Question 1

What is "safeguarding"? Is it only about children?

Accepted Answer

Safeguarding is not just about protecting children. It refers to the proactive measures taken to protect the health, well-being, and human rights of all individuals, keeping them safe from harm, abuse, and neglect. This includes children, young people, and "Adults at Risk" (those who may need additional support due to age, health, or disability). The goal of safeguarding is to create a safe environment for everyone in the church or organisation, including staff and volunteers.

Question 2

Our church is very small and we are like family. Do we really need a safeguarding policy?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Research shows that most abuse is perpetrated by someone the victim knows and trusts. The belief that "we all know each other, so it can't happen here" is a dangerous myth. Regardless of size, establishing clear safeguarding policies and boundaries is not about suspicion; it is about protecting everyone (including pastors and volunteers) from misunderstanding and ensuring that if something does happen, everyone knows how to respond.

Question 3

What is "Spiritual Abuse"?

Accepted Answer

Spiritual abuse refers to the misuse of religious beliefs, practices, or positions of authority to control, coerce, manipulate, or exploit others. This may involve the misuse of scripture, doctrines, or claims of divine authority to shame, dominate, or silence individuals.

It is important to note that spiritual abuse is not a separate legal category in Hong Kong. It is not a separate category of abuse but is a form of psychological and emotional abuse within a religious or faith-based context. When discussing such cases with statutory agencies, it is important to be clear that spiritual abuse should be understood as a form of psychological and emotional abuse.

Question 4

Does implementing a safeguarding policy mean we don't trust our staff and volunteers?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. On the contrary, a clear safeguarding policy is the foundation of genuine trust. It protects everyone: it protects vulnerable individuals from harm, and it protects staff and volunteers from misunderstanding or false allegations. When boundaries are clear, we can serve wholeheartedly in a safe environment without fear. Safeguarding is not about surveillance; it is about working together to maintain a space where trust can grow safely.

Question 5

Hong Kong law does not explicitly require churches to have a safeguarding policy. Why should we have one?

Accepted Answer

While the law provides an important baseline, as a church, we are bound by a higher calling—God’s requirement for holiness and justice. Furthermore, organisations have a "Duty of Care" under common law towards those they look after. If harm occurs due to a lack of appropriate measures, the church may still bear legal and moral responsibility. More importantly, we should not wait for a tragedy or for mandatory requirements (such as the upcoming Mandatory Reporting regime) to act. Proactively implementing safeguarding is a concrete demonstration that we value every single life.

Question 6

Our ministry is already very busy and we are short-staffed. We simply don't have the time to handle safeguarding.

Accepted Answer

We fully understand the pressures and tensions of frontline ministry. However, rest assured that implementing safeguarding does not mean starting from zero, nor does it mean adding a massive administrative burden.

This is exactly why we exist. CS Asia has prepared a suite of ready-to-use resources, policy templates, and practical guidelines. You can use these tools directly or adapt them slightly to your needs, saving you the time of writing everything from scratch. Our goal is to help you integrate safeguarding elements into your existing procedures (for example, adding a few simple steps to your current recruitment process) rather than creating complex extra work. By utilising our support, you can build a critical safety net for your church with minimal time cost.

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