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A recent report has revealed troubling issues related to safeguarding at one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent churches, Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast. The findings, obtained by BBC News NI, point to a longstanding “culture of indifference towards safeguarding” within the church. This inquiry was initiated after an alleged inappropriate behavior incident involving a senior leader at the church, identified only as “WMT4” in the safeguarding report. The incident reportedly occurred during a Men’s Fellowship event in June 2023 but was not brought to the church’s attention until May 2024.
The investigation, conducted by Pastor Nigel Elliott of the Elim Church, also examined other disturbing allegations. For instance, there was an incident where a sanitary towel, marked with the phrase “No Surrender,” was allegedly placed on a youth team member’s head. Moreover, witnesses reported that the senior leader had inappropriate physical contact with members of the youth team, including patting one on the bottom during a church event. Despite these claims, the individual accused denied the inappropriate conduct but admitted to occasionally placing his hands on the shoulders of the complainant.
The safeguarding report highlighted that the senior leader’s alleged behavior made a young man, referred to as “WMT1,” feel “uncomfortable” and “spooked.” According to the report, WMT1 described how WMT4 put his hand across his back, sliding it down towards his waist. The church’s leadership did not recommend removing the senior leader from his position during or after the investigation, and he has apparently continued in his role. The church responded to these findings by stating that they acknowledge the report’s identification of areas needing improvement and have prioritized action based on the recommendations, including developing new safeguarding measures.
However, several designated safeguarding officers resigned in protest, expressing dissatisfaction with the church’s handling of the concerns. Their resignation statement criticized the church’s leadership for “long-standing disregard for proper safeguarding practices” and a “lack of meaningful cooperation.” They condemned the private meeting between the senior pastor, the victim, and the accused, which took place without safeguarding team involvement, labeling it a breach of protocol. Additionally, the victim reportedly had to request a redacted version of the safeguarding report after nine months, a delay the officers said demonstrated a lack of transparency and respect for safeguarding principles. Despite these resignations and their pointed criticisms, the church has yet to publicly address these specific concerns. Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that they are investigating three reports of non-recent sexual assault connected to a church in north Belfast, working alongside the church’s safeguarding team but have declined further comment due to ongoing inquiries
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