Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific (SPD) have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children and vulnerable people by signing the Statement of Commitment to the Australian National Principles for Child Safe Organizations.

The statement was signed at SPD headquarters in Wahroonga on July 30, 2025, reinforcing their support for creating safe spaces across all Church entities in Australia and the broader South Pacific.

“We want to have a culture that is child-friendly and protects vulnerable people,” said SPD president Glenn Townend. “Jesus healed those who were vulnerable, and He blessed children. We want to be that kind of people.”

The SPD joins the Australian Union Conference (AUC) and other Adventist entities in publicly displaying the statement and promoting the National Principles. These principles outline practical ways for organisations to ensure child safety, especially in environments involving children and at-risk individuals.

Townend said the SPD aims to lead by example.

“We want our office to model care for vulnerable people and children—and we want that to be true for all our unions, conferences, missions, and institutions.”

Adsafe general manager Michael Worker added that displaying the commitment visibly in churches and schools is a strong preventive step.

“To have the SPD and the AUC sign this is a very clear declaration that we want our churches, our schools, all of our ministries to be safe places for children,” said Worker. “Displaying the poster in a local church or school becomes a visual deterrent. If a visitor comes with bad intentions, it sends a strong message: we take child and vulnerable adult protection seriously, and it’s not acceptable here.”

“It supports and underpins evangelism, builds community confidence, and shows we’re genuine about our mission.”

The SPD continues to partner closely with Adsafe to ensure that ministry leaders, staff, and volunteers are equipped with the right tools and training to uphold a culture of safety and accountability.

About the South Pacific Division

The South Pacific Division (SPD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church oversees mission work across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. Through its commitment to child safety, the SPD seeks to reflect Christ’s care for the vulnerable while strengthening public trust and enhancing the Church’s witness in diverse communities. This renewed focus on safeguarding aligns with the Division’s broader mission to share hope and wholeness through intentional, compassionate ministry.

The original article was published on the South Pacific Division news site, Adventist Record. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.