Creating a culture of care and safety in all of our churches

Since 2007, churches in the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church have sought to provide and implement Safe Sanctuaries practices. Each local church must maintain a Safe Sanctuaries policy and review it annually.

Safe Sanctuaries is a “social structure that is consistent with the gospel” (2016 UMC Book of Discipline ¶122), allowing our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats – and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God – to be places of trust.

Creating a culture of care and safety in all of our churches

Safe Sanctuaries is an overt expression in making congregations safe places where children, youth and elders may experience the abiding love of God and fellowship within the community of faith.

Safe Sanctuaries is a “social structure that is consistent with the gospel” (2016 UMC Book of Discipline ¶122) allowing our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats – and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God – to be places of trust.

Since 2007, churches in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church have sought to provide and implement Safe Sanctuaries practices. Each local church must maintain a Safe Sanctuaries policy and review it annually.

We are committed to resourcing and supporting churches that seek to be safe places where disciples of Jesus Christ are made for the transformation of the world.

To enable local churches to better understand and live out their Safe Sanctuaries policies, a series of training sessions is planned across the South Carolina Conference in coming weeks. Each district will host “Safe Sanctuaries Best Practices,” an opportunity for local churches to have their policies evaluated to ensure they align with our commitment to make United Methodist congregations safe places to live out God’s call. Recommended attendees for district trainings are pastors (who will receive Clergy Services credit), trustees, Staff-Parish Relations Committee members, children and youth coordinators, church council chairpersons and lay leaders.

Greenwood District

April 23 | 3 p.m.
Via Zoom
Click here to register