Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly

I wonder what your response was to the news story this week about Geoffrey Bettley.  Bettley is the school teacher who, having been arrested and cautioned by the police for possessing a large number of child porn images on his computer, had been in formed by a professional conduct panel that he could return to his work.  It has been interesting to see the response of the media and of MPs.  It found quite a prominent place within the news so it is unlikely that anyone reading what I am writing will have missed it.  But how did you respond?

Clearly the popular response was that he should not be allowed to return to teaching.  Many are left wondering how the panel involved could take the matter so lightly.  However, my experience in working in the area of child and vulnerable adult safety in churches leads me to suspect that many Christians would have taken a lenient attitude.  The kind of comments I tend to hear are, "Are we not people who believe in forgiveness?  Doesn't God give second chances, so shouldn't we so the same?"

We read in Micah 6:8 that God expects us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.  Loving mercy does not mean being soft on sin; being soft on sin would mean a failure to act justly.  The whole issue of repentance and forgiveness is one of the areas on which I teach in various aspects of my own regular involvement in helping churches and Christian leaders to understand the nature of sexual abuse, the practise of grooming and abuse, ad the pastoral care of those who have been victims.

I am aware that there are sometimes 'grey areas', but on the Bettley situation and the evidence of what was stated in the press I would certainly not want to see him back working with children.  I am glad to see he has stated clearly that he will not do so.  The high profile of his case is likely to make it impossible anyway.

An act of sexual abuse can have a serious and long lasting impact on the primary victim, as well as impact many others.  For that reason careful management is vital.  Risk should be avoided which is why past offenders, no matter how minor their offence are flagged up to potential employers or those who run voluntary organisations involving children or vulnerable adults.  Occasionally the system might not bar someone but draw attention to a past incident on record.  It is on these occasions that a decision has to be made by a panel, whose difficult task is to seek a just outcome.  It is not easy.

What should be done, for example if the offence might appear to have been less serious, a once only offence a very long time ago - perhaps during the time when the offender was a juvenile or still immature?  Where the offender admitted what was done and taken their punishment at that time, and clearly repented, is it right that one slip should mar their future lives and employment or service prospects?  For Christians there is the added dimension of combining legal requirements with our own understanding of forgiveness.  But there is a significant misunderstanding about forgiveness.

My own understanding is that no third party, other than God, can forgive someone for what they have done to another person.  If A offends against B what right has C to decide to forgive them?  But in many of our churches that is precisely the situation; C decides that A should be forgiven and presses B to do so also.  But I do not believe that God forgives unconditionally.  He requires repentance, so shouldn't we also?  But many victims where abuse has taken place in a Christian context never see evidence of real repentance let alone an apology.  Real repentance means a humble and open acknowledgement of the wrong, a full apology, and an acceptance of its consequences.

All too often, where an abused person has chosen to forgive their abuser it has provided an opportunity for the abuser to repeat his or her crimes with others.  Sexual abuse can often become habitual and even addictive behaviour.  Bettley had visited child porn sites more than once over a period of time.  So in my view this is not a grey area.  However, grey areas do exist and serving on a panel that seeks to act justly while managing risk to others will remain a difficult task. Each situation requires an informed judgement and in most cases that information will remain partial.  But what is formally required of an appointed panel sometimes comes informally to church leaders and sometimes whole congregations.  Refusal to judge is a judgement itself, and  the quality of our judgement is something that will be judged by God.

If you want to explore the subject further you can order copies of Time for Action from me for £7.95 post free.  For Anglicans there is another title on which I also worked, Responding Well, available from Church House Bookshop and is downloadable.  I am always ready to provide confidential advice or to offer helpful sessions for churches, clergy groups, and similar.

News in brief

We had an encouraging trustees meeting for Sunrise Ministries (the charity within which my rural ministry and mission is conducted).  Although faced with some difficulties the trustees maintain a confident attitude that is very enabling to my colleague and myself and those who work alongside us.

My time with the lads at HMP Gartree on Tuesday was another encouragement.  They worked hard and produced some wonderful outcomes as we look forward to the opportunity this coming week.

I spent Friday and Saturday with other line managers of mission worker and Area officers of the Congregational Federation.  It was time well spent and very good fellowship.  The same can be said for the Area Executive meeting on Friday evening.

Give thanks for so much encouragement.

From this week's diary

Sunday 9th  Yelvertoft Congregational Church

Tuesday 11th In the morning I meet with Rebecca, the Children and Families worker for whom I am line manager.  In the afternoon i will be working in HMP Gartree.

Wednesday 12th late afternoon/early evening the choir will be singing and acting plus two other musical contributions before an invited group of prisoners and various staff and voluntary workers.  This is the choir's opportunity to offer something good to others.

Friday 14th I am going into hospital for minor surgery and will than take the following week off.

As always please pray that our ministry will be guided by the Lord and that he will bless his word, drawing people closer to himself.  Please also pray that God will supply all we need spiritually and materially.  We give thanks for his great goodness.

Barry