DeWitt, family counselor and expert in clergy and church abuse, Rev. Brandon Vetter, lead pastor at Bismarck Legacy United Methodist Church. If you would like to testify show up in Pierre or contact Vincent at alisha.vincent@dwu.edu.

Thanael Certa-Werner, a DWU senior and member of the public policy class, is considering testifying. “This bill will help keep a child from harm. That is what the church is about, reaching out to people in whatever ways that we can. This bill is an extra cushion. Hopefully, it will empower clergy,” he says. Certa-Werner is on the path to becoming an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. He is headed to seminary in the fall. 

Gaston Miteff is a DWU senior from Argentina who indicates that he likely will not testify. “In my country, this is not possible. Politicians would not even talk about this. I talk with my family and people back home about this. They can not imagine this process and the ability to work directly with your lawmakers to make a change like this,” he said. 

Resources:
A website for further information, www.clergyforkids.org 
View the full version of HB 1230  here.