Safe Church

"Maybe we’ve focused so much on trying to keep children from becoming victims that we’ve forgotten to teach them not to be perpetrators." Let’s stop assuming that children know these values intuitively and realize we need to teach them explicitly.

"These are the ‘CAPE-abilities’ that can interrupt and prevent abusive behavior and help those recover who have experienced abuse." - World Institute on Disability

An emotional abuser intentionally and repeatedly threatens or says harsh words to wear another person down. Once worn down, the victim will try to avoid hearing the threats or nasty words again by doing what the abuser asks. 

Synod has encouraged each classis to have a Safe Church team made up of representatives from each church. The team is a resource to churches, can support local churches in creating safety at the congregational level and empowers churches to be a support to individuals affected by abuse.

Abuse is not always physical or sexual; there are many other ways that power and control can be maintained in a relationship.

Power can control many things in your life, but it cannot control, or bring you, the love you seek.

Dove's Nest has created resources to help churches focus on the role they can play in child abuse prevention.

We can begin to prevent abuse by starting at an early age to teach our children respect for themselves and for one another; and by helping them learn what to do in situations that feel unsafe.

“Too often, intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed in programs that have proven to stop abuse before it occurs – such as family counseling and mandatory parenting education.” - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

“Since only .001 percent of all deaths occur in church, we can easily be lulled into thinking that such things could never happen to us. And yet the sad truth is, such things can and do happen to us. Churches are particularly vulnerable.” - Michael Jackson with the Enrichment Journal.

“If abuse is mentioned at all, it’s not going to be about male victims—theirs is a disenfranchised grief. It is not socially acknowledged, publically mourned, or homiletically addressed.”

"The Long Journey Home provides important and timely information and advocacy for the men and women living with the devastating effects of sexual abuse and rape."