At Sumner-Redcliffs Anglican Church (SumRed), we take the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and the vulnerable very seriously. All volunteers who serve in ministry areas relating to those who might be deemed vulnerable are regularly police checked (see Volunteer Training and Vetting segment below).
We have also appointed a Safeguarding Officer (SGO) who oversees safeguarding within the parish and works with the Christchurch Diocese to ensure appropriate safeguarding practices are followed. The SGO is also an active member of the Parish Vestry, helping ensure that the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable people remains a priority in the life of the church.
Our current Safeguarding Officer is Hazel. Hazel is discreet, approachable, and has professional experience working with children.
Information about how to contact the Parish SGO, as well as the Ministry Standards Commission, is displayed on posters around our church spaces. The Ministry Standards Commission is an independent body responsible for handling complaints and concerns about conduct within the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
Further information about the Commission can be found online at: https://ministrystandards.org/
You can also use the form below to report a concern directly to both Hazel and the Christchurch Diocesan Safety Team. All submissions are treated confidentially and professionally, and the reporting process intentionally bypasses the parish staff team to ensure transparency and independence.
Any volunteer at SumRed who has ongoing contact with potentially vulnerable people must be licensed for ministry by the Bishop of Christchurch.
To receive a Lay Licence, volunteers must:
Those licensed for ministry within our church include: