Child Protection

Code of Practice

1. The Anglican Independent Communion Worldwide promulgates herewith a Code of Practice to protect children and vulnerable adults coming onto contact with clergy and other church workers.

2. All persons seeking Holy Orders, or licensing as a Lay Minister in the Anglican Independent Communion must produce a current Positive Notice ‘Blue Card’ for Child Related Employment.

3. No person registered on the Sex Offenders Register will be admitted to any ministry position or position of responsibility with children or young people in the Anglican Independent Communion.

4. No practising homosexual man or woman will be admitted to any ministry position or position of responsibility with children or young people in the Anglican Independent Communion. The Anglican Independent Communion welcomes all of God's children to worship irrespective of sexuality, but does not believe that practising homosexuals provide a Godly example to vulnerable people in leadership roles.

5. No minister of the Anglican Independent Communion will give religious instruction or otherwise minister to any child unless they are accompanied by a second responsible adult. That responsible adult need not be a parent or normal carer of the child, as there are occasions where children and young people wish to discuss with a priest matters which they do not wish to discuss with their parent or normal carer.

6. No minister of the Anglican Independent Communion will run any kind of youth activity unless they are accompanied by a second responsible adult. Where the group is of both sexes, the supervising adults must include at least one of each sex. Where such a group meets, a Register of Attendance will be kept which will be signed by every person taking part in the activity on each occasion that they participate.

7. Ministers of the Anglican Independent Communion will not put themselves in circumstances which may facilitate false allegations against them, such as giving children lifts to worship or events when unaccompanied.

8. Ministers of the Anglican Independent Communion undertake to abide by the Child protection policies of other organisations within which they are called upon to work or minister.

9. The Child Protection Officer for the Communion shall be nominated by the Metropolitan Archbishop, and shall be responsible directly to the Metropolitan Archbishop for child protection issues.

The Child Protection Officer, to whom all queries should be addressed is the local AIC Bishop.