Healing Process

After hearing the news about what happened at that prestigious RI school, I was glad to read this article which outlines a "healing Process" and what Title IV in our ecclesiastical disciplinary process is all about.

Read this: http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160206/NEWS/160209468/

An excerpt:

When a complaint is filed with a diocesan "intake officer" about a member of the Episcopal clergy, the church launches a "Title IV" ecclesiastical disciplinary process.

That process seeks to support everyone involved or affected — from the clergy member in question, to those who may have been harmed, to the larger community. It also seeks to resolve conflicts, whether through "healing, repentance, forgiveness," or restitution, justice, reconciliation, or someone's agreement to change behavior.

"This is not a matter of what punishment can a person get. It’s how can we best act to heal all the brokenness and woundedness for everybody who is impacted," said Robin Hammeal-Urban, canon for mission integrity and training for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

Prior to July 1, 2011, the process in the Episcopal Church was based on a military code of justice, she said. "The question was, what sentence should be imposed on the clergy person? That, at this point, has been rejected."

"The difference between restorative justice and retribution is making sure we've taken care of everybody. In the case of the accused or convicted person, 'Yes, you've done something very bad, you've sinned, but you can be redeemed.' It doesn't mean there aren't consequences," she said.