Our churches and communities would be safer if every church and every classis had a safe church team, people paying attention to abuse prevention and response. So, how do we get there?
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.
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.
Curious what a classical safe church team does and how they support local safe church ministry? This story from Classis Chatham helps answer these questions.
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.
Welcome Amanda! You are an answer to many prayers! I'm deeply encouraged by the gifts and abilities that you bring to this role. May the Lord add his blessings to you and to your Safe Church...
Thank you so much!
Thank you for your courage in overcoming your triggers to read this article, and for your courage in sharing a response, which can help give others "permission" to share their experiences as well...
Thank you for these very timely and sad-but-true words that the Church simply must hear, lament, repent and follow a different way. Church renewal, perhaps the very life of the Church, is...
With all due respect, biblical calls for justice are non-partisan.
Thanks for the tip. The trailer definitely makes me want to watch this documentary.
Just a quick note, I said the words, "I can't complete this reflection without saying something about white male power in our culture, and all that goes along with it ..." because that is a...
Hi Bill,
You are absolutely right to point out the lack of clarity of my expression. Thanks for pointing it out. I have since changed my comment. My intent was not to imply that every white...
Thank you Karl, you're right that justice work is not easy, we all need the encouragement to not grow weary.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, how "hidden" this is as part of our culture makes it difficult to confront.
