Statement by the Hanseatic Conference on the Allegations Against Saša Gunjević

Statement issued October 22, 2024:

In view of the allegations of abuse made against the former pastor of the Hanseatic Conference, which have been made public, it seems appropriate for us, as a former employer, to provide some factual information on this matter—in brief, the facts as we know them. These more factual statements are followed by pastoral reflections. 

In September 2023, Saša Gunjević was a participant in the European Kinship Meeting (EKM) in Friedensau. The Hanseatic Conference had released him from work because, as a bisexually outed pastor, he wanted to network with other queer people in an appreciative setting. He had no pastoral duties at this meeting, though he had been asked to report as a participant to a small group on his bisexuality and his coming out. 

Half a year later, on March 30, 2024, we received an email from Catherine Taylor (Kinship USA). In it, she informed us that a sexual act had taken place between Saša and Theo, a young man from Denmark, then 17 years old. The letter contained the word abuse several times and an explicit reference to consensual sex.

It was not clear from the letter whether Catherine had spoken directly to Theo or to his mother. 

Immediately after receiving the letter, Saša Gunjević was contacted and suspended from duty. An appointment with him was scheduled promptly. Oliver Gall, legal counsel for the Hanseatic Conference and chairman of the Advisory Board on Countering Sexual Violence, was invited to the meeting. 

From our point of view, the facts were undisputed, in that this was an unethical act that urgently required the termination of the employment relationship. This was not contradicted. The choice of a termination agreement offered the most legally secure version of ending the employment relationship, because the employee consents by signing. 

In that confrontational conversation, Saša Gunjević signaled his willingness to explain these events to the advisory board. 

In order to assess with certainty whether the act was sexual abuse, the victim’s statement would have been required, which was not available. A corresponding offer from our side to record this statement or to offer the assistance of the advisory board was made immediately, but has so far remained unanswered—which is not an assessment, but only a factual statement. 

The conference was tasked with informing Saša Gunjević’s congregation about the sudden termination of their pastor’s employment, without being allowed to refer to the exact background. The reason for this was the protection of Theo, who had priority for us from the beginning and with whom we had not been able to establish contact. Unverifiable and confidential allegations of this magnitude require not only a quick but also a cautious approach. 

In the course of the summer of 2024, we repeated the offer of a conversation with Theo, this time through his mother. 

In October 2024, the public report by Theo (which was titled “Theo’s voice”), his mother, and Catherine was made public. The Hanseatic Conference made Theo another offer to talk and referred him to the advisory board. 

Saša’s preaching and other voluntary work are prohibited. His ministerial certification was suspended. An application to withdraw his ministerial license will be dealt with in the next conference committee.

With this chronological description, the following ideas and values ​​are important to us as a conference, which should express our position: 

From the very beginning, we have tried to take into account the good and important decision of the church and the advisory board to give priority to victims or suspected victims of sexual violence. Here, a young person experienced something that was subsequently disturbing for him, so his protection was and is a priority. 

Our former pastor behaved unethically and grossly violated his role model duties. The consequence was immediate suspension and the certain termination of the employment relationship. 

The assessment of the reprehensibility of the sexual act is independent of the question of sexual orientation. An identical or similar act with a 17-year-old girl would have led to the same consequences. 

The question of whether sexual abuse has occurred cannot be clarified by the subjective perception of the public, but rather by the expert advisory board if it is mandated to do so (by the victim) or by legal authorities if they are called upon, because sexual abuse is a criminal offense in addition to being morally reprehensible. 

Irrespective of the assessment of unethical behavior, the assessment of whether the age difference between the two parties, the fact that Saša was a pastor at the time automatically creates a relationship of dependency, and thus an abuse of power. This is part of the allegations against him, and therefore requires legal review or the assessment by the expert advisory board—which cannot be given seriously without hearing the person concerned. 

The effort to protect victims on the one hand and to uphold the right to the presumption of innocence (with regard to a possible criminal offense) on the other was made significantly more difficult by involving the public. The Hanseatic Conference would have liked the expert advisory board’s offer to deal with the allegations professionally and provide the most effective help possible to have been taken up and is continuing to endeavor to follow this path. 

It should be noted that three very different legal systems and sensibilities collide in this case and contribute to the complexity, because it was reported via North America that a Danish youth in Germany was affected. 

All feelings related to these events, which have now been made public—be it horror, disappointment, sadness or anger—are understandable and are shared by us. 

A public discussion with accompanying polarization is not in the best interests of the young person. 

The Hanseatic Conference is in close contact with the congregation, whose pastor was Saša Gunjević and where he is still a member. He does not hold any offices there. We call on all members of the congregation to pray and to think especially of Theo, whose voice must be heard. 

The Hanseatic Conference and Advent Youth North will continue to do everything in their power to ensure that our congregations and events are safe places. 

[Signed] The board of the Hanseatic Conference, and Oliver Gall for the Advisory Board on Countering Sexual Violence

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