Buy in for a safer congregation begins with the vision of a congregation where members care about and care for each other. It also can begin when there isa perceived safety or boundary issue, or need, that is generating a certain amount of emotional energy. For leadership, one of the keys to creating a safer congregationis passion: if the leadership does not seem to care, the congregation will not bother to care. This requires more than simply listing the tasks and policies needing to be created. People must understand the necessity of this work on an emotional level. There must be a sense of urgency. The leadership must be prepared to convey what the stakes are, why the ministry of safety is so important, and how the lack of commitment to safety is irresponsible and puts the congregation at risk.

Implementing Policies and Plans

Once the plan to move forward with this work is developed and approved, ongoing communication is critical. Congregational leaders should share relevant information with key staff and volunteers and make sure they get periodic training.

The rollout of any new policies may upset some members of the congregation. When one congregation introduced new screening policies and background checks for volunteers working with children and youth, some longtime volunteers questioned whether the policies went too far. The minister explained that the policies were developed with one thing in mind—protecting the children, youth, and adults in the congregation. The questions slowly gave way to understanding.

Note that there might also be some resistance caused by not understanding the impact of societal “norms” on creating a white supremacy culture—we need to ensure that policies, procedures, and processes respect all, and are not based on assumptions about how or who people “should” be. Trust begins by seeing people as they are, and respecting what they want and need. A congregation creating a safe congregation has to be open to learning and embracing new ideas.

Next: Getting Started: Communication