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Tasmanian Anglican

February 2003

 

 

 

 


Emma Wherrett (Safe Ministry-accredited in the parish of BayWest) and a camper on the Coastal Camp, at Montgomery Park 2 -8 Jan. 2003

 

Safe Ministry - a matter for all parishes

 

 

More than just another pile of tedious paperwork, the Diocesan Code of Practice for the Protection of Children Within our Churches, and the Safe Ministry accreditation processes developed from it, has put ministry to children and young people into the spotlight in the Diocese of Tasmania. They have generated some creative opportunities to learn and reflect on Safe Ministry issues, and fostered the development of greater confidence in ministry with, and to, the vulnerable.

Importance

In response to Bishop John Harrower's call that all active clergy and enablers were to be accredited according to our Safe Ministry protocols, a diocesan programme of Safe Ministry accreditation was implemented. As this programme nears completion, the importance of parishes accrediting their own local people with ministry responsibilities is highlighted. The number of parishes which have undertaken the task of screening and accrediting their own people has increased, and the general feeling in those parishes is that it has been a worthwhile and positive experience to do so.

Many parishes have hosted a Safe Ministry Seminar in the latter half of 2002, and some have used this education seminar as a shooting-off point for accrediting local people involved ministries of various kinds, using the new parish forms revised in July 2002.

Upcoming Safe Ministry Seminar dates include:

Parishes recently accrediting their own leaders in Safe Ministry for the first time include the parishes of Circular Head, Howrah, Hamilton, St James' & St Andrew New Town / Lenah Valley, St Helens, New Norfolk and Channel / Cygnet. Some of these parishes, and others including BayWest, Kingston, and Claremont / Chigwell, have gone through the accreditation process locally to prepare leaders for the very successful Anglican Camping Tasmania programme which runs throughout January and early February.

To assist parishes with their Safe Ministry processes locally, regional Workshops for Safe Ministry Co-ordinators (and other interested people) will be held at:

Please direct enquiries to the Safe Ministry Development Officer, Eleanor O'Donnell.