The Safe Church Review Committee, established by Diocesan Council, has been charged with reviewing the current Diocesan Safe Church policies and developing a new, comprehensive policy that reflects current best practices.
The aim of this work is to prevent, as much as possible, harm experienced within the Church and, where harm does occur, to provide a clear and compassionate framework for responding in ways that remedy or at least mitigate that harm. We are working toward completing this process in time to present the new policy to Diocesan Synod in 2027.
The Committee has been meeting every two weeks over the past several months, including a dedicated meeting with the newly appointed ombudsman. These conversations have been instrumental in clarifying our mandate, deepening our understanding of the issues involved, and preparing us for the significant work ahead.
The members of the Committee are the Ven. Deborah Meister, the Rev. Jen Bourque, Mr. François Morin, Mrs. Nancy Longworth Hamilton, and the Ven. Sophie Rolland. Together, we bring a breadth of experience, expertise, and a shared commitment to justice and compassion.
We are eager to develop a policy that is comprehensive, written in clear and accessible language, and supported by well-defined procedures. Above all, it will be grounded in a victim-focused approach that encourages reporting while minimizing unnecessary complexity and avoiding the risk of compounding trauma for those who come forward.
We expect to provide regular updates to Diocesan Council and Synod. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
