When people in our communities find the courage and the space to speak up about harassment, trauma and abuse, our churches can be just the safe sanctuary needed to have helpful, honest conversation that works to raise awareness, incite healing and lament brokenness. Toward that end, the following resource is offered as a starting point for congregations and their leaders.
Safe Sanctuaries Training equips leaders to pastor people who have experienced the injustice of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. This training will include group work, activities and a capstone project that develops a plan for immediate implementation in the participant’s church or community.
Please note: There is an online pre-learning requirement before attending the training. The online training is a self-guided introduction to this topic that will allow all participants to begin at the same level of learning. It takes approximately two hours or less to complete the pre-learning. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the online training to document this learning opportunity. Please create an account on the Covenant’s learning platform and complete the “Advocacy for Victims of Abuse Online Training” module under Love Mercy Do Justice.
Learn more at covchurch.org/abuse.
Register by emailing Sheryl Schanil at: president@wmnwc.org. Registration closes Oct. 26. Limit of 20 participants.
This Safe Sanctuaries training is sponsored by Love Mercy Do Justice of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Northwest Conference and Women Ministries of the Northwest Conference.