As a vicar I want to be held accountable. Unchecked power is dangerous

After witnessing abuse scandals up close and personal, Rev Jamie Sewell knows that accountability isn’t an optional extra for Christian leaders. It’s vital for the health of the whole Church 

Weeks after being ordained, I’d just moved into my parish in White City and decided to don my dog collar. I wasn’t sure how I would be received, but I began by knocking on doors, simply introducing myself to parishioners.

To my surprise and encouragement, the collar opened doors, literally. Nervous community members would hear an unfamiliar male voice at the door, and hesitantly open the door just enough to peep through the gap. The moment they saw the collar, the door would swing wide open. There was a level of trust offered to me — an unfamiliar, tattooed, white man with a skinhead, that I might not have otherwise received. 

And then, walking home one afternoon, still encouraged from a string of positive conversations and prayerful encounters, I was approached by someone else. I thought this was going to be the cherry on top. He made a beeline for me and asked: “Excuse me, are you a vicar?”

“Yes,” I replied, expecting another opening for pastoral support. Instead, he said: “Great. Could you tell me why all vicars are paedophiles?”