Safeguarding 2025 – ‘Action Speaks Louder’

Safeguarding at St George’s

Safeguarding Sunday this year is 16 November 2025
This year’s theme is
‘Action Speaks Louder’

The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church.
Everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a Safer Church for all.
House of Bishops, Promoting a Safer Church, 2017

Safeguarding is the responsibility of us all

https://stgeorgesbeckenham.co.uk/safeguarding/

Churches are encouraged to not just reflect but also act on improving safeguarding practices,
learning from where they may have got things wrong.
To build on the ways they are supporting those who have been hurt,
and highlight all the good work being done behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people.
In the face of overwhelming stories about abuse in churches,
the day creates a fantastic opportunity to show your community that you take safeguarding seriously
as an outworking of your faith in a just and loving God.
It’s a day of hope, demonstrating that good news stories do exist, and your churches are one of them!

James 2. 14 – 17 (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?
Surely that faith cannot save, can it? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

When people have a relationship with God it makes a difference in their lives. A living faith leads to actions of love with those in need.

A Kyrie confession

For times when we have failed to see
when people may have felt unsafe.
Lord, have mercy.

For those occasions when we have not listened effectively
to those in distress or danger.
Christ, have mercy.

For times when we have seen and heard
but have failed to act in order to keep others safe.
Lord, have mercy.

Forgive our laziness and indifference and ignorance;
and create in us a new spirit of responsibility and responsiveness,
for the sake of your people and for the extension of your kingdom. Amen.