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| C O M M I S S I O N S |
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| Introduction |
Church Law |
Doctrine |
Ecumenical Relations |
Episcopal Standards |
Liturgy |
Ministry |
Professional Standards |
Public Affairs |
Women |
Professional Standards Overview
Faithfulness in Service
Faithfulness in Service is the national code for personal behaviour and the practice of pastoral ministry by clergy and pastoral workers. It was approved by the General Synod in October 2004. Since then, it has been revised periodically by the General Synod Standing Committee. The most recent edition (4th edition) was approved in October 2006.
Please note that the national code is protected by provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Members of the Anglican Church of Australia are able reproduce the document provided that copyright is acknowledged. All other inquiries or requests to reproduce or use any material in the code by members of other churches must be made in writing to:
The General Secretary
General Synod Office
The Anglican Church of Australia
Suite 2, Level 9
51 Druitt Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
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National Register
The National Register Canon was first adopted by General Synod in 2004. As development proceeded, implementation of the canon proved challenging and an extensive revision was proposed and agreed by the General Synod in 2007.
The National Register is an essential part of the Church's response to the prevention of child and adult sexual abuse. It provides for a national, transparent and accountable process to ensure appropriate checks are made before all ordinations, licences or appointments are made.
The Register contains only information pertaining to complaints or findings of abuse. Details about the operation of the Register may be found in Canon 15, National Register Canon 2007. Operational instructions for handling of information on the register (input, inquiries, access and disclosure) are provided for in a series of protocols which may be found below.
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Background
The Professional Standards Commission which was established by Canon 6 of 2004. At its March 2005 meeting, the Standing Committee appointed the following people to the Commission for a period of 5 years:
- Mr Garth Blake S.C. [Chair, Sydney]
- Mr Glenn Murray (Sydney)
- Mrs Helen Carrig (Adelaide)
- Mrs Marilyn Redlich (Brisbane)
- Bishop John McIntyre (Gippsland)
- The Revd Canon Tim Spencer (Perth)
- Ms Audrey Mills (Tasmania)
- Ms Dianne Shay (Melbourne)
The Commission is to:
- examine questions of professional standards, safe ministry practices and training, care and support for ordained and authorised lay ministry, referred to it by the Primate, the Standing Committee or the General Synod, and to report thereon to the referring party and the Standing Committee; and
- make recommendations to the Standing Committee on matters relating to professional standards, safe ministry practices and training and care and support for ordained and authorised lay ministry.
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Model System for Lay Parish Church Workers
The Professional Standards Commission has also developed a model system for the selection and accreditation for lay parish church workers. This model was approved by the General Synod Standing Committee in October 2006. A variety of resource materials for dioceses may be downloaded below.
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Model Professional Standards Ordinance
The 13th General Synod in October 2004 encouraged dioceses to pass the model Professional Standards Ordinance along with any amendments suggested by the Standing Committee of General Synod from time to time (Resolution 55/04).
The model Ordinance provides for the adoption of a code of conduct, a series of protocols and an institutional structure for the handling of complaints relating to sexual misconduct for clergy and church workers. This includes the formation and function of a Professional Standards Committee, Director of Professional Standards and the Professional Standards Board.
The model Ordinance and all subsequent amendments approved by the Standing Committee may be downloaded below. Earlier versions of the model Ordinance and all amendments from January 2004 to May 2007 are available from the General Synod Office.
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Pastoral Supervision of Abusers
The General Synod in October 2004 referred to the Professional Standards Commission by Resolution 34/04(c)(ix) and (x):
- the preparation of a model agreement between a known abuser of children or other vulnerable people and church leaders for the involvement of the abuser in the parish or church organisation; and
- model guidelines and resources for the training, functioning and support of accountability and support groups for known abusers within a parish or church organisation.
Furthermore, the General Synod recommended [Resolution 35/04(m)] that each diocese adopts a system of pastoral support and pastoral supervision of known abusers of children or other vulnerable people within a parish or church organisation that includes:
- the entry into an agreement between the abuser and church leaders for the involvement of the abuser in the parish or church organisation; and
- the establishment of an accountability and support group for the abuser.
Consequently, in December 2006 the Commission released the resource entitled Model Guidelines for the Pastoral Supervision and Support of Known and Suspected Sexual Abusers in Parishes for national use. As well as providing information about sexual abuse and some of the attendant theological issues, this resource addresses the pastoral supervision and support of known and suspected sexual abusers. It also includes a template of a Memorandum of Understanding between the abuser, the parish and the diocese.
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Private Confession
The Australian Bishops released a set of pastoral guidelines for private confession with special reference to child sexual abuse in April 2006 called Private Confession, Pastoral Guidelines (April 2006). A report is also available. Download. A report is also available here.
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Episcopal Standards
The Episcopal Standards Commission, which is established by the Special Tribunal Canon 2004, is responsible for the investigation complaints against bishops who are subject to the jurisdiction of the Special Tribunal.
Information about this Commission is available on the Tribunal page.
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Child Protection
The Anglican Church has released the report of a major research project commissioned to help strengthen its child protection protocols The study was prepared by leading child sexual abuse experts, Emeritus Professor Kim Oates AM of the Medical Faculty of the University of Sydney and Professor Patrick Parkinson of the University of Sydney Faculty of Law.
 Download Study of Reported Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church May 2009 Full Report.pdf
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