Building a Safe Church will be the focus of a leadership and capacity building conference in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in September. Participants from around the Anglican Communion will focus on the importance of implementing safeguarding practices in Anglican churches and building a culture of safety for all.
Held at the King’s Kraal in Bulawayo, from 5-11 September, the conference will be hosted by The Church of the Province of Central Africa and organised by the International Safe Church Commission of the Anglican Communion, working with the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) and the Episcopal Ministry team of the Anglican Communion Office.
A big focus of the event will be the Safe Church Guidelines and other resources developed by the Anglican Communion Safe Church Commission. The Commission was established by the Anglican Consultative Council to develop safeguarding guidelines and support their implementation across the Anglican Communion, encouraging provinces as they develop good practice in their settings. Members of the Commission represent different regions of the Communion.
The Safe Church Commission were at the Lambeth Conference in 2022 and shared a Lambeth Call on Safe Church. This Bulawayo conference is in response to requests for capacity building from bishops and is one way in which Anglicans are working together to embed safe church practices in their context.
The conference programme will include contributions from Commission members and invited theologians on different topics. Each day will begin with a theological reflection and Bible study on Safeguarding.
The Right Reverend Rose Okeno (Bishop of Butere in Kenya) will reflect on the theology of ‘Care for those who are abused’. Professor Esther Mombo (Professor of Theology in the school of Theology at St. Paul’s University, Limuru in Kenya) will explore the theology of ‘Power and vulnerability’. Professor James Amanze (Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana) will discuss ‘Safe Church and the mission of the Church’.
The Bishop of Matabeleland – The Right Reverend Cleophas Lunga spoke about about the conference saying:
“It’s vital that all churches know how to protect people, and how to support people if they disclose that they have experienced harm or abuse. This capacity-building event will be a significant opportunity to discuss safeguarding measures and how to grow a culture of safety, respect and protection for everyone in our communities.
“The Safe Church Conference being hosted by the African Church is not to be perceived as a threat to the flourishing Christian communities in the soils of Africa. The aim of the conference is not to disable the existing rich heritage of interdependence. It is rather an important step towards enabling every individual to experience relationships characterised by the love of Christ that never fails. The love of building healthy communities amidst differences.
“I look forward to how participants from around the world will work together and share how the Anglican Communion’s Safe Church Guidelines are being implemented in their settings.”
Garth Blake, Chair of the Safe Church Commission, from the Anglican Church of Australia said:
“Safe Church is about ensuring every man, woman and child feels safe and is safe at church. It’s about making sure that in our church communities, all people are treated with respect and care, and that we take steps to prevent abuse. It’s also about having processes in place that help us to respond compassionately to victims of abuse and to deal with situations that are causing harm in an effective way. I together with my colleagues on the Commission are praying that this conference will provide practical assistance for provinces throughout the Anglican Communion to enhance the safety of all people in their church communities.”
Mandy Marshall, Director for Gender Justice at the Anglican Communion said:
“In recent years, there has been a spotlight on the safety of people in churches in various Provinces of the Anglican Communion. There have been important shifts and progress in public attitudes to dealing with abuse too, with the #MeToo movement, UN work and International Campaigns that have raised awareness. It’s essential that churches take action to create safe environments for all.”
The Revd Canon Kofi deGraft Johnson, General Secretary Council of Provinces in Africa said:
“It is important to assure safeguarding in the church and in other spaces where the Church has influence. If the Church cannot assure safety (of all forms) who else can? It is for this reason that CAPA is delighted to work with the CPCA and the ACO in equipping stakeholders to work towards awareness creation, building capacity and helping create contexts of safety. Our prayer is that the conference will make an important contribution to Anglican churches as they take concrete action on delivering safe church practices in their settings.”
The Episcopal Ministry team at the Anglican Communion Office are supporting the event in partnership with the Safe Church Commission. During the programme the bishops and their spouses will also have access to two additional development days on aspects relating to the responsibilities of their office. For bishops, the reflections focus on exercising authority and building trust. For bishops’ spouses training is offered in listening skills.
The Right Reverend Jo Bailey Wells is the Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, and the bishop for Episcopal Ministry at the Anglican Communion Office said:
“The role that church leaders play in modelling and implementing safeguarding practice cannot be underestimated. My prayer is that the gathering in Bulawayo will be an important opportunity for bishops to meet for peer support, prayer, discussion and learning from one another. I am delighted that the Episcopal Ministry Team can support this important conference.”
For more information
To read more about the work of the Safe Church Commission, visit the Anglican Communion Office website.
About the Safe Church Commission here
Get Safe Church Guidelines and Resources here
