The Safeguarding Committee of St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral
Once a month, a team of parishioners meets to prayerfully discuss the safeguarding procedures of our parish. We seek to be guided by the words of 1 John 1:5–7, which say:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Each meeting we have is with you, the people of St. Peter's–from the youngest infants to the most senior among us–in mind. Did you know that 93% of sexual abuse perpetrators admit that they view the Church as an easy target? This singular statistic is deeply concerning. The Church should be a place where it is undeniably impossible for a perpetrator to act inappropriately because of our safeguarding measures and training.
What would you do if you experienced or saw inappropriate behavior by clergy, a church employee or volunteer? Would you know how to report it or who to report it to? Would you even know if what you saw was sexual misconduct? Sexual Misconduct Awareness Training (SMAT) is required by the Gulf Atlantic Diocese (GAD) and St. Peter’s for all clergy, lay employees, and volunteers every two years. It goes without saying that we do all in our power to protect our children and youth, but we must also be aware of the abuse that can occur even among adults.
The SMAT Curriculum outlines what sexual misconduct is, how to avoid interaction that would appear to be questionable, who to report suspected abuse to, and how the diocese (GAD) is working to keep our parishes accountable and in compliance.
Our desire as a church family should be vigilance (being watchful) and diligence (being earnest) in our care and love for one another. This training prepares us for both. If you are a volunteer or seek to be one soon, you will be asked to join one of the training sessions in the next few months.
In light of all this, recall the following sentences prayed at the consecration of this building, that God would be with us in the fullness of his power through the joys and sorrows of life which we have had and will have in this place:
Holy Spirit, open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts, that we may grow closer to you through joy and through suffering. Be with us in the fullness of your power as new members are added to God’s household, as we grow in grace through the years, when we are joined in Holy Matrimony, when we turn to you in sickness or special need, and, at the last, when we are committed into the Father’s hands.
Consider also praying the following prayer of self-dedication from the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.