The Diocese of Tennessee is committed to keeping all members of our ministries safe – especially the children, youth, and adults who are mentally or physically impaired. It’s required that each parish actively protects their vulnerable parishioners so we may live into our baptismal covenant and help them grow stronger in their life in Christ.
Safe Church, Safe Communities provides participants with the information they need to protect vulnerable individuals they know and care for in their personal lives.
If every adult can protect just one vulnerable person, they will forever change a life. Together we will make a difference.
The Diocese of Tennessee now offers online training of Safe Church, Safe Communities. You play a vital role in keeping your ministry a safe place. We’re happy you are here to learn about healthy boundaries, inclusion, bullying, signs of abuse and neglect, and much more to keep your church and community a safe place.
All clergy, lay employees, and most volunteers are required to complete nine Safe Church, Safe Communities training modules within 90 days of hire or placement. The nine training modules are:
For a complete list of people who need to take safe church training, you can view the training requirements below or contact the Diocesan Safe Church Coordinator, the Ven. Roger Saterstrom, at safeguarding@edtn.org.
The 189th Diocesan Annual Convention passed a resolution charging the Beloved Community Commission for Racial Reconciliation and Healing (BCC) “with the task of developing a plan for the implementation of Anti-Racism training in the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee.” The curriculum for this training was designed by a sub-committee of the BCC. These workshops are designed to foster, in a non-judgmental and grace-filled environment, reflection, dialogue, and action about the issues of race and the sin of racism that prevent us from living fully into our Baptismal Covenant and impair our ministries and mission as defined in our Baptismal Covenant. The primary resource to develop the curriculum is based on the national Episcopal Church’s Seeing the Face of God in Each Other.
The training developed by the BCC was well-received by the first participants and is now required for the following groups: clergy, Licensed to Officiate clergy, Senior Wardens, Standing Committee members, and Bishop & Council members. In addition, the training is also open to all Lay people in the Diocese.
To register, click here.
If your church is interested in having a training for its clergy and members, please contact the Rev’d Monna Mayhall or the Rev’d Rick Britton. Depending on the number of registrants, these may be open to others in the Diocese.
Churches are responsible for running background checks on all paid employees and most volunteers, including vestry members and those working with vulnerable populations (children, youth, seniors, disabled). All job positions within the Diocese must agree to undergo a background check.
Background Check Authorization Form
Background Check Information Sheet
Contact Sandra Beld for more information at backgroundcheck@edtn.org.