Creating Safe Congregations

As Unitarian Universalists, we "affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person." One way to do this is for congregations to foster and support right relations. In 1995 the General Assembly delegates adopted a Resolution encouraging congregations to engage in work to promote safe congregations. We can do this by insuring our places of worship and gathering are safe places to be - physically, emotionally and spiritually. Surely, we would want:

• our children to be free of the threat of physical or sexual abuse
• our adults to be free of similar threats
• ways of dealing with those who pose such a threat
• systems in place before any such threat occurs
• knowledge of what our legal and insurance responsibilities are

These are issues with which all church leaders wrestle - lay leaders, ministers, religious educators and youth group leaders. Though the topic of sexual, physical, mental or emotional abuse is difficult, and for many people a very sensitive issue, by facing and openly discussing it we can prevent it in the future.

Developing standards of right relations for the many different contexts of our religious community life can be difficult, but very necessary. Often things that are potentially dangerous are also essential to the functioning of the congregational system.

Our lifespan religious education programs, pastoral care activities and congregational worship services are, at best, experiences of religious intimacy and social empowerment. Yet they can set up opportunities where issues of intimacy and power can be misused or seriously abused, diminishing our ministry to one another.

Unfortunately, no environment is totally free of danger, nor can it be made so; but we can do much to nurture an environment of safety and trust. We all want to do the very best we can but find information and guidance hard to come by.

To help congregations work on these issues, the Ballou Channing District and the BCD RE Committee are sponsoring a “Safe Congregation Conference” on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Rev. Pat Hoertdoerfer from the UUA and Kay Hodge, UUA lawyer, will present the moral and legal issues. Following their presentations, there will be small group workshops for youth advisors, religious educators, ministers and lay leaders to discuss the topic in greater detail.

What do you need to know? What do you need to do? For answers, come to the Safe Congregations Conference Saturday, May 7, 1:00 - 4:00pm at the Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, Attleboro, MA. Registration material has been sent to congregation offices.