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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!
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.
Safe Church says goodbye to Miriam Spies, who has been a valuable partner in our work. She will be pursuing further education.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Lloyd Hemstreet shares his unlikely journey of becoming the safe church coordinator of Classis Zeeland after becoming pastor of Coopersville CRC.
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.
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.
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?
A reflection on the recent controversy surrounding Gillette's new advertising campaign "We Believe."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last night, I spent time with Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo Movement! She emphasized that my voice and my story mattered.
This was one of those conferences that doesn’t just fade away from your memory once you return home. On the contrary, I was inspired to do more, study more, read more, and be a stronger advocate for victims of abuse.
Recently, Safe Church Ministry and the Office of Social Justice collaborated to draft an action alert urging you all to write your congress members in order to help achieve justice for many sexual assault survivors. Due to this injustice many perpetrators of sexual assault still run free, and the silence speaks loudly to the survivors.
Reflections on the documentary, "Over 18", and information on upcoming screenings and events with director Jared Brock.
From an outsider looking in at this situation and how it continues to unfold, there are some lessons that we in Safe Church Ministry should consider.
Miriam Spies just started serving as Volunteer and Communications Specialist for Disability Concerns (20 hrs) and Safe Church (10 hrs).