TN159 Safeguarding - a vital responsibility

First published on this website in November 2025

Synopsis

I have not written on safeguarding before but here is a short paper for church leaders and Trustees which shows just why good safeguarding practice is so important.

Safeguarding is far from  just another box to be ticked. Its foundations go deep down into an understanding of what it is to be a local church. The reasons are explained under three headings which I use elsewhere to define a healthy church.

• The ‘Godward’ aspect of church life, showing that any form of abuse is sin and that leaders worship God by living godly lives and serving a God of both love and justice.

• The ‘Usward’ aspect of church life, showing that safeguarding is part of pastoral care, and a shepherding responsibility of leaders to enable their church members to flourish in the faith.

• The ‘Outward’ aspect of church life, warning of the dangers to our witness and evangelism if we enable unreported abuse in church or at home, or build structures which lack thorough accountability.

The notes conclude with a set of discussion questions on these themes.