1.       SAFE CHURCH TEAM FORMATION /MANDATE
What does an abuse prevention safe church team need to do?

  • A team needs to prevent abuse by establishing abuse prevention policy and procedures that include abuse reporting guidelines.
  • Provide abuse awareness training for volunteers and staff.
  • Ensure screening of volunteers and staff as per insurance requirements.
  • Provide abuse awareness education to members, with focus on children and youth in the form of specific curriculum. (Circle of Grace)
  • Have strategies in place for responding to reported abuse and protocols for dealing with church leader misconduct. (Advisory Panel Process)
  • Provide a safe environment where abuse can be freely discussed and support received.

 Who is on a safe church committee?
  • Due to the large volume of work to start up a safe church policy and protocol as well as  screen all volunteers and staff,  a larger team would be advisable with the ability to decrease numbers as workload dictates.
  • It would be beneficial to assign a safe church administrator who is not the pastor due to the ongoing work as well as the possibility of having to deal with misconduct by a church leader.
 Where can I find help?
  • Please contact the Classis Alberta North safe church team for any assistance.

2.       POLICY FORMATION
Why do we need a policy?
  • Every organization in Alberta, spiritual or secular, needs to have an abuse prevention policy and procedures in place.
  • The fact of not having a policy does not mean you are unaware of the requirement but shows lack of responsibility and integrity of your church.
Where to start?
  • Policy formation.
  • Classis Alberta North has purchased rights to a very basic abuse prevention policy template from ‘Plan to Protect’ with wording specific to our Christian Reformed Churches and is copyright protected for our use.
  • Plan to Protect also has the most up to date template available with registration for its administrator course.

What needs to be included in a policy?
  • A policy will reflect your insurance requirements (see insurance requirements) and the protocols within your churches ministries.
  • A policy will contain needed forms.