Classis Safe Church
Team
Report to Classis
Hamilton
September, 2006
Dear
Classis Delegates,
- We have always been
known as the Abuse Response Team. As we verbally reported at the May Classis
meeting, in March, 2006, the Abuse Prevention Office in Grand Rapids, MI,
announced that the name "Abuse Response Team" has been changed to “Safe
Church Team.” The name change reflects a greater responsibility for the
teams to provide education to create safer, healthier churches and not just
to respond to abuse when it occurs. So we no longer have Classical Abuse
Response Teams. Instead we have Classical Safe Church Teams.
- During the past
decade, the role of a support person was developed to offer emotional
support for the accuser and the accused (although the same individual does
not serve both the accuser and the accused). The support person is important
to the accuser or accused so that they do not experience the advisory panel
process alone or without support. Since the support person is trained in
the advisory panel process, he/she can assist the accuser or the accused in
understanding the panel process. For the complete role of the support person
or advocate visit our website at
www.classishamilton.ca/SafeChurchTeam.htm
- The Abuse
Prevention Office, Grand Rapids, has announced the beginning of advocate
training. The advocate role was approved by Synod in 2005, and this role is
being developed so that the interests of the alleged victim can also be
represented when the panel's report is given to the church. In the past, the
panel chairperson found themselves in the role of advocate at that time, and
that was a conflict of interest for them. The first training session will
begin in either October or November and most likely in Port Huron and/or
Grand Rapids. Our own team member, Bette Vander Giessen, is planning to
attend one of the training sessions.
- At this September
meeting, we hope to distribute another issue of the Communicator.
This annual newsletter produced by your team is given to each Classis church
member.
- We also plan to
distribute a few copies to each church of our updated Safe Church Team
pamphlet for the pamphlet rack or table.
- Our May Classis
report included a section on “What is Child Abuse” and “What Should You Do
If You Suspect Child Abuse.” One elder delegate did not like the report and
stated that such information can be found in Child Safety polices. He felt
we should stick to more practical issues such as dealing with the reasons
for police checks and the work we specifically do as a team. Over a period
of time we do deal with these other issues but one of our main
responsibilities, as stated in our mandate, is to provide education on the
dynamics of abuse. As long as education remains in the mandate we will
continue to include articles dealing with aspects of child safety.
- All our reports to
Classis, as well as all Communicator issues, are available online at
our website. In fact, if you have any questions or concerns, etc., on any
abuse related issue such as child safety policies, abuse prevention, and
church leader abuse, our comprehensive site is a good place to begin your
search.
In His Service,
John Gilson, Chairperson
Classis Hamilton Safe Church Team
classishamilton@bfree.on.ca