Safer Theology for a Safer Church

 If I had more time and expertise, here is a little outline of some things I'd like to do a bit more thinking about:

Safer Theology for a Safer Church? Theological and Practical Reflections on Safeguarding and The Church of England

 

All Christians must be ever vigilant of their life and doctrine but there is a clear need for The Church of England to think and act better regarding safeguarding at the current moment. Some of these issues relate in particular to my own corner of the evangelical tribe within the C of E.

 

Theological Foundations

 

() The dignity and worth of all people as such

 

First things first: Genesis 1-3

 

Theological anthropology and two things at once: totally depraved and totally loved

 

() The evangelistic and pastoral responsibilities of the church

 

Being good news

 

Light Shepherds

 

The rights of individuals: rejecting pastoral oversight and rejecting Jesus

 

() The protective and corrective responsibilities of the state

 

Some particular controversial issues of the moment

 

() Does spiritual abuse exist?

 

Abuse is abuse

 

Abuse is complex: context, nature and methods matter

 

() The New Testament concern for the reputation of the church with outsiders: ought there to be a tension between protecting the people and protecting God’s work?

 

God’s work and our empires

 

True blamelessness: above reproach not covered up

 

Truth and light

 

() Should safeguarding be independent?

 

Everyone’s responsibility

 

Who should do this work and how?

 

Accountable to whom?

 

The peculiar polity of the Church of England

 

Further theological and practical issues

 

() Conservative evangelical strengths and weaknesses

 

-          Women

-          Homosexuality

-          Penal substitutionary atonement

-          Class, old boys and old school ties

 

Conclusion: safeguarding as a gospel issue