Abuse Reports in Methodist Church Highest in Nottingham and Derby, Says New Research

By Tom Norton
Nottingham Post
May 28, 2015

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Abuse-reports-Methodist-Church-highest-Nottingham/story-26590064-detail/story.html

More cases were reported in Nottingham and Derby than anywhere else in the country

More reports of abuse within the Methodist church were recorded in our region than anywhere else in the country, a publication has revealed.

The Methodist Church in Britain has published findings showing that more than 220 reports of historic abuse were made locally, out of 1,885 cases across the country.

The organisation's general secretary, Reverend Dr Martyn Akins, has issued a full apology to survivors of abuse, calling the findings "a deep source of grief and shame to the Church."

The most common report of abuse related to sexual abuse, of which there were 914 cases in the UK.

Five hundred and sixty-five cases were classified as "other", followed by 245 cases of physical, 207 of emotional, 135 of neglect, 87 of financial, 85 of domestic violence, 76 of institutional, 69 of racial and four of spiritual/ritual.

There were also 126 reports made where the category is "not-stated".

In Nottingham and Derby 225 safeguarding concerns were reported. In some cases, multiple concerns could have been submitted about one individual.

The church has said that a high number does not necessarily indicate more abuse, with at least one other district reporting high numbers because of good record keeping.

Seventy active ministers from Nottingham and Derby were contacted, of which 68 replied.

The independent inquiry was led by Jane Stacey, former deputy chief executive of Barnado's.

She said: "There are many lessons to be learnt, but the most challenging are those that require a significant culture change throughout the church, and particularly for ministers and church leaders. The Church will need further courage to implement the review's recommendations, which are far-reaching and call for major changes in both practice and culture.

"The Methodist Church has already taken measures to improve safeguarding across the Connexion and implementing the learning from this review will be the next step to ensuring that the Church can be a safe place for all."

Across the survey, the majority of safeguarding concerns were reported between 2000-2009, reducing in number by each previous decade - the most reports were made in 2004.

In almost a quarter of all cases ministers or lay person associates were involved.

The news has been released ahead of the Methodist Conference meeting in Southport taking place June 25 to July 2, where the findings will be discussed.

Secretary of the Methodist Conference and general secretary Reverend Dr Martyn Atkins said: "On behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain I want to express an unreserved apology for the failure of its current and earlier processes fully to protect children, young people and adults from physical and sexual abuse inflicted by some ministers in Full Connexion and members of the Methodist Church. That abuse has been inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the Church."

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