SAFE Church

SAFE Church

SAFE Church

The Episcopal Church rolled out a new curriculum in 2022, which is now called Safe Church, Safe Communities. (Currently 9 of 10 modules are published; the Anti-Harassment module should be ready by the end of June 2022.)To get ready for the change we are doing the following with our Safe Church training:

  1. In order to be consistent with the policies of The Episcopal Church, Safe Church training now needs to be renewed every 3 years
  2. The Praesidium platform that hosts our Safe Church training recommends renewing every year, and so it will automatically send notices for renewal after one year. Those notices can be ignored, until your 3-year renewal is due
  3. Those with incomplete training will start over with the new curriculum in 2022
  4. As of October 3, Tamara Knowles is the new Safe Church, Safe Communities coordinator
  5. Please send all emails regarding questions about Safe Church to safechurch@diocese-oregon.org

Watch the Diocesan Digest for more updates on Safe Church training development.

Safe Church training is offered online. 

The system may take up to one week to respond with an email inviting you to join the new Praesidium Academy platform. Watch for an email from donotreply@praesidiuminc.com with instructions about which courses are required for certification. If you do not see an email from donotreply@praesidiuminc.com be sure to check your spam/junk folder.

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Who should take the training and why?

In striving to live out our Baptismal Covenant we are called to respect the dignity of every human being. As the people of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, we are committed to the safety of all God’s people. This recommendation outlines who is required to complete the Safe Church, Safe Communities training, which needs to be renewed every 3 years.

  • All members of the clergy whether stipendiary or non-stipendiary
  • All interns and persons in the ordination process
  • All paid employees
  • All unpaid lay leadership (wardens, treasurers, vestry/BAC members, members of other boards)
  • The following ministers licensed under Canon III.4: Pastoral Leaders, Worship Leaders, Preachers, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, and Catechists
  • All volunteers (age 16 and over) who work with children and youth. Volunteers age 12-14 are welcome to take the training with a parent either online or face-to-face. We do not recommend this training for children under 12.
  • Other persons who have pastoral relationships (Stephen ministers, spiritual directors, counselors, peer mentors, life coaches, etc.)

FAQs for Online Training 

When you log into the platform, scroll down the page to see a full listing of available courses. Below is a list of the course(s) you need to complete to fulfill your required training. All the other courses available in the platform are optional. Only those courses on the list below are required.

  1. Policies: Episcopal Diocese of Oregon *
  2. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background *
  3. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules and Model Policies *
  4. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Healthy Boundaries *
  5. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse & Neglect *
  6. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying *
  7. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships *
  8. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion *
  9. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power & Relationships (Power Imbalances) *
  10. Safe Church, Safe Communities: Anti-Harassment 

*= available online as of 5-23-22

Ideally, participants complete all required courses within one month (30 days) of enrolling online. However, since not all the courses from new curriculum are currently available, you will need to watch the Diocesan Digest for the announcement of when all the courses are available. You can start taking the nine courses that are available now. The rest of the courses are supposed the be ready by the end of June 2022. 

 

A certificate of completion will be emailed to you and to your congregation when all required courses are completed.

 

Completing the 10 new modules of the Safe Church, Safe Communities training, takes an average 5-6 hours.

Safe Church, Safe Communities trainings are free to everyone in our Diocese.

The Episcopal Church requires that Safe Church, Safe Communities training be renewed every 3 years.

Background Checks for Staff and Volunteers

The Diocese of Oregon requires background checks of the following people:

  1. All members of the clergy whether stipendiary or non-stipendiary
  2. All interns and persons in the ordination process
  3. All paid employees
  4. All unpaid lay leadership (wardens, vestry/BAC members, members of other boards)
  5. The following ministers licensed under Canon III.4: Pastoral Leaders, Worship Leaders, Preachers, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, and Catechists
  6. All volunteers (age 16 and over) who work with children and youth. Volunteers age 12-14 are welcome to take the training with a parent either online or face-to-face. We do not recommend this training for children under 12.
  7. Other persons who have pastoral relationships (Stephen ministers, spiritual directors, counselors, peer mentors, life coaches, etc.)

Download the full instructions for Background Checks.

Email Tracy Esguerra, Office Administrator, to request more information on background checks.