Clergy, church personnel and volunteers who regularly or occasionally work with or around children or youth; church personnel who are responsible for screening, selecting or supervising of others in programs for children or youth; bishop’s committee and vestry members; and parents who volunteer in nursery school or Sunday school classes must complete Safe Church, Safe Communities training. A refresher course must be taken every three years. If you are employed by a parish or mission within WNY, a state mandated refresher course is required annually.
Diocesan policies on sexual misconduct
- Safe Church Policy (WNY)
- Sexual Misconduct – Exploitation and Harassment (NWPA)
- Sexual Misconduct – Children and Youth (NWPA)
- Volunteer and Employee Guidelines (NWPA)
Safe Church, Safe Communities provides participants with the information they need to protect the children they know and care for in the ministries in which they serve. The program is based on the philosophy that if every adult can protect just one child, they will forever change one life.
The program also provides training for clergy, members, employees, volunteers, and church leaders about sexual exploitation between clergy or church leaders and those they serve. The goal of this program is to prevent sexual exploitation in the Episcopal Church, to encourage adults to report to church leaders when they see signs of sexual exploitation, and to give Episcopalians a language with which to talk about the issue of sexual exploitation.
To sign up for the online course, whether it is to take the training for the first time or to renew your training, please fill out the following form. For questions about signing up for Safe Church, Safe Communities, contact Shawn Slother, Missioner for Operations.
Report Misconduct
To report or discuss sexual misconduct or boundary issues on the part of clergy or laypeople, please call or email Sarah Rieth at 716.881.0660 ext. 112.