Relationships are the foundation of Christian ministry and central to the life of the church. When Jesus said, “Let the little children come,” we are confident that they, along with crowds and others close to him, felt included, unafraid, and transformed in God’s love. In The Episcopal Church in North Texas, we pledge by our baptismal vows to “…strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being”.
Relationships in ministry should be experienced as caring and without intention to harm or allow harm to occur. Whether you are a lay eucharistic visitor, teacher, or rector of the parish, your desire to care for others puts you in situations requiring awareness and practice of healthy boundaries.
Training resources are now available to help clergy, lay employees, vestry members, teachers, and other volunteers understand their responsibility to protect children, elders, and other dependent persons. Think of “safeguarding” as a foundation for doing ministry.
Safeguarding Online
It’s now the policy of the diocese that anyone can take Safeguarding classes online, whether or not they have attended an in-person class. To access the Safeguarding Online courses, you will need to have a user name. Contact the diocesan office if you are unsure whether you have a user name yet or not.
Access the Safeguarding Online platform.
How to: log in, change your password, see your completed courses
“How-To” for using Safeguarding Online
- How to log in
- How to change your password
- How to check what classes you’ve completed and when
Which courses should I take?
Everyone should review this course:
This group of four courses is roughly equivalent to Safeguarding God’s Children:
- Meet Sam
- It Happened to Me
- Keeping Your Church Safe (or Keeping Your School safe) – choose the one most relevant to where you are serving
- Duty to Report
The following courses could optionally be substituted for some of the above. Talk with your supervisor to confirm their preference for what courses are most applicable to your role:
- Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children (preschools)
- Bullying (for higher grades, youth groups)
- Social Media (for higher grades, youth groups)
- Abuse Prevention Refresher
- Abuse Risk Management for Volunteers
These two online courses are roughly equivalent to Safeguarding God’s People- Preventing Sexual Exploitation:
- Safeguarding God’s People – for Ministries
- Safeguarding God’s People – for Congregations
These two online courses are roughly equivalent to Safeguarding God’s People-Preventing Sexual Harrasment:
- Safeguarding God’s People – for Workers
- Safeguarding God’s People – for Managers
In-Person Trainings
View any upcoming Safeguarding training events.
Class Descriptions
Safeguarding All the Children of God is introduced in three face-to-face classes:
- Safeguarding God’s Children introduces awareness and monitoring of behaviors and interactions with children that may be harmful or abusive. This course is required for all who work with children, all wardens, and all employees. This course is recommended for all vestry members.
- Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation seeks to prevent anyone forming a sexual relationship through a pastoral relationship. This course is required for all who work with vulnerable populations of adults (the elderly, the infirm, and those with disabilities), all wardens, and all employees. It is recommended for all vestry members.
- Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Harassment provides guidelines for preventing unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors. This course is required for all wardens, all congregational leaders involved with hiring and finances, and all employees. This course is recommended for all vestry members or any leader of influence (e.g. ministry team leaders).
Trainers
Trainers for Safeguarding God’s Children:
- Ms. Sheila Camp
- Ms. Kirsten Tiemann
- The Rev. David Madison
- Ms. Melissa Pannell
- Ms. Priscilla Promise
- The Rev. Pam Dunbar
- Ms. Jeanneane Keene
- The Rev. Suzi Robertson
- The Rev. Nolen Holcomb
Trainers for Safeguarding God’s People:
- The Rev. Pam Dunbar (1 & 2)
- Ms. Jeanneane Keene (1)
Trainers’ Page
Click here if you’re a trainer to access trainer resources. Call the diocesan office if you need the password.
Past training events
Past 2017 Trainings
9/23 – Safeguarding God’s Children & Safeguarding God’s People at Trinity, Fort Worth
8/16 – Safeguarding God’s Children at Trinity Episcopal School
8/20 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher, Fort Worth
6/3 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
4/2 – Safeguarding God’s Children at Good Shepherd, Granbury
3/25 – Safeguarding God’s People at St. Christopher, Fort Worth
3/18 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher, Fort Worth
2/5 – Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People at Trinity, Fort Worth
2/4 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
2016 Trainings
11/17 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher’s, FW
9/25 – Safeguarding God’s Children & People at Trinity, FW
8/28 – Safeguarding God’s Children at All Saints, FW
6/18 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Luke’s in the Meadow, FW
6/12 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
6/8 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher’s, FW
5/21 – Safeguarding God’s People at St. Christopher’s, FW
5/7 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher’s, FW
3/19 – Safeguarding God’s People at Trinity, FW
2/20 – Safeguarding God’s People at St. Christopher’s, FW
2/6 – Safeguarding God’s Children at St. Christopher’s, FW
1/17 – Safeguarding God’s Children at All Saints, FW
1/16 – Safeguarding God’s People at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller
Policy
Safe Church Policy in the Episcopal Church in North Texas
For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Janet Waggoner through the diocesan office at office@edotn.org or 817-534-1900.
Other Safety Considerations
Download recommendations from the Dept. of Homeland Security and Church Insurance related to responding to an active shooter situation.
