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The Citizen, 2006-08-24, Page 11August 27 Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared Lir* Vater Cliridicut Teikasliip 10:30 a.m. Joint Worship at Church of God for the month of August 308 Blyth Rd., E. Wheelchair Accessible Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwater.org 6 Three million Canadians have a hearing loss. I'm one of them. Don Harron To learn more about our medical research-and public education programs and how you can help, call 1-866 HEAR YOU, toll free. rearing foundation Of (JIMA - • Fondation conodieone de rouie HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH SNG A S01\1 OF Auburn - 519-526-1131 09) ,a2se PASTOR DAVE WOOD (G"18 & PASTOR DON PLANT JR. Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study Friday 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Drop-in Youth Centre There will be no Sunday School for July and August BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Please join us at Melville Presbyterian Church for services in August. Church services for Brussels Ethel Pastoral Charge will resume September 10. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus it\• Hwy. 4, Blyth coununity Church of 111401 0o$ "The Church is not a 4, Building, It ts People Touching 411C2111 People" Summer Worship 10:30 am - Sunday Service Shared with Living Water Christian Fellowship Phone 519-440-8379 308 Blyth Rd. E. -- Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 cop, A NEptie.s6 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA veecomed va to come eoold rift cue% ad SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273 Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, August 27 / Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery 11:00 a.m. Minister: Rev. Robin McGauley .4(1 Veeeo4sie Office: 519-523-4224 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2006. PAGE 11. From the Minister's Study Christian church not immune from evil By the Rev. Tom Wilson, The Anglican Parish of Blyth and Brussels This past month, the news media in Southern Ontario has been full of the news of a clergy person who was convicted of abusing young girls over a long period of years. While this person was a member of one denomination, there are few, if any denominations, that have not had issues of abuse of children or adults. Certainly all the major denominations represented - in Canada have had to deal with sexual assault of children or adults by clergy and lay leaders in the past. The wide-spread media attention to the conviction of these criminals has made it seem like this is almost an everyday occurrence. I have even had people make crude and unkind jokes about people in ministry, including myself, due to these events. While throughout history the Christian church has been generally viewed as a safe and loving place, the reality is that it is not immune from having evil invade it. Satan, the Devil, or as is more often stated today, Evil, is a reality of human life. Even in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Devil tried to tempt Jesus. If Evil is willing to try and tempt the Son of God, then why should we not expect that Evil could also enter into church life, and lead to the abuse of innocent people? Now the reality of the Christian church is that the vast majority of clergy are decent, caring, hard working people, who are just as disgusted by the reports of abuse as other Canadians. From discussions at the various ministerial associations in North Huron, I can assure you, that precautions in the various denominations have been in place for the past few years now, to make sure any abuse or impropriety does not take place; that the vulnerable members of our congregations, and our communities are protected. These precautions can include (depending upon the denomination): • Psychological screening before a person is even accepted to a seminary or theological college; • Being taught to be self-aware and to know that it is alright to seek help. Often impropriety occurs when a clergy person is at a low point in their ministry. Many denominations offer confidential employee counseling; • Being required to provide a current criminal records check every three years (with some denominations having employment contracts that will terminate a pastoral relationship with a congregation if there is a criminal conviction of any kind appearing on the records check); • The training of clergy in keeping their congregations, and other people safe (not meeting in an empty church or manse, letting people know of the meeting, being very careful about any sort of physical contact, including a hug, and so on); • The mandatory participation of lay leaders of the congregations in ensuring that vulnerable people are protected while participating in church sponsored functions; • Ensuring outside groups using church facilities have screening programs in place; • And there are many other such procedures in place. If you want more information, why not ask your clergy person or the lay leaders in your church about what is being done to protect people in your denomination? There is also a second component to having a safe church. That is to ensure that -those working in or for the church are safe. Often times in our churches the minister, or perhaps the secretary, or the treasurer, or someone else, is working in the church by themselves. They too need to be protected. They should be able to lock the doors of the church, they should be required to tell someone else that they are working in the church and the approximate time they will be done, so if there is an accident or some other incident someone will be looking for them. I can personally attest to how important this point is. About three' years ago, I was working in one of the churches where I minister, and was carrying some items to the church hall. I missed my footing and fell down the stairs, hit my head on the wall at the bottom. It opened a cut above my eye and I was mildly concussed. If I had not been able to stagger to a phone for help, it would have been at least a day if not two or three before I was discovered. The third component is to ensure the safety of the clergy and lay leadershi,p. This is also part of having our churches as places of love and caring. I have not heard of clergy in this area being physically abused, but I have heard of verbal or emotional abuse. I have also heard of lay leaders of a congregation being verbally abused by other congregation members because they did not like a decision members of a church board had made. I was horrified to read an article last year in another denomination's national magazine that indicated some clergy had been sexually harassed by members of their congregation. 'Christians are called to love and respect all human -beings. Abuse of any kind should not be accepted or tolerated by any clergy or lay people. There is no one above the law, no matter what they do for a living or who they are. This is one reason that many clergy no longer preach from a pulpit on a regular basis, as it often_ placed them above the congregation, and suggested a different status than those in the pews. Any abuse that occurs in a church or in our communities needs to be reported to the authorities. In the Anglican Church of Canada it is required of clergy, lay leaders and congregational members that any abuse or suspected abuse of a person under 16 is to be reported within two hours of learning of the alleged abuse to the local Children's Aid Society or the police. The Anglican Bishops in Canada have made it clear that this is not optional, even for the clergy, and even if the allegation is made in the context of a confession. While a clergy person may accompany the confessor to the police or other authorities, they are not to keep it secret. If a person over 16 years of age discloses, or makes allegations of abuse, the clergy, lay leaders and members of the congregation are strongly encouraged to urge that person to go to the police and to contact th6 Anglican Church Diocesan leadership right away. Each Diocese of the Anglican Church has set up a committee to confidentially investigate allegations of abuse or impropriety towards adults. A church is a place where God's love for all humanity, through the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, should be demonstrated. It should not be a place of abuse, horror, or evil. As Christians we believe we have a part of God within us, and it is required of all Christians to love and respect all people, for each person in our World is created in God's image. I wish I could unequivocally say that no vulnerable person would ever again be abused by someone connected with a church in Canada. But that is not reality. What I can say is that I know all denominations are working to ensure that as much as it is humanly possible, abuse will be prevented and that rather than hiding abuse, as has happened in the past, the abusers will be reported to the police and dealt with by our criminal justice system. Ultimately, Jesus' message for humanity is one of love, and making sure that our Churches are places of love and acceptance is, what is demanded of those who follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.