This training is designed to increase awareness regarding sexual misconduct and abuse of power, to outline steps toward preventing abuse, to offer ways to intervene when misconduct occurs and to equip anyone in a position of parish leadership with ways of healing and rebuilding the body of Christ.
The training is required of all clergy and diocesan employees. It is also intended for wardens, vestry members, lay Eucharistic visitors, pastoral visitors, youth leaders, confirmation sponsors, acolyte leaders, choir directors, church school teachers, volunteers working in the parish on a regular basis and all employees of congregations.
Free online training using the curriculum "Safeguarding Our Children" is now available for use by congregations in this diocese. Each congregation has been assigned an administrator who can provide trainees with a unique ID and password they will need to access the program. Because the program uses video clips, broadband Internet access is essential.
This program is expected to work well for all lay volunteers including, but not limited to, church school teachers, vestry members and officers.
The online training is available here: http://www.praesidiuminc.com/armatus/safeguarding_login.php
Contact your congregation's clergy about how to receive an ID and password. Questions may be directed to Lynn Clark, Human Resources Manager, at lclark [at] diomass [dot] org or 617-482-4826, ext. 578.
Safe Church Training events will continue, with two trainings scheduled approximately every six months, for clergy, ordinands and paid church staff involved with children and youth.
REGISTER ONLINE FOR THESE SESSIONS>>
For all sessions:
Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Deadline: Two weeks prior to the event
Contact: Dick Vanderlippe at rvan [at] aol [dot] com or 617-482-4826, x507
Cost: $40.00. Payment is due two weeks in advance of training.
Make checks payable to: The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and send to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
138 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
The Safe Church Manual is only available to parish officers and clergy. Each parish has been provided with a user name and password which are required to access the manual at ftp://docs.diomass.org; this address should be entered as a URL in the address field at the top of your browser (where http://... normally goes).
If you cannot find the correct user name and password, please contact Jamie Reamer: jreamer [at] diomass [dot] org or 617-482-4826 x339.