Safe Church, Safe Communities

1 Corinthians 12:12, 26-27
Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many.  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it. You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. (Common English Bible)

Each of us has a unique part to play in the life of the church and in the life of our communities. We are all part of the body as a whole and we are all important to the work of the church. Each of us has gifts to bring and share. 

In baptism, God, speaking through the Church, claims us in Christ. We become, in Christ, the community of God’s final purpose: justice and peace, love and plenty for the whole creation. This new community lives in Eucharistic fellowship with God and Creation, as a sign and instrument of God’s reconciling purpose in the world. 

The Church is called to embody and advance God’s mission. Ministry is the vocation of the whole community: laypersons, deacons, priests, and bishops who together represent Christ and the Church in the world. 

The obligation to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being is binding for all the baptized. The authority with which leaders — ordained persons, adults who minister with minors (children and youth), youth in leadership roles, and adults who minister with vulnerable humans — are entrusted, creates an inherent power imbalance in the pastoral relationship. This power imbalance derives from the leadership role and, in the case of clergy, the symbolic authority of an ordained person. Christian leadership is intended to provide occasions for guidance and grace, and its abuse is always and unequivocally wrong.

The Diocese of Olympia takes its responsibility for the safety of our people seriously. The Safe Church, Safe Communities program teaches how to identify and prevent abuse within the church community.

Safe Church, Safe Communities is required for all canonically resident and licensed clergy.

Safe Church, Safe Communities is required for non-clergy who have a key to the church facility, vestry and bishop committee members, church staff, and anyone who works with children in any capacity. Safe Church, Safe Communities is required for non-clergy who have a key to the church facility, vestry and bishop committee members, church staff, and eucharistic visitors.

Any other interested parishioners are encouraged to participate in training sessions. Certificates are valid for three years and then a renewal is required.

For any questions or concerns, please contact safechurch@ecww.org.

For instructions to complete the online training, please click the link below.

Safeguarding Online

For instructions to complete the trainings online, please go here.