Safeguarding Sunday
Today in our calendar we celebrate the Sunday before Advent begins – The Feast of Christ the King – and the last Sunday of this liturgical year. Along the way, this Sunday has also been designated as ‘Safeguarding Sunday’ and it is good to briefly have the opportunity to reflect on that with you.
We can end up at times simply defining safeguarding as a kind or bureaucratic nightmare that others tell us we have to engage with. Though there is work to be done to make sure it is organised properly - it is however more about proper pastoral care than bureaucracy – about valuing everyone who is a part of the ‘Body of Christ’ in this place and along the way having a particular concern for those most vulnerable to the exploitation of others, among them, our children, young people and vulnerable adults. We do it not because bureaucrats tell us we must- but because it is something that Jesus would want us to do.
Safeguarding does not demand that we all become detectives, and it is not about developing a culture of suspicion. It is about living well in Christian community – being concerned and watchful as we rub along together here, pooling our gifts in the work of the Kingdom. For the vast majority of the community, it is simply about knowing who you might report a concern to, and I hope there are enough posters about the place to make that clear to you. In addition, some of that will have been covered in the various levels of training that we ask you to do, if you live out some of your Christian vocation as a volunteer with us.
It is also about developing the wisdom to not place yourself in a situation where your words and actions might be misconstrued – safeguarding is about keeping ourselves safe as well as others – of properly loving ourselves as we seek to love our neighbours.
I lead on Chapter here on safeguarding matters, and I am supported in that work by Charmian Law our Safeguarding Co-ordinator and Andy Earl our professional Cathedral Safeguarding Advisor. We have spent some time seeking to make sure that everyone knows the level of training they require and making sure in more recent times that proper policies and procedures are in place. That though is not just a ‘box – ticking’ exercise – it is about understanding that safeguarding is the responsibility of all of us in Christian community, as part of the obligation we have, to care for one another well.
If you have any thoughts or concerns about safeguarding, I know that my clergy colleagues and I will try and answer them for you. I hope also that you will make your own quiet contribution to this important part of our shared lives.
With every blessing
Canon Alan
To read more about safeguarding visit the Safeguarding Section on the cathedral website: