The Church in Which We Serve

The face of today’s church is changing in ways that we could never have imagined. In ancient times, the temples were wide open, and both man and beast were welcomed there. That reality is so far removed from modern times, and yet it is mentioned in the Bible so many times. The tax collectors even took up tables in the temple. 

I had the privilege of attending the Church of England Guild of Vergers annual training conference and retreat in August. This was my fourth year attending this conference, and every year I come away with new learnings and new ideas. This year it was easy to draw similarities between the Church of England and the Anglican Church in Canada. One of the sessions was all about safeguarding within the church, and in this regard we are all singing from the same hymn book! 

Our keynote speaker was Hilary Higton, who is the Safeguarding Officer for the Diocese of Worcester. 

She said that we have a commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for worshippers and visitors. As vergers, we have a role in the welcome, care and protection of all who come into a place of worship. 

Some churches are only open on Sundays, but other churches have a specific time when the church is open for visitors. At St. Luke’s, we are open on Thursday mornings. Some churches, like the Cathedral, are open all the time. If this is the case, then who do we encounter first? Is it first-time visitors? Is it regular parishioners? Is it a victim or survivor of some crisis who is looking for solace? It might even be an ex-offender looking for someone to talk to. We don’t know the back story of these individuals. During these visits, it is important to keep an eye out for who we notice. It might be a lost child, or a confused person, or it might even be someone acting inappropriately. But, no matter what, it is our job to create that warm, safe environment and welcome for all who come through the doors. 

During Safeguarding Training, the four “Rs” are emphasized. They are Recognize, Respond, Record, Refer. 

We learn to Recognize: we see that something is not quite right and may seem a little off. We may have to go into pastoral mode. We Respond by being non-judgemental and impartial. We find the right way to say something or to pass information on, perhaps to a member of clergy. We have to take them seriously, and by talking to them we can then suggest that we talk to someone together. 

We need to Record everything they say as soon as possible. It must be factual and accurate. We look at who, when, and where. We then time and date the information and then pass it along to the appropriate person. When we Refer, it might become necessary to call the police or EMS if there is immediate harm. At this point, the rector would also be advised if there is no safeguarding officer in place.  

The Safe Church training conducted by the Diocese of Niagara continues to play an important role in keeping our churches and all who walk through their doors safe, but welcoming. Even if your parish does not have a verger, the sidespeople, greeter or others still play a vital role in welcoming everyone safely and without bias. Our churches are spiritual homes, so let us help those who come with open hearts to lay their hearts before God.