In the middle
Day two of the conference and as is usual we have a break in the afternoon, normally I dislike these breaks not least because we are expected to work into the evening which I find difficult. But this time it’s different as it gives me time to write this blog – yes I will get a life one day!
We’ve had an intersting day thus far with two bishops reflecting on two different aspects of safeguarding. The first raised the issue that too many systems often stop people from thinking for themselves which can lead to the thought that if the boxes are crossed then we have done all we need to do. Obviously this is not the case, partiucalrly in safeguarding, as we need to be able to think outside the box (or silo as Bishop Stephen says) in order to think the unthinkable.
The other bishop raised the issue of forgiveness and how this is not a one off event but something we need to work at whether survivor, perpetrator or non-abusing family/friend/community. The idea of expecting the survivor to forgive immediatley is a wrong one and echoes what I have thought that we need to stop putting pressure on people to forgive and begin to listen to them and hear what they are saying about their hurt. We also need to be aware of how some feel less of a Chrisitan because they cannot forgive and that some times Christian teaching underpins this feeling. Again we need to be willing to listen and to try to understand the dilemmas others are having.
There were lots of other issues in the talks and the following small groups and workshops but not enough space here to mention them all. I suppose the theme from this morning has been that of listening and being open. Not a bad one to have in general
Nearly time for afternoon tea and, obviously, deep theological deabtes!
