Posted Wednesday 17 September 2008
It’s not just the young who need protection, says diocesan protection coordinator Brian Woodburn.
I would rather try to stop people going to church, and plead forgiveness from the Lord, than encourage their presence into an environment in which we hadn’t done all we can to guarantee their safety.
Nobody said it would be easy, and absolute safety may well be impossible to provide, but the effort to do so cannot be seen as an optional extra.
We have a good protection scheme, but it can only work if we make it work.
However, our responsibility doesn’t end at the church door. I am sure you have been as sickened as I have been at reports of money and valuables stolen from old people by family members and people they thought were their friends.
This is not easy for us to detect in most cases, but we don’t need proof, we need an honest suspicion.
We can all make sure that everybody, irrespective of their age, has somebody in whom they can confide.
If there is something that worries you, make it known to your church’s protection coordinator who will know what to do and will treat what you say in the strictest confidence.
Does everybody in your church know who their protection coordinator is, by the way? If I can help in any way, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Finally, a word about clergy. I have just got home from a conference which has left me even more amazed at what we expect from our priest.
Apart from meetings; visiting; sermons to write and services to organise, and that angry, upset member who can’t understand why God has taken their wife or husband from them; personality clashes in the congregation; and shortage of funds; many clergy have a life and family at home that need time and attention.
And somebody always rings on what is supposed to be their day off. I know about this; I’ve done it myself. We take them to the time of trial too often. All this, although they just can’t admit it, leaves them at the top of my list of ideal prospects for the post of vulnerable adult.
Don’t let them get away with it. If you are not sure who to talk to about this, I am Brian Woodburn, Diocesan Protection Coordinator, and my telephone number is 01556 610519.
Watch and pray.
Category: Child Protection Group
