Reflections and observations about the Past Cases Review

It is now ten years since the Methodist Church produced a report looking at all known cases of abuse from the previous 50 years and committed itself to taking action. Following over 2,500 referrals, many hours of professional casework were undertaken and common themes emerged providing the Church with an action plan to improve and respond appropriately to victims and survivors.

Over the coming year, we are sharing monthly reflections on what this has meant for the Church.

Judith Davey-Cole, the Chair of the Connexional Safeguarding Committee, builds on the context set by Revd Helen Cameron’s reflections and observations about the Past Cases Review, and the tribute she paid to the courage of those people who spoke out about what they’d experienced, which created a change in attitude.

The Connexional Safeguarding Committee works to ensure that there is robust governance of safeguarding, suitable oversight, and to hold the Methodist Church to account through independent reports to Conference and Council highlighting what’s working well, and areas where there need to be improvements to ensure that our Churches are safer places for all. The Committee is free to speak out about safeguarding and retains editorial control of these reports.

Crucially, the membership of the Committee helps ensure that the Church is not “marking its own homework”. There are lay and ordained members of the Committee. Lay members are recruited for their skills and experience in safeguarding – some are Methodist, and some are from other denominations. All members of the Committee go through safer recruitment processes including “fit and proper person” checks. A number of Committee members have lived experience of abuse, and there is a Survivor representative member of the Committee.

The Secretary of Conference and the Director of Safeguarding are required to attend meetings to provide information or clarity on particular points, but they are not Committee members and cannot vote or participate in decision making.

The work of the Committee is rooted in the theology of safeguarding (see the Conference report God Welcomes All). We undertake audits to establish how well a healthy safeguarding culture is embedded in practice, make recommendations for improvement and share good practice. We also approve the safeguarding policy and set the standards for training and practice. Committee members sit on safeguarding panels where risk assessments are considered and determinations are made about whether people can fulfil “front facing” roles given the nature of the risk posed.

In terms of current and future plans, the Committee is pleased to see that the creation of a new connexional safeguarding service which will replace the many and varied arrangements where safeguarding professionals are employed by Districts. While all the District Safeguarding Officers have been doing a great job, this separation will allow us to take the next step in ensuring that the Church is working in a more consistent way and can be more easily held to account through one single line management structure.

While there’s a great deal more that we need to do and improve on our journey to ensuring that the church is a safer place for everyone, a great deal has been achieved in terms of governance and assurance since the publication of Courage, Cost and Hope in 2015. As Chair of the Safeguarding Committee, I can see at first hand the positive changes in embedding a healthy safeguarding culture where it is much easier to speak out and shine a light on unacceptable behaviour. Aided by a deeper more nuanced understanding of power dynamics and spiritual abuse, I have seen that when concerns are raised, they’re investigated fully without fear or favour. As someone with lived experience of abuse, I am encouraged by the increasing appreciation of the impact of abuse on survivors (and on their families), the focus on trauma-informed approaches, and the imperative to put victims and survivors at the heart of safeguarding.

Thanks to my fellow Safeguarding Committee members, and to everyone across the Connexion who works so hard on safeguarding week in and week out. It’s not easy work, and it can take its’ toll. But we know that the work is important. It’s our calling as we know God Welcomes All.

Judith Davey-Cole

In addition to her role as Chair of the Safeguarding Committee, Judith is the CEO of The Girls’ Brigade, Vice Chair of ThirtyOne:Eight, and a member of the Diocese of Winchester’s Safeguarding Advisory Panel.