In the second of two articles following the Makin Report into abuse in the Church of England, Sharon Barr, the URC’s Safeguarding Lead outlines the biblical values seen in good safeguarding practice

The Makin Report, which was an independent review into the Church of England’s handling of allegations of abuse by the late John Smyth, was a stark reminder of the failings of the Church in safeguarding the most vulnerable. It gave examples of how safeguarding concerns were overlooked, mishandled and downplayed. This was not just a failure of culture, governance and procedure, but a failure to live out our Christian calling to reflect God’s justice, mercy and love, protecting the vulnerable, preventing abuse and speaking out.

As a Christian denomination, this reminds us that while our response to safeguarding matters ensures compliance with governance requirements and the laws of the land, it should also be grounded in biblical teachings. As the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the United Reformed Church, coming to the denomination from a social work background, I feel honoured to be able to bring together my professional background and my Christian faith with a great sense of responsibility that the two should align….

Sharon Barr is the United Reformed Church’s Safeguarding Lead

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This is an extract from an article published in the Issue 2 – 2025 edition of Reform

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