The role of the advocate for an accuser within the advisory panel process

1. Assists the accuser to contact the executive committee or the Safe Church Team to request an advisory panel (per the advisory panel guidelines).
2. Assists the accuser to collect and organize the testimony that supports the allegation and to bring witnesses together who may provide testimony for the panel.
3. Arranges with the panel chairperson for the transportation, accommodations, and other travel plans as necessary.
4. Advocates on behalf of the accuser to the panelists, if need be.
5. Advocates in the absence of the accuser in meetings held with the panel chairperson, the executive committee, and the council.
6. Encourages the executive committee to pursue whether other incidents of misconduct may have occurred.
7. Advocates in the absence of the accuser in a classis meeting when they discuss the allegations.
8. Neither an advocate nor a support person may be a present or former practicing attorney.

An advocate cannot present the written and verbal testimony for the accuser that is required in the advisory panel process.  When speaking, the advocate only identifies to the panel and to other ecclesiastical bodies the specific damage done to the person by the accused person's misconduct and other dynamics of abuse as need be.

E-mail: classishamilton@bfree.on.ca