Pastoral Resources

Inclusivity and Accessibility

All of the resources, as far as we are able, have been made available in written and in visual form to accommodate different learning styles and also to ensure that those who struggle with reading and writing can be included in the conversation. As Facilitator, your aim is to ensure all feel welcomed, included and enabled to participate.

You will notice that the resources are often subtitled and some are signed to include those with hearing impairment. We have actively sought to model some of the diversity of the Body of Christ by including different genders, orientations, and cultural heritage in our discussions.

Discussions of this nature may evoke strong feelings, unwelcome thoughts or painful associations. Preparing in advance to ensure that prayer and pastoral support is easily accessible to individuals who take part in the discussion is an essential component of this approach.

Ground Rules

As a Facilitator we ask you to ensure that the aims and the Ground Rules of the Resource are clearly understood by everyone, and that particular and careful thought is given to those who are most vulnerable to experiencing harm in this discussion i.e. the LGBT+ community. This is carefully covered in Session 1, with suggested wording for facilitators. It is more scripted than in other places as it is of vital importance. In addition, individual copies of the Ground Rules are to be made available to all, with a visual summary on a flip chart. Please affirm the Ground Rules by returning to them at the beginning of every gathering, and by ensuring your own conduct and contribution adheres to them, thereby modelling appropriate ways of relating and being.

We recommend that you undertake these conversations in your church, or familiar community buildings and adhere to your usual risk assessment processes. It is our expectation and experience that facilitators are always supported in these conversations by other members of the church leadership team or ministers/vicars.

If you have members of the LGBT+ community within your discussion, please arrange to meet with them in advance of the Resource discussion getting underway, to understand their hopes and fears for the conversation and to ensure that they are well supported during the discussion. It is particularly important that they are not singled out in the conversation, used as an example by contributors in the room or treated as educators. Please be mindful of contributors to the conversation who have friends, family or colleagues who identify as within the LGBT+  community and may also find the conversation challenging or emotive at times.

The Ground Rules encourage participants to leave the room if they feel unsafe or distressed. If an individual becomes agitated or angry, other church leaders present for the conversation, including the Designated Person for Safeguarding, are asked to assist the participant to leave the room and ensure they receive the support they need.

Pastoral Care & Prayer Support

We ask you to have pastoral care support colleagues available to attend to the needs of attendees during the conversation. These should be people who are trusted and known to the group, and there specifically for this purpose. It is important that these pastoral care colleagues do not express opinions in the group, or on what attendees choose to share, but rather focus on empathetic care for those in attendance. Attendees will be encouraged to leave the room should they feel the need, so the pastoral presence needs to be on hand. Please do not assume that attendees will want someone to pray with them. We suggest that at the outset that you identify pastoral care leaders to provide local care to all participants in the discussion and signpost to external sources of support.

Included in the appendices is guidance for those offering pastoral support for the group, plus information on Additional Pastoral Care and places or organisations available for signposting. 

Safeguarding concerns

If someone makes a disclosure or shares information that suggests that they may require safeguarding or protection, please follow your church safeguarding policy and procedures. You should start by notifying the Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) in your church. Regional Association Safeguarding Advisors and Diocese Safeguarding Leads are aware of the Resource and are available to provide help and support to your DPS, as required.

Creating Sanctuary is designed to be used with participants from within your local church community. Please take time to talk with your church’s Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS) about any relevant Contract arrangements or risk management arrangements that need to be planned for during the conversation. If participants become agitated or aggressive, other leaders from the church community, including the DPS, will take responsibility for ensuring that the participant is assisted to leave the conversation and well supported outside of the room, in response to their needs.

Managing Emotional Health Needs

Conversations of this nature can lead to wider emotional health support needs becoming visible. 

If you become concerned about the mental health of any participant who is not yet being supported by mental health services, please follow your church procedures and refer to mental health services in your local area (with the informed consent of the individual involved).

In discussion with Public Health England leaders, we attach a range of support organisations in Appendix 1 to whom you can refer participants if they have wider emotional health needs that require additional support or specialist care. This includes regional and national organisations who can help or support your community. It also includes specialist groups offering support to the LGBT+ community and their loved ones.

Additional Pastoral Care

We understand that the Creating Sanctuary resource and the discussions it encourages, are of a personal nature and are sometimes difficult. We have catalogue a few organisations for anyone who would appreciate further pastoral care.

MindOut

MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people. We work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.

Young MINDS

Specifically designed to provide free confidential emotional health support and self-help support to children and young people.

Swtichboard

(London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard) provides national information and a listening service via phone and email/ instant messaging.

Samaritans

While not an exclusively LGB&T organisations, it provides 24/7 confidential phone support.

GMFA

A gay men’s health charity and has a number of booklets and workbooks that can be downloaded for free online. They are written by counsellors and cover a range of topics exploring self-esteem and relationships.

LGBT Foundation

Charity offering health and wellbeing services and resources to the LGBT community in the north of England.

London Friend

A long-running LGBT charity that offers a telephone support service, as well as many different drop-in counselling and support groups. It also runs a specific befriending service and a carers’ support group. It is based in North London.