After receiving  a disclosure of sexual abuse  

the youth leader was convicted of sexual abuse

he alleged he had been sexually abused by the previous youth leader

the warning signs were there

before the Child Protection Seminars

the days before we had Protocols
 

  Why did the boy being minded by the housekeeper

ask for a hammer and smash a hole in every door and many walls?

 The response of the boy's Father was to sack the housekeeper.

"we need youth"  was a strange  sign to advertise the church

    youth group.  the housekeeper was the leader.

other alarm bells rang over time.

the alleged offender was told

1. not to attend the youth group
2. to arrive at church just before the service
3. to sit on his own
4. to leave immediately after the church service
5. without talking to anyone.

Jesus warned His disciples:

• of the wolf in sheep's clothing ( Matthew 7 verse 15)
• of the enemy sowing weeds amongst the seed  ( Matthew 13 verse 25

We thought Churches were safe

  in Roman Catholic and High Anglican Churches the priests abused their power and position.

 in Protestant Churches without Bishops  Elders, Deacons, Youth Leaders, longstanding members

                      abused the power they accumulated

                      violated the trust given to them

   all of the above examples are examples known to me personally without doing any research or survey.

 We ought to "watch and pray"