All Safe Church Resources - Christian Reformed Church

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Date	Average Rating
October 28, 2011	0	Abuse Prevention...Stop it Before it Starts! Safe Church abuse prevention, advocacy, education The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is never truer than in situations involving abuse. The deep hurt and devastation left in the wake of an abusive incident leaves scars that last in individual relationships, in families and in church communities. Rather than dealing with the aftermath, wouldn’t it be wiser to ... Read more »
August 8, 2011	0	The "Frame" for Safe Church Initiatives - Part 2 Safe Church congregational health, leadership training, safe church, Safe Church Team, story/stories, victim/victims The hurt and suffering caused by abuse may envelop not only people who are abused, and those who abuse them, but friends, neighbors, and even whole congregations as well. Though we know that suffering can be redemptive, that fact should never be used to recommend continue toleration of suffering, or the ... Read more »
August 1, 2011	0	The "Frame" for Safe Church Initiatives - Part 1 Safe Church abuse, abuse prevention, domestic violence, reporting abuse, sexual abuse, violence Sometimes it's difficult to determine the extent of alleged abuse and the damage it has done. This is especially true of those cases that take place, as it were, at the "edges" of the frame. Here puzzling questions of whether one has, or has not, crossed the boundary separating abuse from non-abuse can arise... Read more »
June 20, 2011	0	Understanding Consent - Part 2 Safe Church, Sexual Abuse legal/legal matters, minor/minors, sexual abuse All the states and provinces have laws which declare sexual acts with minors to be criminal. In addition, a related law might specify at what age a minor can give consent to sexual acts. If the child is below the age of consent, the judicial system will likely hold the offender responsible Read more »
June 10, 2011	0	Understanding Consent - Part I Safe Church child abuse, legal/legal matters, sexual abuse Consent is a short word, but long on meaning. There is much to know about consent, and there is much to misunderstand about consent. Consent is more than permission. Consent implies that you understand your decision or your behavior, and you understand the consequences of that decision, too. Read more »
April 11, 2011	0	Shaping the Path to Safe Churches Safe Church abuse prevention, advisory panel/panel process, policy/policies, Safe Church Team In 1994 a social worker with Bethany Christian services was given a mandate by Synod to start an abuse prevention office for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She was asked to address a sinful side of human behavior that, at that time, was rarely recognized, acknowledged, or spoken about. In the years since Read more »
December 29, 2010	0	Tips to Make a Facility Safer Child Safety architecture, child safety, facility, guidelines I recall taking the tour of a brand new church which boasted a nursery on the lower level with its own entrance off the parking lot for late-arriving parents. I wished the architect had thought about a late-arriving person who, with just the twist of a nob, was inside a room of infants and small children who were more than a loud cry away from calling for help... Read more »
July 8, 2010	0	End It Now Today! Domestic Violence abuse, domestic violence Looking back, Pastor “Jones” should have known. All the warning signs were there. “Stella” often seemed anxious and nervous when “Mike,” her husband, was around. She was always very subservient, so intent on doing whatever he said. Even then... Read more »
May 5, 2010	0	Results and Summary of the Child Safety Survey Child Safety child safety, criminal record checks, policy/policies, reporting abuse, screening, screening policies, survey The Survey was sent by email to 1022 active pastors in the Christian Reformed Church on Feb 16, 2010. One hundred ninety-one surveys were returned. Nearly one-half of the respondents were pastors in their present church for five years or less. Overall, the return rate was 17% which statistical experts suggest is... Read more »
April 21, 2010	5	The Voices of the Silent Sexual Abuse child abuse, church/churches, responding to abuse We can get caught up with the tragic stories that describe the awful ways that people treat each other. We feel sad....we feel helpless. We wonder, "When will it all end?" Then along comes a sweet story about a person being in the right place at the right time to offer comfort and encouragement. Perhaps if you look closely, you might see that you could be in the right place at the right time now for someone else who needs to be loved unconditionally, without judgment, and without explanation. I hope you will find this story uplifting. Read more »
January 26, 2010	0	How to Form a Safe Church Team Safe Church Team church member/members, classis, guidelines, mandate/mandates, recruiting/recruitment, training Because all forms of abuse harm both the victim and the offender, we should take the steps necessary to prevent abuse. And because all forms of abuse bring chaos to a congregation, we should take the steps necessary to create a safe culture within our churches. Read more »
January 25, 2010	0	Who Are the Safe Church Team Advocates? Safe Church Team abuse, advisory panel/panel process, Advocates, allegations, Safe Church Team The Christian Reformed Church has more than 20 safe church team advocates who respond to and provide a range of assistance to claimants going through the advisory panel process – a synodical-approved process for an individual who has made a claim of abuse against a church leader. The panel process can be complicated and... Read more »
January 25, 2010	0	Safe Church Team Chairpersons Meet Restorative Justice at Annual Conference Safe Church Team chairpersons, justice, restorative justice, Safe Church Team What happens to the victim and the offender after the advisory panel concludes its work? Read how restorative justice practices may play a part in the transition between fact-finding and restoration. Read more »
January 22, 2010	0	When CRC Ministers Abuse Part II: Shattered Faith Sexual Abuse clergy misconduct, legal/legal matters, liability/liability issues, sexual abuse As a teenager Joanne Ravensbergen was abused by her brother-in-law, now a retired CRC pastor. After her brother-in-law pleaded no contest to indecent assault, Ravensbergen said she “could not worship in a church that had [the abuser’s] picture in the council room.” Even worse, the abuse “destroyed my faith,” she said. “I’ve burned my Bibles.” Read more »
January 22, 2010	5	When CRC Ministers Abuse Part I Sexual Abuse advisory panel/panel process, clergy misconduct, council/councils, sexual abuse In a timeless article, the author interviews several victims and experts who describe the heartache and the harm that occurs when a clergy person commits sexual misconduct. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	How We Fail to Create Safe Churches Child Safety, Safe Church Team church government, classis, confidentiality, offender/offenders, policy/policies, sexual abuse, victim/victims About 25 years ago reports began to surface about physical, emotional, and sexual abuse perpetrated by members and even leaders in the Christian Reformed Church. Synod appointed a committee to study the matter. The committee hired social researchers to conduct a professional survey ... Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Abuse Prevention: "We're Halfway There" Child Safety abuse prevention, child safety, classis, leadership, policy/policies, synod Half of the Christian Reformed Church’s 1,100 congregations now have a Child Safety Policy in place. And approximately half of the 47 classes (regional groups of churches) have Safe Church Teams in place. A curious Canadian-American difference is noticeable. All 12 Canadian classes have Safe Church Teams in place, but only one-third of U.S. classes do. Read more »

Date	Average Rating
May 13, 2013	5	Signs of Emotional Abuse Emotional Abuse emotional abuse, guidelines, resource/resources An emotional abuser intentionally and repeatedly threatens or says harsh words to wear another person down. Once worn down, the victim will try to avoid hearing the threats or nasty words again by doing what the abuser asks. Read more »
May 7, 2013	0	Vulnerability, Adults & Abuse Elderly Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse elderly abuse, intellectual disability/disabilities Churches and caring individuals can help stop elder abuse and mistreatment in their families and the community. Stand up for vulnerable adults in your neighborhoods and congregation. Read more »
May 2, 2013	0	What is a Classical Safe Church Team? Safe Church Team classis, Safe Church Ministry, synod Synod has encouraged each classis to have a Safe Church team made up of representatives from each church. The team is a resource to churches, can support local churches in creating safety at the congregational level and empowers churches to be a support to individuals affected by abuse. Read more »
April 22, 2013	0	Questions Children Ask About Abuse Child Safety, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse child abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse Explain to children that, if they think that they are being abused, they need to tell someone they trust. Urge them never to keep abuse a secret, even if the person hurting them tells them that something bad will happen if they tell. Read more »
April 15, 2013	0	An Ounce of Prevention Emotional Abuse, Safe Church Team, Sexual Abuse abuse prevention, domestic violence, emotional abuse, sexual abuse Abuse is not always physical or sexual; there are many other ways that power and control can be maintained in a relationship. Read more »
April 9, 2013	0	Ideas for April: Safe Church Child Safety, Sexual Abuse abuse prevention, child abuse, sexual abuse Protective factors are attributes that serve as buffers, helping parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing their children to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress. Read more »
April 2, 2013	0	Teen Dating Violence: What Church Leaders Need to Know Child Safety dating, physical abuse, sexual abuse “Dating violence refers to a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse perpetrated by an adolescent against a current or former dating partner.” Read more »
March 26, 2013	0	Power, Love, and the Cross Domestic Violence, Emotional Abuse abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse Power can control many things in your life, but it cannot control, or bring you, the love you seek. Read more »
March 18, 2013	0	What can Organizations do to Prevent Sexual Abuse? Sexual Abuse abuse prevention, sexual abuse, youth "Part of the work is ensuring that boundaries are established and maintained, the harm of sexual abuse is understood, and healthy relationships are actively talked about. Each of these is essential to prevention.” Read more »
March 12, 2013	0	Child Abuse Prevention Resource Kit from Dove's Nest Child Safety abuse prevention, child abuse Dove's Nest has created resources to help churches focus on the role they can play in child abuse prevention. Read more »
March 4, 2013	0	Churches: Make a Plan for How to Deal with Abuse Allegations Sexual Abuse abuse prevention, sexual abuse "Often, ministers want to resolve such matters internally through counseling with the victim or the alleged offender, without contacting civil authorities.” Richard R. Hammar goes on to explain that “such a response can have serious legal consequences.” Read more »
February 26, 2013	0	Education is the Best Prevention Child Safety abuse prevention We can begin to prevent abuse by starting at an early age to teach our children respect for themselves and for one another; and by helping them learn what to do in situations that feel unsafe. Read more »
February 18, 2013	0	How to Talk to a Child About Abuse Child Safety child abuse “Remember that you can do more harm by supplying a child with words and ideas. Let the child tell her own story and give you the answers.” Read more »
February 13, 2013	0	Child Abuse: Top Ten Prevention Tips Child Safety, Sexual Abuse child abuse “Too often, intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed in programs that have proven to stop abuse before it occurs – such as family counseling and mandatory parenting education.” - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies Read more »
February 4, 2013	0	Child Abuse: Disclosures and Indicators Child Safety, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse child abuse “Research shows that children often tell about their experiences many times before action is taken to respond.” Read more »
January 28, 2013	0	V-Day, What Would Jesus Do? Domestic Violence emotional abuse, sexual abuse We can let people know that we are Christians who care about abuse, who want to see it end, and so does Jesus. Read more »
January 21, 2013	0	Stalking: It Happens in Christian Communities, Too Safe Church Team abuse prevention How much do you know about stalking? Take this interactive quiz. Read more »
January 14, 2013	0	Be Prepared Before Disaster Strikes Safe Church Team child safety policy/policies, church buildings “Since only .001 percent of all deaths occur in church, we can easily be lulled into thinking that such things could never happen to us. And yet the sad truth is, such things can and do happen to us. Churches are particularly vulnerable.” - Michael Jackson with the Enrichment Journal. Read more »
January 7, 2013	0	Church Safety and Gun Violence Safe Church Team church buildings, violence When gun violence occurs in public places, church members may wonder, “What if gun violence were to occur at my place of worship?” Are our churches prepared to deal with this type of crisis? Read more »
December 27, 2012	5	Helping Children Deal with Traumatic Events Child Safety guidelines, resource/resources, violence Think about what your little ones are hearing and seeing. “You may think that children are not listening, but perhaps they are,” says Bonnie Nicholas, Director of Safe Church Ministry. “Hearing more and more about this incident may be OK for you as an adult, but it is not healthy for young children.” Read more »

Date	Average Rating
July 18, 2011	0	Church Safety Newsletter Safe Church legal/legal matters, resource/resources, safe church This free newsletter from Christianity Today can provide those of you who work in church ministry with critical information and tools to help you evaluate, address, and improve the financial, legal, and physical safety of your church. Read more »
January 26, 2010	0	Safe Church Team: What a Church Member Needs to Know Safe Church Team abuse, allegations, church member/members, classis In the Christian Reformed Church, Safe Church Teams are encouraged to be formed at two levels—at a Classical (or regional) level and at a local congregational level. The goal of a classis Safe Church Team is to help each congregation build and sustain healthy interactions between church leaders and those who participate in church programs or worship at the church. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	The Facts About Dating Violence Youth Issues booklet/booklets, dating, physical abuse, violence, youth A booklet from Faith Alive Christian Resources describing dating violence and how to get help. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Rose's New Shoes: A Story About Bullying Child Safety booklet/booklets, bullying, child safety, minor/minors A small booklet from Faith Alive Christian Resources for children ages 5-9 about bullying and what can be done to stop it. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Know What? Your Body is Yours! Child Safety activity book, child safety, minor/minors, safe touches, unsafe touches An activity booklet Faith Alive Christian Resources for children ages 5-9 to help them learn about safe and unsafe touches. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	My Body Belongs to Me Child Safety boundaries, child safety, minor/minors, safe touches A small booklet from Faith Alive Christian Resources about safe touching for children ages 3-7. Available in both English and Spanish. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Questions from the Pickle Jar: Teens and Sex Youth Issues abuse, dating, homosexual/homosexuality, pornography, relationship/relationships, sex/sexuality A book from Faith Alive Christian Resources for teens that humorously covers topics related to healthy sexuality. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Elder Abuse--Help Put an End to It Elderly Abuse emotional abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse A booklet from Faith Alive Chrisian Resources describing elder abuse and how to help end it. Available in both English and Spanish. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Partner Abuse: What Women Should Know Domestic Violence abuse, domestic violence, guidelines, seeking help A booklet from Faith Alive Christian Resources describing domestic violence situations and how to get help. Available in both English and Spanish. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Into the Light: A Guide for Abused Women Domestic Violence emotional abuse, isolation, legal/legal matters This guidebook from Faith Alive Christian Resources helps women understand how abusive relationships are created and contains basic information on safety and how to find emotional and legal support. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Emotional Abuse: What You Should Know Emotional Abuse child abuse, domestic violence, intimidation, self-esteem/image, sexual abuse This free guide provides a thorough description of emotional abuse, victims, abusers, and effects along with information about what to do when you recognize it and how to report it. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Responding to Domestic Violence: Guide for Churches Domestic Violence abuse prevention, legal/legal matters This handbook is for pastors and other church leaders to help them respond to and prevent domestic violence. It provides information about the dynamics of domestic violence, characteristics and behaviors of victims and offenders, treatment and spiritual issues, the pastor's and congregation's response, and victims' safety plans. Read more »
January 21, 2010	0	Preventing Child Abuse: Creating a Safe Place Child Safety bullying, facility, guidelines, hall monitor, nursery, policy/policies, reporting abuse, screening A book that details how to write a child safety policy and guide churches through the process of designing and implementing policies and procedures for a comprehensive abuse prevention policy. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Sample Letters of Invitation for Safe Church Team Recruiting Safe Church Team classis, nomination/nominations, Safe Church Team Sample letters for pastors, churches, and prospective Safe Team Members to be used for Classis Safe Church Team recruiting. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Sample Recruitment Announcements for Safe Church Team Safe Church Team bulletin, classis, recruiting/recruitment, volunteer/volunteers Sample bulletin announcement for recruiting members for a classis Safe Church Team. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Advisory Panel Process Safe Church Team accused/accuser, advisory advocate, brochure/brochures, council/councils, Safe Church Team A brochure detailing the key elements of the process and what the accused and the accuser need to know. It includes a description of the various roles of the Executive Committee, Council, Advocate, and the Advisory Panel in this process. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Selection Criteria for Safe Church Team Safe Church Team classis, getting started, nomination/nominations, organization Guidelines for recruiting and selecting the members of a Safe Church Team. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Process for Establishing a Classis Safe Church Team Safe Church Team budget, classis, getting started, nomination/nominations, organization This document includes all the steps, approximate costs and the organizational structure of a Safe Church Team. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	Organizational Structure of Safe Church Team Within Classis Safe Church Team advisory panel/panel process, church/churches, classis, Safe Church Ministry A visual illustration of how the Office of Safe Church and the Safe Church Team relate to Classis and church. Read more »
January 18, 2010	0	The Advocate Role on the Safe Church Team Safe Church Team accused/accuser, Advocates, emotional support, Safe Church Team Advocates provide support for claimants through the advisory panel process. This document outlines the role of the advocate. Read more »

Date	Average Rating
July 8, 2011	0	The RAVE Project Safe Church domestic violence, resource/resources, safe church, victim/victims RAVE stands for Religion and Violence E-learning. It provides excellent online resources including survivor stories and online training for pastors. Read more »
July 8, 2011	0	churchsafety.com Child Safety child safety, legal/legal matters, resource/resources, safe church, safe place, screening At this website you'll find tools and resources to help your church be a safe place. Subscribe to newsletters and take advantage of articles of interest related to kids, staff, ministries, policies, and more. You'll find resources related to VBS safety, emotional and sexual abuse, check-in and check-out procedures and guidelines for doing safety assessments. Read more »
January 11, 2010	0	Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Child Safety abuse prevention, child safety policy/policies, church volunteer training, insurance, liability/liability issues, screening, screening policies Insurance company devoted to reducing the risk of abuse in the church by providing sample child safety policies, insurance coverage, church volunteer training, written and video resources Read more »
January 11, 2010	0	Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) Elderly Abuse child abuse, domestic violence, family CLEO provides many services, including booklets on abuse-related topics that are downloadable; example - Elder Abuse: The Hidden Crime Read more »
January 11, 2010	0	Safe Church Ministry Safe Church abuse prevention, advisory panel/panel process, Advocates, booklet/booklets, brochure/brochures, bulletin inserts, child abuse, child safety policy/policies, church leader misconduct, domestic violence, elderly abuse, emotional abuse, guidelines, physical abuse, responding to abuse, Safe Church Team, sexual abuse, worship resources Website of the Safe Church Ministry of the CRCNA with resources to create awareness of abuse and to assist churches and organizations to respond effectively and justly to abuse incidents Read more »
January 11, 2010	0	Faith Trust Institute Domestic Violence book/books, child abuse, church leader misconduct, domestic violence, foreign language resources, video/videos Faith-based organization that provides written and video resources for the prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, and church leader misconduct Read more »

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What can be done about the high turnover rate for elders and deacons?
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