Presbyterian safeguarding crisis: Ex-moderator call for 'new reformation' amid concern on centralised control and transparency

Former Presbyterian moderator Rev Trevor Gribben stood down last month after a review found “serious and significant failings” in central safeguarding functions from 2009 to 2022.

The PSNI and Charity Commission have both launched major investigations.

Rev Richard Murray resumed the office of moderator and called a special General Assembly to discuss the issues, which took place on Thursday.

Up to 900 ministers and elders from the 540 congregations across the island of Ireland travelled to Belfast to vote on the way ahead.

Speaking to the assembly, Rev Hamilton called for "a new reformation" in the church, where ministers would be freed up from committees and councils and laypeople from churches would take up 50% of these roles within five years.

His comments came amidst concerns during debates about power being too centralised and a lack of transparency in governance.

Speaking to the News Letter the day after the assembly, Rev Hamilton said it had been "somber, contrite and willing to face whatever the big two external investigation bring from police and the Charity Commission”.

He added: “Alongside that, there is a quiet determination to try to continue to do local congregational life well."

He suggested there had been "an almost unconscious drift towards, towards an increasing role for clergy in the governance of the church".

And he accepted concerns had been raised in the assembly about centralised government in the church and a lack of transparency.

During debates, Rev Susan Moore of Rathmullan, Milford and Kerrykeel pressed the church to explain whether it had adopted the use of Non Disclosure Agreements or NDAs (sometimes referred to as 'gagging orders') without debate by the General Assembly - or on whose authority they were adopted?

She was told that PCI rarely uses NDAs but does so on legal advice which does not focus on moral or ethical issues.

The minister expressed concerns that they are being used "to presevnt people, from speaking about experiences, of harassment, or sexual harassment, or discrimination in the workplace".

But PCI solicitor Stephen Gowdy responded that NDAs are a very "a very common tool nowadays" and it would "very foolish of us to exclude ourselves from using them".

He advised that they are not imposed on individuals but usually agreed by lawyers acting for two parties, because many people do not want certain facts or settlement amounts disclosed.

"So most are not entered into by people without advice," he added.

Retired Groomsport minister Rev Roger Purce asked why when the advisory committee accepted the necessity of a full independent external safeguarding review, did the same committee feel that "internal" inquiry into fields of governance is either adequate or acceptable.

He was advised that the committee holds that an external review of safeguarding is mandatory but that an internal taskforce is being tasked to examine government culture and integrity.

He was also advised that the Charity Commission inquiry is not limited to safeguarding but into overall governance as well.

Leslie McDowell, an elder in High Street church Holywood and a retired senior social worker, also raised concerns about safeguarding of vulnerable adults, an area in which she specialised

Such abuse is “prevalent” she warned, recounting Muckamore Abbey and sexual abuse of elderly parishioners by an elder in the Church of Scotland in 2018. She warned: "To date PCI has not fully complied with the obligations of the NI Executive's policy 2015 on Adult safeguarding protection and prevention."

In response she was advised that “a full suite” of adult safeguarding procedures will be announced across the church early next month with updated training.