St. Agnes Parish
Responsible Ministry and Safe
Environment Protocol
The Archbishop of Halifax
has developed a protocol directed at enhancing the well-being and safety of all
who participate in the Church’s programs and services. This protocol asserts
the Church’s commitment to conduct responsible faith ministry in a spirit
of openness, transparency and accountability.
It establishes a code of
conduct for all engaged in ministry. It speaks to the responsibility of the
Church to address issues of misconduct. It includes policies related to
appropriate conduct by all who serve and addresses the specific issues of
preventing abuse of children, youth, and vulnerable adults. It complies with
the existing laws of the
Implementation of the
Protocol involves two principal elements:
a. Commitment by all clergy, staff and volunteers to a
Covenant of Care which makes clear the expectations of behavior for all; and
b.
a Parish Responsibility
Coordinator (PRC), directly responsible to the Diocese who organizes the
orientation process for all staff and volunteers and is available to ensure any
complaints, infractions, or cases of possible abuse are reported.
Note that:
a. implementation of the protocol for all clergy is done
separately by the Diocese; and
b.
reports by
the Parish Responsibility Coordinator (PRC) under the protocol do not obviate
the necessity of reporting, by anyone who has knowledge of specific cases of
abuse, directly to the police.
The process of clearing
staff and volunteers for service in the diocese involves the following
activities coordinated by the Parish Responsibility Coordinator (PRC):
a. formal request for employment in a ministry of the
Parish together with information on previous activity of a similar nature;
b.
signature to
agreement to formal commitment of compliance with the Covenant of Care;
c.
participation in
a half-day orientation session;
d.
agreement to submission
to a police criminal record check, and for those likely to be in contact with
children under the age of sixteen, or vulnerable adults, a Vulnerable Sector
Check and
e.
provision of two
(form) letters of reference.
Note that:
a. all results of police record checks and reference
letters are sent by the individual direct to the diocese without being seen by
the PRC or anyone else in the Parish; and,
b.
all relevant
information and records pertaining to complaints or notices of violation under
the Protocol are maintained in secure stowage in the Parish office with access
only by the PRC.
The diocese has set a
challenging schedule to have all relevant staff and volunteers complete their
orientation and approval process a soon as possible. Accordingly, I have asked
We are all aware of the
excellent record we have had throughout the Parish and the conduct and
dedication of our clergy, staff and volunteers has always been exemplary.
Nevertheless, you will all appreciate the necessity of demonstrating strict
compliance with this initiative as well as the importance of developing the
procedures to ensure that, as the years go by and people change, we have an
organization and process in place to guarantee the dignity, respect, safety and
security of all to whom we care for and minister.
Rev. John Williams
Pastor