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About Safe Sanctuaries

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If you are a victim of abuse by a church leader, click here

› Getting Started

Convince your church to develop a Safe Sanctuary policy.
Talk with your pastor, church leaders, parents and grandparents. Pastors are generally eager to provide a safe place for all people. They may just be waiting someone to encourage the effort. If need be, find a group of people who are concerned and agree of the need for safety policies. Then meet as a group with the decision making body of your church. Ask that a task group be officially formed to study the issue and educate the congregation. Get a copy of Safe Sanctuaries book and the DVD for the task force to use.

Write a Safe Sanctuary policy.
Download a sample policy here. You should also check with your Annual Conference office for additional information. Visit our list of Annual Conferences with Safe Sanctuary webpages.

Read "How To Start" in our Topics section
You will find additional ideas for getting started here.

Finding trainers to talk about abuse
Contact your local hospital, police, social service agency or public health department for names of people in your area. Call a school counselor.

General Board of Discipleship
Mary Alice Gran Director, Children’s Ministries General Board of Discipleship PO Box 340003 Nashville, TN 37203-0003 877-899-2780 x 7143 MGran@GBOD.org		Susan Hay Director, Ministries with Youth General Board of Discipleship PO Box 340003 Nashville, TN 37203-0003 877-899-2780 x 7169 SHay@GBOD.org

 

General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
For information on reporting an incident of sexual harassment or abuse by a clergy or lay employee of the denomination against an adult, child, or youth, call the Commission office at (312) 346-4900.

For information on the United Methodist church policies on abuse visit the Commission's website

 

› State Sex Offender Registry

The FBI maintains a list of all State government sex offender registries. Use your state's sex offender registry as part of your background check process when hiring staff or recruting volunteers who work with children. Many states have a category system for registered sex offenders ranging from category one to four and may not list all four categories of offenders on their website. Check with your local authorities as well. . Go to the FBI website >

GBOD is not engaged in legal or other professional advising service through this page.  The State Sex Offender Registry is managed and maintained by the FBI.  GBOD assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in external websites.

› Forms & Samples

Sample Safe Sanctuaries Policy
Download a pdf version of a sample Safe Sanctuaries policy.

Local Church Self Evaluation Form
Use this pdf form to help your congregation assess its policy needs for the prevention of abuse in your church’s ministry with children and youth.

› Training Downloads

DVD Study Guide
This free pdf companion to the Safe Sanctuaries for Children & Youth DVD will help you make the most effective use of this training and awareness-raising video.

The Parental Authority to Be Involved
Educating parents on being involved when their children and teens are online. Available as either a PDF and PowerPoint download.(Permission is granted to make copies of this presentation for local church use only. For all other use contact Susan Hayshay@gbod.org for permissions.)