Safe Church Not Alone: The Value of Partnership

The CRC Safe Church Ministry is not alone. 

We are not the only organization working to end the devastation of abuse. There are a host of others with similar goals and passion for this work. In this series of Network articles titled Safe Church Not Alone we will feature several organizations that are doing similar work and offer resources that can be helpful to CRC churches as well.

There is no reason to reinvent the wheel when there are so many wonderful resources, ideas, and wisdom that can be gleaned from those who are day in and day out working to prevent abuse, and to respond appropriately. We are in this fight against abuse together, until the violence ends.  

The vision of Safe Church is to equip congregations in building communities where the value of each person is honored, where people are free to worship and grow free from abuse; and where abuse has occurred the response is compassion and justice that foster healing.

Some of the organizations featured in this Network series share our Christian faith and values; others may not. Not all the views and information presented represent CRC Safe Church. Yet all the featured organizations have something valuable to offer. Perhaps a particular resource can be adapted to our own church context. Perhaps receiving affirmation and encouragement from those who are “in the trenches” doing this work will motivate us. Maybe we will gain increased understanding, expertise, or a strategy that we haven’t thought of yet.  

We encourage Safe Church team members, council members, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, parents, and anyone to explore what these other organizations might have to offer our churches and communities as we seek to create a safer environment for all of us.

This is The Network after all, and value is created by commenting, questioning, sharing, and helping one another. We’re excited to extend this conversation and the learning beyond the CRC through our Safe Church Not Alone series.

The first post of 2019 in the Safe Church Not Alone series will feature Prevent Connect. Consider joining in their free web conference taking place January 9—Changing the Culture of Schools, Churches, and Communities to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (see below).  

Join the conversation in 2019! You can post a comment, or you can post your own blog, question, resource, or discussion starter. See How to Add Your Post on the Network.