December 4, 2019
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S.O.S. Part 1: My Journey of Recognizing, Remembering, and Processing Abuse
In this post, an anonymous CRC congregant shares his journey of recognizing, remembering, and processing the abuse he endured.
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December 2, 2019
168
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May You Know How Much You're Worth
And it was here, in her words, that Advent found me. God found me, sending his precious son, an innocent lamb, telling us: “May you know how much you are worth.”
November 25, 2019
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A Modern Twist on Daniel and the Lion's Den
Who needs protection in our current world? This story reminds us about the global crisis of child marriages and the need to continue to work towards a safe world, free from abuse.
November 19, 2019
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Restorative Practices: Choosing Relationship Over Being Right
I wonder what our faith communities would look like if we chose to embrace our tension and conflict, to value relationship with others more than being right.
November 19, 2019
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A Safe Church Jeopardy Game
As important as annual Safe Church training is for staff and volunteers, it can be a challenge to make it engaging. One church had an idea that worked really well: Safe Church Jeopardy!
October 11, 2019
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Becky Jones Joins Disability Concerns and Safe Church
I'm excited to step into my new role assisting the ministries of Disability Concerns and Safe Church. Find out some of my story below. Looking forward to connecting!
August 29, 2019
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On Pain and Lament
As many people who experience suffering from mental illnesses know, this affliction often causes extreme psychological and emotional anguish. I’ve personally found my most meaningful Scripture text in Lamentations.
August 6, 2019
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A Bittersweet Goodbye
Safe Church says goodbye to Miriam Spies, who has been a valuable partner in our work. She will be pursuing further education.
July 17, 2019
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Protecting Innocence in a Digital World
Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, recently spoke at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about protecting children on the internet. He will also be a featured workshop leader at Inspire 2019.
June 11, 2019
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Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of Safe Church Ministry
In 1994, Synod approved the formation of the abuse prevention ministry. Synod took a brave step because it could not have anticipated all that followed. In truth, no one knew what God had in store for the CRCNA.
May 21, 2019
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Back to the Future! Safe Church at Synod 1994 and 2019
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.
May 14, 2019
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Power Over/Power With: A Five-Part Blog Series on Power
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.
May 10, 2019
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Social Media and Youth: Helpful and Safe Ways to Be in Relationship
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.
April 9, 2019
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Living Faithfully and Well Together: 20th Inter-Classis Safe Church Conference
Last month, over 90 people gathered at an Inter-classis Safe Church Conference, an event that Classis Huron, has been holding for 20 years. This event was very well organized with many learning materials!
April 4, 2019
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Frozen Again, a Refreshed Perspective
When I first saw Frozen, I didn't quite get it. Why did it resonate with so many people? I actually remember saying I was unsure of the movie because of the “sassiness of some of the characters.” Since then, my perspective has changed.
April 4, 2019
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这是滥权吗?
要理解滥权，我们必须明白，其核心是权力的运作特点。在滥权处境中，一个人会使用权力去伤害、操纵或控制另外一个人。除了恶劣的性侵和身体侵害之外，情感上的虐待行为，如强迫、恐吓、威胁、鼓励和谴责，都可能带来同等程度的伤害。受害人开始觉得越来越无力，结果就越来越倚靠那个施虐者。当施虐者得到更多权力之后，他们甚至开始有一种失去自我的感受。那就变成一个恶性循环，一个陷阱，让受害者更加陷入困境中。在这种毁坏性的处境当中，是不可能谈什么两厢情愿的。
March 6, 2019
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Updates from Safe Church Classis Coordinators (Zeeland, MI) - Me Involved in Safe Church Ministry?
Lloyd Hemstreet shares his unlikely journey of becoming the safe church coordinator of Classis Zeeland after becoming pastor of Coopersville CRC.
February 20, 2019
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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.
January 29, 2019
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Updates from Safe Church Coordinators: Hamilton, ON
On January 21, Classis Hamilton had another gathering of Safe Church Leaders at Meadowlands Fellowship CRC where we heard a presentation from Hamilton Wentworth Children's Aid Society.
January 29, 2019
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Working in Opposites
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?
January 17, 2019
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Gillette: The Best a Man Can Get?
A reflection on the recent controversy surrounding Gillette's new advertising campaign "We Believe."
December 27, 2018
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Holy Impatience, Holy Incarnation
There will be times when we are vulnerable because of our flesh and blood bodies—and yet that will not be all of who we are and that will not be the end of our stories.
December 20, 2018
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Violence against Women – It’s a Men’s Issue
In a Ted Talk by Jackson Katz he urges for a paradigm shift to name men’s responsibility in ending violence against women, rather than continuing to consider it “a women’s issue.” It is a story, struggle, and call for the whole Body.
December 4, 2018
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#Churchtoo - the Play, the Drama
The play, #ChurchToo, effectively and artfully touched on themes such as power imbalances, denial, silence, grooming, guilt on the part of the victim, and male heroes in the Bible who used their power and position to victimize women.
November 21, 2018
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An Early Advent Reflection
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.