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Stronger Together: Creating a Safe Sanctuary

Posted: August 21 2024 at 12:40 AM
Author: Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, NIC Director of Connectional Ministries


Achieving top commitment

149 churches in the Northern Illinois Conference have met the highest level of commitment to provide safe spaces for worship! To receive this recognition, an organization must have at least four percent of average weekly attendance trained. In addition, churches must have at least 3 people trained, and this applies to the smallest churches. 

Albany
Algonquin: Christ
Antioch
Arlington Heights: First
Aurora: First Nueva Vida
Aurora: Wesley
Barrington
Barrington: Salem
Batavia
Belvidere: First
Blue Island: La Gracia De Dios  
Bolingbrook: Friendship
Buffalo Grove: Kingswood
Carol Stream: St Andrew
Cary
Chana
Channahon
Cherry Valley
Chicago: African Community
Chicago: Berry Memorial UMC
Chicago: First Temple
Chicago: Gorham
Chicago: Grace of Logan Square
Chicago: Hartzell Memorial
Chicago: House of Praise
Chicago: Humboldt Park
Chicago: Indo Pak 
Chicago: Morgan Park
Chicago: Olivet
Chicago: Ravenswood Fellowship
Chicago: Southlawn
Chicago: South Shore
Chicago: St Matthew
Chicago: Trinity
Chicago: Urban Village Church
Crete
Crystal Lake: First
DeKalb: First
Des Plaines: First
Dixon: First
Dixon: Grace
Dolton: Faith
Downers Grove: First
Elgin: Cornerstone
Elgin: First
Elgin: Journey of Hope
Elk Grove Village: Prince of Peace
Elmhurst: First
Erie
Esmond
Evanston: First
Evanston: Hemenway
Forreston: First
Fox River Grove Community
Franklin Park: First
Freeport: First
Galena
Genoa: Faith
Glen Ellyn: First
Glenview
Grayslake: United Protestant
Harvard: First
Hazel Crest: Community
Hinsdale
Homewood: St. Andrew
Hunter
Joliet: Grace
Joliet: Hope
Kaneville
La Grange: First
Lake Bluff: Grace
LaMoille: Community
Lanark
Lansing: First
LaSalle: Grace
Leland
Libertyville
Lombard: Faith
Machesney Park: Evans
Marengo
Maywood: Neighborhood
McHenry: Mount Hope
Mendota: First
Mendota: Zion
Millbrook
Milledgeville
Minooka
Morris: First
Morrison
Mount Morris: Disciples
Mount Prospect: Trinity 
Naperville: Community
Naperville: Grace
Naperville: Wesley
New Lenox
Northbrook
Oak Park: Euclid Ave
Oak Park: First
Orangeville
Oregon
Oswego: Good Shepherd
Oswego: Wellspring
Ottawa: Epworth
Palatine: First
Park Forest: Grace United Protestant Church
Park Ridge: First
Pecatonica
Plainfield
Poplar Grove
Princeton: First
Prophetstown
River Forest 
Rock Falls
Rockford: Aldersgate
Rockford: Beth Eden
Rockford: Centennial Multicultural
Rockford: Christ 
Rockford: Grace
Roscoe
Roselle
Sandwich: United
Savanna: First
Schaumburg: Our Redeemer's 
Schaumburg: Our Saviour's 
Schaumburg: Salem Korean
Skokie: Central
Skokie: Jesus Love Korean
South Elgin: Community
Sterling: Wesley
Steward
Stockton: Wesley
Sycamore
Warren
Waterman
Wauconda: Federated Church
Waukegan: New Hope
West Chicago: New Hope
West Dundee: First
Wheaton: Gary
Wheeling: First Korean
Wilmette: Trinity
Wilmington
Winthrop Harbor: North Prairie
Woodridge
Woodstock: First
Yorkville: Trinity
Zion: Memorial

August and September are “Back to School” months. As a mom of pre-teens, I diligently prepared everything they needed to be ready for their first day of school: I checked their clothes and shoes, bought school supplies, and checked their books. I went with them to the “meet and greet” the teacher because I wanted to see the space where they would be for the next school year. I experienced the dedication and preparation that teachers, administrators, and school staff invested in order to offer a safe and hospitable environment for the children.

This is also a season when many churches return to children’s and youth programs such as Sunday School, Youth Groups, Messy Church, Parent’s Night Out, Childcare, etc. I believe this is a good time to stop and think about the safe space we are offering to our children and youth in our churches. 

As a church, we are responsible for caring for our little ones. We are called to take responsibility, set the tone, learn from the painful lessons of the past, and ensure a better experience for future generations.

Safe Sanctuaries Logo

The term Safe Sanctuaries became familiar to United Methodists in the early 2000s with the publication of a guidebook from Discipleship Ministries by Joy Thornburg Melton. Ten years earlier United Methodists were already working on the prevention of child abuse in the church through a variety of resources and educational events.

All clergy and volunteers who work with children and youth in the church, in the community, in a music or sports program, or in any setting should be trained in Safe Sanctuary, a certification that lasts three years. We have made good progress in training our clergy and volunteers at our conference, but we still need more people to be trained.

If you have not been trained or if your church does not have a Safe Sanctuaries Policy or if it is time to update the one you have, please take action immediately. Visit our website here and click on the link for Safe Gatherings to find resources and a self-guided online course you can take at any time to equip yourself to be an even better guardian of our future. If you want to have in-person training, please contact me. We can deploy trainers to your congregation, cluster, or district. 

Children and Youth are a treasure for us, and we need to take care of them with dedication, passion, and love, so let’s continue to create a safe sanctuary for them and the generations to come. 

Please take the time to assess the situation in your congregation regarding Safe Sanctuary. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Connectional Ministries.  

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