Safe Church Works When We All Work Together: You’re Invited!

Safe Church Ministry equips congregations in abuse awareness, prevention, and response. Obviously, two people in an office in Grand Rapids can’t provide all the education and awareness needed in over a thousand CRC congregations. The two of us can’t be there to walk alongside, showing compassion to those who have suffered abuse all across the U.S. and Canada. And Safe Church has no jurisdiction or governing authority in cases of church leader misconduct. Safe Church only works when we are well-connected, working with YOU, CRC church members and leaders.

Synod 2016 noted the many resources on the Safe Church website. It’s one of our primary strategies for equipping congregations. Are you wondering about safe church policy or background checks? We have resources about that here. Maybe you know someone who has experienced child sexual abuse or domestic violence and wonder how to respond. Increase your understanding by browsing our website resources about these as well as other topics.  Safe Church also has resources in the CRC digital library. You can find those resources here.

We connect electronically via a bi-monthly newsletter to over 500 people; many are active in safe church ministry in their own congregation or classis. But there’s nothing like getting together face to face to support and encourage one another in this vitally important ministry. Every other year we host a bi-national Safe Church Ministry Conference. And this year we have plans to live-stream our Friday evening and Saturday morning plenary sessions to make them accessible to more people in more places.

You’re invited to consider joining us in safe church ministry, wherever you are, using your own gifts, skills, interests and expertise. Abuse Awareness Sunday is coming up September 25, how might your congregation participate? We need you in safe church ministry because it only works when we all work together.