Dear Classis Delegates,

Synod 2005 approved three major changes to the Advisory Panel process.  

In brief, these are the revisions: 

1. Greater access to the Panel in two ways:
1. The victim may now contact a member of the Abuse Response Team (ART) with the charges in writing and to request a Panel hearing. In the past, the victim had to contact the Executive of the alleged offender’s church.
2. If a classis does not have an ART, the victim should then contact the Executive of the church with the charges in writing and a request for a Panel hearing. The Executive should then request the nearest Classical ART to conduct a Panel hearing.
   
   
2. The Importance of the Panel’s report:
   This change introduces an appeal process regarding the Advisory Panel’s report. This revision is divided into two parts:
   
   1. Consistory now has 30 days from the receipt of the Panel’s report to adjudicate the matter and take the next steps.
      
   2. The Chairperson of the Panel can now appeal to the Classical Interim Committee (CIC) the Consistory’s handling of the Panel’s report. There are two scenarios when an appeal may take place:
      1. If the Consistory decides not to adjudicate the matter nor take any further steps, then the Chairperson of the Panel, in consultation with the victim or her advocate, will submit a copy of the report to the CIC with a request for further action.

      2. If the Consistory takes an action that is contrary to the Panel’s findings, then the Chairperson, in consultation with the victim or her advocate, will submit a copy of the report to the CIC with a request for further action. Further action by the CIC could include the following:
         1. The CIC meets with the Executive, the Chairperson of the Panel, and the advocate to review the findings and discuss possible steps to take with respect to the report.
         2. The CIC meets with the Consistory to review the findings and discuss possible steps to take with respect to the report.

         3. The CIC reports on the matter at the next Classis meeting.
             
3. An Advocate for the Victim:
   Synod approved an advocate for the victim to be available during the panel process and to be present in the ecclesiastical settings after the panel process is completed. The victim is encouraged to find her/his own advocate to provide support throughout this process.

In His Service,

John Gilson, Chairperson
Classis Hamilton Abuse Response Team
classishamilton@bfree.on.ca