The Rev Philip Jensen asked -

Are there any personal files on clergy kept at St Andrews House, if so:

(a) what are they;

(b) who has access to them;

(c) what opportunities do the clergy have to view them; and

(d) what opportunities do the clergy have to query, correct, amend or add to them?

To which the President replied -

(a) In a large organisation such as ours which must deal with numbers of individuals over a long period of time, information is retained at various points relating to clergy. For example -

- correspondence
- selection, training and ordination
- sexual protocols
- superannuation and long service leave
- claims for Sickness and Accident Fund and Stipend Continuance Plan
- pay files
- continuing education for ministry

(b) A limited number of people on a 'need to know basis'.

(c) They have limited opportunity depending on the information sought.

(d) There are some classes of files to which access may be granted. However, there are other classes of files to which access would not usually be granted because of legal issues such as privacy, defamation and breach of confidentiality.