Transcript Faithfulness in Service

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A code for personal behaviour and the practice
of pastoral ministry by clergy and church
workers.
A code based on Faithfulness in Service as
adopted by the General Synod, October 2004,
and last revised by the General Synod Standing
Committee March 2006.
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Common definitions
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Common goals
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A sense of community
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In his teachings he frequently set out
standards by which he wished us to live.
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He was consistent in what he taught.
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He lived what he taught.
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To build healthy and safe communities.
To create a place where there is honesty and
people take responsibility for what they do.
To create communities where there is
forgiveness, healing and wrongdoing is not
ignored.
To give us guidelines for our personal
behaviour when we are involved in pastoral
ministry.
Church Worker means a lay person who is:
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Licensed or authorised by the Bishop;
Employed by a church body and the Code is
part of their employment contract;
In a position, paid or unpaid, with the
authority of the church, e.g. Church warden,
member of the parish council, Synod rep.
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Pastoral ministry means the work involved or
the situation which exists when a member of
the clergy or church worker has the
responsibility as part of their role for the
wellbeing of others.
Individual pastoral ministry means pastoral
ministry carried out between a member of the
clergy or church worker and one other person,
e.g. spiritual direction or counselling.
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We need to make a commitment to try and live
by this Code.
By following the standards and guidelines
consistently clergy and church workers will
protect the safety of others and themselves.
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Treat all people with dignity and respect and
do not show prejudice.
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Maintain confidentiality.
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Maintain clear boundaries.
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Be clear about the requirements of your role.
Be aware of your skills and experience. When in
doubt, ask advice.
Avoid pastoral relationships with those with
whom you have a close personal relationship.
Be aware of the power balance in relationships, e.g.
between an adult and a child.
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When you are appointed to a leadership
position in the parish, you are entrusted with the
authority to influence other people.
This influence over people enables you to lead,
guide, teach and encourage but it also places you
in a position of power.
To be good leaders and have good pastoral
relationships we need to be aware of the dangers
of this imbalance in power.
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It is a sad fact that some leaders abuse this
power.
The power imbalance in relationships depends
on size, experience, knowledge and position.
The Code of Conduct provides guidelines and
safeguards to ensure we have the right tools to
be good leaders.
Parishes need to make sure that all those given
positions of power or authority use their
leadership in a suitable way.
1.
Can you think of people in your parish who
ought not be your principal pastoral carer
because the relationship would breach the
Code? Why?
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Can you think of changes to the design/layout
of your church offices which may be necessary
to make sure that pastoral interviews are
conducted in a way that reflects best practice?
3.
What should happen if the relationship between
a pastoral carer and the person being cared for
becomes or looks as if it will become romantic?
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Children are entitled to be safe and protected.
Ministry where children are involved requires
absolute trustworthiness.
All those involved with children and young people
in a parish are required to have the appropriate
level of ChildSafe training.
Even if you have no programs for children or
young people in your parish, please make sure you
have read this section in Faithfulness in Service.
Child Protection
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Children and abuse
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Indicators of abuse
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The process of victimisation
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The impact of child sexual abuse
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Reporting abuse
Child Abuse
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An act that endangers a
child’s physical or
emotional health or
development
Types of Abuse
Emotional Abuse
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a situation in which a person repeatedly rejects
the child or uses threats to frighten them
e.g. name-calling, put-downs or continual
coldness to the extent that it significantly
damages the child’s physical, social, intellectual
or emotional development
Types of Abuse
Neglect
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a situation in which a caregiver fails to
provide the child with the basic
necessities of life to the extent that the
child’s health and development is, or is
likely to be significantly harmed
Types of Abuse
Physical Abuse
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a situation in which a child suffers or
is likely to suffer significant harm
from an injury inflicted by a person
Types of Abuse
Sexual Abuse
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a situation in which a person uses power or
authority over a child to involve the child in sexual
activity
can involve an adult, an adolescent or a child with
greater power
Facts and Myths
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Child abuse only happens in poor and dysfunctional
families.
Most children are abused by people they know well.
Sex offenders are older men.
If a child claims to have been abused, it is usually true.
Men who sexually abuse boys are homosexual.
Most sexual abuse continues over a long period of time
and not as a single isolated event.
It is only abuse when physical violence is involved.
A child only has to tell someone for the abuse to be
stopped.
The Process of Victimisation
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Choosing the
victim
Grooming
Offence Cycle
Pre-offending
thinking
Negative/positive
feelings
Fantasy &
rehearsal
Pretend
normality
Targeting
Grooming
Maintain
secrecy
Offence
Guilt &
fear
The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on
an individual is influenced by:
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Age/developmental stage at which abuse
began/continued
Duration and frequency of abuse
Nature of the abuse
Closeness of the relationship with the
offender
Presence or absence of other significant
relationships with caring adults
Reaction of significant others to the abuse
Type and responsiveness of the intervention
Effects of child sexual abuse include:
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Low self esteem
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Self hatred
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Guilt
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Sense of helplessness
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Shame
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Grief
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Anger
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Damaged capacity to trust others
Long-term effects of child sexual abuse
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Sexual dysfunction
Higher incidence of homosexuality
Chronic anxiety, fear and
depression
Sleep disturbances
Suicide
Obesity
Eating disorders
Alcohol/drug abuse
Self harm
Our Reactions
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Shock
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Denial
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Sympathy, pity , desire to help
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Frustration
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Anger
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Distress & anxiety
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Guilt & self recrimination
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Blame
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Sadness & depression
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Revulsion, horror, disgust
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Revenge
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Listen carefully
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Tell the child that you believe them
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Tell them that it is not their fault
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Let them know that you will have to tell
someone so that they can help stop the abuse
Tell the child that you are pleased that they
told you
Do not promise that you will not tell anyone
Contact the Director of Professional Standards
on 1800 017 286 or Child Protection
Document everything
Barriers to Reporting
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Fear of recrimination
Want to give the benefit of the doubt
Fear could be wrong
Fear of getting involved
Feel it is too difficult
Feel it will involve more work
Feel haven’t enough training to deal with it
Responsibility of parents
Don’t know what to do
Don’t trust the ‘system’
Optional
Reasonable Grounds
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Someone close to the child tells you
Indicators lead you to a belief held in good
faith
Physical signs
If you are unsure whether you have
reasonable grounds to report, then report
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An applicant for a position of children’s
worker presents a CV covering his work since
leaving university 10 years earlier, except for 2
of the earlier years. What would you do?
A child in your parish tells you that he was
sexually abused by an uncle 6 years earlier.
How would you respond?
A Youth Worker seeks the permission of the
Parish Council, of which you are a member, to
conduct an overnight bush walk for the church
youth group. What do you need to think
about?
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The personal behaviour and relationships of
clergy and church workers have a significant
impact on the Church and community because
they are a model to others.
The Code emphasises the need to be consistent,
honest, thoughtful and clear in our relationships
with others, as we model Christ.
1.
Is a calling to Christian ministry ever a
justification for neglect of family
responsibilities?
2.
If you had the task of disciplining another
church worker, how would you prepare yourself
and what dangers would you strive to avoid?
3.
Are there any circumstances when clergy and
church workers may be justified in disobeying a
law?
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The sexual conduct of clergy and church
workers has a significant impact on the
Church and the community, especially in the
light of past history.
Ephesians 5:3-5: “But among you there must
not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any
kind of impurity...because these are improper for
God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity,
foolish talk or coarse joking, which is out of place,
but rather thanksgiving.” (NIV)
1.
What should be your guidelines if you
intend to make physical contact with another
adult?
2.
What is the position of the Church about
sexual activity for clergy and church
workers?
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In both their personal capacity and their
pastoral ministry clergy are involved in
matters of a financial nature.
The ministry of church workers may include
financial management.
The financial dealings of clergy and church
workers have a significant impact on the
Church and community.
1.
What guidelines could you put in place to
make sure that the church offering was
counted and banked in a responsible way?
2.
A substantial gift is offered to you by a
person for whom you have pastoral
responsibility. What should you do?
3.
What would be your response if a person
whom you are counselling asked to borrow
money from you?