Made in God’s Image (2nd edition)
A policy document
for Pastoral Care and Safeguarding Children
at St. John’s Community Church, Burntwood.
The information in this web page is taken from the policy document which can be found in the church foyer and is also available at the Parish Office in Ironstone Road.
The policies in the booklet are for the information and guidance of all in our community.
The instructions in the booklet apply to every church member.
Welcome to this second edition of “Made in God’s Image.”
As Christians God calls us to show his love in all our relationships with one another, and I appreciate the many ways in which care and concern for others is shown by members of this Church. This booklet is part of our commitment to “love God and to love others in the name of Jesus.” Please take time to read the booklet and to familiarise yourself once again with it’s contents.
Duncan B. Leake (Vicar) June 2007
Section 1 Pastoral Visiting Policy
Section 2 Prayer Ministry Policy
Section 3 Child Protection Policy
So God created people in his own image;
God patterned them after himself;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 New Living Translation
We are all made in God's image and so in all our relationships there must be respect for the dignity and uniqueness of every person.
Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it … all the members care for each other equally. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.
1 Corinthians 12 verses 27 & 25
Within the Church there will be some who are entrusted with particular responsibilities or functions in exercising ministries of care. However, all those who claim to be Christians are called to obey the command of Jesus “Love each other. Just as I have loved you”
(John 13:34).
In the same way, all those who are members of this church are under an obligation that God has laid upon us as members of the body of Christ, to “carry each other’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2) So Pastoral Care - loving, respecting, supporting, encouraging and showing in practical ways what it means to demonstrate the love of Jesus towards another person - is the responsibility of us all.
Every member of this church is called to be a provider of care, as well as a recipient of care.
The policies in the booklet apply to
every church member.
SECTION 1 PASTORAL VISITING POLICY
1. Those who exercise pastoral care are called to minister the love of Jesus to others, through their words, their actions and their prayers.
2. It is important to maintain the distinction between pastoral visiting and professional counselling. In some circumstances it will be appropriate to offer to someone the suggestion that they might find it helpful to speak with a counsellor. Our church policy is to invite people to contact only accredited Christian Counsellors.
3. The Real Group Leaders have a particular responsibility to exercise pastoral care for members of this church. These leaders, and any other member of this church will offer prayer to those whom they visit, in accordance with the policy for Prayer Ministry at St. John’s Community Church. (See section 2)
4. Anyone making a pastoral visit must not make a home visit alone to someone who is of the opposite sex; and pastoral visits must not be arranged to take place late at night.
5. Any member of this St. John’s
Community Church making a pastoral visit, is acting as a representative of the
whole church and in that capacity is accountable to the pastoral leader, and to
the incumbent.
6. Confidentiality is about respecting those whom we serve. Members of the team are not required to carry burdens in isolation, but observance of appropriate “boundaries” in the wide variety of settings and situations which characterise Christian pastoral care, will require discernment and wise judgement.
The Diocese of Lichfield policy states… “In Christian pastoral ministry, it may be appropriate EITHER to tell the recipient of care that confidentiality may include your sharing with a pastoral supervisor, prayer partner, or group, OR asking their permission to do so. Again it is essential that no names are mentioned, and that such discussion should always be in the interests of the highest standards of care for the person concerned.” (Guidelines for Pastoral Care p.7)
For those making pastoral visits, the Pastoral Supervisor will be in the first instance, the Ministry Team member with responsibility for Pastoral Care, (Mrs. Norma Humphries), then the Incumbent, or Assistant Minister.
Anyone engaged in a ministry of pastoral care on behalf of the church may, with the agreement of the Pastoral Supervisor, establish an appropriate prayer partnership to help to sustain their ministry of care and visiting. At all times the boundaries of confidentiality must be clearly defined.
7. We all have a moral obligation to report any abuse, whether it is emotional, spiritual, physical or sexual. Every case of abuse should be reported to a Pastoral Supervisor. The Incumbent (Rev Duncan Leake) will always take appropriate action, in accordance with Diocesan Policy, in response to all cases of abuse.
Where we have a legal responsibility to disclose information, the appropriate authorities will be notified.
We will not keep silent about abuse
8. In accordance Diocesan Policy, all ordained clergy and all Licensed Readers are required to complete the enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure form and clearance must be confirmed through Lichfield Diocese.
A CRB check, with clearance confirmed through Lichfield Dioceses is required of any church member acting on behalf of the church in any situation or role where they may come into contact with or have any sort of responsibility for, children, young people or vulnerable adults.
SECTION 2 POLICY FOR PRAYER MINISTRY
Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18)
Prayer for one another is an “every-member ministry”. We are all commanded to pray for each other.
Those who exercise prayer ministry in the context of our services, or as part of our ministry of pastoral care are simply “modelling” for others the way in which we can all pray for one another.
Such people are also acting as representatives of the whole church and must therefore be recognised by the church to have been entrusted with this responsibility; they must be accountable to others; and they must work in accordance with this policy, and any other policy approved by the PCC.
i. The PCC will ensure that those who engage in public prayer ministry are recognised and approved by the church leadership.
ii. The PCC will ensure that training and give information about appropriate training opportunities is available to encourage and equip all those whom God calls to exercise this ministry.
iii. It is expected of every member of the congregation at St. John’s Community Church that they will only exercise prayer ministry in accordance with these instructions.
The following rules provide a model for prayer ministry which must be followed at all times, whether in a public situation or in a private pastoral setting when praying for one another, with friends, with neighbours or with colleagues at work.
1. The person being prayed for must be treated with respect and consideration.
You might want to suggest that a person could, for example, hold out a hand in prayer. They should not be told that they must do things like (open eyes, close eyes, hold out hands, sit, stand, kneel, etc.)
At all times those being prayed for must simply be invited to participate in prayer - the choice of how they do so must be theirs.
2. Those exercising this ministry should normally minister in two’s, one of whom must be the same sex as the person being prayed for.
We recognise that there may be some situations where this is not possible, and in those situations it is vital that instructions (3-5) are observed.
3. In pastoral care situations and where prayer ministry is needed, a man must not pray alone with a woman, and a woman must not pray alone with a man.
4. Physical Contact must only be with the permission of the person being prayed for, and should always be appropriate.
Those praying should not normally place hands on members of the opposite sex.
At all times those engaged in prayer ministry will avoid placing a hand on someone’s head and will be careful to avoid placing hands on other sensitive parts of the body.
5. Those exercising prayer ministry will be expected to pray simply in a way that will encourage and help the person being prayed for, and will not give rise to fear or anxiety.
6. The first task of those who exercise prayer ministry is to invite the Holy Spirit to come and minister to the person being prayed for.
Whenever we pray, it is God who is at work by his Holy Spirit. It is what He does that makes a difference. Our role is simply to invite the Holy Spirit to come and exercise God’s ministry in the life of the person receiving prayer.
7. Those who exercise this ministry should ask the Holy Spirit to give discernment, pictures, words of knowledge etc. Then they should offer what they believe the Spirit is saying for the consideration of the person for whom they are praying. The Holy Spirit can give discernment to that person so that they can know whether what is being said truly is from God.
Someone exercising this prayer ministry should not arrogantly declare to another person, “GOD SAYS TO YOU!” If you think that God has given you a word for another person, then it will be sufficient to say “I believe that God has asked me to say to you…” We have to be humble enough simply to invite the person being prayed for to exercise their own discernment. We have to trust that the Holy Spirit will give them wisdom to know if what we are saying is really a word from God for them
8. We recognise that in asking for prayer a person is placing their trust in another, and is making themselves vulnerable and open before God and before the other person.
We must avoid any kind of emotional or spiritual abuse of a person who has come asking for prayer.
Those who exercise prayer ministry must never try to impose anything on the person being prayed for. Be careful to avoid phrases like “You should…” or “You ought to (do this or do that)” If after prayer ministry you know that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to offer some Christian advice… then please make sure that as in everything else that you say, you simply invite the person to consider whether or not a particular course of action might be appropriate for them. We trust in the power of God to help people hear him when they want to listen.
SECTION 3 CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
This church accepts the duty of care placed upon the vicar and Parochial Church Council (PCC) to ensure the well-being of children and young people in the church and in the wider community.
“Protecting all God’s Children” has been produced by the House of Bishops and it sets out the Child Protection Policy for the Church of England. This document is available to view at:
The Parish Office, 39 Ironstone Road, Chase Terrace, Burntwood, Staffs. WS7 1LX Tel: 01543 304611
Email: info@stjohnscommunitychurch.org.uk
As an Anglican parish church we will implement fully all the requirements of this policy document. Any shortcomings in this area should be brought immediately to the attention of the vicar, or someone else in a recognised position of leadership in the church.
Copies of additional Safeguarding Children policies for Oscars - St. John’s Community Church Out-of School Care provision, are available for inspection at the Church, and at the Parish Office.
WE WILL ALWAYS LISTEN TO CHILDREN AND TAKE THEIR CONCERNS SERIOUSLY
1. The PCC will ensure that all those authorised to work with children and young people or in a position of authority are appropriately appointed, trained and supported, and provide all authorised personnel with a copy of this parish child protection policy, procedures and good practice guidelines.
2. We will only allow people to have responsibility for the care, supervision, or teaching of children or young people on behalf of St. John’s Community Church if they have:
i) been approved by the PCC
of St. John’s Community Church; and
ii) completed the declarations required by the Diocese of Lichfield; and
iii) completed the enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure form; and
iv) CRB clearance has been confirmed through Lichfield Diocese.
3. The PCC has appointed a Safeguarding Children Coordinator * to work with the vicar, the PCC and the Diocesan Child Protection Advisor * to implement policy and procedures.
¨ We will always take advice from the appropriate person and we will act upon advice received.
¨ We will never make an investigation ourselves without referring to another appropriate agency.
¨ We will record relevant information and we will keep it secure.
¨ We will continue to support the child.
4. The PCC has appointed a Children's Advocate*; someone to whom children can talk about any problems.
* please see the back of the section 4 for
details of who to contact.
5. The Child line telephone number 0800 1111 will be appropriately displayed in all church buildings.
6. All those engaged in our ministries with children and young people will pay attention to children with special needs and those from ethnic minorities to ensure their full integration and protection within the church community.
7. The PCC will ensure that appropriate health and safety policies and procedures are in place and ensure that any church activity that involves children or young people is carefully organised, that premises are safe, and that there is sufficient help.
8. Leaders will normally be over the age of 18. If there is any circumstance in which it is appropriate to have a leader aged between 16 and 18, they will always be supervised by a leader over 18.
9. With respect to the care of children and young people, the following staff ratios will be observed:
0–2 yrs 1 person for every 3 children
2–3 yrs 1 person for every 4 children
3–8 yrs 1 person for every 8 children
+8 yrs 1 person for the first 8 children and then
1 extra person for every extra 12 children
There will be a minimum of two staff at any time with each group of children. One at least of whom will be 18 or over.
10. The PCC will provide appropriate insurance cover for all activities undertaken. A registration form will be filled in for all children and young people attending church activities and a register of attendance kept. Parental/Carer consent forms are required for all off-site activities.
11. The PCC will annually review the implementation of the child protection policy.
12.The leadership of this church will ensure that appropriate support is available for those adults who disclose that they have been abused as children.
13.The leadership of this church will provide, as appropriate, support for all parents and families in the congregation, and be particularly aware of parents whose children have suffered abuse.
14.By adherence to the provisions of this policy document, and in accordance with other guidance from Diocesan or other statutory agencies, the leadership of this church will ensure that those who may pose a threat to children and young people are effectively managed and monitored.
You can write, email, fax, phone, or call at: The Parish Office, 39 Ironstone Road, Chase Terrace, Burntwood, Staffs. WS7 1LX Tel/Fax: 01543 304611 email: p.office@stjohnscommunitychurch.org.uk
If you have any concerns about children or about anything that gives you reason to have anxiety about their welfare:
You can contact
Mrs. Norma Humphries:
Safeguarding Children Coordinator
Tel: 01543 458512
Mrs. Wendy Barnsley:
Children’s Advocate
Tel:01543 306440
You can speak directly to the
Lichfield Diocesan Child Protection Officer,
Rev. Charmian Beech
Tel: 01630 685491
email: charmian.beech@virgin.net
If you have any concerns about the way that pastoral care, prayer ministry, or any other support, has been given to you, or to someone else who you know;
please contact Mrs. Norma Humphries,
Pastoral Care Supervisor,
Tel: 01543 458512
In addition to contacts already listed:
If you have any concern about the conduct of anyone at St. John’s Community Church that could result in physical, emotional, spiritual or sexual abuse; if you have any concerns about the treatment of vulnerable people; please contact the vicar;
Rev. Duncan Leake,
3 Chapel Street,
Chase Terrace,
Burntwood. WS7 1NL
Tel: 01543 306649
email: duncan@stjohnscommunitychurch.org.uk
Make your concerns known.
You will be listened to and your concerns
will be taken seriously.
If you need to speak to a senior representative of the Anglican church about anything at St. John’s Community Church that causes you concern, especially if you believe that you or someone you know has experienced any sort of abuse,
you can contact The Archdeacon of Lichfield,
Rev. Chris Liley
24 The Close,
Lichfield, Staffs.
WS13 7LD.
Tel: 01543 306145