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Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about prevention of harm and early intervention to minimise the opportunity for the child, young person or vulnerable adult to be harmed.  

 

Safeguarding is a proactive preventative approach to child, young person or vulnerable adult protection.

Safeguarding includes:

  • Creating a culture where safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults is everyone’s responsibility
  • Regular Safeguarding training
  • Child, youth and vulnerable adult centred practise
  • Safer Recruitment procedures
  • Codes of Conduct for everyone

Child, young person or vulnerable adult protection is a reactive approach. It is part of a safeguarding process but prescribes the action to follow when a child, young person or vulnerable adult is identified as suffering from, or likely to suffer from serious harm. This may include suspected abuse and/ or neglect or a disclosure or a complaint.

Protection includes:

  • A Protection Policy
  • Procedures and guidelines which everyone in the parish knows and uses, including reporting abuse and supporting all those involved in this process.

To find out more about reporting abuse, please click and read:

 

If you need any assistance on any Safeguarding matter, please contact the Safeguarding Officer.

Key Resources

The Diocesan Monitor, and Bishop’s Reconciliation Advisor

 

Clare Ayres
Diocesan Monitor, and Bishop’s Reconciliation Advisor

021 217 1581

www.peoplematters.space

 

 

The Diocesan Monitor is an independent and confidential person who is available to hear the concerns of anyone who feels they have experienced professional misconduct by a person within the Anglican Church, including unethical behaviour, abuse of power or sexual harrassment.

The Diocesan Monitor is not a member of the Anglican Church, and is therefore considered independent and impartial. Although the Monitor reports to the Bishop, they have the authority to follow through the responsibilities, functions, and duties of the role.

Clare is available to talk through any issue or concern you have regarding unethical and unsafe behaviour practice. This can range from discussing a concern and how you manage it, through to having guidance regarding the need to escalate reporting of unsafe or unethical behaviour higher.

 

Please feel free to contact Clare at any time you could benefit from a conversation or have a concern.

Phone:  021 217 1581 or email Clare.

Support in Responding to Abuse

Resources for Clergy, Chaplains, Ministry Unit staff, Diocesan staff, and Standing Committee

 

Note: Click the ‘Responding to Disclosed Abuse’ diagram below for the pdf file (with clickable links):

At a Glance Responding to Disclosed Abuse v2 diagram.
At a Glance Responding to Disclosed Abuse v2 diagram.

A Liturgy of Lament

A Service of Lamentation

We cannot move forward if we cannot recognise the impact of our past.

On Thursday, 5 September 2024 at 7pm in the Transitional Cathedral, everyone was invited to attend a Liturgy of Lament in response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

As you are aware, both secular and faith-based organisations have been revealed as places where abuse in many forms has taken place. We the Anglican Church abhor these abusive actions and will enter into a time of corporate lamentation so that we may fully recognise and acknowledge the extent of the abuse. While we may wish to rush forward in acts of reconciliation, we cannot do this until we fully face the failings of our past. Included within the liturgy will be an apology on behalf of the Diocese of Christchurch, given by Bishop Peter Carrell, and an apology on behalf of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, given by Archbishop Justin Duckworth.

It is the intent of the liturgists responsible for the creation of this service to address what has been, what is, and to give voice to a future for the diocese where we work together for a safe, inclusive church.

We acknowledge that there may be ongoing liturgical needs for some who have been harmed within a Church context. It would be arrogant for us to seek to shape what these individuals need. We wish to empower survivors to create liturgical responses which are tailored to their needs as defined by them.

Finally, we recognise that this subject can be triggering and deeply uncomfortable to face – yet we cannot turn away.  To allow people to decide if this liturgy is safe for them at this time, we invite you to click on A Liturgy of Lament to see the service.

Below is the livestream of the Liturgy of Lament on Thursday, 5 September 2024 at the Transitional Cathedral:

 

The following are the apologies read by Bishop Peter Carrell, and Archbishop Justin Duckworth at the Liturgy of Lament on Thursday, 5 September 2024 at the Transitional Cathedral:

Bishop Peter’s statement of apology for the Diocesan Liturgy of Lament

Archbishop Justin’s statement of apology:

E Ihowā, tohungia mātou,
E Te Karaiti, tohungia mātou,
E Ihowā, tohungia mātou,

Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,

Ka nui ngā mihi ki ngā mate huhua puta noa o Aotearoa, o ngā motu o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, ko tā mātou
inoi ki te Atua, kia noho pai koutou e te hunga kua whetū rangitia ki ngā ringaringa atawhai a Te Karaiti, ā
ki a tātau te hunga ora Māna anō e muru i ngā roimata katoa; ā kia kore ake he mamae, otirā kia
māturuturu te tōmairangi atawhai o Te Tokotoru Tapu ki a koutou.

We extend our greetings to all those who have passed in New Zealand and the Pacific islands. Our
prayers are for all you who have passed to rest in the compassionate embrace of Christ, while we who
continue to live seek hope in God’s promise to alleviate our sorrow and grief. May God’s heavenly
blessings rest upon us all.

Tēnei mātou ko ngā hepara o te Hāhi e piko nei kei te hinapōuri, ka tangi, ka māringi i ngā roimata mō te
hunga mōrehu. Tēnei mātau ka mihi atu nei ki a koutou i runga i te ngākau rīpenetā. Kotahi tonu te inoi
ki te Atua, kia tau mai tōna Wairua aroha ki a koutou, ā Māna anō hoki mātou ko te hunga hara e ārahi ki
ngā ara o te tika.

We the Archbishops of the church express profound grief for the survivors, extending our greeting to you
all with a repentant heart. Our prayer is for God to bestow God’s comforting Spirit upon each of you the
survivors and to guide us who have caused great pain and committed wrong towards the path of justice
and reconciliation.

E te whānau a Te Karaiti, tēnā tātau.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care has released its report,
which highlights abuse that occurred in Anglican communities in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950-
1999.

Please hold the survivors of abuse in your hearts and prayers – some of whom participated in the
Inquiry, courageously sharing traumatic experiences for justice and change.

Our Archbishops Don Tamihere, Justin Duckworth and Sione Ulu’ilakepa have asked that we share this
statement from them within each of our churches across Aotearoa New Zealand.

“We acknowledge and take full responsibility for our failures to provide the safe, caring and nurturing
environment those who have been in our care had a right to expect and to receive.”

“Our apology at the Royal Commission to survivors of abuse was heartfelt and genuine and we can only
stand in awe of their courage and endurance. We owe it to survivors to ensure that this Report is a
catalyst for great change.

It is crucial that the whole Church takes direction and advice on this. We know that we still have a long
way to go.

We call on all who identify as Anglican; whether churches, schools or agencies to study this Report’s
recommendations and to commit themselves to the principles and practices that ensure the highest
standards of care.”

The Archbishops have also reminded us of the safeguards we have in place to help make our church a
safe space for everyone.

Anyone who is a survivor of historic abuse in the Anglican Church who wish to engage with the Church
about that abuse are encouraged to email: contact@anglicanredress.nz

Anyone wishing to make a current complaint can contact the Ministry Standards Commission registrar
by email on: registrar@ministrystandards.org

The Archbishops have shared the following prayers.

E te Atua Atawhai, tēnei mātau e koropiko ana
ki mua i tōu aroaro i runga i te ngākau pōuri.
Nā te mea, tē taea mātau i rongo, i kite,
Nā te waha ngū ka whakakino mātau i te ngā harakore me ngā ngoikore.
E te Ariki, whakakahangia rātou ko te hunga mōrehu,
Arahina mātou ki te tika.
E te Ariki, whakarongo mai ki tā mātau inoi.
Āmine

Merciful God, we come to you in sorrow.
We would not hear, we did not believe,
Our silence condemned the innocent and the powerless.
Lord, strengthen and empower the survivors now,
and align our hearts with your justice.
God, hear our prayer.
Amen

Additionally, as Archbishop of New Zealand, I acknowledge that some thirty years ago, my predecessor, the Most Reverend Brian Davis was due to make an apology in a Cathedral liturgy in Christchurch, for insensitive reported remarks about women who had brought complaints about the Reverend Rob McCullough to church authorities. That liturgy did not actually take place. Here in the Transitional Cathedral in 2024 I take this opportunity in this liturgy of lament to finally deliver such apology. I apologise for the insensitivity of those remarks made by my predecessor and acknowledge the hurt those remarks caused those who heard them directly or read them in reports.

 

Suggested Prayers

A) Suggested Prayers for Use in Sunday Intercessions

 

A Prayer for Those Suffering Abuse

Almighty God and Everlasting God,
You are the author of all mercies, and the God of all comfort.
We pray this week for those who have been abused within our churches and faith-based organisations across our nation.

 

Have compassion upon all who have suffered the injustice,
humiliation and pain of abuse – sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual and all other forms of sinful conduct.

 

In the midst of their distress, give them courage to speak.
May your perfect love drive out fear and anxiety.
In your mercy, create opportunities for these men, women and children to share their pain,
reveal their struggles and expose the hurtful actions of others.

 

Give grace, sensitivity and wisdom to all who will minister to the victims and survivors of abuse.
Strengthen those who have been abused and their carers with the certainty of your love for them.
In all things, we ask that your name be glorified and that
we – your people – do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before you.

 

We humbly plead these things in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the King of compassion,
Amen.

(Source: http://thebriefing.com.au/2012/11/prayers-for-those-suffering-abuse/)

 

A Prayer for Survivors and Those who Abuse

God our redeemer and sustainer, we pray for the survivors of violence, abuse and neglect.
Be with them in confusion and pain.
Give your power to the powerless, your fullness to the empty of spirit.

 

Heal their wounds, free them from fear and restore them to true health.
Strengthen them to face the future with faith in you.
We ask this through Jesus your Son, who was himself a survivor of abuse and yet
in his resurrection, triumphed over the oppression.

 

Likewise, God of justice, judge of all the earth,
we bring before you those who abuse and mistreat others.
Turn the hearts of the exploiters from the way of evil.
Open their eyes to the truth of their conduct and
fill them with hatred for the damage they do.
And so by your Holy Spirit bring them to true repentance and amendment of their lives.

 

And now, may your Spirit draw us together, both in our church, and in the community.
May we face our mistakes with complete honesty.
But preserve us from unhelpful speculation and gossip.
Help us reach out, care for the hurting, and support each other.
Strengthen us with the gospel of your grace, for Jesus’ Christ’s sake.
Amen.

(Source: http://thebriefing.com.au/2012/11/prayers-for-those-suffering-abuse/)

 

B) Suggested Prayers for the Royal Commission of Inquiry Report into Abuse in Care Release

Creator, Ruler and Redeemer of this world,

Your Church is on its knees—how could it have come to this?

Our mission in this world is to tell others about you, baptise and make disciples for you—living out our earthly lives in faith, hope and love, humility, justice and compassion—just as Jesus did. But we have failed.

Today your Church faces the consequences of actions unworthy of Your Name as outlined in Whanaketia, the report from the Royal Commission on abuse in care. The report tells us we have failed to protect, failed to believe, failed to make it right, and failed Your Holy Name.

We can only cling to your merciful, patient and faithful nature and ask that as we consider the report, learn from our mistakes, and make changes to how we do things, that You will guide us. Help us to understand; grant us wisdom and insight. Lead us firmly down a path of acknowledgement, reconciliation and healing, as befits your Holy Church.

Help us to be mindful of others as we each grapple with the report’s content, the families and people harmed, and our part in it.

Holy God, as we sit in this most uncomfortable space, help us to see the report through Your eyes, align our hearts to Your heart, and humbly take steps to walk closer to You this day forward.

Grant us strength for this task.

In Jesus Name
Amen.

OR

Lord, as we digest the Royal Commission Report into Abuse in Care,
we are confused, angry, and deeply saddened.

In our distress, hear our cry.

In our confusion, grant us understanding.

In our anger, grant us action.

In our sadness, grant us compassion.

In humility but confident in your faithfulness we cry to you for mercy.

Kyrie Eleison

Christe Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Amen.

OR

I Am, Author of all Truth, and Bearer of all Iniquities

Pour out Your Truth on the Your Church here in the Diocese of Christchurch and beyond.

Reign down Your Justice and Righteousness like a mighty stream in flood.

May we feel Your pain for those we have ignored, marginalised, and dismissed.

But trusting in Your great Compassion and unfailing Love,
rescue us, and set us back on the path of Righteousness.

Show us the way so we will not turn from it.

For Your Name’s Sake

Amen.

Professional Development

Safe Ministry 101: This module is for clergy and licensed lay ministers, including youth ministers, and children and family workers. 2024 dates are now available for registration.

Safe ministry training is a condition that all personnel holding a bishop’s licence or Permission to Officiate in the Christchurch Diocese must attend a Safe Ministry professional development course (previously known as Boundaries Training) at least once every 3 years in order for their licence to remain current.

All workshops will be held 9am-4pm.

Thursday 11 April 2024 St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton

Thursday 9 May 2024 All Souls’, Merivale

Saturday 1 June 2024 St Stephen’s, Ashburton

Saturday 3 August 2024 St Mark’s Anglican Church, 101 Opawa Road, Opawa

Saturday 10 August 2024 St Mary’s, Timaru (NB: formerly 22 June)

Tuesday 13 August 2024 North Canterbury – venue TBC

Thursday 22 August 2024 St Faith’s, New Brighton

Thursday 24 October 2024 St Stephen’s, Lincoln (NB: formerly 27 June)

Saturday 9 November 2024 St Mark’s, Opawa

Thursday 21 November 2024 St Mark’s, Opawa

 

To register or for more information, email John de Senna.