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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Practical expert advice for a scary subject When using the term “disaster,” what types of events or circumstances are we referring to? Hillary Keller Bowling: The most common disasters are weather-related events such as hurricanes, flooding, tornados and wildfires. Other disasters are arson, accidental fire, active-shooters, and even cybersecurity events. Matthew McMaster: Every part of […]
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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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Regular communication, accessibility and speed are at the heart of improved security. By Debi Davis When it comes to crisis situations, the state of events can change with every passing instant. If people can’t keep up with this rapid change, it can lead to disaster. A perfect example of this is the Battle of New […]
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For many people, churches are much more than just buildings. They are sacred spaces that carry great meaning to all who gather there for prayer, community, connection and spirituality. It is for these reasons that churches must take steps to provide safe spaces for occupants and mitigate risk on their properties. Purchasing insurance is […]
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Tips to Prevent Potential Injuries, Accidents and Losses By Guy Russ It happens every year, just before summer camp or vacation Bible school. Some kids develop a case of the “what ifs.” What if there are spiders? What if I get poison ivy? What if it rains every day? Experienced camp directors and conference center […]
Read More >Church Mutual survey shows attendees’ greatest fear is now armed intruders in their places of worship In places of worship — the hallowed spaces that offer refuge and sanctuary — more than 1 in 10 Americans (12 percent) say they do not feel safe. Their top concern: 45 percent said they feared armed intruders. These […]
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Red flags and best practices to better protect your religious organization They’re on the news on a regular basis: stories of church theft, fraud and embezzlement. Sometimes the culprit is the church accountant who intentionally misrepresents church spending. Sometimes it’s the church food pantry director, who purchases food for the church — and $30,000 in […]
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Whether you’re an established megachurch with multiple campuses or you’re a small local church in a tight-knit community, it’s equally important to provide a benefits program for full-time staff. But with rates going up by 10 to 20 percent every year, it can be a challenge for smaller churches to keep up. The result? Understaffed […]
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Expert advice for helping to prevent — and, if necessary, respond to — a security emergency on your campus In a lot of churches, an “it-can’t-happen-here” mentality prevails. But how big of a threat is a security emergency? Bill Cushwa: Let’s quickly dispel the false sense of security. Our school shooting occurred seven years ago […]
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