The Anglican Communion's Safe Church Commission (ACSCC) has presented a report to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-19) and called for a renewal of its commitment to safeguarding and building a culture of safe church across the Communion.

A presentation was given during a Global Conversation session on Monday, June 29. ACC Members heard from the outgoing Chair, Mr Garth Blake (Anglican Church of Australia), together with Canon Andrew Khoo (Church of the Province of South East Asia) and Dr Kim Barker (Anglican Church of Southern Africa). The trio reflected on the Commission's work since it was established by ACC-16 in 2016 and looked ahead to its future ministry.

Safe Church is Gospel Work

Canon Andrew reminded members that safeguarding is much more than policies and procedures. ‘Safe church work is theological,’ he said. ‘It reflects our commitment to the gospel and to gospel values and practice.’ He explained that safeguarding is rooted in justice, truth-telling and protecting those who are most vulnerable, describing it as ‘gospel work’ rather than simply a matter of compliance.

The ACSCC was established to help provinces implement the Safe Church Charter adopted by ACC-15. Following the approval of the Safe Church Guidelines at ACC-17, its work has increasingly focused on helping provinces put those guidelines into practice.

During the session, Dr Kim Barker outlined the Commission's work since ACC-18, explaining that its priorities have included training and capacity building, developing practical safeguarding resources, strengthening the network of provincial safeguarding representatives and building partnerships with organisations working in safeguarding.

She reported that the Commission has worked directly with more than 1,250 bishops, clergy and lay leaders from across the Anglican Communion, with training and support taking place in every region.

The Commission also recognised the growing network of provincial safeguarding representatives, acknowledging delegates from Bangladesh, the Church of the Province of Central Africa and Japan who were present during the meeting.

Dr Barker said much of the Commission's recent work has come in response to requests from provinces following the 2022 Lambeth Conference. ‘What began as guidance in the guidelines is becoming implementation,’ she said, noting that more provinces are establishing safeguarding policies and practices.

Safe Church - Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Mr Blake said the Commission now stands at an important point in its life. The current terms of reference and the appointments of Commission members conclude at the end of ACC-19, with the Council due to consider a resolution extending the Commission's mandate until ACC-21.

He noted that requests for safeguarding support continue to increase throughout the Communion.‘The question is no longer whether safeguarding matters,’ he said. ‘The question really is how the Safe Church Commission can equip provinces to respond effectively.’

Mr Blake welcomed plans for the Anglican Communion Office to appoint a part-time safeguarding manager but noted that additional financial support would be needed if the Commission is to continue expanding its work beyond 2027.

Following the presentation, ACC Members met in small groups to discuss safeguarding in their own provinces, identifying priorities for strengthening safeguarding, the support they require and ways churches can share resources and experience across the Communion.

Safe Church Commission presents a symbol of Safe Church to The Archbishop of Canterbury

At the conclusion of the presentation, Canon Andrew Khoo invited Mr Blake to make a presentation to The Archbishop of Canterbury of a 'Safeguarding House', to symbolise the importance of safe church culture and practice.

Canon Khoo explained that the model had been developed by safeguarding consultants in Sri Lanka and presented during safeguarding training in Kuala Lumpur last year. Using the image of a house, this model is a tool that illustrates the key elements needed to build a safe church culture.

Garth Blake explained that at its centre are the people the Church seeks to protect, including children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable individuals. The house's foundation represents the biblical mandate to act in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, reflecting the theological basis of safeguarding ministry.

Two pillars support the structure. One symbolises codes of conduct and abuse prevention, while the other represents reporting procedures and appropriate responses when concerns or allegations arise. The roof signifies the protection provided by national laws and international safeguarding standards, which together create the framework within which churches are expected to operate.

He expressed the hope that the model would serve as a visible reminder of the Church's commitment to safeguarding and concluded that when all of these elements work together, 'the people of God in the house will be kept safe'.

The Archbishop of Canterbury: Safe Church work is 'vital'

The Archbishop expressed her thanks to the Commission for its work and reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding. ‘For me, safeguarding is at the heart of the Gospel, and you're absolutely right: it is one of the hardest things that I will shoulder in terms of encouraging us all and working intentionally to make sure that the Church is safer.’

Archbishop Sarah continued, saying ‘I am very grateful for what you have done, and I have seen the way in which the Commission has taken their responsibility seriously over the years. I've seen the way in which, with great care, you have all undertaken this role, and it has been very humbling and a privilege for me to observe first-hand the work that you have undertaken.’

Archbishop Sarah shared that the task of the Safe Church Commission was ongoing and vital and assured them of her ‘continued, intentional support in terms of ensuring our Church is safer. Thank you to the Commission, but particularly to Andrew, Garth, and Kim. Thank you for all that you've done.’

A standing ovation for Garth Blake

At the conclusion of the session, Garth Blake received a standing ovation from the floor of ACC-19 for his outstanding work and service to the ACSCC. 

More information

Learn more about the Safe Church Commission and their resources for churches.

See the latest updates from the 19th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-19) on the event website or Anglican Communion social media channels: Facebook, Instagram and X.