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New safeguarding structures agreed

At the meeting of Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) Special General Assembly, meeting in Belfast today (18 December), the church agreed to elevate significantly the position of safeguarding within the all-Ireland denomination with the establishment of a new Safeguarding Department. Along with the effective resourcing of safeguarding, at an appropriate time, a full, independent external review of safeguarding within the denomination.

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The Church’s Moderator, Right Rev Dr Richard Murray, who chaired the meeting, called the General Assembly in the wake of last month’s public announcement by the Church of significant failings in the central administration of its safeguarding processes. In his opening address earlier, Dr Murray apologised to those who had been hurt or harmed as a result of the Church’s safeguarding failings, saying to those it let down, “we are deeply ashamed and sorry.”

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Moderator Rev Dr Richard Murray addresses the Special Assembly
Speaking to the General Assembly, Very Rev Dr David Bruce, Convener PCI’s General Council said that,

“Our starting point was and remains a profound concern for those who have been harmed, or impacted by our institutional failings. We have described this as “shameful” because it is.”


He also said in looking at these matters those involved were, “determined together that we would seek to do the right thing. There would be no cover up. We would follow the evidence in scorn of the consequence to us or the institution of the PCI, because our first and final and absolute commitment was to those who have been harmed or otherwise affected by our failings as a church.”


“So to you in this hall, whose stomachs are churning and whose hearts are racing with stress because you are a victim who is surviving, I say thank you for having the courage to be here with us here today. To walk in here was not an easy decision, but it is a testimony. On behalf of the church, I’m so very sorry that you have had to walk this road.”

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Dr David Bruce presenting a report at the Special Assembly

Speaking about the interim changes to safeguarding that were agreed and will be progressed, the Acting Clerk of the General Assembly, Rev Dr David Allen said that the central safeguarding failings had, “unfairly brought into question the commitment and competence of the hundreds of designated persons in congregations across this island who are doing a good and thorough job in safeguarding locally…”

Acting Clerk also said that the “investigations of the PSNI and the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland, will help expose our failings in safeguarding and governance. We welcome that, and will cooperate fully, because we are sorry for what has happened and we want to do better in future.

“These investigations will give us information that will help us do that. However, we cannot wait to address safeguarding until those investigations are complete. We must take interim steps immediately…” he said.

The Special General Assembly agreed to:

· Create a new Safeguarding Department. In order to ensure its independence, it will not be part of the responsibilities of the Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary. Rather, direct line-management should sit with the current Financial Secretary

· The new Department would have external oversight through a Safeguarding Supervision Panel established. This would consist of the Department’s line manager, the Convener of the General Council, three independent safeguarding practitioners appointed externally to PCI, one of whom will chair the panel

· The appointment of two senior level posts – a Head of Safeguarding; and a Safeguarding Lead, at an appropriate level of seniority within PCI, with appropriate professional social work and administrative support. Both roles will require Social Work qualifications, or other alternative qualifications, and Safeguarding experience

· The Safeguarding Department being funded from congregations and

· That at an appropriate time, a full, independent, external review of PCI Safeguarding at all levels be conducted.

Dr Allen told the Assembly that what was being proposed was “an attempt to redefine the place and importance of Safeguarding in PCI.”

In a resolution brought by Rev Ivan Steen, the minister of South Kirk Presbyterian Church on Belfast’s Great Victoria Streat, he asked that the Church to assess the necessity of establishing a Survivor Redress Scheme. This Scheme would offer a formal apology to survivors of abuse occurring within PCI, together with any necessary compensation and access to forms of support. The Assembly accepted the proposal.

The Assembly also agreed that existing safeguarding guidance and Church-wide awareness of safeguarding processes be substantially increased in the immediate short term. This also included a denomination-wide safeguarding roadshow for designated safeguarding officers that would begin in in January of next year.

Special General Assembly 2025

Special General Assembly 2025

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