Safe Church: Protecting the Vulnerable

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Hopkinton, NH - Youth Group Apple Picking

Note: Sept. 10, 2024

Diocese of NH congregations who had conducted background checks with our previous provider (Active Screening Faith) may receive a message this week notifying you that they are now doing business as “Protect My Ministry.” There’s no need for any action on the part of your congregation or Safe Church minister in response to that notice. We continue to work with Praesidium. Please continue to reach out to George Swenson to arrange checks through Praesidium, or for any other Safe Church questions.

Supporting Safe Churches in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire

Many thanks to our church communities for promoting a safe and healthy church climate in our diocese.

The Safe Church Program of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire has three major components – policies, training, and background checks. The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire adopted the Model Policies of the Episcopal Church in 2019. Church leaders are responsible for knowing and following these policies.

If you have any questions about Safe Church policies, or if there is an incident or concern in your community, please do not hesitate to contact Safe Church Coordinator George Swenson.

STEP ONE: Safe Church Policies

The Episcopal Church is deeply committed to fostering communities and congregations that are safe spaces for all people, particularly those who may be vulnerable in some way, to worship and minister generously, free of any form of harassment, bullying, abuse, or exploitation.

To that end, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire has adopted the Episcopal Church model policies for the Protection of Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults.

Knowing these policies is the first step. Begin by reading them, online or where they are publicly posted in your church community.

The Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth is HERE.

The Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults is HERE.

STEP TWO: Safe Church Training

Connect to the Safe Church learning system “Praesidium Academy”: CLICK HERE 

Training Courses: Safe Church training consists of four core modules that anyone required to be Safe Church trained will need to take, as well as two additional modules for vestry members and two additional modules for pastoral care providers. These modules will need to be completed every three years to stay up to date with Safe Church training. 

Core Courses for all individuals requiring Safe Church Training are: 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Specialty Training: Bullying 

In addition to the core courses, vestry members are also required to complete the following modules: 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Universal Training: Inclusion 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Specialty Training: Power and Relationships 

In addition to the core courses, volunteers who provide pastoral care (such as Stephen’s Ministers, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, etc.) are also required to complete the following modules: 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Specialty Training: Pastoral Relationships 

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities: Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries 

About “Safe Church, Safe Communities”: The Episcopal Church has launched a new training series, “Safe Church, Safe Communities,” available through the Praesidium Academy learning platform. The lessons are specifically created for the Episcopal Church and our model policies, with videos featuring Presiding Bishop Curry and other Episcopalians. The courses are grouped in two levels: “Universal” and “Specialty.”  We encourage everyone in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire to expand their Safe Church training beyond our baseline requirement, and to explore the full range of “Universal” and “Specialty” training.  

Training Platform: The Episcopal Church uses a training platform called Praesidium Academy. All who had accounts on the previous Episcopal Church platform (Safeguarding Online) now have accounts in Praesidium Academy. Enter the same email address that you used in the former Safeguarding/Armatus program and then click “forgot my password” to receive a password reset link by email. If you have any trouble finding or setting up your account, please call 1- 800-743-6354. 

If you did not have an account in the former Safeguarding/Armatus program, please contact the Safe Church Minister at your church to set up a new account.  

STEP THREE: Safe Church Background Checks

Background checks are required for church employees, volunteers working with youth, home visitors, and church leaders. Background checks should be renewed every five years. 

The diocese also works with Praesidium on background checks. Please contact Safe Church Coordinator George Swenson for instructions. 

Responsibilities and Procedures for Congregations

Responsibilities & Expectations for Clergy  

As of November 1, 2024, all clergy in the Diocese of New Hampshire—active, retired, and licensed—are required to complete all eight modules. 

Though here is some overlap between some of the modules (for example some of the topics in the Healthy Boundaries module also come up in the Power and Relationships module) completing all of them provides a breadth of training, and will ensure that clergy are prepared to answer any questions that may come up in their congregations about the material covered. 

  • Make sure that Safe Church policies are publicly posted and that ministry leaders and volunteers are familiar with them. 

  • Make sure that Safe Church training is available to those for whom it is required. 

  • Make sure that those who are serving in the congregation know who is supervising their ministry and how to contact them with concerns. (This is a Safe Church policy.) 

  • Make sure that there a written application, an interview, and references checked for certain ministry positions. (This is a Safe Church policy.) Here’s a Sample application 

  • Make sure that required criminal background checks are completed every five years. 

    Congregations shall maintain an up-to-date list of persons (with their contact information) who are approved to minister to children and youth. 

Mandatory Reporting of Child or Elder Abuse

CHILD ABUSE: New Hampshire law (RSA 169-C, the Child Protection Act) mandates that any person who has reason to suspect that a child under the age of 18 has been abused or neglected must make a report to the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Child Protective Services at 1-800-894-5533 or 603-271-6562, intake lines are staffed 24 hours a day. If it is an emergency, call 911.  Find out how to report child abuse and neglect HERE.

ELDER ABUSE: The Adult Protection Law requires any person who has a reason to believe that an vulnerable adult has been subjected to abuse, neglect, exploitation or self-neglect to make a report immediately to the Bureau of Elderly & Adult Services (BEAS). Call (603) 271-7014 or toll Free from within NH at (800) 949-0470. If it is an emergency, call 911. Find out how to report a concern about adult abuse or neglect HERE.

Clergy Conduct and Title IV

If you have an experience to share about a clergy person violating standards of conduct, we are prepared to listen and respond. Contact either Canon Tina Pickering or Rev. Caroline Hines to share your concerns. More information about the canons that govern clergy conduct (known as “Title IV”) can be found HERE.

Additional Resources for Creating Safe Sacred Spaces

Facility Use Agreement Template - Including Release of Liability: HERE

This document is written for cases where a group uses your facility on a recurring basis, but it can be changed for one time use.  You will note that this agreement includes a donation to offset the costs of the church providing the space.

 It is a good idea to have this type of agreement in place for any recurring use of your building, and for substantial one time uses (cases where you want to be clear about what the donation and the parameters for using the space are.)  Exceptions to this are for AA and Scouting meetings. Church Insurance advises that AA and Scouting groups are well established and are known to have their own insurance and so Facility Use Agreements aren’t necessary.

Honoring the Dignity of Diverse Identities

A critical component of maintaining safe sacred spaces is to honor each other’s identities and embrace our diversity. There are many resources around white privilege, racial reconciliation and gender identity available - please contact Canon Tina or the Reconciliation Commission of the diocese if we can help you with specific learning goals for your congregation.

We particularly commend to you "Changing the Game" about Sarah Huckman from St Andrew's-in-the-Valley in Tamworth, NH to understand the struggles and successes of transgender students and athletes. “The Gender Book” is a helpful resources for information about terms, pronouns and other important ways of speaking that uphold the dignity of our diverse humanity.

Disaster Preparedness and Active Shooter Response

Churches throughout the diocese are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of a disaster in your community or at your place of worship. Church leaders should consider contacting local police or fire chief and ask to do a walkthrough for safety and security recommendations specific to the architecture and congregation. Resources for disaster planning and active shooter preparedness can be found here: