Bradford clergy have been issued a set of behavioural guidelines by their Bishop in a bid to ensure they steer clear of allegations from their flocks.

The Right Reverend David Smith has had to deal with four cases of serious accusations against clergy in the last ten years - all of which were untrue.

Now a booklet entitled Guidelines for Ministers in Pastoral Practice has been researched, using advice from other dioceses and the Methodist Church, and has been distributed for clergy and lay people.

It tells them how they are particularly vulnerable when, through their work, they reach out to needy people and try to help them.

It states: "One form of ministerial vulnerability arises from the fact that others may use opportunities to make allegations which may be false, but which are extremely difficult to disprove. The Church itself is vulnerable when its ministers are accused rightly or wrongly of improper conduct."

The do's and don'ts include "not allowing oneself to be put on a pedestal or succumb to flattery".

It adds: "Pay attention, in any pastoral interview, to the appropriateness of the setting, time of day, body language, touch and terms of endearment" and insists children left alone with an older person must be easily observed by others nearby.

The Bishop said: "What we are saying to people really is that you must be careful and act professionally. You must realise that it's a disciplined, well trained 'professional' relationship which may bring people some real benefit. When it becomes a personal matter, it usually ends in pain and tragedy."

Parishioners requiring in-depth one-to-one counselling would receive more appropriate help from a properly trained counsellor, the Bishop added.

"What we are trying to do is help clergy who offer a high standard of pastoral care not to get into situations that can go badly wrong. It does demand discipline. When people are caring by nature, they can get things out of proportion."

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