POLICIES FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE, covidsafe AND PRIVACY

St James’ is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for everyone we serve, and especially for our children. 

The Parish of Toowoomba St James, including St Anne’s Highfields, maintains a Child Protection Risk Management Plan that helps to protect children and other vulnerable people from harm in our church. This includes the screening of the ministry team, volunteer staff and Parish office holders through the Queensland Government's Blue Card Services. 

All people who work with children must follow a Code of Conduct, and undergo a safe ministry check. Ministries are conducted in accordance with the Anglican Church's policies on child protection and safe ministry.

Our parish operates under the Covidsafe Industry Plan. You can find our privacy policy here.

 

Synod Apology to LGBTIQA+ people

(Sunday 23 June 2024)

The Rev’d Dr Peter Catt moved; The Rev’d Deborah Bird seconding:

That this Synod, noting Motion 18 Synod 2022 and in response to the same, offers the following apology to LGBTQIA+ people on behalf the Anglican Church Southern Queensland:

The Anglican Church Southern Queensland:

  • Recognises and rejoices in the image of God as reflected in every human being, as expressed in people of every race, social circumstance, gender identity and sexual orientation.

  • Acknowledges the pain felt by any sexuality-diverse and gender-diverse people who feel like second class citizens because they cannot marry in the Anglican Church of Australia.

  • Apologises to sexuality-diverse and gender-diverse people for the times when:

    • 1. we have not accepted that you are who you are;

    • 2. we have denigrated you;

    • 3. we have unjustly excluded you from baptism, holy communion, holy unction and the community of the Anglican Church;

    • 4. we have supported the criminalisation of your sexuality;

    • 5. we have advocated for and/or condoned harmful practices forming part of what is known as ‘Conversion Therapy’;

    • 6. we have isolated you and subjected you to mistreatment;

    • 7. we have not spoken up to protect you from violence and exclusion.

  • Apologises to the family members and friends of sexuality-diverse and gender-diverse people for the times when:

    • our treatment of your loved ones has hurt you;

    • we have failed to grieve or celebrate with you over the challenges and achievements of the ones you love;

    • we have silenced or mistreated you.

  • Undertakes to:

    • pray together in humility;

    • affirm our common humanity as we walk together in following Jesus Christ in our Church;

    • recognise the diversity among us and the ministry of each person who volunteers and works in and for The Anglican Church Southern Queensland;

    • listen to you;

    • stand with you against injustice and marginalisation;

    • live into the expectations outlined in Faithfulness in Service and the Being Together document, endorsed by this Diocese, about how we relate to one another as equal members of the Body of Christ.