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General Assembly 2008: Initial findings from the Safeguarding
Working Group
| The Kirk's Safeguarding
Committee will tell the General Assembly that all
members of the public are welcome at worship and
that sufficiently robust safeguarding measures will
be in place to provide a safe environment for all. |
|
This was one of the initial findings from the Safeguarding
Working Group interim report on the issue of known perpetrators
of sexual abuse wishing to attend church services.
But the report stressed that nothing would compromise
the safety of members of the congregation, especially
those who have suffered from such abuse:
"Perpetrators of sexual
abuse, who are known to the church, may be permitted
to worship appropriately, while restricting access to
spheres of work and involvement where contact with children
and young people and vulnerable adults could take place."
(Supplementary) Interim report p.2, para 7)
"There have to be appropriate
safeguards introduced to ensure that, as far as possible,
no one is put at risk of harm within the church community."(Supplementary
Interim report p.2, para 6)
It is important to note that the interim report has
made no definite conclusions or recommendations, and
that further discussion is very much encouraged:
"The Group proposes for
debate the balance of rights and responsibilities required
to ensure safety for all." (Supplementary
report p.1, para 8)
The working group was formed as a result of Deliverance
2 from last year's report to the General Assembly. It
hopes to receive approval to present the final report
and guidelines to the 2009 General Assembly.
This year's main Safeguarding report highlights the
concern of online child exploitation, and notes that
Scottish Government has delayed of the forthcoming Protection
of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) 2007 legislation to
allow further consultation with those involved in Safeguarding
in the Voluntary and Statutory sectors.
Ends.
Note to Editors:
For further information please contact Reverend John Christie, convenor of the Safeguarding Committee, on 07711 336 392.
A full copy of the report is available on our General
Assembly pages online
here.
GANR/31/05/2008
Friday 9, May 2008
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