Safeguarding - Promoting a Safer Church
As a church body at Cork Baptist Church we commit ourselves first to praying to God our Heavenly Father for the nurturing, protection, and safekeeping of all children (meaning all those under 18 years).
We recognise that each child is a gift from God and we uphold the dignity and rights of all children to be protected, treated with respect, listened to and to have their views taken into consideration. The welfare of each child is of paramount importance and is the responsibility of the whole church.
We value and encourage the participation of children in all activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. As a church body we recognise that the main responsibility for children lies with their parents/guardians and so we wish to support and strengthen family life and parental responsibility.
We are committed to working in partnership with parents/guardians to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all children. Parental consent is required for all children participating in activities organised by the church.
The church is committed to carefully selecting, supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children and to providing supervision. Garda vetting of all staff and volunteers working with children is in place. This complies with the statutory requirements of the National Vetting Bureau and all applications are processed through the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland.
The work and ministry with children at Cork Baptist Church is the responsibility of the whole church body and the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement is an on-going process. Everyone has an obligation to keep children safe from harm and to prevent the neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people.
The elders and deacons are mandated persons to report under the Children First Act 2015. Any abuse disclosed, suspected or discovered should be reported to one of the elders or deacons. Any matter brought to their attention will be treated in strict confidence and will only be divulged on a need to know basis. The matter will be handled appropriately and reported under the Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017.
Elders: Peter Kenny, John Nixon, Philip GrantÂ
Deacons: Olwyn Grant, Pleun Maaskant