Safe Church

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.

 

Safe Church Online Enrollment & Training Instructions

Quick start guide for taking Safe Church classes online.

Clergy Background Checks

Please submit THIS FORM to request to have an Oxford Document Management Company, Inc. background check performed on clergy of your congregation. An updated background check should be conducted every five years.

Please note that only the Rector/Vicar/Priest-in-Charge, Administrator, or Sr. Warden may initiate the request. The Oxford background check for clergy typically cost $155, but this may vary. Your congregation will be responsible for reimbursing the Diocese of Olympia for the full cost of the background check. A copy of the invoice will be forwarded to you.

The Oxford background check may take 2-6 weeks to complete. Upon completion, the congregation/requester will receive a letter from our office verifying the results of the background check. The individual on whom the background check was performed may also provide a copy of the report to the congregation themselves.

Contact exec-asst@ecww.org with questions.

List of Resources - Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

DIOCESE OF OLYMPIA

POLICY FOR THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS

List of Resources

Diocesan Resources:

 

Other Community Resources:

 

A printable PDF of this text is linked below.

List of Resources - Policy for the Protection of Children & Youth

DIOCESE OF OLYMPIA

POLICY FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH

List of Resources

Diocesan Resources

  • Intake Officer:  The intake officer for the Diocese of Olympia is The Rev Canon Dr Marda Steedman-Sanborn.  She can be reached at msanborn@ecww.org.
  • Bishop:  The Right Rev. Phil LaBelle is the Bishop of the Diocese.
  • Reporting:  https://www.atg.wa.gov/child-abuse-neglect for information on reporting child abuse.

 

Other Community Resources

 

Printable PDF of this text is linked below.

Pastoral Letter from Bishop Rickel on Suspension of Statute of Limitations for Clergy Sexual Misconduct

Issued January 2, 2019

A printable PDF version of Bishop Rickel's Pastoral Letter on the Suspension of the Statute of Limitations for Clergy Sexual Misconduct. The letter can be accessed in English and Spanish.

 

Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

The Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults, as approved by the Task Force to Update Sexual Misconduct Policies in accordance with resolutions of the 2015 General Convention, adopted at the 2018 Diocesan Convention. 

Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth

The Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth, as approved by the Task Force to Update Sexual Misconduct Policies in accordance with resolutions of the 2015 General Convention, adopted at the 2018 Annual Diocesan Convention. 

Lay Employee Background Checks

Background checks are required for paid employees and those who work regularly with youth or children at congregations. An updated background check should be conducted every five years.

A number of providers offer Criminal Background Checks, in addition to optional screenings such as Credit, Driving Records, etc: we recommend First Advantage, GoodHire, and Intellicorp. First Advantage offers one-time background check options without a subscription or setup fee if you do not anticipate needing many checks run: https://fadv.com/solutions/small-business-background-checks/ and Select Small Business > Basic Screening > Applicant Submission.

Diocesan Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse

Policies for those working with children or youth

Subscribe to Safe Church