Abuse devastates lives.
Abuse has happened historically in the church. Its consequences are profound and long lasting. Our task in the Diocese of Chelmsford is to do everything possible to ensure abuse no longer happens now, or in the future. As we do this, we adhere to the words of the prophet Micah who writes, “What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).
We act justly by seeking to provide safe spaces for victims and survivors of historic abuse. We hold perpetrators to account and are developing a culture that promotes mutual accountability and radical candour. We have robust procedures in place to protect all members of our community. We know that with great power comes great responsibility, and we desire to use our place of power to hold ourselves and others to account, to challenge unacceptable speech and to bring into the light those deeds done in darkness.
We love mercy and long to be a refuge for the hurting and vulnerable. We seek to support survivors and victims in their ongoing recovery; guided by the individual. We seek to listen to those who feel voiceless and empower everyone in our communities to remain safe, within their families, places of work and worship.
We walk humbly, knowing we have made past mistakes and that we continue to need God and each other for wisdom and discernment. We equip and support our communities through relevant training; we employ qualified and experienced staff; and we remain committed to learning from our mistakes and improving safeguarding throughout the Diocese.
We hope you find what you need on these pages and that you too encounter the God of justice, mercy and humility.
