Safe Church

Updated August 21, 2024

The Episcopal Diocese of NC requires many ministry positions and volunteers to complete Safe Church Training. Those required to take Safe Church Training are listed below. All Safe Church Training is now done through online modules by Praesidium Academy. If you need assistance with taking the training, please be in touch with Amy Campbell.

In addition to the online training, the diocese will hold Zoom Safe Church Training in September, February, and April this program year. This will afford people an interactive training experience on Zoom, with a chance to discuss real-life scenarios, have small group discussions and ask questions.

Either the Praesidium online training or the Zoom training will satisfy the diocesan training requirements. The dates, times and registration information for the Zoom trainings are below. Please note: The diocese will not schedule training for individual churches. If the Zoom training dates do not work for members, the Praesidium online training is always available.

UPCOMING ZOOM SAFE CHURCH TRAININGS

2024

• September 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Register
• September 9, 6-8 p.m. Register
• September 15, 1-3 p.m. Register

2025

• February 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Register
• February 23, 1-3 p.m. Register
• April 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Register
• May 14, 6-8 p.m. Register
• May 15, 6-8 p.m. Register
  

MORE ABOUT PRAESIDIUM

1. If you already have someone who keeps track of your Safe Church training, great! If not, choose someone. In either case, please let Amy Campbell know who will be your admin.
2. Amy will make sure your admin is added as an admin to Praesidium Academy.
3. Amy will provide them with a listing of the current users under your congregational sublicense.
4. Amy will work with you to get new trainees added. The best way to add learners is to bulk upload using a CSV file. If you plan to bulk upload your users to Praesidium Academy yourself, please use this template. You will need to copy the file and save it to your computer to edit. You only need first and last names and email addresses. Alternately, please use this template if you would like assistance from the diocesan staff to add your trainees into the system. Once you have your trainees added to the spreadsheet, email it to Amy Campbell.
5. If anyone is in need of Safe Church Training, your admin will let them know and send them a message/email. Messages can be transmitted through the Academy system.
6. Your ministry volunteers, staff, etc., will take the modules they are assigned.
7. Your Safe Church admin will need to verify the completion of modules for each person by running a report.
8. You will need to post the updated policies in your church office or another area.
9. You will need to complete a yearly Safe Church Audit. Amy will share more details later.

What this means for your staff and volunteers:

1. They will get an invitation email with a link once they have been added to the system.
2. They will go in and set up a password.
3. They will need to complete the modules individually.
4. Training modules will require approximately 5-20 minutes each, and about 2 hours total to take all the modules available.
5. They must let your Safe Church admin know when they have completed their assigned modules.
6. Academy will send reminders every 3 years when training needs to be updated.

NEED SAFE CHURCH ASSISTANCE?

If you're not sure whether you or your employee are current on required Safe Church training, please email Amy Campbell.

THOSE REQUIRED TO TAKE SAFE CHURCH TRAINING

• Clergy
• Church staff - Anyone on the payroll of the church (does not include contractors)
• Vestry members and anyone elected to a governing body
• Anyone who works with children or youth (including tutors and VBS volunteers)
• Anyone who makes at-home or other visits on behalf of the church
  • Lay Eucharistic Visitors, Stephens Ministers, etc.
  • Jail ministry visitors
• School and preschool staff

Please refer to the recommendations from The Episcopal Church for the modules that each ministry position is required to take, or scroll down for the same information.

Each year you will be required to submit an audit to the Diocese. Your records should be kept in some sort of spreadsheet form. You may use this document to track Safe Church Training records if you wish.

The Anti Harassment modules are not up yet; skip them for now. We will let everyone know when they are available. The reporting module you will take is called Duty to Report.

Clergy and church staff:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Module 7: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on the level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report

Those working with children in any capacity:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on the level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report

Those working with youth in any capacity:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Module 7: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on the level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report

Vestry and other elected positions:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Module 7: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on the level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report

Those making ministry visits:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Only those who will be make hospital visits Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Module 7: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on the level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report

Preschool or school employees:

• Policies: Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Module 1: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Module 2: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rule & Policies
• Module 3: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Health Boundaries
• Module 4: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
• Module 5: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse and Neglect
• Module 6: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
• Module 7: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
• Modules 8: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors or Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers (depending on level of supervision of others)
• Modules 9: Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Module 10: Duty to Report