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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By John Kleberg and Patrick Maughan While it is essential to be prepared for and responsive to contemporary issues associated with deadly firearm incidents in houses of worship, such incidents are only part of daily concerns related to safety and security. In the 2017 National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) report for churches, synagogues, temples […]
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By Andy Lott Cybercrime is a problem on the rise, impacting businesses and organizations worldwide. Accenture, a multinational digital services company, recently reported an 11% increase in security breaches since last year and a 67% increase in security breaches over the last five years. The cost of cybercrime to businesses and organizations was a collective […]
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By Skylar Griego As we start wrapping up the year and shopping for 2020 planners, now is a good time to look back on 2019 and see the big picture that’s formed throughout the year. At Church Executive, that means taking a look at which articles were most important to our readers. We cover a […]
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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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How to properly protect your parish from scammers By Elizabeth “Betty” Norman Cyber criminals seek out organizations that seem unsuspecting. Unfortunately, churches often offer just what they’re looking for. In late April 2019, Father Bob Stec of the Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio found himself sending a note to parish members that no […]
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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 […]
Read More >Protect your worshipers from armed intruder attacks By Rich Poirier Not long ago, anyone in search of a safe haven or spiritual guidance could turn to a place of worship knowing its doors would be open and its members welcoming. Offering a spiritual home to those in need is central to many faiths. But today, […]
Read More >When Crossroads United Methodist Church, Washington, Illinois, concluded their vision for ministry was significantly larger than their current footprint could handle, they began the long and expensive journey of relocating to a new site. In 2001, they constructed the first of a two-phase construction project that would change the course of their ministry forever. Relocating […]
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