Safeguarding God's People: Adult-to-adult training
Since the early 1990s, the Episcopal Church has been conducting training to prevent sexual exploitation and harassment of adults. The success of Safeguarding God’s Children has prompted requests for updated resources on adult-to-adult misconduct.
CPG responded with a two-part program called Safeguarding God's People:
- Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith addresses exploitation in pastoral relationships. Lay people as well as clergy may use the program to train others.
- Preventing Sexual Harrassment of Church Workers helps dioceses and congregations understand and comply with laws applying to church organizations.
Upcoming training sessions for Safeguarding Online
Dioceses interested in using the online training version of Safeguarding God’s Children can appoint diocesan managers to oversee the launch and implementation. Those representatives can participate in official CPG training sessions.
Apr. 25
Dallas, TX
May 30
Chicago, IL
Contact BJ Coghan at 800-223-6602, ext 6364 or email BJ to sign up.
Online training for
Safeguarding God's Children
The Church Pension Group is rolling out an online version of Safeguarding God's Children, its highly acclaimed training program for preventing child abuse. A dozen dioceses are participating in the early April launch. An additional 45 dioceses are in line to participate in coming months.
Why online training?
“Safeguarding Online allows people to access the training at a time that’s convenient for them, rather than platform training that’s only offered periodically at a certain location,” says Sally Johnson, Vice President of Risk Management and Education at CPG.
Not only will online training allow dioceses to reach a larger group, it can act as a “secondary line of defense,” according to BJ Coghan, Safeguarding Online Coordinator.
"New employees or volunteers may need training immediately—but the next platform training isn’t for three months,” she says.
The online program mirrors the platform training, so dioceses can use it as a substitute. “It will be a refresher course for some, interim training for some, and for others it will be a primary form of training,” says Johnson.
Working with others
Participants in platform training benefit from sharing and building on ideas in a group environment. Now dioceses are looking for ways to connect online participants as well, such as creating listservs.
“Personal situations do come up during the training,” she continues, stressing how important it is that dioceses have a plan in place for people training online in case a situation arises. For example, dioceses can provide a contact for people with questions or issues. “We don’t want to leave anybody out there who may be dealing with something difficult.”
The lower cost of developing online training will allow CPG to offer programs for more specific ministry situations in the future, Johnson says. Future module possibilities include programs on keeping schools and camps safe.
Safeguarding God's Children and Safeguarding Online are trademarks of the Church Insurance Agency Corporation.