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I read this when it was first published – it was arresting then and it is arresting now
the following has stayed with me https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/leaders-talk-power-protect-vulnerable/
I read this when it was first published – it was arresting then and it is arresting now
the following has stayed with me https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/leaders-talk-power-protect-vulnerable/
‘In my naïveté, I expected the horror of the story to be measured by the level of sexual intimacy this married, adult predator forced upon his teenaged victim. I thought this was a story about sex. It was not. This was a story about power.’
How ironic, then, this 
( @EvangelicalsNow) re formal safeguarding, leans so heavily into the fear it may ‘wrest control’ from ch. leaders:
‘The relationship between elders and those charged with safeguarding must not become a power game.’
https://www.e-n.org.uk/2021/01/regular-columns/var-and-church/d32bd/
( @EvangelicalsNow) re formal safeguarding, leans so heavily into the fear it may ‘wrest control’ from ch. leaders:‘The relationship between elders and those charged with safeguarding must not become a power game.’
https://www.e-n.org.uk/2021/01/regular-columns/var-and-church/d32bd/
This is a story about power.
...It goes on, ‘It [the prevalence of safeguarding?] changes the whole ethos of a church. Instead of love and peace, there is a sense that some ‘big brother is watching you’.’
...It goes on, ‘It [the prevalence of safeguarding?] changes the whole ethos of a church. Instead of love and peace, there is a sense that some ‘big brother is watching you’.’
Um... yes.
His name is Jesus.
Living life under his loving watch is the only thing that makes peace possible in a corrupt and frankly terrifying world.
This is a story about power
His name is Jesus.
Living life under his loving watch is the only thing that makes peace possible in a corrupt and frankly terrifying world.
This is a story about power
Robust scrutiny (even by outsiders) is not the antithesis of peace & love.
We trust Jesus, living under the gaze of those we fear are not ‘for us’, who may not see perfectly, like him. He does justly & is the ultimate protector of his bride. Not us.
This is a story about power
We trust Jesus, living under the gaze of those we fear are not ‘for us’, who may not see perfectly, like him. He does justly & is the ultimate protector of his bride. Not us.
This is a story about power
Leader/pastor, maybe you fear false accusation or what happens down the tracks in an increasingly hostile society
Consider, in the meantime, a strong (read: informed) safeguarding culture may be one of the things that helps some of your precious people feel, and stay, safe?
Consider, in the meantime, a strong (read: informed) safeguarding culture may be one of the things that helps some of your precious people feel, and stay, safe?
Might you tolerate feeling a little less safe, and perhaps having your own power and convenience curtailed for their sakes?
(Safeguarding officers and orgs might actually not be all that keen to take your job...)
(Safeguarding officers and orgs might actually not be all that keen to take your job...)
Why are we so afraid of loosing power?
(It was never ours anyway)
Why so caught up safeguarding against possible future threat to power, reputation & programmes of the relatively powerful, that we so often fail to prevent/see the v real (past & current) harm to the powerless?
(It was never ours anyway)
Why so caught up safeguarding against possible future threat to power, reputation & programmes of the relatively powerful, that we so often fail to prevent/see the v real (past & current) harm to the powerless?
As @OllieLansdowne so helpfully reminds us we follow one with all power, who laid it down for our sake
Laid it down under the watch of those who really were deeply hostile to his Father and so also to those who are his
This is a story about power
https://ivpbooks.com/blog/guest-post-how-penal-substitution-is-the-antithesis-of-spiritual-abuse.html
we follow one with all power, who laid it down for our sakeLaid it down under the watch of those who really were deeply hostile to his Father and so also to those who are his
This is a story about power
https://ivpbooks.com/blog/guest-post-how-penal-substitution-is-the-antithesis-of-spiritual-abuse.html
Might we create a culture where safeguarding is not seen as a power play or nuisance, but a help?
(Like so many other good gifts of God we use in church life that aren’t explicitly detailed by Scripture)
(Like so many other good gifts of God we use in church life that aren’t explicitly detailed by Scripture)
Imagine if the church had a reputation for such costly love for the vulnerable, that even secular safeguarding orgs would scrutinise us, and praise our Father in heaven?
How do we want to be known for using our power?
Ends.
How do we want to be known for using our power?
Ends.
Nb/ for a discussion of why the EN article’s proposed alternatives to formal safeguarding are highly questionable @leefurney and @faithrootsDW have both said helpful things
