The Anglican Communion should be leading the way in safeguarding children and all other vulnerable people against abuse in societies around the world. That was the message emerging from a meeting of Anglicans over the weekend on how to protect the vulnerable in church and society.
Delegates from seven Anglican Provinces came together for the international Anglican 'Creating a Safer Church' event, which was timed to coincide with the opening of the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.
The three day event was an opportunity for senior international Anglican safeguarding practitioners to listen to the experience of different branches of the Communion and to reflect together on standards of accountability and future strategies.
"There is no doubt that the Church can do better," said Garth Blake, a senior Sydney barrister and Chair of the Professional Standards Commission of the Anglican Church of Australia.
"There is a need common to all of us around the world - and not just in the First World either - to get beyond 'risk management', and recognise the care of the vulnerable as being a core element of the Gospel we proclaim and live.
"This conference is a response to the Anglican Communion's desire to lead the way internationally in the safeguarding of vulnerable people. It effectively gives birth to a new network for advocacy, better professional standards, and mutual learning in all areas of safeguarding."
While 'abuse' is perceived by many as having only emerged as a major issue in the past 20 to 30 years, speakers highlighted how the mistreatment of children and other vulnerable members of society was endemic in all societies throughout history.
