ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a description of the context in which the author first experienced clergy sexual misconduct: the Anglican Church in New Zealand in the 1980s. It uses this setting as a case study to explore the prevailing sexism that has continued to dominate the discourse on women’s ministry and obstructed the call for inclusion of all genders and sexualities in the church. It argues that a broadly sexist and misogynist expression of gender and religion has contributed to rape culture in the church and enabled clergy abuse of women. Extending the discussion beyond New Zealand Anglicanism, the chapter considers the impact of complementarianism, purity culture, and clericalism as maintaining discourses of rape culture in the church.
