Bill No 2 to make Safeguarding Trust constitutionally binding
Bill No 2, which received its first and second readings today, seeks to include an additional chapter in the Constitution to make provision for ministry with children.
While clear, formal guidelines in the form of Safeguarding Trust: The Church of Ireland Code of Good Practice for Ministry with Children have been in place in the Church of Ireland for almost 10 years, it is considered essential that the Code should now be given formal recognition and constitutional standing by creating a new Chapter in the Constitution. The second clause of the Bill ensures the adherence to the Code by all parishes, clergy and diocesan bodies.
Proposing this Bill to the Synod, the Rt Revd Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork, told Synod that, if passed, the Church of Ireland would be the first Church in the Anglican Communion to give their child protection code full legislative status. The Bill was formally seconded by Lady Sheil.
However, the Revd Canon Johnston (Raphoe) asked Synod to bring it forward for another year. He argued that the provisions of the guidelines were never considered by the House. He also said that, in his own experience, he found Safeguarding Trust difficult to implement, particularly in a rural parish. Canon Johnston asked that the guidelines be reviewed to make them more practicable across the Church before bringing such a Bill to the Synod.
The Assessor noted that such debate was straying towards discussion of the detail of the Bill rather than of the principle and the House should now consider the proposal of the second stage.
Synod approved in principle the first two stages of the Bill, which will receive its third and final reading on Thursday 11