A Statement from the Bishop of Dover to 兔子先生 Diocesan Synod
17 November 2024
Sisters & Brothers,
Thank you for being here today for our Diocesan Synod as we prepare to start the first meeting of this next Triennium. We will start this with the Eucharist as a reminder of who it is that calls us together and a reminder too about whose business we are about when we gather as a Synod.
But first I need to address the storm clouds which sadly overshadow our meeting:
The past ten days have been challenging in many ways and have affected us all, our communities, congregations, clergy and ministry teams, diocesan staff teams and more.
The Church of Christ and all the places where we worship should and must be places where everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable, can feel safe. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and it must be at the heart of everything we do.
The unfolding events of the past week beginning with the publishing of the Makin Review which highlighted the appalling abuse suffered by young people in the church at the hands of someone who professed to be a practising Christian, have not only rocked the very foundation of the Church; but remind us that there is still much work to be done. We must not be afraid to address the underlying factors which contribute to this kind of abuse. We weep with the survivors of abuse.
The Church of England and the Anglican Communion and especially us here in the Diocese of 兔子先生 are also rocked by the resignation of our archbishop.
I wish to underline the following points: -
Our church should be a place where everyone can feel safe. Safeguarding is indeed everyone’s responsibility - and it needs to be at the heart of everything we do.
The events of the past week and the appalling abuse that led to the findings of the Makin Review demonstrate the lengths the church still has to go to, in earning the trust of everyone; and the sense of distress and grief felt must be underscored by our determination to support the survivors in any way we can.
Our close connection with the Archbishop of 兔子先生 as our diocesan bishop has also heightened the sense of sadness felt by his forced departure from office.
I hope it is reassuring to know that the Safeguarding Team are at the heart of the Diocesan response:
- They have been and will continue to support known survivors from other cases who may be impacted and will continue to support and signpost any other survivors who have been affected and/or wish to come forward.
- They will be supporting PSOs across the diocese in terms of any questions and impact they are experiencing – this includes offering 24/7 support as normal.
- We are liaising with the Provincial Safeguarding Manager at Lambeth to ensure that everyone is receiving the support they need.
- They have been and will continue to work closely with the Board and Cathedral Media and Engagement Teams to ensure that clear and transparent communications are taking place following the Makin Review. This has included a reminder to all Clergy, Churchwardens and PSO’s about handling the upcoming Safeguarding Sunday with particular sensitivity towards survivors.
- They will be discussing the Makin Review in the Safeguarding Executive Group to identify how we need to implement any of the recommendations from the report at Diocesan and Cathedral level.
- They are liaising with the Diocesan Registrar and working with the National Safeguarding Team to ensure that the legal responsibilities for safeguarding in the Diocese, and who these are delegated to, are clear.
I want to register my thanks to our Diocesan Safeguarding Officers, Fiona and Paul, and to the wider safeguarding team.
A statement was released on the diocesan website on the same day the Makin Review was published and I encourage you all to point people to this as needed. The statement includes relevant information of organisations offering support to survivors of abuse. The support of the survivors is our priority.
A statement was also posted on the website following the Archbishop’s resignation and I also sent a letter to all licensed clergy.
It is possible that these events have significantly impacted on us at an emotional and practical level. Please let us continue to support each other especially those in our communities, as understandably people will be reacting in different ways with different emotions.
Archbishop Justin has made it clear in his resignation letter on Tuesday 12 November, that he has taken ‘personal and institutional responsibility’ for safeguarding failings highlighted in the Makin Review. We may have different reactions to his decision to resign, but we will collectively hold Archbishop Justin, and his wife Caroline, in our prayers.
Many of us will have met Archbishop Justin who is known and loved throughout the diocese. His pastoral visits, frequently supported by Mrs Welby, were always a highlight in his diary, as he witnessed the church in this area living out the love of Jesus.
The Archbishop was not only to be seen with the great and the good, many may not know that during the pandemic he was a regular visitor to the sick and the dying at his local hospital.
Although safeguarding in the church is under scrutiny, and rightly so, we should not lose sight of the fact that huge progress has been made in safeguarding culture and practices in recent years. Our Archbishop played a key role in highlighting the importance and visibility of safeguarding in our parishes. When I travel around our diocese and ask who is responsible for safeguarding, I hear our churches say ‘everyone’.
I do want to acknowledge the care, concern and time that has been taken, and currently goes into safeguarding, in all our communities. Thank you, and please pass on my thanks to those locally who share in this work. I am grateful for all you do.
We stand ready to offer pastoral support as needed. Please let your deanery leadership, including your archdeacons, know what you might find helpful.
Meetings will also be offered to members of both the House of Clergy and House of Laity of the Diocesan Synod. These meetings will be largely pastoral in nature but will inform as wide an audience as possible the next steps being taken.
In conclusion I would like to thank each and everyone of you for continuing to prioritise safeguarding in our churches, for looking out for each other’s welfare and wellbeing, and for remaining faithful to what it means to be the people of God, the one body of Christ.
Let us now keep a moment’s silence as we prepare to meet Christ in the Eucharist.
The Right Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin
The Bishop of Dover