Our readings this week are Hebrews 10:11-25, and Mark 13:1-8.

This weekend is Safeguarding Sunday, which is somewhat apposite given the events of the last week. Justin Welby has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury, following the publication of the independent review into the case of John Smyth, taking “personal and institutional responsibility” for another major historic failure of safeguarding. This situation is uncomfortable for all of us, but especially painful for victims and survivors of abuse within the Church and elsewhere. The painful truth is that predatory, abusive behaviour is a part of our history, and something we are called to eradicate in our present. In the passage from Hebrews this week, the writer explores the nature of God’s relationship with His people in ways that speak to this calling, encouraging us to work toward a genuine commitment to the flourishing of all. This commitment is not about begrudgingly following policies; it is a way of living and being together. In verse 16, we’re told that the foundational commitment at the heart of our relationship with God – His ‘covenant’ with us – is meant to be a part of who we are, not just a checklist of behaviours: “This is the covenant that I will make with them … I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” The author is describing a new way of living being discovered in Christain faith in which relationship with God is not mediated through rigid obedience to rules carved into stone tablets, but born from the presence of Christ in our hearts. Being in Christ in this way leads to a conforming of our desires, words, and actions to His purposes of love, care, compassion, and reconciliation. We know from the overwhelming scriptural, historical, and lived evidence that the protection of the vulnerable in our churches and society (which at times includes all of us) is very much a part of that purpose, and something deep in the heart of God. If we are to build safe communities, then that work starts in our own hearts, long before we get anywhere near a DBS, CDF, or any vetting process. This is not to downplay the importance of these systems, but they must rest on a deep, heartfelt commitment to each other's wellbeing, rooted in God’s purposes and our identity in Him. This foundation is necessary so that those who engage with the formal processes do so with eagerness and desire, not resentment and frustration. It’s also essential so that these formal processes are an integrated part of a much wider, shared commitment, allowing them to fulfil their purpose. Most importantly, though, this foundation ensures that every member of our churches, whether they interact with the formal processes or not, embodies the reality they are meant to protect: healthy, safe, mutually encouraging communities, in which every member looks out for each other. We have not always got it right, and tragically, we probably won’t always get it right. In the gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that wars, troubles, and rumours of them will be part of human history to its end, and he reminds us that all institutions are fallible and passing. He tells his disciples that even the stones of the mighty temple of Jerusalem, the anchor point of religious and political stability, will be cast down. It must have been for them an unsettling thought. We also live, as humans always have, in unsettling times, in which the institutions we trust can fail us, and the securities we take for granted and rely upon can be suddenly and abruptly shaken or even destroyed. But these passages also remind us that, even amidst uncertainlty, failure, and sin, we carry hope. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we worship a God of forgiveness, and we trust in a future in which all sins can be forgiven; in the words of verse 17, ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ Yet we must remember that this hope resides in a future in which all things have been reconciled and perfected, it is not yet fully realised. It is something we recognise as our destination, but it is not our current location. It is not, and cannot be, an excuse for hiding or dismissing our failures to protect those who have needed it. It is not, and cannot be, a license to overlook wrongdoing, past, present, or future. The Church, as a community and as an institution, must confront its shortcomings openly and strive for integrity. At the same time, as individuals and institutions, we cannot allow ourselves to be defined by the moments in which we have failed – we are drawn always to look to the glory that is before us. We have a vision of the future, which therefore calls us to transformation in the present, as we seek to bring into being in the here and now the justice of the time to come. If we accept that challenge, we can walk forward together, each contributing what we have to offer, drawn by hope, not driven by fear, or immobilised by failure.

  As the Church – the body of Christ – in a wounded world, we are called to be communities of hope, building spaces that reflect the light of heaven to come on a foundation of love and protection for all. Our churches should be refuges from harm and places of healing. This Safeguarding Sunday, I ask you to join us, from the bottom of your heart, in committing to do all that you can to make that happen. In the words of Hebrews, ‘let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering… and let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.’ I am mindful that many reading this may have been affected by some of the issues raised. If that is the case, please reach out for help. Our pastoral team can be contacted at pastoralteam@caytonparish.org, or for any current or historical safeguarding issues, please email safeguarding@caytonparish.org, vicar@caytonparish.org, or linda@caytonparish.org. A copy of Responding Well: A Guide to Support for Victims and Survivors of Church-Based Abuse is available here and in print at the back of our churches. You can also find phone numbers for immediate support and more on our safeguarding process just here.