Church officer called a 'satanist' for raising safeguarding concerns
A former safeguarding officer at one of Northern Ireland's largest churches has reported being called a satanist after raising concerns about safeguarding practices.
Ambrose Doone resigned from his role as designated safeguarding officer at Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast in 2024.
An investigation into an "alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour by one of the senior leaders" revealed a "culture of indifference towards safeguarding" within the church.
In a statement, the church trustees emphasized that they take "the matter of safeguarding very seriously" and have implemented improvements identified by the investigation.
NI obtained minutes from a church board meeting where it was stated that "Satan may have used" some individuals who raised concerns.
At the same meeting, another trustee noted that a letter expressing safeguarding concerns could be "seen as an act of rebellion" and cited 1 Samuel 15:23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft."
Both Doone and another former safeguarding officer, Stephen Spiers, told the BBC they felt "let down" by the church leadership's approach to safeguarding.
Safeguarding refers to protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from abuse, harm, or neglect.
The church, located in north Belfast, has a capacity of 2,500 people.
What did the previous safeguarding investigation find?
The investigation was initiated following an "alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour by one of the senior leaders" at the church.
The senior leader was not named but was referred to as "WMT4" in the safeguarding report. The incident occurred during the Men's Fellowship in June 2023 and was reported to the church in May 2024.
The investigation, conducted by a pastor from another church, concluded that "an incident of inappropriate behaviour occurred against a young man."
Church trustees stated that the areas for improvement identified in the independent report have either been implemented or are "in the final stages of implementation."
NI also obtained several other safeguarding complaints submitted within the church, including allegations that a male church member sent explicit images, including "a picture of his penis," to a young woman via a social media app.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed it is continuing to investigate "a number of non-recent sexual assault allegations" linked to the church.
Stephen Spiers, who was a member of Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle for over 30 years, expressed feeling "so let down" by the church's response when concerns were raised.
"Safeguarding is for the protection of vulnerable people, and that's the most important thing within any institution and especially within a church,"
he said.
He resigned as safeguarding officer, citing the leadership's failure to adequately address the allegation that was the subject of the report.
He also stated that despite informing the leadership of other allegations, he received "no answer."
Spiers criticized the church for not standing down the senior leader from their duties during the investigation.
"The alleged perpetrator was allowed to continue for the next year-and-a half in the church,"
he said.
"Safeguarding has still not been addressed within the church.
To have to leave a church where you've worshipped, where you've put your heart into, and belonged to, it's a hard step to have to leave and to uproot."
Ambrose Doone also resigned as safeguarding officer in 2024 after serving three years in the role, citing the leadership's failure to act.
"Anyone who came over the threshold of a church was supposed to be safeguarded irrespective of their age or gender or background,"
he said.
Doone was interviewed as part of the safeguarding report but stated that a "false narrative" had been spread about the incident and the safeguarding team.
"Myself and a number of the other men who were involved in the safeguarding were referred to as Satanists, we were called liars and we were called rebels,"
Doone said.
He has since left the church, partly to care for his wife who is suffering from dementia.
"We want the people of Whitewell, the good brothers and sisters that belong to us in the faith and believe that we are genuine men and women who belong to the Lord, if they have questions come and ask us and we will tell them the truth."
Other members have also departed from the church, including Peter Herth, whose family had attended for over a decade.
"We found a home there,"
he said.
"As years went by our son got baptised, I got baptised there, my wife as well.
Over the last two years, last year, it's just got really difficult.
We found these issues that came up with safeguarding - and they were serious failings in safeguarding.
Because my wife was on the safeguarding team at the time we were aware of this.
It wasn't taken seriously and we just couldn't be part of that no more."
In a statement, the church affirmed its commitment to safeguarding and said the "alleged inappropriate behaviour of a staff member in 2024 was thoroughly investigated."
"The advice of the independent report investigator, and a legal advisor, was that there was no requirement to stand down the member of staff during or after the investigation," the statement said.
"Upon conclusion of the investigation, the matter was followed up through a staff disciplinary process.
We therefore thoroughly disagree with any suggestion that the church 'failed to adequately address the safeguarding allegation'."
The statement also noted that other "historical concerns" about safeguarding have been examined and addressed where appropriate.
"It has been very concerning that an issue as important as safeguarding is being used to attempt to unsettle the church's leadership and divide its congregation," the statement added.
