Classis Abuse Response Team
Report to Classis Hamilton
May, 2003

Members from Classis Hamilton, including the chair of CART, were present at the annual Inter-Classis Abuse Prevention Response Training workshops held March 1, 2003 in the Kitchener Community Church on Bleams Road in Kitchener. It was an informative day with workshops on:

  • "The Victim and Offender moving through the Advisory Panel process" - a case study presented by Beth Swagman, Abuse Prevention Office, Grand Rapids.
  • "Domestic Violence" - presented by Sergeant Joanne Van Deursen, Domestic Violence coordinator, Waterloo Regional Police.
  • "Abuse: Definitions, Signs and Symptoms" - presented by Atie Ott, social worker
  • "Reporting Procedures and Legal Issues" - Gretchen Perry, Child Protection worker
  • "Support Groups: How to develop and facilitate them" - presented by Jeanette Gascho, counsellor at U. of Waterloo and in private practice.
  • "Reconciliation and Restoration" - presented by Ada Vanden Berg, Team coordinator of the Community Mediation Services at Community Justice Initiatives.
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    CART held a meeting on March 31 to develop a team mandate for Classis approval. At the January classis meeting, we were asked to prepare a draft mandate for Classis approval. On the next page is the proposed mandate that is similar to the mandates from Classes Chatham and British Columbia SE.

    Abuse Awareness Week was designated this year from February 23rd to March 1st, 2003. It appears that few churches did anything during this week to promote abuse awareness. One of the problems was the late notice from the Abuse Prevention Office. We did not receive the information on ordering resources until well in January. It was strongly felt that we need more lead time to prepare properly for Abuse Awareness week. Some of us need to coordinate things with the Worship Committee, what resources to order, get approval for ordering resources, etc. This all takes planning and time.

    We have sent a recommendation to Beth Swagman of the Abuse Prevention Office that if the Abuse Awareness Week is going to be at the same time each year, that we receive the resource information in October or November and certainly no later than November. This will give us adequate time to do a good job in promoting Abuse Awareness Week.

    In His Service,

    John Gilson, Chairperson
    Classis Abuse Response Team
         E-mail: classishamilton@bfree.on.ca