Child Safety Standards: Theological Foundations

The LCANZ Commission on Theology and Inter-church Relations has produced a very helpful document outlining the theological foundations for our work with the Child Safety Standards. The full document can be found HERE (next to Bishop Paul’s video).

Over the next few editions of Vic/Tas e-news, we will be looking at Biblical texts which support each Standard. Importantly, these Biblical texts are relevant to ALL areas of safe ministry.

Standard One: Our Culture, Leadership and Governance are Child Safe.

This standard is vitally important because it sets the tone for everything we do.

The LCA Child Safety Standard reads:
“Child safety is embedded in the culture, leadership, and governance of our congregation.
Our congregation prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and demonstrates this through all levels of its leadership.
Our congregation has no tolerance for child abuse in any form.”

Supporting Biblical texts:

God’s word reminds us that all life is valued but that human life holds a special place in God’s kingdom (Genesis 1:27,28a; Isaiah 43:4).

After the advent of sin in the world, the Bible repeatedly lifts up the vulnerable as due special attention: the poor, the widow, the orphans (Exodus 22:22,23; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 82:3,4; Jeremiah 22:3).

Indeed, God himself is the ‘Father of orphans and protector of widows’ (Psalm 68:5).

The church has inherited that same culture of care for the vulnerable (Matthew 25:34–40; Acts 6:1–3; James 1:27).

Leaders are especially tasked with promoting and upholding this culture of care (Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Matthew 25:34–40).

Notably, when speaking to his disciples, Jesus identifies himself with children (Matthew 18:5), shows care and concern for them (Mark 10:14–16) and strongly warns against ‘putting a stumbling block before one of these little ones’ (Matthew 18:6).