Classis Hamilton Abuse Response Team — Communicator

Fall, 2005 — Issue 2
Current Members

John Gilson, ChairpersonHope CRC, Brantford
(519) 756-6534

Judy Cook
Fellowship CRC, Ancaster

Colleen Laing
Community CRC, Hagersville

 Lori Hensen
Ancaster CRC

John Benjamins
Immanuel CRC, Hamilton

Brenda Hofland
Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis

Monica Heeg-Admiral
Community CRC, Hagersville

Tony Boer
Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis

Gina Mantel
Calvary CRC, Flamborough

Bette Vander Giessen
Bethel CRC, Waterdown

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To read our first issue visit the Classis Hamilton website at www.classishamilton.ca and click on the link to the Abuse Response Team

 

The Classis Hamilton Abuse Response Team was formed in March, 2002 to deal with allegations of abuse against a church leader. We deal with these allegations in ecclesiastical hearings in a non-adversarial environment. We also provide education on abuse prevention and child safety policies, and provide support to those affected by the abuse. Please feel free to contact any Abuse Response Team member if you have any questions. 

The Classis Abuse Response Team is a group of representatives of member churches. Each member of the team must be approved by Classis Hamilton. Ideally we would like to have at least one representative from each Classis church. If you feel that this is an area that you may wish to serve in, please call John Gilson for more information. 

For our mandate visit the Classis Hamilton website at

www.classishamilton.ca and click on the link to the Abuse Response Team.

Suggested Procedures and Guidelines for Handling Abuse Allegations of a Child against a Church Leader (revised August 2003 and approved by Synod 2004) 

a.         A person who receives allegations of a child against a church leader (hereafter refers to paid staff, office bearer, or appointed ministry volunteer) and concludes that the allegations create a reasonable suspicion that abuse has occurred should report the matter to local police or child protection authorities within twenty-four hours of receiving the information. 

In addition, a person who has knowledge of circumstances that create a reasonable suspicion that a church leader has committed child abuse also should report the matter to local police or child protection authorities within twenty-four hours of formulating that conclusion.
 
  1. As soon as possible after notifying the appropriate authorities, the person reporting the matter should contact the person whom the church of the accused has designated to receive a report of an allegation of child abuse (a Designated Person). The person reporting the matter should describe to the Designated Person the allegations of abuse and/or the circumstances supporting the allegations of abuse. In addition, the person reporting the matter should inform the Designated Person if the alleged abuse occurred in the church facility, or in connection with a church-sponsored program.
     
  2. The Designated Person should contact (i) the pastor, if the minor has not implicated the pastor, (ii) a member of the church’s leadership team, if the minor has not implicated this team member, (iii) the church’s legal counsel, and (iv) the church’s insurance agent.

    If the alleged victim and alleged abuser are not members of the same church, each church should appoint a Designated Person who together should maintain contact about the progress of the investigation.

    Church officials may conduct their own investigation after civil authorities have begun theirs. However, church officials should not reveal the nature of the allegations to the alleged offender until the civil authorities have met with him/her.
     
  3. If the alleged abuser admits wrongdoing against the victim at any stage of this process, the admission of guilt should be brought to the attention of the governing body of the church of the accused. The governing body should deliberate and determine outcomes according to established church polity and procedures.
     

  4. When the Designated Person determines that either (i) the authorities have concluded that the allegations merit serious investigation, or (ii) there is the possibility of formal charges, the designated person should notify the governing body of the church of the alleged abuser.

  1. The Designated Person should present the governing body with a written document specifying the nature of the allegations and information known at that point.

  2. The governing body should give the accused an opportunity to confront and respond to the allegations.

  3. In light of the information presented, the governing body should implement one or more of the following actions:

--supervise contact at church between accused and minors;
--prohibit contact at church between the accused and accuser or any minor in the congregation;
--suspend the accused from office, position, or duty with pay (when applicable) and without prejudice pending the outcome of the investigation.

Note: This is only half of the report. For the complete report visit the Classis Hamilton website at www.classishamilton.ca and click on the link to the Abuse Response Team.

Classis Hamilton Abuse Response Team