These Safe Spaces online courses are offered by Rev. Beth Perry to help churches protect those who are most vulnerable in your congregation. Choose from either of the courses below!
Young People
Who is supervising the shower schedule for your youth group’s summer mission trip? How many adults are overseeing the costume changes for the Christmas Pageant? I know you have two adults with your Sunday School’s 4-year-old class, but what happens when someone needs a bathroom break? How do you get your teenagers to stop going down the street for coffee during Sunday School hour? And are those teenagers still running your VBS games?
Creating Safe Spaces for Children and Youth Ministries is an updated version of Rev. Perry’s Five Day Intensive Safe Sanctuary Policy workshop. It will show you how and why you should have and follow an up-to-date policy, what the policy should include (it’s more than you think!), and what your next steps should be — including writing or editing a policy, if needed.
Vulnerable Adults
Do your pastors and volunteers work in pairs when they visit members of your congregation? Has an institutional resident ever tried to give you their offering? Who stands up for anyone being bullied? What are your plans for members with early signs of dementia? How accessible is your building? How do you define a “vulnerable adult”?
Safe Spaces for Vulnerable Adult Ministries helps your church create safe policies and environments for older adults, adults with disabilities, and other vulnerable people.
In this two-week class, you’ll work on the policies that you need to put in place to protect the vulnerable among you. You’ll learn why you should have and follow an up-to-date policy, what the policy includes generally and specifically, where to go for help when needed – and what your next steps should be, including writing (or editing) a policy, if needed.