Safeguarding
Safeguarding is integral to our Christian witness, and it underpins every aspect of our ministry, governance and community life. This report outlines key developments, training and awareness initiatives, incident management, and learning arising from concerns raised. It also highlights areas of strength and identifies priorities for further improvement, ensuring that safeguarding remains robust, responsive and centred on the care and protection of children, young people and adults at risk. While the bulk of our safeguarding focus has been on these categories, the Charity Commission emphasises the reality that safeguarding is not limited to children and adults at risk, but involves a duty of care to everybody with whom we come into contact.
Policy and Procedures Update
A primary responsibility of the BUC Safeguarding Lead is to ensure that the policy and procedures are kept up to date in line with the Government’s policies. This ongoing work is carried out by the BUC Safeguarding Advisory. This work has been ongoing throughout the quinquennium.
To facilitate ease of use, separate policy documents have been produced for the constituent countries of the UK, reflecting their nuanced application of safeguarding procedures.
Adults at Risk of Harm
Recognising that our policy and procedures are heavily weighted towards child protection rather than vulnerable adults, we have produced a stand-alone policy and procedures document for adults at risk of harm. An accompanying PowerPoint seminar has been created to supplement our existing training materials.
Domestic Abuse
The department also promotes the BUC’s policy and procedures on domestic abuse. Under the theme ‘Safe at Home’, the policy and procedures call for us to combat abuse in all its various forms. They provide guidance and support to help church leaders and congregants fulfil our shared responsibility to create a safe environment for all family members within our homes.
To create greater awareness of the reality of abuse, the department utilises a 10-part short video series outlining the dynamics of abusive relationships with guidance on how to respond. These are accessible on the BUC Safeguarding website.
The department supported and promoted the EndItNow initiative. It represents the church’s public, educational and advocacy expression of the same principles that safeguarding formalises through policy, training and accountability. EndItNow provided several opportunities for collaboration between Safeguarding and Women’s Ministries through speaking engagements and seminars.
Training
Throughout the term, safeguarding training has been provided and supported for the missions and conferences, both in person and online, for designated safeguarding officers and their teams and Children’s Ministries leaders.
BUTREC & New Ministers’ Induction
Training for ministers involved orientation on our policy and procedures, as well as specific training addressing the concerns raised in the Government’s 2021 Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings report. Ministers were also signposted to free online training tailored to religious leaders.
To increase access to training, the department has invested in online, self-directed training modules.
Resources
A series of leaflets has been created to raise awareness and educate members about the different aspects of safeguarding. Posters have also been created for display in local churches, signifying our stance against abuse, summarising our policy, and identifying the church’s designated safeguarding lead and safeguarding team.
Response to Revelations of Non-Recent Abuse
In October 2024, revelations of non-recent abuse rocked the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the British Union to its foundations. The fallout galvanised a response to address the reports in the national press and provide reassurance to our membership. The crisis necessitated a robust review of our policies and procedures and how effectively they were implemented.
A crisis-management committee was set up to coordinate a response to the Channel 4 revelations, ensuring that the BUC acted ethically, transparently and with due regard for victims, stakeholders and the public interest.
A safeguarding serious incident review committee (SSIRC) was formed to seek to understand any incident, assess the effectiveness of safeguarding practice, and identify learning and improvement actions.
A compliance review was undertaken to ascertain the degree to which the member units and institutions within the ecclesiastical organisational structure, as set out in the BUC’s constitution, were compliant with the implementation of the BUC’s safeguarding policy.
A safeguarding review panel was established to review our policy and propose a process for the Union and its territory to follow in relation to non-recent abuse disclosures.
In February 2025, a Safeguarding Summit was convened, bringing together church leaders and members from across the Union to develop awareness of the critical importance of safeguarding through education, dialogue and real-world case studies. It aimed to equip all attendees with the knowledge, tools and strategies to foster a culture of safety and accountability across our territory.
Challenges
Safeguarding in a church context has been hindered by several obstacles, including misplaced trust, deference to authority, and a desire to protect the church’s reputation rather than prioritising individuals’ welfare. Informal cultures, blurred boundaries between pastoral care and professional responsibility, and reliance on volunteers have reduced consistency and accountability.
Limited safeguarding knowledge, inadequate training, and fear of getting things wrong have discouraged people from raising concerns. Additionally, theological misunderstandings about forgiveness, grace or reconciliation have unintentionally minimised people’s reports of harm or silenced those who have been hurt, undermining effective safeguarding practice.
Looking Forward
Safeguarding will benefit from the appointment of a dedicated full-time National Safeguarding Lead detached from departmental responsibilities.
As the church looks ahead to the next five years, safeguarding must remain a visible, embedded and continually developing priority. Governance and accountability will be strengthened through a regular review of safeguarding policies, clear reporting lines and consistent oversight by senior leadership and trustees.
Safeguarding training will move beyond compliance to foster confidence and professionalism among clergy, staff and volunteers, with role-specific and refresher training embedded into ministerial formation and volunteer development.
Strengthening training pathways will be a priority, ensuring that every volunteer, leader and staff member receives consistent, scenario‑based learning that reflects emerging risks and best practices.
Investing in digital safeguarding tools – secure reporting systems, data‑tracking dashboards and accessible resources – will help the department respond swiftly and transparently to concerns.
Internally, safeguarding will remain embedded in every ministry area, from children’s work to pastoral care to governance. This means equipping leaders to model safe behaviours, encouraging open conversations about boundaries, and ensuring that safeguarding considerations are incorporated into all strategic planning.
Looking ahead, the department should prioritise survivor engagement, creating structured opportunities for people’s lived experience to shape policy, training and culture.
Regular audits, reflective practice sessions and transparent communication will help maintain trust and demonstrate the church’s commitment to continuous improvement.
As we step into the next five years, our mission is clear: to create communities where safety is nurtured, trust is restored, and every individual can flourish in the love and protection of Christ.
Appreciation
I am grateful to all my colleagues in the conferences and missions for the support we have given each other. I am especially appreciative of the support from my colleagues at the Union, especially during particularly challenging periods. I also pay tribute to all the local volunteer leaders who have given their time and energy to support safeguarding.
The department has benefited from the professionalism, expertise and commitment of our administrative assistants, Abigail Wright-Stephenson and Kathleen Hanson.
Thanks be to God for the opportunity to be a co-worker with Him in safeguarding our church.