The Commission’s primary role is to develop high-level standards and capacity development resources that enable every province—regardless of its location or resources—to build a safe church. Its work is grounded in the Charter for the Safety of People within the Churches of the Anglican Communion, which outlines five core commitments for every church organisation:

• Providing Support: Providing care for the abused, their families, and affected parishes.
• Effective Responses: Ensuring impartial determination and reporting procedures for allegations.
• Pastoral Ministry: Adopting and promoting standards of practice through education and training.
• Suitability for Ministry: Conducting rigorous assessments, including background checks for staff and clergy.
• Culture of Safety: Promoting environments that prevent abuse before it occurs.

Closing the “Loophole”

A critical part of the Commission’s mandate is the implementation of the Protocol for the Disclosure of Ministry Suitability Information. This international protocol is designed to prevent those who have abused moving to different churches, by establishing a transparent mechanism for information sharing between provinces, ensuring that clergy cannot cross borders to evade accountability.