Safe Church will be hosting the first webinar in our new series ("Connect, Collaborate, and Coordinator to end abuse") on Wednesday, Jan 29 at 12 pm (EST). Join us!
We are excited to announce the 2020 Safe Church Conference! Mark your calendars for October 22 to 24 in Grand Rapids, MI at the Drury Inn.
Join Tara Boer, Safe Church Coordinator in Classis Iakota and Classis Heartland, and Bonnie Nicholas, Safe Church director, for a Safe Church training event!
These are adoptions from Synod 2019 that pertain to specifically to classes. These adoptions were recommended from the Addressing Abuse of Power Report.
Safe Church equips congregations in abuse awareness, prevention and response - and now we're providing resources for classis Safe Church Coordinators to help equip others.
Does your church have a system or policy in place for children's programs that begin mid-service? How do you handle this situation?
Training is part of what a safe church team offers to churches and classes. Though there may not be an easy "one-size-fits-all" option, many resources are available.
This specialized training will prepare trainees to respond with compassion and justice when an allegation of abuse is made against a church leader. Sign up at GRapp.eventbrite.com.
This two day interactive training will take place in Grand Rapids, MI from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Friday & Saturday, November 8 and 9. Cost: $120 (includes lunch).
Every classis meeting deserves a safe church ministry report. If you are considering what to include in a safe church ministry classis report, this article is for you.
Synod 2019 included a powerful litany that invited delegates to reflect and lament abuse of power that has caused much harm to many within our CRC community. Safe Church offers and recommends this litany for use in churches.
Here is a brief overview of the Advisory Panel Process. You'll also find a flow chart that illustrates the steps of the process.
Caring Well is wonderful new resource for churches. Discover how caring for those who have experienced abuse is central to the gospel, and learn practical ways to do that in your congregation.
Safe Church says goodbye to Miriam Spies, who has been a valuable partner in our work. She will be pursuing further education.
This is more than a “special offering” Sunday. It’s an opportunity to bring an issue out into the light that too often remains hidden.
Adoptions made by Synod 2019 to Address Abuse of Power in the CRCNA - with linked video of how synod adopted each motion.
Resist Exploitation, Embrace Dignity, (REED) offers education that helps people and organizations, including churches, understand the root causes of sex trafficking and work together to take action toward positive change.
As a supplement to the Safe Church Policy Toolkit, we are providing these sample policies as examples of what other churches use as their abuse prevention policies.
Circle of Grace is a safe environment curriculum that helps to form and educate children and youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others.
This article highlights the practice of leading with, and how it’s the most effective way to create a greater level of abuse awareness, a shared commitment to prevention, and culture ready to respond to abuse with justice and compassion.
This five-part series considers what the Bible says about power and how we might better follow Jesus’ way of self-emptying power (Philippians 2). This series is a partnership between the CRC's Safe Church Ministry and the Office of Social Justice.
It's important to remember that social media is simply a communication tool and, like all tools, must be used in appropriate ways. As leaders it is up to us to create and maintain appropriate boundaries. Here are some guidelines.
Safe Church Ministry strongly recommends this groundbreaking online course and book (for both men and women) that reveals a path to break addictions and cycles of unwanted sexual behaviors.
Protect Young Eyes, a West Michigan based organization, helps families, schools, and churches create safer digital environments. Check out their sample social media policy and more!
Safe Church in Chinese? How did this come about? You may have noticed something new (Chinese characters!) if you follow Safe Church on The Network. The following interview will help us understand.