The one thing that can be safely said in the wake of the distressing safeguarding issues reported on pages 6-8 is that almost any words written anywhere in en about these matters will prompt someone, somewhere, to disagree – possibly quite vehemently.
That, in itself, is a disturbing symptom of how fractious and indeed fracturing the fallout from these investigations has thus far been in some (if not all) parts of the conservative evangelical constituency, especially among some Anglicans. How Satan must be rejoicing, not only over the awful acts that have been perpetrated in the name of Christ by those at the centre of these scandals, but also over the way people have turned on one another in its aftermath.
Survivors
If there is one thing – among others – that everyone perhaps could agree, it is that New Testament love must be integral in what happens next. First of all, there must be genuine love – not just words – for the victims and survivors of these abusers. It seems too often there has been a lot of talk about survivors – but not enough talking with them, especially by those who could and should have acted sooner to listen to them in the first place. Are there those reading this who could do with picking up a phone to get in touch with those survivors whose concerns – it is now apparent – were for far too long ignored?