Why did God put a story about rape in his Holy Word? Perhaps he wants us to understand the experience, shared by so many women and men. This Bible discussion can help us understand.
What does our response to the words of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say about us? Is this OK?
If trauma is what I'm experiencing, what can I do about it? Is there a role for the church in such a time as this?
Safe Church leadership will soon change as I plan to retire in November. Yet the work of equipping congregations in abuse awareness, prevention, and response will continue.
Perhaps especially in times of transition, but really in all of our days, the Lord invites us, with soft and contrite hearts, into his very presence. Let's pray.
As we celebrate and care for our wonderfully created bodies, we must acknowledge a tendency to place evil there, in our flesh, in our bodies.
For 25 years, we've been talking about preventing and responding to abuse in our church contexts. Here's a look back and a prayer for the future.
Light and dark, evil and good, right and wrong, mercy and justice. These concepts work in opposites. How do we, the church, walk in the tension of the in-between space where we all live?
Of all The Network articles floating around in my mind I wanted to write, all important topics for Safe Church Ministry—this is what came out when I sat down to write. It's a hopeful reflection on life with God.
This handy guide to our denominational position statement about abuse, and summary of related Church Order may be helpful, especially to church councils, in responding to allegations or disclosures of abuse.
Silence is no longer an option. In this watershed #MeToo moment, the Church must be ready to respond to sexual abuse. How will it happen in your classis?
We’ve seen various responses to stories of sexual harassment and abuse, in the political realm and in the celebrity realm. What about in the Church? What will our response be?
A recent article in Christianity Today highlights a few of the reasons why it can be difficult for those who have survived abuse to be in church.
When we find someone with passion for this ministry, we’re quick to label them a “team member.” Join our team! Help us assist the CRC in abuse awareness, prevention, and response.
Three CRC ministries, Race Relations, Disability Concerns, and Safe Church Ministry, are excited to put on a free, four-hour workshop on Sept. 9 that will bring together resources and opportunities to learn from each other. Come!
In contrast to God’s beautiful design, the sex industry takes an incredible gift and uses greed, violence and coercion to exploit God’s image in people and to destroy God’s design for relationship.
What does your congregation do to create safe spaces, where people feel safe enough to share honest struggles and untold stories?
Safe Church Ministry is thrilled to know about, and to let you know about, Hope for the Sold, an organization that works to end sexual exploitation, in part by offering excellent web-based resources.
If we want to minister effectively with those who have experienced rape, we need to examine what we believe about it, and how false thinking may influence our actions and words causing further harm.
We are excited to welcome Eric Kas as the new Safe Church Associate! He is excited to partner with you all as we strive for safe spaces in our churches.
Let’s acknowledge honestly that we still have a long way to go when it comes to equally valuing women.
Learn how to use applied Scripture and mental health principles to address wounds caused by trauma at a three day Trauma Healing event taking place February 1-3 in Grand Rapids, MI.
If I look carefully, I can see God right here and right now. Like the “I spy” game I’ll play with my 3-year-old granddaughter, if I take time to look carefully, I can see. Please open my spiritual eyes.
“The presenters were so knowledgeable and helpful and compassionate." What a blessing to get feedback like this from participants at the Safe Church Ministry conference that took place Nov. 4-6, 2016.
We were absolutely thrilled to have Linda Crockett from Samaritan SafeChurch at our Safe Church Ministry Conference. She inspired us with her unsettling story and soon it will be posted on our website.