Safe Church Advisory Panel Process

Overview

Why this Process?

Allegations must be taken seriously!• Provides a process to aid church councils in

evaluating an allegation• Recognizes the deep wounding of abuse• Avoids too-painful face-to-face meeting• Prevents future harm & secondary wounding• Expresses the Church’s desire for justice &

healing

Why is Church Leader Misconduct So Wrong?

• A violation of role – there are expectations and trust associated with that role

• A misuse of authority and power – with power comes responsibility for how it is used

• Taking advantage of vulnerability – we are commanded to protect one another – 1 body

• An absence of meaningful consent – consent implies equality

One Who Has Been Abused

• It can happen to anyone – fight against the tendency to blame the one victimized

• Victim v. Survivor• Consequences – intense, long-term• Spiritual effects – shame, trust issues• Healing – a process (cyclical, not linear)• Needs – acceptance, opportunity to make

own choices, a listening ear!

Church Leader Who Abuses

• Powerful & Feeling Powerless• Characteristics – controlling, sense of

entitlement, limited awareness, manipulative• Grooming – make one feel important or

special, develop dependence, sexualized behaviors gradually become more blatant

• Effects of disclosure – losses vs. gains• Needs – Take responsibility; be accountable!

Effects on the Congregation

• The Climate – denial, tendency to hide anything unpleasant, authority structure, gender attitudes, lack of guidelines, etc…

• The Response to disclosure – intense, long-term feelings of betrayal, shock, anger, etc…

• Healing – time for grieving and processing• Phases – precursor/secret, discovery/chaos,

awareness/polarization, recovery/rebuilding, resolution/transformation

Convince Me!

For each example, #1 - #4:• Answer the question – What action(s) would

you recommend in each situation • Tell why you gave the answer you did – what

considerations came into play

The Guidelines: Context

• Claimant – the one bringing the allegation must be an adult now

• Church Leader – defined by individual churches

• Ecclesiastical process – completely separate from criminal or legal processes – no lawyers!

• Definitions – Abuse v. Misconduct; physical and sexual rather than emotional or other

• Approved by Synod 1997; updated in 2010

The Process, Step by Step

1. Claimant requests panel from:• Safe Church team• Safe Church office• Church council

2. Panel is chosen from specially trained Safe Church team members; advocate is offered

3. Panel chair schedules meeting with claimant• Church or denominational representatives

may observe (1-2 people)

The Process Continued

4. Panel meets with claimant (and advocate) to hear all information

5. Panel evaluates information:• Veracity – more likely than not to be true• Serious – requiring action

6. If panel determines allegation is likely and is serious, written charges are given and a meeting is requested with the accused

The Process Continued

7. Meeting is held with the accused to receive information

8. Panel re-evaluates allegation based on all information from both parties and writes a summary report

9. The panel’s report is formally brought to the executive committee

10. The council hears the report and decides what action(s) to take

The Process Continued

11. If council takes no action or action contrary to what is in the report, a copy of the report may be submitted to Church Visitors or the Classis Interim Committee for further action

12. The claimant and accused are notified in writing of the outcome of the panel and council’s deliberation

13. Claimant or accused may appeal decision to classis

Important Considerations• Adult v. Child – process is for adults w/

allegations against a church leader (CRC member); a different procedure exists when children are involved

• Confidentiality!!! – the guidelines are specific about maintaining appropriate confidentiality through each step of the process

• Legal liability – Churches should check with their legal counsel when adopting these guidelines (issues arise concerning confidentiality and misinformation, etc.)

Council: The Weak Link?Why the process so often fails:• Lack of understanding about the power and

control dynamic of misconduct• Lack of knowledge about the devastating

effects of misconduct• Tendency to blame the claimant• Tendency to deny and minimize – “quick fix”• Fear – “don’t rock the boat”

Pastoral Care

• The Role of the Safe Church Advocate -Support through entire process & beyond-A voice for the claimant -Even out power imbalance

• Support person for accused• Response committee for church

-Maintain confidentiality-Provide care for all parties

• Pastoral care and Restorative Justice-Aftercare-Providing a safe place to process

Restorative Justice “The focus of restorative justice is to ‘make

things right again’ … Accountability, restitution, and healing of broken relationships are major goals of the church’s response to abuse. It is

particularly in the area of restitution and healing that restorative justice principles and processes may be useful for responding to cases of abuse

within the church.”

Abuse Victims Task Force Report – Synod 2010

Take Away/Discussion• What especially stood out to you as we

reviewed the Advisory Panel Process?• What questions do you still have about the

process?• How or where do you see yourself fitting into

the panel process?• What do you think needs to happen to make

sure that regional and/or classis teams are able to continue to offer the panel process to churches?