Safe Church
Equipping Congregations in Abuse Awareness, Prevention, and Response
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About Us
Vision
Safe Church equips congregations in abuse awareness, prevention, and response. We help build communities where the value of each person is honored; where people are free to worship and grow free from abuse; and where abuse has occurred, the response is compassion and justice that foster healing.
Safe Church pursues our vision by offering training and support to volunteer safe church team members so that they can be resources for their congregations and classes. Team members provide learning opportunities, support, and consultation in their own local contexts.
Download this one-page summary of who Safe Church is and what we do.
Rev. Dr. Amanda Benckhuysen
Safe Church Advisor
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Consultation: providing assistance and support in situations where abuse or allegations of abuse arise
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Abuse of Power: developing training and conducting seminars on abuse of power and the cultivation of healthy Christian communities that resist abuse
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Advisory Panel Process: working with Safe Church Coordinators to put together and support an Advisory Panel in cases when church staff are involved in misconduct
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Safe Church Coordinator Training and Support: working with Safe Church coordinators and teams across the CRCNA to promote abuse awareness, prevention, and response
Before coming to this role, Amanda served as professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Mich.). She has also taught at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) Theological Seminary and was a campus minister at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
It is a profound privilege to listen to, minister to, work with, and advocate for those who have been victimized by abuse in the church. I grieve the harm that has been done to so many by those who claim to love Jesus. And I am committed to working with churches and ministries in the CRC to create safer spaces where the value of each person is protected and people are free to worship God and grow in faith free from abuse.
616-240-8155