Encounter October/November 2016 by Anglican Diocese of Newcastle

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 FREE

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Bishop Greg: Finding a Way Home Domestic & Family Violence Animal Welfare: With Eyes of Love

Finding a way home BISHOP GREG THOMPSON bishopgreg@newcastleanglican.org.au

In Darlinghurst, a man with a broken leg, a crutch and a pink elephant stood outside my Rectory gate wanting money for his pet dogs. "A friend" he said was to take him home from hospital after breaking his leg, instead he took a taxi into Sydney CBD, only then to be taken by the taxi driver to Kings Cross Police Station as he had no money for the fare. After overnighting in the police cell, he had made his way to me. Helplessness can be endemic, finding a way home a creative experience â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even a pink elephant to lever mercy.

We may find ourselves like this man when our spiritual, mental and emotional resources are exhausted, and knocking on "heaven's door" for a way home. This sometimes is not simply because of a crisis but a whole series of transitions and decisions that lead us into a life "impasse". Helplessness is a disorientating experience. We may wrestle with matters that we have no power to resolve by ourselves, and we enter an impasse dispossessed of all our learning, skill and influence to make a way forward out of it. Belden Lane wrote "in a genuine impasse one's accustomed way of acting and living is brought to a standstill. The left side of the brain, with its usual application of linear, analytical, conventional thinking is ground to a halt. The impasse forces us to start all over

again, driving us to contemplation. On the other hand, the impasse provides a challenge and a concrete focus for contemplation, it forces the right side of the brain into gear, seeking intuitive, symbolic, unconventional answers, so that action can be renewed eventually with greater purpose."

"On hearing the history of abuse towards children and the church's profound failure to attend to the survivor requests for help and recognition, we may feel unable to adequately respond and feel it's beyond our powers to resolve." On hearing the history of abuse towards children and the church's profound failure to attend to the survivor requests for help and recognition, we may feel unable to adequately respond and feel it's beyond our powers to resolve. We may also have anger and fear and enter the bewildering state of not knowing what to do, yet feeling responsible to

do something. As people of faith we wrestle ourselves and God over how to act, yet out of the dark night often come possibilities not imagined before.

Wendy lived with her husband outside of Winton, running a large sheep property by herself, as her husband was often away working to help pay the bills. During drought times water could be drawn from the deep bore on their station to water stock. Each day she would check these water holes for bogged sheep. Weakened by lack of fodder, the sheep would find their way into the bog and not be able to get out. One day, after many days of trying to keep going, Wendy pulled out a sheep bogged in a waterhole. Having got it out of the mud, the sheep turned around and went back in - only for it to collapse and die. Back in the vehicle covered in mud having removed the sheep's carcass from the bog, Wendy said looking at her hands "Is this all there is, God?" Immobilised by her circumstances, she began to pray honest heartfelt life changing prayers. The Jacob story in Genesis 32, takes up this theme of helplessness and impasse. For Jacob who learnt at an early age to help himself with his brother Esau's birthright "blessing", helplessness is not an experience that sits lightly. He hears that his brother Esau was pursuing him and we read Gen 32:21 "Jacob got up and took his two wives, two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford

at Jabbok." It is a context of personal threat and of unresolved history catching up with Jacob.

This story tracks the providence of God even when the world seems to threaten hope. It concerns the grace of God when there seems no room for change and no let up from burdens of the past and present. It is about the boundless capacity of God to work within fragile humanity even when it may feel totally inadequate and helpless.

Jacob remains alone in the night in order to face God, his fear and the demons of his own making. We read; "Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." This wrestling with a "man" is curious and mysterious. The text is not so much interested in the nature of the man or his name but in the wrestling and in its outcome.

The wrestling changes Jacob physically and he is given a limp. The ancient world always sees the physical in direct relationship with the spiritual. Perhaps the limp is a sign of the character flaws, of his inability to trust God and of the woundings he has brought into his relationships. From the struggle Jacob seeks blessing. He wants God to redeem his life, to do what he is unable to do for himself. And is this not our desire too for survivors, perpetrators and our church?

In the writing of St John of the Cross, impasse or "dark night of the soul" is explored poetically. The writer moves from twilight to midnight to dawn, a gradual transformation of the person through what is cherished or desired and through what gives security and support. The writings reveal that we are affected by darkness where we are most deeply involved and committed, and in what we love and care for most. Love makes us vulnerable, and it is love itself and its development that precipitates darkness in oneself and in the "other" whom we love. We all need a level of satisfaction in order to begin and remain in prayer, relationship, ministry, but it is in the withdrawal of satisfaction and the confrontation with limitation (ours and others) that signals the transition, the impasse or

dark night. In the night, we are being challenged to make the passage from loving, serving, "being with", because of the pleasure and joy it gives us, to loving and serving regardless of the cost. Every God relationship, every significant human love, every human group and every nation, will come to this point of impasse, with its intrinsic demands for and promise of a new vision, a new experience of God, a deeper, freer more committed love. And it will come precisely when imagination seems paralysed, when intimacy seems eroded, and when desire feels dead. It is in this time that we must withdraw and reclaim our projections of God, of friend, of ministry, of community, and let others be who and what they are: mystery, made in God's image (with adaptation of Constance Fitzgerald â&#x20AC;&#x201C; "Impasse and Dark Night").

The ground of this dark night, this powerlessness, is resurrection. For dark night is a sign of life, of growth of development, it is a sign to move forward in hope to a new vision, a new experience.

Out from the wrestling, Jacob is truly blessed and named Israel, "the one who prevailed". God did not abandon him to his helplessness, did not destroy him because of his self-centred scheming. Jacob in his dark night met God who held him and sustained his life in the face of threat and uncertainty. He found his way home, he found how to stand up.

As the Diocese faces the past and shapes a healthy future there is a momentum underway through the dark night leaning into light and into hope. We are called to pray in that place;

O God, with whom we wrestle until break of day: Make us long to seek your face Beyond the limits of our strength, That in our wounds we remember you, And in your blessing we may find ourselves; Through Jesus Christ. Amen. +Gregory

"This story tracks the providence of God even when the world seems to threaten hope. It concerns the grace of God when there seems no room for change and no let up from burdens of the past and present."

IN THIS EDITION 2 Bishop Greg: Finding a Way Home 4

Reflections

Life of an Archdeacon

6 Topics 8

Royal Commission

Domestic & Family Violence

With Eyes of Love

Thinking About Faith

A Word From Our Chaplains: Kim Miller

The Role of Grandmothers

21 SRE 22

AW Spring Celebrations

Dates for Your Diary

Around the Diocese

Puzzle & Recipe

31 Survey The Anglican Encounter, the magazine of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, is published bi-monthly from February to December. The Anglican Encounter is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. CONTACT DETAILS PO Box 817 Newcastle NSW 2300 P: 02 4926 3733 F: 02 4926 1968 E: editor@newcastleanglican.org.au www.newcastleanglican.org.au PRODUCTION TEAM Editor/Designer: Louise Mackay Publisher: The Rev'd Murray Woolnough Editorial Committee: Robyn Ashley-Brown, Kath Dockrill, Rachel Yates Proofreaders: Kath Dockrill, Pat Dring, Barbara Sweet, Judith Weaver, Pamela Lusty PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION Printer: Revesby Press, Sydney Distribution: House With No Steps, Newcastle SUBSCRIPTIONS Local $30 per year; Overseas $40 AUD per year. To subscribe send your name, address and a cheque made out to the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, to The Editor, PO Box 817, Newcastle NSW 2300. ADVERTISING Advertise with us - great rates. Contact the editor for a rate card and bookings. The Editor is not responsible for opinions expressed by contributors, nor do their views necessarily reflect the policy of this paper or of the Diocese. Acceptance of advertisements does not necessarily mean endorsement of product or service. CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME The Editor and Editorial Committee welcome contributions of stories and photographs for consideration for publication. The Editor and Editorial Committee reserve the right to edit or cut all submitted material. Submissions can be emailed to the Editor (please send images as high res JPEG or TIFF attachments). Articles should be a maximum of 250 words and are not guaranteed publication. Please supply your contact details. Next Deadline: November 4, 2016

REFLECTIONS

Identifying the values and virtues of a healthy future BISHOP PETER STUART bishoppeter@newcastleanglican.org.au

Over the last month I have had the opportunity to give three talks which have helped me reflect on the values and virtues that will contribute our healthy future as a Diocese. In preparing those talks I have been able to draw on a range of experts writing in related fields. It has reminded me that there are many resources we can draw on to name the values and virtues that will guide our decision making and ministry practices. In August I had the chance to speak with some of the deacons and priests serving in ordained local ministry. I said to them, "I recognise that you are pioneers. Nearly ten years ago you were invited to lead and resource a specific way of being church and you said yes! You were at the heart of an exciting change in the Diocese." The context of our conversation was a learning day with the Rev'd Robin Greenwood for those in ordained local ministry. I wanted to value these women and men were pioneers of change in the Diocese for they were prepared to lead us into new territory. I also wanted to encourage them as pioneers in shaping our healthy future as a Diocese. They were ready to do this.

The pioneering work of collaborative ministry was a crucial part of culture change in the Diocese. It was based on the desire to be a missional church and a

church where every member delights in being a disciple of Jesus Christ and using their God-given gifts in service of others. Robin Greenwood continues to speak of collaboration in the church as echoing God's trinitarian life. In collaboration we build many partnerships – young and old, rich and poor, people of differing backgrounds, laity and ordained – accepting all, in their differences, having vitality and equal value. Another context of our conversation was the local hearings of the Royal Commission. No one was unaffected by the depth of suffering that had been exposed nor by the failure of the church to respond appropriately. In my view collaborative ministry helps us face the past because we have decided and acted to be different as a Diocese.

In September, I had the chance to reflect on my responsibility over the last 3½ years, like many others, of assisting our church respond to the Royal Commission. I said that over the last 20 years parts of our church had learnt a lot about how we should respond to the reality of abuse in our midst. For me, the most significant and recurring learning has been that the survivor of abuse should be placed first in our thinking. Whenever I write about the experience of abuse I recall the names, faces, conversations and writing of these brave people. There is a lot of very helpful literature about responding appropriately and well to survivors. We learn from these resources that women and men have the right to be believed, the right to be treated with dignity, respect, sensitivity and understanding, the right to privacy

In my view collaborative ministry helps us face the past because we have decided and acted to be different as a Diocese. 4

and confidentiality and the right of adults to exercise control over decisions affecting them. In a vivid sense, these practices become markers of our character or signposts to our values. They communicate to present and future children that we have learnt and that we want them to be safe.

A few days later I had the chance to reflect with one of our organisations about the virtues that should shape our working life. Drawing on some academic work I suggested that virtues capture our highest aspirations as human beings as well as promoting resilience. I suggested that if we embrace virtuous practices we have resources that help us promote good/healthy outcomes and resources to protect against negative consequences. I used some of the material that Bishop Greg shared with the Synod in 2014 when he explored how the idea of virtues might guide our diocesan life. Again, drawing from academic work, he reminded us of six key virtues present in the scriptures • • • • • •

Faith - a relationship with God or that which gives a person meaning; Courage - the ability to engage uncertainty with dignity in the face of opposition;

Compassion - all that enables us to recognise, be with and respond to people in suffering; Integrity - the practices that promote honesty and protect us from excess;

Justice - the pursuit of what enables healthy community and the common good; Wisdom - the journey of acquiring and applying knowledge.

There is a great array of resources that will help define and describe the road ahead. We face the past and take the good from it. We learn from others and set our course on a creative, healing, lifegiving road as we shape a healthy future.

Life of an Archdeacon THE VENERABLE CHARLIE MURRY ARCHDEACON FOR THE UPPER HUNTER The Upper Hunter has an archdeacon who lives in the southeast corner of the region. To drive from Singleton to Murrurundi or Merriwa takes about the same time as Newcastle to Woy Woy.

The difference is there's only Denman parish to pass through on the way to Merriwa from Singleton, Muswellbrook roughly at the centre of our constellation and Scone on the way to Murrurundi. We're a large area with a small population. That population is concentrated in the southeast, a bit analogous to the diocese as a whole.

Although traditionally considered rural, each of the six Upper Hunter parishes has a distinct character and every parish seeks to serve a mixed economy: families who have lived in each district for generations, more recent arrivals who stay indefinitely and households like latest army family to arrive in Singleton. They are Lutherans from El Paso, Texas. Unable to find any Lutherans, they looked for Episcopalians and discovered their Anglican relatives are OK. Their sojourn will last the usual two years. Holding traditional Christendom expectations and experimental dimensions of ministry in creative tension is proving to be the blessing and challenge of ministry in the Upper Hunter in this epoch. Merriwa and Murrurundi offer two contrasting illustrations. Murrurundi has a fairly stable census population of 847 people perched between the highway and the hills. The regular congregation might just include the highest proportion of the general community of any parish in the diocese. In Murrurundi the resourcing team and diocesan services have partnered to ensure buildings and land are there to support ministry. This includes

contingencies like patiently working through the almost comically clichĂŠd local government issues of repairing disastrous hail damage to the parish church's heritage roof.

Murrurundi's locally raised lay and ordained ministry team has varied over time in membership and availability. But the team has grown confident about adapting to ministry opportunities, at the moment with a little supervision and encouragement from the Area Dean and Regional Archdeacon. Through varied supervision arrangements and no live-in stipendiary ministry for many years now, Murrurundi continues a lively and distinct presence, active in worship and community presence in both parish and region.

Over the ridge, Merriwa is a parish of maybe 2500 when everybody's at home, a population similar to the Aberdeen portion of Muswellbrook parish. But Merriwa is in many ways the most out of the way part of the Upper Hunter. Cassilis at the west of the parish is nearly two thirds of the way from Singleton to Dubbo Zoo.

Since Merriwa last became vacant, together with the regional Archdeacon and Arthur the Archdeacon for Ministry support, Parish Council has courageously been daring to consider this: it might help and it might just be possible to have a live-in, maybe even full time incumbent in Merriwa again. This really does involve a leap of faith from counting scarcity to imagining abundance and it is a serious challenge. Merriwa is not atypical of rural communities. Australian mobility means that the very slightly declining population is constantly in flux. The town waxes and wanes as a dormitory with

the mining industry. Many of the district's children leave for secondary and tertiary education only to return "home" if at all in retirement. So many grandchildren of Merriwa people live away with their parents. But there is still a place of blessing in Merriwa where the children who live there today and the grandparent aged people can come together to share faith. That place is the ecumenical Messy Church where Merriwa's Anglicans, including their faithful Priest in Local Mission, collaborate with their Uniting Church and Catholic neighbours. The Merriwa Messy Church has grieved and celebrated through, among other seasons, the retirement away of two much loved grandmotherly but ailing Josephite nuns.

It is my hope and prayer that the Upper Hunter will continue becoming ever more agile at seeing the ways faith and resources can be shared and discipleship nurtured among the people who make home in our parishes in these days.

"Although traditionally considered rural, each of the six Upper Hunter parishes has a distinct character and every parish seeks to serve a mixed economy".

Topics A story about Elizabeth Cant's Paintings Based on an article written by Natalee Multari The word "gifted" springs to mind when you realise every picture displayed in the room is painted by the same artist, "proud" when you learn she's a Novocastrian and "inspired" when you discover she paints with a paintbrush in her mouth. Elizabeth Cant of Cameron Park learned to master the paintbrush with her mouth after she was tragically struck by a moving car at the age of eight. The incident in 1974 changed her life forever. She sustained brain damage which inevitably restricted her mobility and the use of her hands and arms. Her life, and the lives of her parents and three brothers, were never to be the same, with challenges and new obstacles daily. These tests and trials however, didn't hinder the Cants; indeed, they were strengthened as a family. Elizabeth's gentle kind-heartedness is a true reflection of her parents, Wendy and Bill, who were responsible for discovering and encouraging their only daughter's hidden interest and talent in art. Elizabeth was attending Waratah's Orthopaedic School and instead of sport, the students participated in Guides and Scouts. Determined, she wanted to earn all the badges and the next one in sight was the artist badge. "I heard about people putting brushes in their mouths so we tried it and we found out she could paint," recalls Wendy. "She made this lovely little seascape and I touched it up a little but apart from the white shoe polish I added to lift it, it was all Elizabeth's work." The newly-discovered artist continued to develop her natural talent over the years, taking private lessons in the Hunter and continuing to amaze those around her, including those in her L'Arche Community . Wendy and Bill encountered L'Arche as they were desperately seeking a suitable place for Elizabeth to live as her physical disabilities made it increasingly difficult for them to be satisfied they could continue to care for her as they aged.

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They soon realised there were no L'Arche housing options available in the Hunter, but eventually a place became available in Cameron Park where Elizabeth now has 24-hour care. Wendy and Bill aren't far away in Elermore Vale. Despite not living within a L'Arche community, Elizabeth is a core member of L'Arche Hunter that meets regularly, although it's only recently that when the group learned of Elizabeth's artistic flair, they insisted on distributing a set of greeting cards produced from a selection of her paintings in recognition of this special gift. "No matter what your loved one wants, try and make it happen," says Wendy as she talks about her encounters with the L'Arche Community. Needless to say, Elizabeth was more than happy to accept the offer to have her cherished paintings reproduced as cards. Coincidentally, a family friend who was admiring Elizabeth's cards had recently attended a conference in Canada with the founder of L'Arche, Jean Vanier. She decided to send a card to him in France, so by now no doubt he's just as impressed as those already in the local loop!

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Primate welcomes same sex marriage plebiscite but warns against "harsh or vilifying" debate

In Brief Appointments/Commissionings & Movements

The Primate of Australia, Archbishop Philip Freier, has welcomed a proposed referendum on whether the country should allow same sex marriages, but expressed concern about the "tenor of the debate."

The Rev'd Martin Davies was commissioned Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Stroud on September 12. Archdeacon Les Forester concluded his ministry as Priest-in-Charge of Stockton on September 28. He will continue as Regional Archdeacon for the Manning and Paterson Regions.

"Personally, I welcome the plebiscite, though with strong reservations that we must guard the tenor of the debate, and keep it positive. The Government promised a plebiscite in campaigning for the July election and, having been elected, they have the reasonable expectation of honouring this commitment.

Mrs Jemma Hore was appointed Executive Assistant to Bishop Peter Stuart and the Diocesan Business Manager/ Newcastle Anglican Schools Corporation CEO on July 27 2016.

The Archbishop said that "it will be important that Christians – and others – vote according to their conscience and their view of what is best for society" and said that it is "proper to expect that the Parliament should honour the results" of the poll. (Article by Gavin Drake)

Ms Sonia Gibson was appointed Receptionist at the Diocesan Office on August 30 2016.

Freedom Sunday October 16 is Freedom Sunday. It is a chance to focus our worship, prayers and teaching on what we can be and do to prevent, disrupt and abolish slavery – for the sake of Christ.

There are resources for prayers, litanies and sermons and even a benediction. There will be a video clip and a chance across Australia and around the Anglican communion to focus on being informed and getting involved.

As the Archbishop of Canterbury said: "Freedom Sunday provides churches with an opportunity to join together with others around the world in a day of worship, prayer and action on human trafficking. Freedom Sunday challenges us and resources us to take action to prevent the crime of human trafficking in our local and global communities." Go to www.stopthetraffik.com. au/freedomsunday

Ms Cathy Rose was appointed Professional Standards Officer on June 14. The Rev'd Pirrial Clift is in the process of relocating to Melbourne. We wish Pirrial every blessing in this move.

Sickness The Reverend Stuart Benson is seriously unwell at this time. We ask your prayers for him.

Memoriam The Reverend Garry Kerr died on July 26 2016. Professor Trevor Waring died on August 13 2016

Maori Archbishop to retire in March 2017 The oldest Primate in the Anglican Communion, Archbishop William Brown Turei of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, will retire at the end of March 2017 at the age of 92. At the time of his retirement, Archbishop Turei will have served for more than 65 years in ordained ministry.

Have your say!

We'd love to know what you think of Encounter. Head to page 31 to complete the Readership Survey or visit our website to complete online.

(Article by Gavin Drake)

Case study 42 ROYAL COMMISSION INTO INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

A TIME TO FACE OUR PAST "I wanted to understand how our leaders responded, or failed to respond to allegations of such abuse." - Archdeacon Les Forester

Throughout August the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle was the subject of the Case Study 42 for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Commission is inquiring into the experiences of survivors of child sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy and lay people involved in or associated with the diocese. It is the job of the Royal Commission to uncover where systems have failed to protect children so it can make recommendations on how to improve laws, policies and practices. This was a confronting and painful time for the diocese and one of intense scrutiny, as they heard evidence from survivors and their families, as well as those who were in positions of authority within the diocese. Archdeacon Les Forester attended the public hearings at the Newcastle Courthouse. He shares his reflections. (Warning: this article is not suitable for reading by children and some people may find material in this article disturbing.)

BY ARCHDEACON LES FORESTER Rounding a corner into Hunter Street approaching the Newcastle Courthouse for the first day of public hearings of The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, a friend and I walked towards an alert media pack and brave protesters from survivors' groups. The tension in the air increased as we were screened through metal detectors, and crowded into lifts. I noticed some presently-serving Diocesan clergy and lay people were being closely shadowed by very large men with ear pieces. I assumed them to be security guards, giving protection due to death threats made against some church leaders by people trying to silence the truth by acts of intimidation. In the foyer outside the Courtroom grim-faced clergy and survivors kept their distance from one another. The Royal Commission was established by the Gillard Government, as a powerful investigative body to find out how institutions like churches have responded to instances and allegations of child sexual abuse. Its aim here in the Newcastle Anglican Case Study, and in many other places, is to produce a report for government and institutions recommending ways to improve laws and procedures, to keep children safe. The Commission is not a court created in order to try or judge individual cases of abuse. Rather the Commission focuses on the responses of institutions to child sexual abuse.

As a survivor of child sexual abuse myself, I needed to witness the evidence of the deep persistent evil perpetrated by members of my church. I wanted to understand how our leaders responded, or failed to respond to allegations of such abuse. Witnesses and survivors were seated out of the line of video cameras. Many church officials sat opposite, ready to obey the compulsory summons of the Commission to give evidence.

Arrayed before Commissioner Peter McClellan were over 40 lawyers. Some lawyers represented people who had been abused. Other lawyers represented people who were, or are presently church officials, both lay and ordained. Lawyers outnumbered witnesses. The leading Counsel assisting the Royal Commission, the wonderfully named Ms Naomi Sharp, frequently referred to deceased priest Peter Rushton as a "prolific paedophile", a description deemed so accurate that it went unchallenged by anyone. I was glad to see that the Commission had provided counselling support to survivors of abuse. These survivors found the experience of hearing testimony from church officials and giving testimony of their experience of abuse extremely distressing.

The first witness was regularly abused from the ages of 10 to 14 years by Peter Rushton and others of this Diocese. The abuse by Rushton of this witness was of a graphic nature, which included ongoing sexual and physical abuse. I found this evidence and the evidence of other survivors completely convincing and deeply distressing. I found the evidence of Mr Michael Elliot, Diocesan Director of Professional Standards, detailed and highly credible, reverberating with the ring of truth. Day after day, the hearings progressed slowly and sadly. So many survivors told of their horrific abuse at the hands of not a few clergy and lay people of our church. The hearings of the case study represent only the tip of an iceberg. There was evidence presented of so many "brown envelopes" kept in Diocesan files. These envelopes contained records of so many evil shameful secrets. ď ľ

The Hon Justice Peter McClellan AM

Many witnesses recounted in their testimony that they had informed church officials of child sexual abuse. Some former bishops gave testimony that they were not informed, or could not remember being informed. We heard of failures of leadership and derelictions of duty of care. We heard of conflicts of interest by church officials, staking the odds against survivors. Lawyers for accused perpetrators of abuse or those representing church officials who may have failed to respond dutifully picked at the testimony of those witnesses whose evidence had cast their clients in an unfavourable light. Documents were produced, memories jogged and credibility questioned. At times I was irritated by prevarication, weasel words, and what seemed to me to be testimony that was less than the whole truth.

Towards the end of his testimony Mr Michael Elliott spoke of being sustained in his work by his desire to see justice for victims and the church to be held to account. Spontaneous applause erupted. Blame, responsibility and culpability swirled around the courtroom looking for a place to settle, but was driven away by many witnesses who were church officials, lay and ordained. Although

tendered. From mid November 2016 the Commission will eventually hear from all witnesses, and will add this information to their behind the scenes investigations. Then the painful truths will be told in the Commission's report and recommendations. I think it likely that there will be criminal charges laid against some who have appeared at the Commission, and I hope more disciplinary action by church authorities. Painful as the hearings have been for those of us who belong to our church, our pain cannot compare to the devastation experienced in the lives of survivors and their families.

"I witnessed a few notable moments of hope... A group of abuse survivors talked freely with Bishop Greg, with openness, trust and the occasional smile. A survivor showed gracious compassion for the mute distress of a prince of the church."

It is a bitter irony that the memory of survivors' vicious sexual abuse remained vivid, while the memory of other witnesses seemed to fade and to fail them at crucial points. When lawyers for some church officials proposed silly propositions to explain away survivors' testimony, there was mocking laughter from survivors in the observers' gallery. At other times there were angry outbursts by survivors, in response to testimony by some bishops.

there was no jury, as I looked at the empty jury seats, I sensed that our church was still being rightly judged and found desperately wanting in its response to child sexual abuse. We still have a long way to go. The Commission's allocated time in Newcastle proved insufficient to hear the large amount of evidence

I witnessed a few notable moments of hope in the foyer outside the hearing room. A group of abuse survivors talked freely with Bishop Greg, with openness, trust and the occasional smile. A survivor showed gracious compassion for the mute distress of a prince of the church. And a great man, greatly sinned against by many evil clerical predators, told me he held no ill-will towards the church.

Seeking Support Discussing and hearing of child sexual abuse can be difficult. If you feel you need to talk to someone, there are support services to help you. If you need immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can find out more about seeking support at www. newcastleanglicanhealthyfuture.com. To find out more about the Royal Commission visit www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

Telling my story Ms Naomi Sharp

An Apology from The Anglican Encounter During the public hearings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, it was made aware that in 2001 The Anglican Encounter published an article by Peter Mitchell, the then Registrar of the Diocese, titled "Confusion over false action".

Contacting NSW Police The NSW Police are interested in receiving any information about criminal activity associated with the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle including sexual abuse or the concealing of sexual abuse. People with information can call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 OR Make an online anonymous confidential report via the Crimestoppers website www1.police.nsw.gov.au/cs.aspx Contacting the Royal Commission

The article published statements about the "withdrawal of sexual assault allegations against CKC", and stated that the "rumours and fears that the matter has not been fairly dealt with are unfounded".

You can contact the Royal Commission by calling 1800 099 340 OR Email contact@ childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au OR Write to GPO Box 5283 Sydney NSW 2001

Following the Royal Commission hearings it is clear that this article was highly offensive to CKA and his family.

Contacting the Diocesan Director of Professional Standards

The article demonstrated support of CKC throughout the trial, denying that "the Dean's office was uncooperative".

On behalf of The Anglican Encounter, and the Diocese of Newcastle, I am sorry for the grief and hurt this article has caused CKA and his family. We apologise that the publication caused you further pain at a time when you had the courage to come forward and speak of what happened to you. - Louise Mackay, Editor

A Prayer for the Royal Commission God of truth, justice and healing, send your strength and wisdom to those who work for the Royal Commission. Please guide the Commissioners, stand with all who give evidence, and heal those who cry out for justice. May silence be broken by the voice of truth. May the trust that has been betrayed be restored by new actions of accountability and responsibility. May all children be kept safe now and in the future. Amen.

If you would like to speak with the Diocesan Director of Professional Standards you can Call 1800 774 945 OR Write confidentially to the Director of Professional Standards directly at: Anglican Diocese of Newcastle PO Box 494 Newcastle NSW, 2300 OR Email dps@newcastleanglican.org.au

More Information The Diocese of Newcastle has a webpage solely dedicated to the Royal Commission to provide information, statements and updates. Visit www.newcastleanglican.org. au/royalcommission

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

We can't ignore a statistic like 1 in 3 women...

"You know you're safe now, right?" Domestic and family violence is an entrenched epidemic which for a long time has been kept behind closed doors. Until recently, women (and men) and children have faced violence alone, scared and vulnerable. Ambassadors such as Rosie Batty and campaigns like White Ribbon have increased the conversation and reformed the dialogue around domestic violence; however there is still a long way to go. Today victims still face misconceptions about domestic violence. Victims are stereotyped, doubted and disbelieved. They are questioned, "Why don't you just leave", or forced to face unfavourable circumstances if they do leave. The court systems fail the victim and their family, with many victims still feeling vulnerable. Rosie Batty has been quoted, "Why do we place the shame on the victim to hide and change, whilst the perpetrator continues their life as normal?" Although the conversation is changing, there is still a long way to go.

As a faith community, we can be part of the change in violence against the victims and children. In 2015, Synod passed a motion on Recognising Respectful Relationships. The motion outlined, "That this Synod recognises with profound regret that some theological interpretations of scripture have enshrined an understanding of family which has on occasion legitimised violence against women (and men) and children by concepts of ownership and headship. The Synod also apologises to victims where the church has condoned inappropriate responses to Domestic and Family Violence."

Anyone can be a victim of family and domestic violence – children, women and men. Victims of family and domestic violence belong to all sections of our society. In response to this tragic reality, our church stands with government and non-government organisations in opposing violence in all its forms and promoting healthy relationships.

BY NAOMI JOHNSON MEMBER OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR AND SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE "You know you're safe now, right?"

Yes: four years out of the almost ten-year relationship which saw me beaten, raped, almost killed, I know that I am now safe. I have not been hit or even shouted at in that time. But not all of me knows that I am safe. The part of my brain that deals with potential threat — the deep, fightor-flight primitive part of the human brain which controls our most basic responses to things — has been damaged by years of fear and danger. Quite literally: the structure of my brain is different from how it would have been had I not experienced the best part of a decade of domestic violence. People who live through trauma and abuse suffer significant and lasting changes, not only in their view of the world, their thinking and spirituality, but also in the very structure of the deepest part of the mind. I perhaps will never react with equanimity to a loud noise, or an unexpected touch, or a clenched fist or raised voice, not because I believe that I'm unsafe, but because a small and vital part of my mind does. It's a part of my mind that isn't connected to the higher order functions of thinking and logic and rationality; it's the part of my brain where trauma is stored, which has folded away the events for which I still don't have a coherent narrative, and which I still can't quantify or recite. Four years out, I'm still finding memories working their way to the

surface like shrapnel, and trying to find room for them in my narrative and in my mind. And I'll probably always react with fear to certain things, and I have to work hard to keep my anxiety — a bodily symptom of trauma that can be triggered by something I don't even consciously notice — at bay. But a heartening and terrifying reality is that I'm not alone. More people than we will ever realise will experience, and be damaged by, domestic violence. Living with the damage that such violence does is difficult, at times more debilitating than the physical injuries I live with. But human beings, when we are surrounded by love and care, have an amazing capacity to heal, to live the fullness of our creation despite what has been done to us, what holds us back. We are called to bring the light of God to each other, to show each other the radical, challenging love and compassion that Jesus showed in those short years of his ministry. This is the love that I've been shown, every day of those years of slow, painful recovery. This is the love that enables us to heal, to find our strength. This is the love that has kept me alive. May the grace of God, who pours love into our human strength and frailty, be with us all as we seek to love each other and to build a world in which every human being is upheld as the beautiful and loved creation of the beautiful and loving Creator. 

"I want to tell everybody that family violence happens to everybody. No matter how nice your house is, how intelligent you are. It happens to anyone and everyone". - Rosie Batty February 2014

It's a smash hit! BY JULIA PERRY CHAPLAIN SAMARITANS FOUNDATION Isn't it so bizarre that words used more commonly about an Oscar award are also the foulest expression of how humans (mis)treat each other? As is often the case it is those who are victims who finally decide that no amount of appeasement or shame or fear is enough reason to stay quiet and exist in unjust circumstances. Those who decide to speak out may pay a very high price – sometimes the cost is their lives! Usually too, those who are victims are the only ones able to stand up and stand against their own cruel circumstances. On the one hand such single-minded passion is likely to persist as a "voice crying in the wilderness". On the other hand it means that the general community is often met with competing movements of related injustice. If the extent and complexity overwhelms us and results in "justice-fatigue" then there is a danger of our paralysis perpetuating abuse. As church we need to find ways to support a narrow focus to right an injustice while not being careless about allied discriminatory behaviours. One of the most prevailing issues is related to local violent behaviour.

The White Ribbon campaign is a male-directed campaign to stop all and any type of violence of men towards women. This campaign has moved into the mainstream awareness with the program accrediting organisations – who are suitably trained, to become White ribbon workplaces. Samaritans is in this process with its male leaders

and other male staff training as Ambassadors.

Closely related, but with a different focus is the horror of domestic, family or intimate partner abuse.

Of course this overlaps with some White ribbon situations – but this is the violence where children are subject to or observe abuse and while men are the main perpetrators, they may well be victims as well. Women die weekly from this abuse. For many years the mantra "stranger danger" was the only vigilance advice children were given. Only as those children have become adults have some taken the dangerous route to declare the damage they suffered from family. To our communities' regret and to our regret we often ignored what has been a dreadfully hidden abuse; abuse at the hands of family. Gradually the awareness of the abuse children suffer in the place meant to be the safe house has pierced general awareness.

Why worry about the distinction? We need education about the extent of violence and the differing dynamics around its circumstances. We need education so that we might make appropriate responses to both victims and perpetrators and that our pastoral care will be empathetic and sympathetic rather than shallow because we've not considered the complications of abuse. How we respond will be impacted by almost every dimension of abuse. However in every case – making the abused safe is the first step!

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A workplace or school bully might be treated in ways that may not need to consider the safety of the victim when they're at home.

Domestic (tame!) violence especially; has secondary victims where children or the elderly live in constant fear with feelings of guilt or helplessness at not being able to prevent harm or declare its existence in the lives of those they love.

Living with chronic abuse will have catastrophic impacts on victims and observers. A "one-off" event will also have shattering impacts on the victims – but the counsel and healing will include differing issues. Rape and assault of women who have been attacked in the streets was often blamed on the victim.

Before 1981 there were no laws which acknowledged that women could be raped in marriage. It wasn't considered an issue that was open to the scrutiny of anyone outside the marriage. Laws prohibiting such assault only came into force in NSW in 1981. So in less than two generations our understanding of our treatment of each other and the extent of our accountability have undergone significant change.

If nothing else, by a willingness to listen and learn, we show those who have or are being abused, that their stories are real and must never be dismissed. Abuse is apparently widespread across society and institutions – however there is nothing uniform about the abuse and certainly no general or one-size-fits-all practical response. Knowledge, respect, love and PRAYER are good foundations for Church response.

In the case of an emergency call 000 for police or ambulance

What can you do? Here is some advice and practical support from White Ribbon. If someone starts talking to you, some simple advice includes: • • • • • • • • •

Find a safe/quiet space to talk Listen – this may be the first time they have spoken about the experience Have a non-judgmental attitude Believe the victim's story Reassure them that it is not their fault Hold the perpetrator responsible for the violence and abuse Provide emotional and practical support Support the victim's choices Do not be overly directive.

Intervening in violent situations Many people mistakenly believe that they have only two options in instances of actual or potential violence – intervene physically and possibly expose themselves to personal harm, or do nothing. They often choose to do nothing as a result. But this is a false and limited set of choices. Intervening in violent situations can make them less dangerous or more dangerous. Abusive situations are dangerous – stop and think before getting into them. But not stepping in keeps it dangerous and says to the violent person that it's okay to hurt someone. And it tells the person being hurt that no one cares, that they are not important. When violence isn't challenged, it leaves all of us feeling unsafe. Things to do: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Call the police. Tell the violent person clearly that their actions are not okay. Talk to the victim to help them feel safe. Call on help from other people nearby. Create a distraction to stop the violence. Stand where the violent person can see that their actions are being witnessed.

Source: www.whiteribbon.org.au

Seeking Support National and state wide contacts: • • • • • • •

Domestic Violence Line (NSW Department of Family and Community Services): The DV line is free and staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week. Ph: 1800 65 64 63 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732): National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line. 24 hours, 7 days a week Link2home: A statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service. 24 hours, 7 days a week. Ph: 1800 152 152 Lifeline: has a national number who can help put you in contact with a crisis service in your State. 24 hours, 7 days a week. Ph: 131 114 Mensline Australia: Supports men dealing with family and relationship difficulties. 24 hours, 7 days a week. Ph: 1300 78 99 78 Kids Help Line: Telephone counselling for children and young people. 24 hours, 7 days. Ph: 1800 551 800 Translating and Interpreting Service: Phone to gain access to an interpreter in your own language. Ph: 131 450

This is the text of Rosie Batty's speech tonight after being named Australian of the year 2015 at a ceremony in Canberra. "Thank you Mr Prime Minister. I am truly honoured. I would like to dedicate this award to my beautiful son, Luke. He is the reason I have found my voice and I am able to be heard. "Whilst we celebrate the wonderful country that we live in today, there remains a serious epidemic across our nation. No matter where you live, family violence exists in every pocket of every neighbourhood. It does not discriminate and it is across all sections of our society. Family violence may happen behind closed doors but it needs to be brought out from these shadows and into broad daylight. One in six women has experienced physical or sexual abuse by a current or former partner including some of those celebrating with us today. One in four children and at least one woman a week is killed. "Indigenous women experience even greater family violence. The statistics are unacceptable, indisputable and, if they did happen on our streets, there would be a public outcry. To our government, we need your strong leadership to change these rising statistics and your investment into both preventing the violence and long-term secure funding to our specialist women services to deliver the intensive support so desperately needed.

"To the Australian people, look around. Do not ignore what you see and what you know is wrong. Call out sexist attitudes and speak up when violence against women is trivialised. To men, we need you to challenge each other and become part of the solution. Raise the conversation and don't shy away from this uncomfortable topic. We cannot do this without you. To the women and children who are unsafe, in hiding or living in fear, who have changed their names, left their extended families and moved from their communities to find safety, you do not deserve to live a life that is dictated by violence. You are not to blame.

"Violence towards anyone, man, woman or child, is never acceptable and never the right choice. It is similarly not okay. As the Australian of the Year, I'm committed to building greater campaigns to educate and challenge community attitudes. I am on a path to expose family violence and to ensure that victims receive the respect, support and safety that they deserve. And to Luke, my little man, you did not die in vain and will not be forgotten. You are beside me on this journey and with me every step of the way."

With Eyes of Love Animal Welfare Sunday provides an opportunity to think and pray about the suffering that human activity causes to our fellow creatures, and our responsibility as Christians to alleviate suffering and promote the welfare of all God's creatures. Today, Creation is abused as never before. This age of technological advancement, with its ever increasing tendency to treat animals as machines, has turned our responsibility to weaker creatures into a major moral Christian issue. In 2016 Animal Welfare Sunday will take place on October 2.

BY DI RAYSON PHD CANDIDATE (THEOLOGY) UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE How can we really bless the animals? The feast of St Francis of Assisi is an opportunity to bring our pets and sometimes our livestock to church so we can bless them. This in itself is a worthy and beautiful exercise (and of course noisy, maybe a bit smelly, and lots of fun). It's also an opportunity for us to think even more deeply about our relationships with the animals with whom we share creation and challenge some potentially erroneous thinking too. Unfortunately, we have inherited aspects of Enlightenment ideas about the human position at the "top of the tree", able to exercise dominion over the rest of creation. Our intellect and our reason puts us there, the thinking goes. When we exploit the Earth's resources we are operating as the masters of our environment, the rightful rulers, and in God's image. If we destroy habitat by

pollution or by clearing for human use, then animal deaths are simply the cost of progress. In the 21st century as we face critical biodiversity loss it's time to reassess this kind of thinking. This is the Earth's sixth mass extinction but the first caused by humans. It's time to reconsider our relationships to all the animals, not only those who share our homes and farms, and to do this from a sound theological angle. Already, there is increasing scientific information to demonstrate that life on Earth is not so much a hierarchy as it is a web: an intricate, mysterious network of interconnected relationships. Even we, as humans, are a mobile community of species. Our gastrointestinal system is home to about 7000 species of bacteria supporting our very lives! Each of us is an example of a finely tuned

"Already, there is increasing scientific information to demonstrate that life on Earth is not so much a hierarchy as it is a web: an intricate, mysterious network of interconnected relationships." 16

ecosystem. When we realise just how interdependent we all are on this Earth it helps us to begin to think differently about our role in caring for the others: blessing the animals suddenly seems a lot more complicated. Back to the Beginning If we think about the first creation account in Genesis 1 we see God creating the super structures – the light and the dome, the heavens and sea and land, then filling those spaces with creations to operate in them: the stars and sun and moon, the birds and fish, and finally the animals of the land. God looks at all these things and sees that they are good. They are made out of God's goodness and exist under God's dominion. At the very last, comes the human. And after God is finished creating, God sees it all as "very good". What God created and continues to uphold is a creation of such complexity and interrelatedness that we have only begun to appreciate. The human, in the Garden of Delight, is permitted to till the soil and eat the plants but clearly needs a colleague. In Genesis 2 God brings each of the animals to the human who sees them and recognises their characteristics. This is what naming implies: in the Bible, giving a name expresses an attribute of the one named. As Adam ("the man") looked deeply at each animal he was in fact recognising that none were suitable as his colleague, his life partner. Instead, Eve ("the mother of all") would be made, not from the soil, but from the man himself, to show that she alone was the suitable friend for she was essentially like him.

This story teaches us that in the Garden there is respect by Adam toward the animals, and that he was able to look at each of them and consider their characters. The animals have no fear of the man, and receive their names, not from one who would control them, but from one who acknowledges their individual right to share in blessing.

"Restoring relationships with animals means re-thinking about the way we choose our pets, our leisure activities, and how we select our food." Dominion as Service But what of dominion? In the light of the preceding lessons from the creation story, it is impossible to think that God then expects the people to go about their business exploiting the Earth or manipulating the animals. We have already seen that God's expectation is for respectful relationships with the others. Where "dominion" is used in the Bible it is usually in the context of a ruler looking after his subjects. Christ's dominion is one of servanthood. It is going to any lengths for those over whom Christ has dominion. So how do we live in today's world with our animal brothers and sisters, all of us made from the same soil of the Earth? As humans, our dominion of servanthood toward the other

species requires us to begin to think more respectfully about the animals. We know so little about them, and yet we learn more all the time of their intelligences and their special abilities that far outstrip our own. We could look more closely and with intention to respectfully appreciate their role in the web of life. We haven't even "called the names" of many: there are incredible numbers of undiscovered species in the sea, in the skies and on the land. A portion of these become extinct every year, without us even looking upon them. Restoring relationships with animals means re-thinking about the way we choose our pets, our leisure activities, and how we select our food. For example, if your supermarket basket contains palm oil as an ingredient in processed foods, then have you thought about the devastation of orangutan habitat to grow that palm oil? It may mean we rethink our leisure activities if that involves coercing animals simply for our enjoyment. Each of us might respond differently to this challenge, but we must respond. It may mean you reconsider how to care for your own community of bacteria within you! As church communities we need to lead the way in restoring relationships – including with the "other-than-humans" on this Earth. The creation stories of Genesis ask us to take a closer look at our animal friends and exercise our dominion in a respectful, sacrificial way. What does that mean for you and for your church community?

Christian Action These are some of the many practical and effective ways in which Christians can demonstrate their compassion for other living creatures. •

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Food shopping choices: Christians should give attentive consideration to how animals were reared in making their food purchases. The labels "organic" and "free-range" indicate more humane rearing systems. Other shopping choices: Seek out beauty and other products carrying the label "not tested on animals". Write: Christians who take the trouble to write or email their MPs and local media, particularly

on topical animal issues, are performing a valuable service for voiceless animals. •

Pet choices: It has been suggested that for every puppy bred, one dog which cannot be homed will have to be destroyed. Christians seeking pets might choose to follow the increasingly popular trend of choosing a dog or cat from an animal rescue centre.

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Animal welfare organisations: There are many reputable animal welfare organisations which Christians can join and support.

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Celebrate Animal Welfare Sunday: Make this a regular feature of your

church's calendar as a witness to the value of all of God's creatures. •

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Pray: Regularly include animal welfare in both public worship and private prayer. Learn: Become informed about animal welfare issues.

Support: Support charities that work to raise awareness of animal welfare issues in the Christian community.

Spread the word: Tell other Christians about the theology of animal welfare, and encourage them to make care for animals part of their own Christian discipleship.

THINKING ABOUT FAITH

Religion and conflict How do religions become agents of peace rather than conflict? BY ROBYN ASHLEY-BROWN PARISH OF WINDALE This is largely the question posed by Christopher John SSF in the Franciscan Angles newsletter. He relates that in the course of his studies he had observed "that many religions include warrior traditions, …and stories which promote violence" but paradoxically there are also "peace oriented traditions and scriptural texts which inspire people to work for peace." Christopher John based his study on Franciscans particularly those in Sri Lanka and their life and work with conflicting groups there. He came to realise that their role was to provide people separated by conflict with programs to work together, and other initiatives to encourage communication. Franciscans involved in education brought peaceful values to the discussions.

Franciscans who were able to resolve conflict through discussion in their own daily life, within their own community, could be observed to be people of peace and respected for it.

One of his most interesting findings is significant. Religious faith motivates Fanciscans, and, perhaps because the sisters and friars are a faith people, they can build an understanding and a sensitivity to the wisdom in other traditions. As a result their communication with Hindus and Buddhists in Sri Lanka is at a deeper level and proved a long lasting basis to work for peace.

Leave a gift in your will to the Church 18

One other interesting findings was that Franciscans who were able to resolve conflict through discussion in their own daily life, within their own community, could be observed to be people of peace and respected for it. Christopher John SSF makes some observations about being peacemakers generally in our world. He states that "Faith can help". That is a faith that is assured, that overcomes our own insecurity and fear, and allows us to see another point of view with understanding and empathy.

"Conflict is a certainty", Christopher John writes, "It shows we're still living and breathing and that we care passionately about things. The big question is what we do with that conflict. If we are active peacemakers …in our ordinary life, then we can truly walk the talk. "Finally the traditions and stories of Christian peacemaking are a resource which can inspire us and shape our thinking and acting…..as we live as people of peace."

Once you have made provision for your loved ones, you have the opportunity to make a lasting gift to God, by leaving a bequest to his church. A gift in your Will is one of the most valuable and lasting ways you can continue to support its mission and ministry within your community. Contact Linda Wilson at the Diocesan Office for more information on 4926 3733.

Not the Final Word THE REV'D DR KIM MILLER CHAPLAIN CORRECTIVE SERVICES COMMUNITY As you read this article I am moving into retirement after eighteen years of full-time chaplaincy with the NSW Department of Corrective Services, and part-time involvement with adults and juveniles in custody dating back to the 1980s.

Remember 1988? When Australia was having that party I was living in the UK doing my PhD. The chaplain in the local prison needed some assistance and, he told me later, the bishop said, "There's an Australian priest here reading for his doctorate. He can't have too much to fill up his day." And so I started in HM Prison Exeter for a day each week. There was an easy irony in the situation and some of the staff made the most of it. "Welcome back", they said. On the other hand, the inmates were totally unaware of the history, of the irony, or of the party. That's how it is in prison. There is an invisible barrier between life as lived by prison inmates and the outside world. That barrier works both ways. Most of the outside world knows nothing of life in custody. They know nothing of the people, their background, their struggles, or their possibilities. That changed a little earlier this year.

In May the ABC Compass program aired a three episode series on NSW prison chaplaincy. Episodes 1 and 2 showed the work of chaplains in Cessnock, John Morony, and Dillwynia Correctional Centres. Episode 3 showed my work in postrelease chaplaincy in Newcastle with some of our clients and team members. It was very gratifying to see how positive the Compass presentation was. Prison issues in Australia can cause volatile conversations. We only need to listen to talk-back commercial radio to hear people hotly argue for longer sentences, harsher conditions, and the refusal of bail and parole.

But there is a deeper level of thought in the general population. The NSW Government researched the thinking of a wide range of people to formulate their State Plan some years ago. Towards the top of the list was the desire across the state to do more in the rehabilitation of prisoners instead of just locking up more people.

Welcome to the world of the prison chaplain. Voices rise from both sides and issues of law and order are debated, and whenever we hear of a crime committed on parole the stridency increases. Somewhere invisible to those voices are prison chaplains.

Chaplains in all environments work below the surface. We deal with people in deep need and those we work among are often vulnerable. People in prison are especially vulnerable to public opinion, so it was a pleasure to see what the ABC Compass program made of our work.

As I come to the end of my chaplaincy ministry it's a tricky business to assess it all and see what I have accomplished. There are many people whose lives are very different from what might have been and who live in an unexpected freedom. And there are those who have chosen their old life for their future, and some part of me weeps.

The Compass program is one element in how I look back at my work. The feedback from the community has been very positive. We have received emails of support from total strangers, we've had client referrals, we've been affirmed for "doing something". It is as if the voices that informed the state plan are rising to the surface right at the end of my ministry.

If you have not seen the Compass series I encourage you to do so. It's gone from iView but can be downloaded from here: http://www.abc.net.au/compass/episodes/2016.htm

Jesus was all about breaking down walls, and prison chaplains are a continuing part of that challenge. As I finish up this work it is good to be affirmed by people on both sides of that invisible barrier between the population and the world of prison life. And so I thank all those around the Diocese who have supported my work, or the work of prison chaplaincy anywhere. The voice of those who want to see something positive happen in the negative world of prison life needs still to be heard.

Politicians sometimes try to follow the state plan and make prison life more positive with education and rehabilitation programs, and to reduce prison numbers to ease the budget. It has not proved to have longevity. A few years ago the minister who oversaw a reduction in prison numbers from 10,000 to 9,000 was accused of going "soft on crime" by media and opposition voices and he was replaced. Since then prison numbers have risen to about 12,500 in NSW. And that is with a drop in the crime rate.

"Chaplains in all environments work below the surface. We deal with people in deep need and those we work among are often vulnerable."

Mr Gary Brown and Rev'd Dr Kim Miller

The Role of Grandmothers BY ZENY GILES SOCIAL JUSTICE TASKFORCE I remember how impressed I'd been in 1998 to read about Jean Talbot, Marion Armstrong and Dianna Mannigel, all members of the Society of Friends, travelling to the Northern Territory to support the Mirrar people in their fight against the proposed uranium mine at Jabiluka.

"Only after we were arrested did the press draw attention to the fact that we were grandmothers," Jean says to me as we stand holding placards outside the office of Sharon Claydon, our Member of Parliament. "The three of us realised it was better for us to be arrested than the many young people who came to Jabiluka to help. Their whole working life would be affected if a conviction was carried against them".

opposition was too frightened of appearing soft on refugees to contest this opinion. In the present, there seems little hope that our insecure Prime Minister will do anything to change the conditions of offshore refugees. So, as Sister Di points out, it's up to us to go on trying to bring about change.

We are heartened by the groups of grandmothers and their supporters meeting in other cities in Australia. And by those, It is the belief that we as grandmothers have a special role in brave enough to speak out to a society our society, which has persuaded me to which has been made to fear people arriving stand alongside activists like Jean Talbot here by boat. "It is the belief that we and Marion Armstrong wearing t-shirts with the slogan, Grandmothers Against During the Palm Sunday Walk for as grandmothers have a Detention of Refugee Children. Justice4Refugees in Perth this year, Tim special role in our society, Winton, one of our leading writers, and a Friends and relatives of the grandmothers grandfather himself, said: are here standing with us: Niko Leka from which has persuaded Hunter Asylum Seeker Advocacy Group, "Prime Minister, turn us back from this path me to stand alongside Sister Di Santleben so active in her work to brutality. Restore us to our best selves. activists like Jean Talbot Jesus said: What shall it profit a man to gain with refugee families in Newcastle, other Christians from various local churches the whole world only to lose his soul? And I and Marion Armstrong." as well as people from human rights wonder: What does it profit a people to do organisations like Amnesty. likewise, to shun the weak and punish the oppressed, to cage children, and make criminals of refugees?" We are a motley group, from ten to thirty in numbers, continuing to gather during the winter months at 5pm for an Watch out then for the people standing on the corner of hour's vigil, in spite of the dark winter evenings and the feeling Hunter and Auckland Streets each Thursday evening from that we are not making a great impression on the people who 5-6pm, wearing their magenta-coloured t-shirts spelling out walk, or more usually drive past us. their concern about the treatment of refugee children, and holding up placards with Let Them Stay and Welcome the The absence of any meaningful discussion about our offshore Stranger. Like the words from Tim Winton, these messages detention policy in the lead up to the election frustrated us. from grandmothers and their supporters are seeking to stir the Indeed we were angered when Malcolm Turnbull made the conscience of our city and our nation. extraordinary statement that the health of people in Nauru and Manus Island was not Australia's responsibility. Sadly the Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children For more information about supporting Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children contact Helen Miller-Brown at bhbrown@hotkey.net.au or Marion Gevers on marion.gevers@optusnet.com.au NB: Since the writing of this article there have been promising moves in Manus Island to bring about the closure of the Detention Centre there. Peter Dutton and Peter O'Neil have had discussions but so far no date has been given for the changes to take place. Nor has there been any resolution of the question of where these refugees are to go once the Manus Island Detention Centre is closed. We grandmothers are looking forward to the time when these problems are resolved and it is no longer necessary for us to gather for the vigil.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (SRE) BY KATE BAKER DIOCESAN SRE CO-ORDINATOR

Praise for SRE volunteers Recently I have become aware of the praise and positive comments that have been coming in about SRE teachers.

Long time volunteer SRE teacher Irene Hemsworth, from Maitland, was given an award during Education Week for service to her school via SRE. This is the second of such awards she has received from schools in her local area. A number of SRE teachers have also completed their Lesson Assessment recently. I have been impressed by the number of positive comments being made (mostly by public school classroom teachers and principals) about our Anglican SRE volunteers! Here are some of them:

"Well done Joanne! The students were highly engaged throughout the lesson. Your monitoring and encouragement was great! Some students were off task but were excited to get involved. The kids enjoyed it when you made the effort to converse with them. Thank you!" Comments about Joanne, Volunteer from Maitland

"WONDERFUL, well-loved and respected by ALL children! Thank you Carol for all your years of dedication to our students. We appreciate you!"

Comments about Carol, SRE volunteer from Coal Point

"Thank you â&#x20AC;Śfor coming to our class each week. We really appreciate your hard work and dedication!" Comments about Julie, SRE volunteer from Karuah

"Fabulous, well organised and engaging lessons every week. Very enjoyable and informative for students"

Comments about Rev'd Janet and Grant, SRE volunteers from Belmont It seems that the hard work and dedication of our SRE volunteers is not going unnoticed by staff in public schools! Thank you so much for all you are doing in educating children in the Christian faith.

Weekend of Prayer for SRE 2016 Over the Weekend September 10-11, Christians around the Diocese gathered together to pray for SRE. On Saturday C3 Victory NW at Birmingham Gardens hosted a jointdenominational prayer event. People from a range of churches came and went over the two hours for a time of focussed prayer on topics such as school communities, families, SRE vacancies, and the future of SRE. Attendees were particularly encouraged to hear that the Premier of NSW, the Hon Mike Baird, recently strongly affirmed the place of SRE in NSW public schools at the 2016 Budget Estimates Enquiry on September 9.

On September 11, Anglican churches across the Diocese prayed for the Ministry of SRE in NSW public schools. At ANeW Anglican Church, an SRE volunteer was interviewed at each service, and then prayed for. Amy Soutter, Children's Ministry Co-ordinator at ANeW church, began each spot with a quick quiz.

Mrs Amy Soutter, Children's Ministry Co-ordinator at ANeW Anglican Church interviewing Mrs Rachel Billington, SRE Volunteer at Lambton Public School

"It was really encouraging to see how many people in our services had taught SRE, prayed for, supported, and attended SRE in their lifetime. I was amazed!" Amy said.

She also talked about some encouraging aspects of SRE including that CityServe (a citywide community service event) has had a positive benefit on SRE in schools, and in our Diocese alone, 29 high schools now have SRE. Around 50% of high schools in NSW have SRE, and the plan is to have 100% high school coverage within the next ten years. Thank you to everyone who supported the Weekend of Prayer for SRE. I look forward to hearing some encouraging answers to prayer, and how your church joined in this event!

Mrs Amy Soutter, Children's Ministry Co-ordinator ANeW Anglican church

Kairos Outside extends unconditional love and acceptance Anglican Women hear of this ministry at Spring Celebrations BY MARION WILLEY PRESIDENT ANGLICAN WOMEN NEWCASTLE Over the first week of September, ladies from KOW (Kairos Outside for Women - Hunter) shared their stories and told Anglican Women around the Diocese about the work of KOW in the Hunter. It will be the recipient for Thank You Box giving for the next 12 months. What does Kairos offer? Kairos offers hope. The inside program to the offender who must serve their sentence, and the outside program to the family of that same offender, who often do time as well, even though they did not commit the crime. Can you imagine what it is like to have a son or daughter, a parent, or a spouse who has been convicted, sentenced and imprisoned? Life is about to change â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for them, and also for you. "How am I going to cope with everyday life?" Doubt and fear drive you away from your usual support networks. People turn their backs on you, out of fear or misunderstanding, shame or embarrassment. You don't go out. You become isolated, and you feel rejected.

At Kairos Outside weekends, guests find a safe environment where people are willing to listen to them. They are blown away when they discover other women who have been through these same experiences, and these same feelings. Imagine their surprise when they discover women who have not only survived, but are also doing well. This is the beauty of Kairos Outside. We offer a listening ear without condemnation, as we seek to love them as we listen.

Kairos Outside weekends Two weekends a year are held at Myuna Bay on Lake Macquarie, the next will be in October. The program is based around eight talks on Choices; Isolation and Rejection; The Church; Communication with God; Anger; The Home Environment; Relationships; and Perseverance through Community. What happens after a weekend? The ladies bond through the discussions that they hold around their table as well as through the singing, and all the little fun surprises that we like to spoil them with. There are the

Reunion Dinners. Some later come on Team, if it is appropriate for them. Or they might join the Craft Group that makes the little agape gifts showered on Guests, whilst sharing some afternoon tea and chatter How can you be involved? You don't have to come on team, to be able to participate. There are many other ways you can help.

Each weekend costs about $16,000 to run and so we need to fundraise in order to make it happen. Each team member contributes a voluntary monetary gift of $250, however the weekend is provided completely free of charge to the Guests. We typically have about 32 people on Team and between 10 and 20 Guests on a weekend. Most parishes will have "Thank You Boxes" provided by AW.

Join the Prayer Vigil. Each weekend is covered in prayer 24/7. Attend the Closing service on the Sunday afternoon, when the wider Christian Community is invited to come along and show their support, as well as hear something of what has happened over the weekend. You might like to offer some agape gifts for the tables, or something for the birthday present they receive. Each weekend has its own theme. Copies of the banner are made onto A4 paper and handed out for people to colour in. These will then decorate the walls of the room where most of the weekend is spent. They show that complete strangers have been thinking and praying for them.

There are Reunion Dinners which are held at the Grove Church in Adamstown on a Saturday night where we catch up with each other, new friends and old, share a pot luck dinner, have some singing, do some sharing, and occasionally have a guest speaker. You are welcome to attend these. How wonderful it is to see these women, both young and old, impacted for good, impacted by God, and impacted for life. Lives are changed!

For more information visit anglicanwomennewcastlenewcastle.org.au or the Kairos web site.

Are our fairs fair? BY CHRIS BULLOCK PARISH OF KOTARA SOUTH

Is money the motivation for the fair? This kind of question comes up often. Some enquire "Why not have a "cake-less" fair and just ask folk to donate directly the funds that they would use to cook and make things. This way we could have the funds without the sweat!" While recognising that the parish ministry does not "run on fresh air," there is much more to be gained from the fair than just income, we suggest. Every year at the fair, we see folk – young and older –that we don't see often during the year. They do buy – they like to support the church. But underneath is an important opportunity to connect – even re-connect – with each other. Baptisms have been arranged

because of these reconnections! The intimate and friendly "catching up", the opportunity to work together are just some part of the potential to be sharers of our Godgiven grace. The kids do like the activities; the home cooking does disappear in an instant; the book worms love a rummage; the cup of tea is great; and the plants go off to new homes; and so on. There is much more to the fair than the $ tally! The Church of the Good Shepherd at Kotara South hopes that on Saturday 12 November from 10am there will indeed be great fellowship at the fair! Further information is available from the Parish on 4943 0103.

Dates For Your Diary OCTOBER 2 Pet Blessing, Cathedral Christ Church Cathedral are holding their Annual Animal Welfare Sunday Pet Blessing on October 2 at 6pm. 12 Fete, Cardiff St Thomas' Cardiff will hold their annual Fete on October 15 from 8.30am-12noon in the Church Hall. Variety of stalls including white elephant, home cooking, morning tea, BBQ, plants, books and entertainment. Enquiries 4954 0557. 16 Freedom Sunday Freedom Sunday is a global day of worship, prayer and action on human trafficking and slavery. On this day churches will join together to raise awareness of the crime of slavery today, show compassion and pray for women, men and children trapped in slavery around the world. 30 Pet Blessing, Lambton The parish of Lambton are holding a Pet Blessing on October 30 at St John the Baptist Church Lambton.

NOVEMBER 12 AGM, Stroud Friends of the Monastery Stroud are holding their AGM and Ecology Day on November 12. The AGM will commence at 10am and will take place in Gunya Chiara in the Monastery grounds. All day activities for the young at heart. Bring your own lunch, musical instruments and walking shoes! 28 Art Show, Beresfield The parish of Beresfield/Thornton will hold an Art Show on November 28 commencing with nibbles and wine at 6pm. The theme for the art this year is "Summertime in Australia" - with special emphasis on climate change.

DECEMBER 3 Christmas Fair, Beresfield The parish of Beresfield/Thornton are holding their annual Parish Christmas Community Fair. There will be market stalls, jewellery, woodwork, books, plants, cakes, Mothers' Union needlework stall, devonshire tea and BBQ. The fair is held in the park next door to St. Paul's Anglican Church, Lawson Avenue, Beresfield from 8am-1pm. For enquiries, please ring The Rectory on 4964 1506 or Patsy on 4966 2615.

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AROUND THE DIOCESE

Parishioners raise funds to purchase outdoor beds for the homeless Parishioners of Christ the King at Toronto have been busy fundraising to support the homeless. Well done to Rosyln Allen and Wendy Hurren who led the initiative to support homeless people in the area. The funds raised were used to purchase 12 emergency outdoor beds. The swags, supplied by Backpack Bed, will provide much-needed warmth and comfort to homeless people waiting for accommodation.

Across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie there are estimated to be 1000 people in various states of homelessness. The swags will be distributed in the Westlakes area via Samaritans Emergency Relief Centres in Toronto and Teralba.

Stockton reaping a green harvest Is a community garden an act of communion? The Rev'd Peter Anderson, OLM at Stockton, believes that it is does provide significant encouragement for interaction between the wider community and the church - an act of communion indeed!

The garden, which has developed over this year, and that will soon have 10 beds, has seen people not previously associated with the church both helping and harvesting.

The parish, which have provided most of the labour, is very indebted for the professional help given by a horticulturist with the design and the nature of the plantings. And she is a close neighbour! Tuesday afternoons become alive with activity. Parents know that their children can safely play in the grounds while they garden. The project also has the support of the Newcastle City Council which provided them with a start-up grant for this community initiative, the Newcastle Port Corporation and Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group.

The Rev'd Peter says, "It is pleasing to see folk who are not known to me, come into the grounds and pick some greens. "One idea we had at the beginning was that it would be good if we could complement the dry goods from our parish pantry with some fresh food. The garden helps with this. God is good!" The parish would welcome enquiries from anyone considering a similar project.

"Across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie there is estimated to be 1000 people in various states of homelessness."

Young leader of the Lakes The inaugural Aboriginal Student of the Year for Myall Lakes is Maddison West from Manning Valley Anglican College.

The new annual award recognises young people who demonstrate leadership within their school and local community.

Myall Lakes MP Stephen Bromhead presented Maddison with the award at his annual leadership breakfast. "Maddison is an accomplished student in year 10, who has achieved high academic results and is a role model for younger members at the school," said Mr Bromhead.

Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead joined Myall Lakes Aboriginal Student of the Year Maddison West and her father, Gary, on their visit to Parliament House

"Maddison is always eager to represent her school and community at Anzac Services and community gatherings with clubs such as Quota and Rotary." Maddison also recently visited Parliament House where she met special guests such as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Leslie Williams and other Parliamentarians. She also got to sit in on the State government's question time, which she described as "quite interesting".

"They have lots of little arguments and the speaker had to take control," she said.

Maddison enjoyed interacting with the other 25 students and meeting elder Uncle Charles (Chicka) Madden. "He wore a tie Charles Perkins wore, and spoke about the stolen generation." Maddison enjoys helping out the community inside and outside of her school.

"I think everyone deserves a chance. I've had the opportunity to do many things, and others should have those opportunities too."

Bishop visits Terrigal Holy Trinity Terrigal were delighted with the visit from Bishop Peter Stuart on July 17. During the service they were blessed with the baptism and confirmation of Mathew Bray Cotty, as well as the reception into communicant membership of the Anglican Church of Australia of Paul Vincent Partier by Bishop Peter.

This was such a warm and joyful service, ending with a sumptuous morning tea, true Anglican hospitality.

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Farewell Rev'd Pirrial The Rev'd Pirrial Clift at Stroud Monastery, celebrating with the Society of Catholic Priests as she prepares for moving to Melbourne. Photos by Grant Killen

Holy Communion August 14 marked a special day in the life of St Matthew's Anglican Church in Wingham as seven young people received the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. Those making their First Communion were Dallas and Sienna Agnew along with fellow parishioners and Manning Valley Anglican College (MVAC) students: Arabella and Sebastian Randle, Keeley Taylor, Katie Tisdell and Scott Walker. The Rector of Wingham, Rev'd Brian Ford, conducted the Liturgy of Admission to Holy Communion which took place during the 9.30 Eucharist. The young people had been prepared for this step in their Christian journey by Kara Ford and MVAC chaplain Greg Anderson. The whole congregation shared in an enormous morning tea afterwards including a delicious First Communion cake made especially for the occasion.

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Rugrats at Forster Tuncurry The craft group Rugrats was formed after the 5,000 Poppies group completed their task with 19,000 poppies. This group of dedicated people have come up with imaginative ideas of items to make and donate to local organisations. Colourful knitted and crocheted knee rugs have been delivered to many local aged care facilities. Beanies and scarves have been knitted and crocheted in a variety of colours. Half were knitted in recognition of the traditional colours of the local indigenous children during NAIDOC week. The other half were donated to Samaritans in Taree to be distributed at their discretion. Another project is Clowns. These beautifully hand crafted soft toys are aimed specifically for children who have left a crisis situation and who are in one of the two local women's refuges with their Mum. The premise is to give them a toy of their own to hug and love as they may have left their home without anything except the clothes on their backs. CARE PACKS The Parish set a target to produce, through our donations, 20 care packs for women in need. The theory behind this was that sometimes a woman needs to leave her home without anything. With this in mind, the pack includes: soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, pads and tampons. Through amazing generosity we were able to produce 30 packs. Half were donated to Forster Neighbourhood Centre and the other half to Samaritans in Taree.

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Woy Woy Parish on a Mission After being commissioned by the rector, the Rev'd Michael Davies, a team of ten set off in a bus to Coober Pedy on August 28. The mission trip was to the Catacomb Church where the Rev'd Geoff and Tracey Piggott work with Bush Church Aid to minister to the people of that remote community. The journey there and back took the group through diverse parts of the Australian outback â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4,419 km and six days of driving. The purpose of the mission was to heighten the awareness of mission in the parish and to provide hands-on experience for those who participated. Those who couldn't go prayed for and supported the team in many practical ways.

The group had five full days in Coober Pedy and were given tasks by Tracey and Geoff to assist their ministry. The men attended a men's barbecue and shared their faith with the locals. The women cooked for, spoke at and demonstrated patty-cake decorating at a ladies' "Mastercook" evening. A team of four went to the school and ran assemblies in primary and high school sections. There were bible studies, the church service in which we were all involved and the children's ministry. "Our amazing God blessed us richly all the time with great fellowship and fun, times of deep learning and sharing, a new appreciation of the difficulties and trials of mission in remote places, a love for the people of such a vastly diverse and unique community and in every case, personal spiritual growth," Rev'd Rosemary Gillham said.

LAKES GRAMMAR Lakes Grammar is a K-12 co-educational Anglican school providing a quality education in an environment that is caring and nurturing as we believe education is about the whole person.

Features of Lakes Grammar include: Affordable fee structure Private School Bus Strong focus on student wellbeing Opportunity Class for Years 5 and 6 To arrange a School Tour, please contact our Registrar, Racquel Jolly on 4393 4111. LAKES GRAMMAR - An Anglican School Cnr Sparks Rd and Albert Warner Dr Warnervale 2259 T 02 4393 4111 | W www.lakes.nsw.edu.au

Christmas in July Bishop Bob enjoying our Christmas in July Luncheon at Anglican Care Storm Village.

Messages of warmth and love for our seafarers Holy Trinity Terrigal encouraged the knitters within the parish to spend time making beanies for Seafarers.

Come Seafarers Sunday they were able to decorate the front of the sanctuary with 250+ beanies. This tremendous effort was made possible thanks to Coralie and Shirley Taylor who continually encouraged people to take the kits provided.

One of the young attendees Daisy-Mena Proud, who is 8 years of age, provided a message in a bottle as she was unable to knit a beanie.

Sounds of Winter A Winter's concert was held at Holy Trinity Terrigal. Fr Mark and Elke Hook performed Benedictus from Christmas Oratorio together.

Fr Mark sang as a bass/baritone while Elke sang as a soprano. This is the second concert Elke has performed at Holy Trinity. The parish were blessed with a fine afternoon and were joined by some 90 people from around the area.

Ocean Sunday Belmont Parish celebrated Ocean Sunday last Sunday with an Ocean themed service and later a picnic by Lake Macquarie. (Photo Grahame Feletti)

PUZZLE: WOMEN WORD PUZZLE BY THE REV'D JUDY WALSH

ANSWER: The remaining letters will spell out who these Biblical women are:

ABIGAIL ABIHAIL ABISHAG ADAH AHINOAM ANNA ANTIOCHUS BAARA BATHSHEBA BILHAH CANDACE DELILAH DINAH ESTHER EUNICE EVE GOMER HAGGITH HANNAH HEDIDAH HELAH ISCAH JAEL JEMIMA JEZABEL

JOANNA JUDITH JULIA JUNIA LEAH LOIS LYDIA MARTHA MARY MILCAH MIRIAM NAAMAH NAOMI PHOEBE PRISCILLA PUAH RACHEL RHODA RUTH SALOME SAPPHIRA SARAH SUSANNA TABITHA TAMAR

LAST MONTH'S PUZZLE Mystery word: JESUS

E T

N A

S I L

Mystery word: JESUS

RECIPE: ALMOND CRISPS INGREDIENTS 125 g butter – I chop it up a bit ¼ cup caster sugar 1 cup self- raising flour ¼ cup almond meal 2 tabs flaked almonds PREPARATION Step 1: Preheat the oven to about 200C/180C fan forced. Step 2: Grease oven trays. METHOD Step 1: Beat butter and sugar until creamed. Step 2: Stir together flour and almond meal, and fold into the butter mixture. Step 3: Roll level tablespoons of the mix into balls with your hands: and place on the greased trays. Step 4: Flatten a little with a floured fork to about 1 cm and then sprinkle with some flaked almonds. Step 5: Cook for about 10 minutes – watch carefully. Leave on trays about 5 minutes before lifting to a wire rack to cool. These will store in an airtight container for about two weeks if there are any left…

ENCOUNTER READERSHIP SURVEY YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Following twelve successful editions of Encounter magazine, we'd love to gain some feedback from our readers on how we are doing. Please take a moment to let us know how we can make The Encounter better and to help improve the magazine. Your opinion is important to us! How often do you read the following sections/features of The Encounter?

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Telling my story POLICE

Everyone who has been abused or who has information about abuse is urged to come forward to the Police. The NSW Police are interested in receiving any information about criminal activity associated with the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle including sexual abuse or the concealing of sexual abuse. People with information can call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 ROYAL COMMISSION

You are encouraged also to contact the Royal Commission by calling 1800 099 340 OR Email contact@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au OR Write to GPO Box 5283 Sydney NSW 2001 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OFFICE

If you would like to speak with the Diocesan Director of Professional Standards you can call 1800 774 945 OR Write confidentially to the Director of Professional Standards directly at: Anglican Diocese of Newcastle PO Box 494 Newcastle NSW, 2300 OR Email dps@newcastleanglican.org.au YOU WILL BE HEARD AND YOUR MATTERS WILL BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

Seeking Support Discussing child sexual abuse can be difficult. The Royal Commission has reminded us that is especially so for survivors telling their story for the first time, their families and professional staff supporting them. The Royal Commission provides an extensive list of care and support services which can be found at Support Services. These services connect people with counsellors or special support groups. If you need immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14

For more, visit: www.newcastleanglicanhealthyfuture.com/seeking-support