By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Given the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements and the ongoing media headlines, many church leaders have awakened to the risk of child sexual abuse and are seeking guidance about what to do. Others are taking this opportunity to evaluate existing safety efforts to measure preparedness. Typically, the criminal background check […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris “Pastor Arrested for Molesting Teens in Youth Group,” screamed a recent media headline in a heavily populated metropolitan area. Unfortunately, it’s not an anomaly; headlines detailing child sexual abuse in ministry contexts occur almost daily. The reality is daunting: one in four girls and one in six boys will be […]
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Proven strategies to keep your people safe — from recognizing red flags to re-screening practices, cost considerations, and navigating potentially sensitive conversations Many churches fall victim to an “it-can’t-happen-here” mentality. In actuality, what makes churches especially prone to ill-intentioned volunteers? Norton: The nature and admirable traits of most clergy is one of compassion and trust. […]
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The “Stop Sexual Abuse” series is designed to provide ministry leaders with information to better understand the risk of child sexual abuse and take necessary steps to protect children in ministry programs. The first article in the series provided analysis concerning sexual abuse risk using the metaphor of building the right fence. In this article […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Child sexual abuse risk in ministry contexts cannot be ignored. This statement implies child protection has been ignored by some ministries in the past. For most ministries, however, the challenge is ignorance of the problem. Most ministries are doing something, but not doing the right thing. Church Executive and […]
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Expert advice for protecting the church’s children against sexual abuse and bullying — plus, how to mitigate internet-use risks What are the biggest risks and liabilities facing churches in the area of protecting children? Alex Smith: Allegations of sexual abuse are the greatest risk and liability. Also, complacency — saying, ‘We’ve always done it this […]
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Sexual abuse: training ministry staff to care well AND prevent At the beginning of each new year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions: evaluating our past year or present circumstances and resolving to improve on a particular matter (i.e., more time with the kids, less coffee, more exercise). For the Southern Baptist Convention, the […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III There are two kinds of restaurants: those that embrace children, and those that tolerate children. If you’re a parent — especially if you have multiple small children — then you know this reality. When my family of six storms a restaurant, I can tell immediately whether the establishment will embrace […]
Read More >Help protect your church’s youngest members by taking these steps By Elizabeth Norman Childcare centers and preschools at churches across the nation are experiencing rapid growth right now — in fact, many of them are at capacity and even require waiting lists. With this demand, it’s important to remember to revisit procedures to help keep […]
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Church Executive spoke with experts in the fields of risk management and background checks about best practices associated with the care of children within the church — and how to equip your staff members with the knowledge they need to enact them. What are the biggest risks and liabilities facing churches in the area of […]
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