Protecting vulnerable people is at the heart of the Christian message of justice and hope.
Safeguarding vulnerable people is a fundamental aspect of our Christian faith. God calls us to protect the weak (James 1:27), speak up for those whose voices are not heard (Proverbs 31:8), follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership (Luke 22:26), and pursue God’s heart for justice for all (Micah 6:8). We are invited to join God’s mission to bring healing to the broken hearted, restore justice, and offer freedom and light where there is pain and darkness.
Churches across the land should therefore be places where we can worship, learn, and be together free from the fear of harm. Sadly, this has not always been the case. However, thanks to the hard work and courage of many Christians across denominations, things are changing for the better.
Sunday 20th November is ‘Safeguarding Sunday’ a time for us as church family to reflect upon our collective responsibilities to ensure that All Saints is a safe, welcoming community where everyone can thrive.
So, what does safeguarding mean for us at All Saints? Importantly, we need to ensure that our children, young people and adults who could be considered vulnerable are protected from harm. To this end, all volunteers who serve these groups, PCC members and our staff team have undertaken safeguarding training. Our ministry team, wardens and myself, as Parish Safeguarding Officer, have completed advanced leadership training in safeguarding. We undertake rigorous recruitment of both staff and volunteers, including DBS checks, before they can work with children and vulnerable adults. We also have safeguarding policies providing guidance on protecting children and vulnerable adults, and responding well to people who have been victims of domestic abuse – copies of which are on the Safeguarding Notice Board in the Welcome area.
However, it is not just our ministry team, volunteers and staff who carry the responsibility for safeguarding – as a church family, we all have safeguarding responsibilities. This means looking out for each other and seeking to protect those at risk. It also means raising any safeguarding concerns, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem, with myself as Safeguarding Officer or one of the ministry team so that we can take appropriate steps to ensure the wellbeing of those at risk.
As mentioned above, God calls us as His people to protect the weak, speak up for those whose voices are not heard and pursue His heart for justice. As we mark Safeguarding Sunday, let us all recommit to serving Him and our church family in this way.
If you would like to speak further about safeguarding, do please make contact with me after a Sunday service, via email or through the church office.
Kate Gerrish
Parish Safeguarding Officer