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Safe Church

The Episcopal Church in Colorado is committed to creating safe environments for all people and provides training and policies to reflect that commitment. Our Safe Church program includes training courses, background check protocols and approved providers, policies for ministries with children and youth, policies for ministries with vulnerable adults, and a number of additional resources.

Safe Church Training

Safe Church training is required for the following:

  • All clergy and pastoral leaders
  • All lay staff
  • Lay staff or volunteers involved in ministries with children and/or youth
  • Individuals involved in ministries with vulnerable adults (Eucharistic Visitors, pastoral care givers)
  • Vestry members
  • Key holders

For a list of required courses for each of these ministry areas, please go to the section “Required Courses by Ministry Area.”

Course requirements by ministry area are provided below, along with an estimate of the time needed to complete the courses.

Children’s & Youth Ministry Volunteers, Nursery Workers, Camp Counselors (2 hours, 45 minutes)

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Bullying
  • Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children & Youth

Vestry/Bishop’s Committee Members, Lay Staff (3 hours, 30 minutes)

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Power in Relationships (allow 30-35 minutes)
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect
  • Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children & Youth
  • Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Eucharistic Visitors, Pastoral Care Ministry Volunteers, Spiritual Directors (2 hours, 45 minutes)

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Pastoral Relationships
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect

Key Holders (1 hour, 20 minutes)

These courses are also assigned for people wishing to take Safe Church training for general awareness (e.g., choir, altar guild, ushers).

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies

Clergy & Pastoral Leaders (4 hours, 30 minutes)

  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Introduction & Theological Background
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Inclusion
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Healthy Boundaries
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Universal Training: Organizational Rules & Policies
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Power & Relationships (allow 30-35 minutes)
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Pastoral Relationships
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Abuse & Neglect
  • Safe Church, Safe Communities – Specialty Training: Bullying
  • Duty to Report – Mandated Reporter
  • Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children & Youth
  • Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Complete the brief online registration form by clicking the link below:

Register for Safe Church Training >

(Link for cutting and pasting: https://onrealm.org/coloradodiocese/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=NzRhY2IxZmUtNGE5OS00NWYyLTgxZDEtYjBiYjAxMGVkNGY0)

Within 24 business hours, you will receive two emails:

  • An invitation to join the Safe Church training system, Praesidium Academy. This email comes from the address “Praesidium Do Not Reply” and may end up in your spam folder. Follow the instructions in the email to create an account in Praesidium Academy and obtain access to the courses. Praesidium Academy can be accessed at any time using the URL praesidiumacademy.com.
  • A welcome email that includes the list of courses you are required to complete for your area(s) of ministry.

We encourage you to complete the training within three weeks.

Once you’ve completed the training, please email Tracy Methe. You will receive an electronic copy of your Safe Church transcript. Please keep a copy for yourself and forward a copy to your Safe Church supervisor.

You are required to take Safe Church training for your ministry every three years. If you begin serving in a new ministry, you may be required to take additional courses.

Front Range

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Boulder (1419 Pine St, Boulder, CO 80302)
Saturday, December 9, 8:30-12:30 pm
This training will cover the four Universal Training courses: Introduction & Theological Background, Organizational Rules & Policies, Inclusion, and Healthy Boundaries.
Register now >

Please reach out to Tracy Methe, 720.677.9016.

Safe Church Policies

New Safe Church polices were rolled out to congregations in December 2021, replacing the policies from 2004. Congregations have until January 31, 2022 to review and implement the new policies. A copy of the policies for reference should be kept in an area easily accessible by church members and volunteers.

Background Checks

The Episcopal Church in Colorado has approved two companies for screening lay staff and volunteers. Click on the boxes below to learn more about each provider.

Trak-1 has been an authorized background check provider for many years. Although now owned by PeopleFacts, the Trak-1 system functions independently. There is no cost to set up your church to run checks. Costs are only occurred for the screenings themselves. When signing up for Trak-1, indicate that you are part of the Episcopal Church in Colorado. Each individual parish needs to sign its own subcontract with Trak-1 under the diocesan agreement and will have its own account, login, and invoices. You will need to provide a contact person, church information, and payment details.

To apply, please contact Trak-1 representative Dena Brickey at 918.933.5904 or Dena.Brickey@universalbackground.com. She will email you the application to complete. Currently there is no online application. Once Trak-1 processes the church’s application, it will email the contact person with the church’s login information.

Verified First is fully integrated with Realm church management software. To subscribe to Verified First through Realm, reach out to Realm support at 1.800.669.2509.

If you are interested in using another system for screening lay staff and volunteers, please reach out to Tracy Methe. Providers must be approved by the Bishop or Standing Committee.

Resources for Workshop Leaders

Click here to access Workshop Leader Materials. Please note that this page is password protected.

Additional Resources

Recommended Reading

Policy and Procedure Material