THE Bishop’s Council of the diocese of Truro has written an open letter calling for “real change” to safeguarding.
In a letter sent to churches and schools in the diocese, and published online on Wednesday, the council — which includes the Acting Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Hugh Nelson — endorse the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, describing her recent action as “prophetic”.
“Over the last three weeks the safeguarding failures of the Church of England have been laid bare yet again. We are hearing clearly from survivors and victims of abuse in this diocese and beyond that the national church response is causing intense pain,” the letter begins.
The signatories, which along with Bishop Nelson comprise the Archdeacons of Bodmin and Cornwall, the Dean of Truro, and the chairs of the diocesan board of finance, House of Laity, and House of Clergy — say that it they “join our voice to Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley’s prophetic call for us to be a different sort of church.
“A church that does not seek first to protect itself, but which champions those who are most vulnerable. A church where people with power are clearly and consistently held accountable,” the letter says. It includes a note thanking survivors of abuse who contributed to its wording.
The council criticises the Church of England’s House of Bishops and Archbishops’ Council, saying that they “appear to have failed to implement the recommendations made in numerous reports and reviews, and we call for urgent change and action to show that national leadership is ready and able to lead the changes required.”
Members of the General Synod are expected to make a decision in February on which of two models of independent safeguarding they want to adopt, following an extensive consultation (News, 16 December)
In July this year, an independent safeguarding audit concluded that “good progress” had been made in the diocese. The report said that “strengths in Truro’s current safeguarding arrangements are evident at both a strategic and operational level” (News, 2 July).