The Church of England has appointed a former government minister as its first independent chair of safeguarding in a move cautiously welcomed by abuse survivors.

Meg Munn, a former Labour MP and minister for women and equality from 2005 to 2007, has taken over from Peter Hancock, the bishop of Bath and Wells, as chair of the church’s national safeguarding panel.

Munn, whose role will be to scrutinise and challenge the church, immediately called for “deep cultural change” within the C of E. “Apologies for past wrongs will mean nothing” without effective protection for the vulnerable, she said.

Survivors and campaigners have repeatedly called on the C of E to introduce independent oversight of issues relating to abuse and the way the church has handled cases. They have argued that the church’s record in covering up abuse and failing to report it to statutory authorities has disqualified it from effectively enforcing good practice.

Phil Johnson of Macsas, which represents survivors of clerical sexual abuse, said Munn’s appointment was a “positive step”.

He added: “She seems very open-minded and willing to try to make a difference, to learn about the culture and problems within the church. It’s a first step, and she fully acknowledges that.”

David Greenwood, head of the child abuse law department at Switalskis solicitors, who represents survivors, said Munn’s appointment was “a step forward in taking away oversight of safeguarding from the church”.

He added: “The church’s many scandals and defensive responses has demonstrated the need for independence and I hope that Meg can use her influence to persuade the church to hand their safeguarding responsibilities to an entirely independent body.”

Richard Scorer, specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, “cautiously welcomed” the appointment, but added: “There remains an overwhelming need for fully independent oversight of church safeguarding, independent investigation of complaints and an independent channel for whistleblowers. There won’t be any real survivor confidence in church processes until these things are put in place”.

Munn, a qualified social worker who led children’s social services in York before being elected to parliament in 2001, is not an Anglican, but has been a member of the Methodist church since her teens.

She said: “I have worked with survivors and have seen first hand the impact, which can be devastating and lifelong … Institutions such as the Church of England need to be open and transparent about the past and develop good safeguarding practice for the future. But only deep cultural change can bring about the transformation that is needed.”

She added: “Ensuring effective safeguarding is a challenge for an organisation that covers the country and has numerous clergy, lay people and volunteers. But if a church which professes to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ does not do everything it can to protect the vulnerable, it is ignoring a core message of that gospel. Apologies for past wrongs will mean nothing.”