Classis Abuse Response Team
Report to Classis Hamilton
May, 2004

Dear Classis Delegates,

At our March CART meeting, we were pleased to welcome three new members that were approved by classis at the January classis meeting. They are Colleen Laing from Hagersville Community CRC (Director of Community Services, Bayridge Family Centre), Tony Boer (teacher at Calvin C.S. in Hamilton) and Brenda Hofland (works with the mentally handicapped in Simcoe). Both Tony and Brenda are members of Ebenezer CRC, Jarvis. We also welcomed Monica Heeg-Admiral from Hagersville Community CRC (served on the original CART Advisory Committee that made recommendations to classis on this issue). Monica was recommended by her church council but not yet approved by classis (to be done at this classis meeting). This will bring our total membership to 9 representing 7 churches and we are very thankful for this.

We would still like to receive representatives from the following 8 churches:

Burlington CRC, Burlington Faith (submitted three names but two have declined, could not reach third person yet). Dundas Calvin, Flamborough Calvary, Hamilton First, Mount Hamilton, Simcoe Immanuel and York Maranatha. If you can think of someone that would be good for this team, please take a moment to ask that person and then let me know.

On February 27, CART representatives made a presentation in York CRC on how CART fits in with a church's local prevention program. The three areas of our mandate: education, support and the panel were presented.

On Friday, July 9, CART will do a training on the prevention of child abuse for short term missionaries. We will do the training out of the Burlington office. This request came from World Missions and CRWRC through Beth Swagman, Abuse Prevention Office, Grand Rapids.

We are also continuing our study on Restorative Justice. There are two very good books on the topic which I am in the process of ordering for each member. One book was received from Sandra Elgersma who works in the Christian Reformed World Mission office. She is involved with Restorative Justice and someone from the office noticed in our January report to classis that we were beginning to look into Restorative Justice. So people do read the classis reports and in this case we received benefits.

We have now been in existence for two years and so far we have not received a panel request. During the last six months we have been networking with other CART chairpersons resulting in some very good ideas and resources.

  1. Beginning this Fall, we plan to produce an annual one sheet (two page) newsletter to be placed in every church member's mailbox. This newsletter will be titled:

    Classis Hamilton Abuse Response Team — Communicator

    This newsletter will contain information on the "how" and "why" of an abuse response team, procedures that are followed in the event an abuse allegation has occurred, services provided by CART, child abuse and child safety information, etc. We have studied similar newsletters produced by another classis. Some even include a Biblical meditation. If any pastor wouldn't mind doing a half page meditation, please let me know.
     

  2. We are also planning to produce a pamphlet for our team that can be placed on a church's magazine or pamphlet rack. This pamphlet will give information about us and also other information such as services provided.
     
  3. I have also attached to this report, an information letter titled,

What You Need To Know — Church Council Member

This defines what a council member should do in the event someone comes to them with an allegation of abuse. I will bring enough copies of this letter to this classis meeting for each council member in your church. If you would like this letter emailed to you, please let me know.
  1. We also have three other letters of information which is normally handed out when an allegation is made:
  1. What You Need To Know — Victim
  2. What You Need To Know — Accused
  3. What You Need To Know — Witness

If you would like a copy of all three letters, please let me know.

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