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 are so excited as plans are coming together and getting finalized for our 2018 Safe Church biennial conference. Our focus will be equipping people (YOU!) for effective safe church ministry.
I’m writing this from a hospital room in Detroit, where my husband is resting after undergoing successful spine surgery.
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?
Franklin's father met with presidents, both democrat and republican. He did not endorse a political candidate nor a political party. That's the difference. As Christ followers, I believe we are...
Sure, I can think of lots of examples. There have been several times over the years where I've gathered a group of people from my church (or students when I used to be on staff with InterVarsity...
Jesus refused political power, walking away from those who wanted to make him king. Yet he talked a lot about loving our neighbor, the second greatest commandment next to loving God. We must make...
Would love to hear other's thoughts.
Thanks for the reminder about the children Michele. Research has shown that many of the same impacts of abuse are present in children who witness abuse, even when they don't experience it directly...
Good question! Thank you. This is a good reminder to churches to respect the privacy of the information that they collect from members. Churches that have online directories, or prayer chains,...
I once took my 3-year old son to a vacation Bible school at a church in the neighborhood. The woman who ran the program welcomed me and shared with me her mission, as she saw it, and I never...
Hi Susan, thanks for your thoughtful comment. Erc has already written a good response, let me just add this: I didn't mean at all to imply that Larry Nasser's actions were not horrific, or that he...
So glad to hear that you are revising your church safety policy. Another helpful website is Brotherhood Mutual, you can find their safety resources here, including Reducing the Risk, which...
Yes, thanks are due to the courageous survivors, who were able to finally be heard. And thanks are due to the judge, who allowed their voices to be heard in her courtroom. And thanks are due to...
