Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Safeguarding consultant says Special General Assembly focus of 13 years is too narrow
The Presbyterian Church Special assembly taking place this week about child safeguarding failures is much too narrow in focussing on only a 13 year period, a safeguarding consultant has said.
Leigh McFarlane, who runs Kaizen Safeguarding in Bangor, was speaking as preparations continue for the Presbyterian Special Assembly.
The special General Assembly was called after Moderator Rev Trevor Gribben stood down last month after “serious and significant failings” were found in central church child safeguarding functions from 2009 to 2022.
An elder and minister from 500 plus congregations across the island have been invited to a special General Assembly at the church headquarters in Belfast to discuss the issues on Thursday.
Ms McFarlane is a former teacher turned safeguarding consultant.
"I believe most presbyterian churches are doing a good job in safeguarding, but there particular concerns around some,” she said.
Up to 12 people have contacted her in recent weeks to tell of abuse they suffered in the Presbyterian church.
However she says that their stories are spread over 30-40 years.
"These are not just people from within the very narrow remit that PCI are putting on this problem - a 13 year window.
"The people are from different eras, and this is one of my concerns, that we're not really seeing the full picture if we just look at this period."
"Some of it would be what we'd call clergy sexual abuse, but also some of it, would be in relation to adults covering up abuse.”
She says those people who have contacted her are mainly female.
About half tell of stories of being victims of abuse and half are whistelblowers.
The allegations made range from actual abuse to flaws in safeguarding and claims of cover-ups.
People have contacted her, she says, because they are not yet confident to talk to the police.
It often takes over 25 years before they feel able to,
People often have much more to lose than if making an allegation in a church, she said.
"If you go to say a sports club and there's a safeguarding issue, that's one part of your life. But if you're in the church, that is not only where you go to worship; it is where your social life is, it's where your family is. So you stand to lose potentially a lot more."
Her biggest concern about the special assembly is that victims of abuse will have no voice.
"The voice of victims and survivors and their needs should be front and center of this. And that is not happening."
If survivors don’t feel safe to speak, someone should be able to speak for them, she says.
In addition, she says it is crucial for victims who attend to have access to “independent” counselling and safe spaces.
A spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said, “The Special General Assembly that we are holding on Thursday is the beginning of a process for us as a Christian Church, when we will come together as a church family before God to lament our failings and to seek His forgiveness.
"It will also be an important opportunity to start the processes of putting new safeguarding structures and processes in place and look more widely at a range of related issues.
“In relation to the specific issues that Ms McFarlane raises, while our investigation looked at a period of 13 years, we are very much aware that issues may go back further.
"We would encourage all who have been affected or harmed, where possible, to contact the PSNI, even where issues are cases of historical abuse.”