Safe Church at Inspire 2019!
Safe Church is pleased to announce that Inspire 2019 includes four workshops looking at practices to make churches safer and free from abuse for all.
Safe Church is pleased to announce that Inspire 2019 includes four workshops looking at practices to make churches safer and free from abuse for all.
Whenever a church member or leader is accused and arrested for a criminal sexual offense, there are serious repercussions in the entire community, both in and outside the church.
Last fall at our Safe Church conference, key leaders were asked to imagine, dream, and visualize safe church ministry in their own congregation and classis. We wanted to share some of these dreams with you; dream with us in 2019!
Prevent Connect is a national online project dedicated to the primary prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence by using various forms of online media to connect people and ideas.
Safe Church is not the only organization working to end the devastation caused by abuse. There are a host of others with similar passion working to end this kind of violence. What can we learn from them?
What are we to make of all the sexual assault allegations we’re hearing? And how are we to respond, as the church, when we hear these stories, and address allegations in our own congregations? Here's a resource that can help.
Classis Chatham used Safe Church Mini-Grant Funds to help create a video to promote a counseling fund for those who would like to receive counseling after an experience of abuse. Several other classes have a similar fund. What could your classis do with a Safe Church Mini-Grant?
This story should help us realize that sexual assault must never be minimized and there must always be proper discipline administered to those who abuse their power. This too should remind us of the devastation that sexually inappropriate and assaultive behavior causes for women and men in all walks of life.
This story is part of our SOS series - "My sister's story" can help us understand the devastation that happens in families as a result of domestic abuse. How might the church respond to make a positive difference?
Does your classis have a Safe Church Coordinator or Team Leader? We are excited to see more begin coordinating to further equip, collaborate, and resource our congregations throughout the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Listen to two stories of how attending the Safe Church conference ignited fruitful safe church ministry in central Montana and in western Michigan. Consider what it could mean where you live and worship.
Amy’s story can help us understand what it is like to experience abuse from a trusted church member, and then not to be believed when she tried to tell about it.
Stories can be a powerful way to learn from one another when we have open ears to listen.
This resource is a consolidation of guidelines that CRC Synods have adopted over time, as a supplement to the Church Order, to equip churches to deal with an abuse allegation in a manner that is consistent with CRC beliefs and values.
Safe Church issues received a lot of time at Synod 2018. What will the recommendations that were adopted mean for your classis, your congregation, and you?
As the #MeToo movement hits the church, many churches are requesting information about how to respond. We hope this toolkit will help people, especially church councils, understand what their options are.
Safe Church has seen an uptick in the number of requests for assistance with situations of abuse that are affecting congregations. What is the answer for this situation of rising need and reduced resources?
Safe Church Ministry offers Responding to Abuse: A Toolkit for Churches as we recognize the great need to respond well to sexual abuse. Understanding how abuse happens, often through a process of grooming, is a part of this toolkit.
Perhaps you, or someone you know, may be interested in being the next Network Guide for Safe Church Ministry. Get the details below!
Did you know that Safe Church Ministry started out as the Office of Abuse Prevention? Think of the heartache avoided by preventing abuse before it happens. Surely churches belong at the front lines.
Safe Church Ministry offers a toolkit for churches. Responding to immediate needs is a part of that toolkit. We hope that this article is helpful toward that end.
Safe Church Ministry began as the Office of Abuse Prevention; prevention must be a primary focus of our work. Therefore, we have step one — be prepared. Our response efforts will always be weak and lacking without this foundation.
An effective response to abuse is not possible without understanding the dynamics and impacts of abuse, especially the power dynamics.
Barb Cole, Safe Church team member from Classis Yellowstone, was surprised when Protect Young Eyes and Safe Church said "yes!" to coming to Montana. Read her reflections on the trainings here!
Have you seen the July 2017 Safe Church Newsletter? Meet our summer intern, discover 10 ways to make your church a safer place, and find out where to connect with us at Inspire 2017!