In 1993, early in my ministry in my new parish,
I received a disclosure
over time I received multiple disclosures.
more of this later
simply to mention I write out of my live experience
and my trust in the Lord ( Prov 3 v 6)
and my transferable skills in anthropology ( the study of culture )
and sociology ( the study of power - the use and abuse of power
and power structures)
over time I have some interaction of criminologists
I pioneered Mandatory Reporting and have written about how Mandatory Reporting could be better implimented
I wrote several Issues Papers to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to child sexual abuse
from memory three were published.
Then as Pastor's we have a Duty of care with office bearers and in consultation with the Police
and the Safe Church Committee to protect the members of our church
and working with sexual assault counselors and trauma release therapists, as required,
to provide trauma informed Pastoral care.
to stay with the congregation
and be compassionate towards survivors and vicariously traumatised members of the congregation.
and be there for the family and friends of survivors who are vicariously traumatised.
there is much more to write and more to research
welcome to the introduction.
the disapointments
Whilst I have sought to outline processes for Pastors
much of what I have written presupposes that others will be supportive
sadly this is not always the case.
The Pastor
has a role,
a central role
in this complex
interdisciplinary matter.
Internal
The Congregation may be split between:
- those who follow safe church procedures
- those who are supportive and appreciative
- those in denial - it's too aweful
- those who support the alleged abuser / the accused.
remember in a congregation which is around one hundred years old
Pastors have come and gone but families pass on from generation
to generation.
friendships between members may have lasted decades.
In my parish in the sixties there were 200-300 members.
by 1993 there were only 19 the Sunday before I arrived.
at least six were enablers
( friends or relatives of the alleged abuser)
The Elders knew but refused to do anything
until two external elders were appointed to assist.
there were conceillors.
these days most denominations
have a Professional Standards Unit.
I had no such resource.
I have listed responses members may have
The community
responses from the community will vary.
A collegue said in country towns a Pastor may face such
opposition from the town he or she may need to leave.
leaving in silence is no longer acceptable
the allegations must be reported.
Denominations have an obligation to relocate a Pastor
to a safecommunity
and appoint an interium Pastor to work through the issues.
I was fortunate to be in a multicultural community
who was supportive
as were other Clergy.
certain persons in the community were unhelpful.
sometimes systems fail as I found
take it to the Lord in prayer
Christendom
The exposure of rampant sexual abuse
by Roman Catholic Priests
has brought churches into disrepute.
a collegue said my story was like
"Postman bites dog"
My denomination produced a document of protrocols
which stated my obligation to Mandatory Report
and promised I would not be victimised.
What I got was:
- conceilment
- abondondment
- marginalisation
Sometimes we simply have to do what is right
trusting God to be our provider
and our source of strength.
What should happen
What we should be able to expect when the system works
and when all parties are Safe Churches / Child Protection focused:
- The Professional Standards Staff receive and pass on disclosures
- The Professional Standards Staff advise and are supportive
- The Parish Elder and Deacons and Office bearers are supportive
- The Police start an investigation
- Denominational leadership is supportive
- Collegues are supportive
- Victims and witnesses come forward and make statements to the Police
- Sexual assault services provide support